Floating Island - Triple S Talent

"Stay calm, we'll be there soon..."

A man with a stern face and sharp eyes spoke to twenty young men standing in a neat line before him. The man, with a large muscular body, wore a black uniform adorned with various military insignias. However, the most striking feature was the golden emblem on his chest, symbolizing his high status as a Captain.

Amidst the roar of the battleship's engine they were aboard, one of the youths in line whispered, "Damn, Master Randi's aura is so strong... It feels like it's crushing my breath." His whisper was filled with fear, though he tried not to be heard by the stern man in front of him.

"Quiet, he can hear you," his friend beside him whispered back, pressing a finger to his lips, ordering his friend to stop talking. His face was tense, knowing that Captain Randi would not hesitate to punish any signs of indiscipline during the mission.

Captain Randi glared sharply at the young men, his eyes scanning each tense face. "I will warn you for the last time," his voice echoed with authority. "You must help each other. If one of you dies, or even gets seriously injured," he paused, making sure every word was clearly understood, "then your team will fail, and you will not earn any points."

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. One of the young men raised his hand hesitantly, his voice trembling as he asked, "Excuse me, Captain, why did the rules suddenly change?"

"Yeah, we were supposed to act on our own," another youth chimed in, clearly displeased with the sudden change.

"Shut up, fool!" an older youth scolded, "This is a survival test. We have to help each other, or we all fail."

A small but intense discussion broke out among the students. They were students of the God Slayer Academy, one of the largest academies on Lein Island. The academy was famous for its rigorous training and high discipline instilled in its students. The survival test they were about to face was the final stage after more than a month of theory lessons and training within the academy grounds.

Their destination was Monster Island, an island far from Lein Island. The island was known to be filled with ferocious creatures that would be their opponents in this test. The battleship they were on was equipped with advanced security systems, though the tension among the students remained palpable.

Captain Randi spoke again, this time louder, "I don't know where these rules came from, but one thing is certain, you must win this competition!"

"Yes, Captain Randi!" the students shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout the ship. Although they were still young, with egos that were sometimes hard to control, the awareness of the dangers ahead made them calmer and more prepared to work together.

He paused, looking at each student with a sharp gaze. As the team captain this time, he would not let a single one of them get hurt. If anything happened to them, only God knew what consequences he would face from the island's owner, Lein.

Seeing the students' response, Randi nodded in satisfaction. He reminded them once again, "Remember, this is not just about survival. It's about honor, teamwork, and your future in the academy. So do your best, and don't disappoint me."

The battleship began to slow down, indicating that they were nearing their destination. The students' hearts pounded, and their adrenaline surged. Each of them tightened their grip on the weapons in their hands, ready to face whatever awaited them.

As the ship approached the shore, Captain Randi gave his final order, "Prepare yourselves. The battle begins now." The ship stopped at the edge of the rugged, rocky island, surrounded by a dense, mysterious forest. Monster Island awaited them, ready to test their strength, resilience, and teamwork as one unit.

With bated breath, the twenty students stepped off the ship, followed by six others, including Captain Randi and five officers in military uniforms trailing behind.

"Hahaha... we finally made it. Rainforest Island!" a loud, hearty laugh echoed from a distance.

Not far from their landing site, a skinny man with a golden badge on his chest shouted, approaching Captain Randi with quick steps.

Randi glanced at the man briefly, immediately recognizing him, then said in a calm tone, "Yes, I hope nothing bad happens on our first mission."

The skinny man finally reached Randi, and they shook hands casually, as if this were just another routine meeting between two old comrades. Even though they were in the middle of a dangerous island, there was a strong sense of camaraderie between them.

"Let's hope so," replied the skinny captain, glancing at his team who were having a light discussion not far away. His face showed a hint of doubt. "It's just that I'm not very confident with the team I'm leading this time," he continued, his voice a bit lower, reflecting the concern he was trying to hide.

Captain Randi nodded in understanding, then calmly pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. He easily produced a flame from his fingertip and lit his cigarette. With a long drag, he exhaled thick smoke into the air.

"By the way, how many teams are participating in this test?" Randi asked as he looked around the island, making sure no threats were approaching.

"One," the skinny man answered briefly, gesturing for a cigarette from Randi. Without hesitation, Randi tossed him a cigarette, a gesture that had become a habit between them.

Like Randi, the skinny man lit his cigarette with a flame that appeared from his fingertip. He took a deep inhale, exhaling the smoke with a satisfied expression, like someone who had just woken up from a long sleep without a care in the world.

After a few puffs, the skinny man continued, "From what I heard from Commander Ludas, the number of teams this time is 255."

Randi raised his eyebrows slightly, murmuring his response calmly, "Quite a lot..." His voice was composed, as if the large number did not cause any concern.