[The hidden Boss Monster, 'Kuri' has appeared!]

With Elizabeth cutting a wrong designated space coordinate based on her vision given by her Skill: White Perception, a scythe came out of the 2-meter-long portal that cut off Rumia's left arm, causing her to bleed tremendously that continually draining her Stamina and Health.

'It's painful...'

Rumia couldn't even scream with the pain as the warmth of her body turned cold, then the coldness became numbness.

She rolled a few meters away from the portal instinctively after sensing the incoming, yet unexpected attack.

After ten seconds, she leaned on one of the gigantic trees, looking at Elizabeth who was breathing heavily due to expended mana.

She was looking at her from a few meters away with a smile on her face, then after a few seconds, Rumia said with a tone of an acknowledgment as she smiled back at Elizabeth, someone she was very close to.

"End this..."

The hidden Boss Monster named 'Kuri' seemed tearing the space with its might, but considering the rank of the Jellyfish Island, it couldn't pass through it as it lacked the power against space or it didn't have the corresponding skills or traits that would let it defy the space itself.

After a minute or two, the portal created by Elizabeth by cutting a coordinate that she shouldn't cut closed off, leaving her and Rumia alone near the shell of the Rock Turtle as the quiet atmosphere displays a feeling of peace.

Elizabeth approached Rumia who was leaning on a tree as she sat down.

Blood splattered all over her body, a sight that was very difficult to believe under the strangers' gazes, but Elizabeth and Rumia were not unfamiliar with it as they killed criminals who were guilty and sentenced to capital punishment before as a form of their real-life combat training.

Even though the 'Old World', an era pre-Emergence ceased to exist, there was one thing that didn't change... Laws governing everyone.

But the method of proving the crime of someone was done in a whole different manner compared to the 'Old World' because of the existence of Skills that could affect the suspect, to tell the truth without resistance.

Some people or 'players' abused their power granted by the System.

Some people killed others as cold-blooded murderers.

Some people incited others to commit heinous acts.

Some people sold things that were extremely detrimental to society.

These were some kind of people that deserved capital punishment or death which Rumia and Elizabeth executed under the form of training.

As Elizabeth reached Rumia's spot, she sat down while maintaining a meter away from facing Rumia.

She smiled at Rumia before she spoke with a cheeky tone.

"Okay, then. Hehe."

Rumia, who saw Elizabeth's smile felt something ominous.

...

Rika Snow, the Ice Mage; Dessa Deya, the Rod Spinner; Murktan Khan, the Brute Enforcer, and Henriad Frostine, the Winter Ranger under Rumia's group heaved a sigh of relief as they thought of securing at least 80 points of 'Group Grade', but soon, their expressions stiffened at the same time as if they witnessed the evilest act in the world.

"W-what?"

Rika's mouth was slightly agape at the sight in front of her, as well as everyone else, except for a woman who has auburn hair and brown eyes under eyeglasses, and a woman who has deep black hair and deep black eyes, who was watching the spectacle in the holographic screen.

"We're doomed."

Murktan whispered in a tone as if his soul left his body, his expression turned pale.

Henriad who was watching what was happening in front of them shut his mouth, but his expression turned poignant.

"Pffttt-"

Dessa, even though losing was inevitable, found the spectacle happening in the Virtual World between Elizabeth and Rumia funny.

...

"E-Elizabeth?? Aren't you going to finish me off?"

Rumia asked, feeling something ominous, while Elizabeth sat in front of her, their faces at least 30 cm away.

Elizabeth took out two potions from her Virtual Dimensional Inventory.

One potion has crimson liquid, while the other has purple liquid.

It was a Health and Stamina potion!

"W-what are you doing?? And where'd you get that??"

Rumia asked in wonder while Elizabeth casually answered her.

"I picked it up, don't tell me you expect us to play cat and mouse for a day and a half here without obtaining some resources?"

Elizabeth spoke, lampooning Rumia.

She didn't answer what she was doing, instead, she opened the lid of the Health and Stamina potion, then poured it into Rumia's severed arm.historical

As soon as it was poured, pixels that reminded them that it was a virtual world, coalesced, forming Rumia's arm.

She got healed in an instant!

Rumia's expression turned blank before she asked with curiosity.

"Why??"

Elizabeth smiled at her before she spoke in a gentle manner.

"I can't kill you, you know. Even though this is just a virtual world... We're bestfriends.

After a few seconds of pause, she stood up from where she sat, looking down at Rumia before saying...

"Okay, see you."

Rumia reflexively reached out her hands, but Elizabeth vanished from her spot.

"H-hey!"

She was going to ask about what they should do from now on, whether they should kill the hidden Boss Monster called 'Kuri'.

After a minute or two of leaning on a gigantic tree while looking at the blue sky, Rumia felt something was amiss.

Realizing what was wrong, Rumia's expression turned gloomy.

...

~ Whoosh-!

A Virtual Capsule from each side opened at the same time where Elizabeth and Rumia came out.

Rumia Flora's expression was so gloomy that her eyes were getting wet, forming some tears.

She looked at the other side where Elizabeth came out.

Elizabeth grinned at her, finding the situation amusing.

Their group members approached them, with different expressions.

On the one hand, Elizabeth's group members thanked her for winning. On the other hand, Rumia's group members consoled her, saying it was okay, but deep inside their hearts felt like being stabbed by countless needles, and their minds were only saying one thing...

'My grades...'

...

After ten minutes before the start of the next group participants led by Leon von Obreyon, and Anya Amasawa.

The holographic scoreboard got updated:

[Group 1 vs. Group 2]

Win: Elizabeth von Etherion's Group

Group Grade: 100

Individual Grade:

Elizabeth von Etherion — 95

Remark:

She was a powerful leader, capable of making judgments, and cunning, but she didn't consider the opinions of her companions at the start of the activity.

Becca Palesnow — 90

Remark:

She was a good support, capable of making judgments on her own that wouldn't be detrimental to her teammates...

Marokh Lhan — 85

Remark:

As a tanker, it's normal to be in the front, but it's not good to focus only on what's in your front.

Brynn Drake — 90

Remark:

As an assassin, this individual has good judgment when to change his targets if the situation was unfavorable.

Lance Blinzel — 90

Remark:

As a spear user, utilizing the tank in the front was a good move to land an attack while hiding behind the tanker.

Lose: Rumia Flora's Group

Group Grade: 30

Individual Grade:

Rumia Flora — 80

Remark:

She was a good leader as she could unite her group in a very short amount of time, but she was somewhat 'gullible' in the end. This act would be extremely detrimental in the future.

Rika Snow — 90

Remark:

She has good coordination with her teammates, and she understood easily what her leader implies.

Dessa Deya — 90

Remark:

As someone specializing in using a rod-type weapon, she utilizes a speed that capable of outrunning an assassin. She also knows when to help her teammates.

Murktan Khan — 85

Remark:

Aside from good coordination, a surge of emotions due to a sense of rivalry affected this individual's role.

Henriad Frostine — 85

Remark:

Being a player utilizing a bow and arrow, it's not every time this individual should stay in the rear. Utilization of the environment was a great advantage, but being an obedient member was good in itself.

...

Freya Moon who was watching from her seat unconsciously smiled at Elizabeth and Rumia who was throwing a tantrum at her bestfriend.

'I didn't expect Elizabeth to heal her just to run away for ten minutes with Rumia's Obelisk Token.'

It was a cheeky act, but somehow proved their genuine friendship to the core.

"Let's take a break! 30 minutes! If you are not here by 29 minutes, and 59 seconds, you are out. Go!"

Professor Murak's authoritative voice snapped off Freya's thoughts.

The match between Rumia and Elizabeth's group ended in less than 20 minutes in real-time because of the unexpected, quick movement via Teleportation that helped her to find Rumia's group in that short amount of time.

"Freya, have you eaten yet?"

Amelie Rose asked, sitting in the middle between her and Amery.

"Yes, sigh-..."

Freya replied as she glanced at Amery who was looking at Amelie with an inexplicable expression.

'This girl's matching the cold atmosphere of this cold room.'

Freya lampooned, comparing Amery's cold personality to the cold room for virtual activities.

"Hello, is this seat taken?"

Freya, Amelie, and Amery looked up at the woman with auburn hair and brown eyes wearing eyeglasses.

There were eighty seats in the room, matching the number of virtual capsules.

Basically, a student could sit anywhere he or she wanted.

"Yes..."

Freya replied as she smiled at Samantha Hall.

'I wonder why she's wearing eyeglasses?'

Freya thought, looking at Samantha who sat beside her.

After the Emergence, with the consolidation of Earth's Mana, physical disabilities vanished as quickly as popping bubbles, thus, the deterioration of eyesight was healed.

But some still wear eyeglasses for fashion but considering Samantha's personality that she had observed for almost two months, it was highly unlikely that she wore something like that just to look good from another's point of view.

...

"Congrats..."

Han Jiho said to Elizabeth, sitting beside him while Rumia was one seat apart from him.

Rumia's eyes were still teary while casting piercing glares at Elizabeth who seemed to ignore her lamenting bestfriend.

"Thanks..."

Elizabeth said before she munched on a cookie she brought.

After ten seconds, Han Jiho asked out of nowhere...

"What do you guys think of Samantha?"

Elizabeth, Rumia, as well as Anya, and Leon who were behind them pricked up their ears.

"Samantha... where's that woman, by the way?"

Elizabeth looked around, seeing Samantha talking with three women sitting five seats behind.

Upon seeing the scene, Elizabeth smiled with a genuine expression before answering Han Jiho's question.

"Hmm... To be honest, I don't know."

Elizabeth said as she pinched her lower lip slightly with her right thumb and right index finger.

Elizabeth's answer came as strange from Han Jiho's perspective, but for her, Rumia, Anya, and Leon who interacted with Samantha, especially because of family relations knew what Elizabeth meant by 'I don't know'.

The four of them just simply do not know.

"Is that so... how about her strength?"

Han Jiho asked, recalling that she was the Rank 1 in the whole first year.

He had wanted to fight her, but he didn't get the chance even during training at Exclusive Training Grounds for A-1 students because he couldn't just approach her out of nowhere with her indescribable bearing.

"Ohhhh, you'll attempt to fight her later, right?"

Elizabeth asked casually while knowing that Han Jiho's group was against Samantha's group.

Han Jiho noticed something peculiar with Elizabeth's wording as he thought inwardly...

'attempt...?'

...

Before the end of the given 29 minutes and 59 seconds, everyone who got out of Obelisk of Virtual Technology already came back. Some were holding snacks and drinks, while others were already munching the food they bought.

After a minute, Anya and Leon, as well as their respective group members lay down inside their designated Virtual Capsules.

[Checking the user's Retina Imprint]

[Checking the user's Brain Waves]

[Accessing the user's Subconscious]

[Loading... 1%]

[Loading... 99%]

[Loading... 100%]

At the same time, being 3 kilometers between each other, Leon, and Anya's group entered the Virtual World.

[You have arrived at the Desert of the Luminous Scorpion]