The Trial

The instructor adjusted his tie, smiling faintly.“Oh, right—I forgot to mention. The penalty for failure is death.”

A faint shimmer glowed on the band around his hand.A25.

One person stepped forward, shouting, “This isn’t fair! You’re an A-ranker and we’re all B-rankers. We don’t stand a chance!”

Another added, “Yes! If the conditions are like this, we’ll all die.”
The instructor gave them a sarcastic look.“Huh? Unfair? I think you didn’t hear me properly. You only need to land one clean blow on me, and you’ll pass.”

He tilted his head slightly, his smile sharpening.“In fact, if any one of you manages to land a blow, the entire batch passes. Don’t you think that’s already fair enough?”

A voice tried to protest, “But—”

Another student cut him off sharply. “We accept these conditions.”

The white-haired instructor turned his gaze toward the speaker.“Good. You have five minutes to prepare. I’ll be waiting right here.”
He smiled faintly again.



We quickly formed a circle. Everyone joined in.

First, we exchanged numbers to address each other:203, 206, 207, 208, 102, 100, 92, 90, 82, 80, 75, 73, 70.These were the members of Batch B.

Number 90—the same person who had accepted the conditions—spoke up.“We’ve got a good chance. We’re all B-rankers, and he’s alone. Even if he’s an A-rank, he can’t withstand all of us at once. If even one of us lands a hit, we pass.”

206 objected nervously. “But there must be a reason why the conditions are so unfair. Don’t you see? W is clever. He wouldn’t give us such an easy mission. And… what if this guy is as strong as Number 28?”

90 scoffed. “Stop whining. You know Number 28 was an S-rank. W already said this guy is just an A. There’s a difference. Didn’t you see the old man with the white beard and moustache? He was also an A-rank. Do you think he was as strong as 28? Don’t make me laugh. We can do this. Don’t be so afraid.”
206 backed down, stammering, “O-okay…”
203, however, sided with him. “No, he’s right. What if this instructor is just as strong as 28? And I think you don’t remember properly—W never once confirmed that 28 was an S-rank. We’re gambling with our lives here.”
He narrowed his eyes. “There must be a reason these conditions seem so favorable.”
90 frowned. “You’re overthinking it. What if the café people just need new shards? Maybe that’s why it’s easier this time.”
I raised my voice. “If that’s true, why did W shoot the man who interrupted him? If they need shards so badly, why kill someone so recklessly?”
90 snapped back. “Hey, kid, don’t get in the way. You saw it—W knew that man was an intruder. That’s why he shot him. He didn’t kill the girl who spoke up earlier, right? Think. The café people need shards. That’s why the odds are in our favor.”
I wanted to argue further, but before I could—
The bell rang.
“Okay, your discussion time is over,” the instructor announced.
“Shit, we couldn’t even make a strategy,” 90 muttered.
The instructor began counting.“Three… two… one. Your time begins now.”
A horn blared. The screen lit up:[30:00]
The timer started ticking down.



203 shouted, “Charge! Do as we planned!”
I blinked. Planned? They had something prepared already?

Number 92 ran towards me and told "102 run towards the back of the instructor from the right and slide when 206 screams one"

I hurried toward the right flank.
Three more charged in unison—207 with a kick, 208 with a punch, and 82 with a knife-hand chop.
The instructor caught 82’s wrist, blocked 208’s strike, and shoved 82 straight into 207’s incoming kick. All three collapsed in a heap.
He had done it all with one hand—in a single instant.
I managed to circle behind him.Instructor was about to look towards me.Then suddenly 206 shouted "one...."I slides in hope of imbalance the instructor.
206 dropped from above with an axe kick.From my perspective, he looked like an angel who descended here from heaven, to save us from this hell.
But then—the devil smiled.
The instructor spun, leaping upward. In one smooth motion he dodged both my slide and 206’s kick, then struck 206 midair with a brutal counter.
206 crashed hard into the ground.
The instructor landed lightly and walked toward him, ignoring everyone else—including me.“Splendid. You did well. Even without a strategy, you almost had me. But this is the end. Any last words?”
206 coughed blood. “Cough… cough…” He whispered something.
The instructor bent closer to listen.
With a shaky voice, 206 muttered, “Look behind you.”
The instructor froze. Wait—where is Number 90?
Suddenly, 90 lunged from behind, grappling him. “Do you think I’m your servant, 206?!”
206 smiled faintly. “Heh… now it’s your turn to shine —Number 100.”Then he went limp.
Number 100—Naman—launched forward, fist clenched.
Oh right… I’d almost forgotten. Naman was the fastest kid in our school.
His punch closed in on the instructor’s face.
“Die!”


Council Chamber
Councilwoman leaned back in her chair.“You were right. The ant analogy works—unity does bring strength. But it has its limits. No matter how many sheep gather, they cannot defeat a wolf.”



Arena
The instructor chuckled. “You know something, kid? Legs are much longer than hands.”
With a sharp front kick, he shoved Naman back, then twisted and threw 90 to the ground with a judo takedown.
As Naman tried to recover his balance, the instructor stepped in, his next kick smashing into Naman’s face. His body slammed into the ground.
“Oh boy… maybe the kid fainted. Doesn’t matter. I’m not the one who’ll kill you… but I am the one who's leading you there. So no excuses.”



Council Chamber
W smirked. “You’re right, Madam. But what we have here isn’t just a herd of sheep. Hidden among them… 
Some wolves.



Arena
“Naman! Hey—why aren’t you saying anything?! Hey!” My voice trembled.
Memories of him scattered through my mind.
‘Hey Yash, you’re almost good at everything. It’s cool.’‘You don’t get it. My biggest problem is I have too many interests… that’s why I don’t have a goal.’‘Heh. The day you find your path, you’ll be perfect in it.’
For the first time, I felt a clear, burning goal in my heart.
It wasn’t to pass the trial.It wasn’t even to save anyone.
It was the overwhelming urge to—
Kill.To kill the instructor.
[23:37] Remaining Time



          — END OF THE CHAPTER —