chapter 17 The Virtual Island Hunt

Chapter 17: The Entrance Exam Begins

The moment the Entrance Ceremony ended, a sharp voice rang through the grand hall, cutting through the murmurs of the gathered students.

"All first-year students, proceed to the Virtual Training Hall. The entrance exam will begin shortly."

A wave of excitement and unease spread through the crowd. Some students straightened with anticipation, while others exchanged nervous glances.

An exam? Already?

I expected this.

In the game, this was the first real test—a virtual hunting event designed to rank students based on their combat ability, survival skills, and strategic thinking.

The results of this exam would determine our class placement, ranging from D-Class (lowest) to S-Class (highest).

My goal?

Avoid standing out while securing a spot in S-Class.

I had no intention of ranking first—that would disrupt the natural progression of the storyline. But a position in the top 40? That would be enough to access Velmoria's best training facilities.

I let out a slow breath. Alright. Time to game the system.

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The Virtual Training Hall

The Virtual Training Hall was a massive, futuristic facility with towering white walls and a high, arched ceiling. Rows of capsule-like pods lined the room, each pulsing with a faint blue glow.

Students gathered in clusters, their whispers filling the space. Some were excited, while others fidgeted with nervous energy.

At the front of the hall, a professor stood with arms crossed. His sharp gaze scanned the room, silencing the murmurs.

"The entrance test is simple," he began, voice clear and authoritative. "You will be transported to a virtual island teeming with monsters. Your objective is to hunt and survive within the given time limit. Every action you take will be recorded and analyzed."

The large screen behind him flickered to life, displaying a tiered ranking system:

S-Class (Top 40 students) – Elite candidates.

A-Class (Top 100 students) – High potential.

B-Class (Above average performers).

C-Class (Standard students).

D-Class (Bottom 20%) – Expulsion risk.

The moment expulsion was mentioned, several students visibly paled.

"Defeating monsters, strategizing, and even evading combat will affect your final rank," the professor continued. "The top 40 will enter S-Class. The weakest among you… may find yourselves dismissed from Velmoria entirely."

Tension filled the air.

I remained calm, already aware of the stakes.

My name was called.

Stepping forward, I approached an open capsule and slid inside. The moment my back touched the cool metal surface, a transparent visor lowered over my face, scanning my biometric data.

"Initializing Virtual Dive… 3… 2… 1…"

The world around me vanished into darkness.

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The Virtual Island – A Test of Survival

The next moment, I found myself standing in the middle of a dense jungle, the scent of damp earth and salty sea air filling my lungs.

Towering tropical trees surrounded me, their canopies filtering the golden sunlight. In the distance, I heard the distant howls of wolves and the faint splash of a river.

I instinctively checked my status window, but a glowing notification appeared.

> SYSTEM NOTICE: Status Tracking Disabled. Only Basic Skills & Physical Stats Apply.

As expected.

This wasn't just some game simulation—it was designed to reflect real-world combat potential.

No Eclipse Vision.

No Voidstep.

Just me, my skills, and my instincts.

I glanced at the basic iron sword in my grip, provided by the simulation. A standard weapon. Nothing fancy.

I exhaled slowly, assessing the situation.

The island was populated with various monsters, ranging from low-tier threats like wolves and goblins to deadlier creatures like Lizardmen and Ironfang Tigers.

Some students immediately rushed off, eager to rack up points. Others hesitated, forming small groups for safety.

I took a different approach.

Instead of charging in, I observed.

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The Hunt Begins

Using my heightened perception—even without Eclipse Vision—I studied the environment.

Ahead, a group of students engaged a pack of jungle wolves. Some fought with skill, dispatching the creatures efficiently. Others barely held their ground, their movements sloppy and frantic.

"As expected." I analyzed their combat styles. "The strong dominate. The weak barely survive."

If I fought too much, I'd attract attention.

If I avoided combat entirely, I'd rank too low.

I needed balance.

I moved through the jungle quietly, my footsteps barely making a sound against the foliage. After ten minutes, I found a lone Lizardman sharpening a crude blade near a riverbank.

Perfect.

Unlike wolves and goblins, Lizardmen were stronger, but solitary hunters. A good mid-tier target.

I crouched, steadying my breath. Then, I moved.

In an instant, I burst forward.

The Lizardman reacted, turning toward the sound of my movement—too slow.

Crimson Moon Strike—First Form.

My blade flashed through the air, slicing cleanly across its scaled throat.

A gurgled hiss escaped its lips before its head tumbled to the ground.

> You have defeated a Lizardman!

+500 Points

I exhaled, shaking the blood from my blade. "One down."

Quickly, I dragged the body into the underbrush, concealing it from other students. If too many found my kills, they'd track my movements.

From there, I continued my methodical hunt.

Instead of mindlessly fighting, I picked my battles—taking down isolated monsters, avoiding unnecessary fights, and keeping my presence as low-profile as possible.

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A Calculated Approach

An hour passed.

I wiped the sweat from my brow, my uniform slightly damp from the humidity.

I had accumulated several thousand points, keeping me well within the top 40 range.

I checked my smartwatch.

> [Score: 5000 Points]

[Time Remaining: 31 Minutes, 50 Seconds]

I nodded to myself. This should be enough.

The first phase of the entrance exam was almost over.

I just needed to hold my position—and ensure no one saw me coming.

Because in this world, strength wasn't just about power.

It was about knowing how to survive.