The sour mixture subtly corroded the lining of his throat as it escaped his mouth. The world was spinning and his head hurt. The fact that his stomach was empty but he still kept vomiting made tears fall out.

After a while, his senses started coming back to him. He smelled the sea and was reminded of the first time he drunk alcohol. The whole night of suffering made him commit to never drinking.

“He’s waking up.”

“Young man. Are you okay?”

When Izo felt the touch on his body, he had a massive panic attack. His “friends” at the time knew how drunk he was but still they spun him in place whenever he stood up.

“He’s the only one who reacted this violently. Calm down young man. Don’t hurry.”

It was an old man and a teen at his age. Perhaps, his granddaughter. He was in a completely different place now. A beach under a cloudy sky and 200 other people. Some alert, some relaxed. All of them a bit pale but they stood in alert.

[ Attention all candidates! The first combat trial will begin in a minute. Doors shall be opened and only 2-5 candidates will be allowed for each door. Please prepare yourselves. As a future explorer you must be ready at a moment notice ]

The old man offered his hand and lifted him up with surprising strength. He was pretty fat and heavy weighing 187 lbs/85 kilos at 163 cm/5’4.

“Young man, you’re going to have to participate to a test it seems. Don’t worry we’ll help you for a bit.”

He was still out of it but Izo was hearing something about leaders and teams. There seemed to be some arguments but were soon resolved. Dark gates materialized over the cold water. The people were apprehensive but one by one began entering them.

“Dad. Let’s go.”

The old man held Izo’s shoulder firmly and with a caring smile guided him. In the door was empty darkness, not the lack of light but the absence of matter.

‘I’m entering that.’

The next thing he knew they were in a cavern and shrieks came out of putrid eggs.

Only then did his monkey brain began working as a writhing blobby mass jumped. Its tentacles aimed for his mouth.

“Fu-“

Bang!

The thing was blown back by a revolver shot from the old man.

“Stand for a bit.”

The kind elder muttered his apology and with big strides, jumped on the thing’s belly. His boot mashed the creature’s core and it exploded over his boots and some on Izo’s clothes.

He was just about to exclaim in surprise when the daughter, seeing how the thing was killed, pulled out her own gun and shot another creature while it was fast approaching.

Two other people with them also responded. They kicked the creatures out of the air. Afterwards, they stomped them to death.

‘W-where am I?’

There Izo was, a meager fat man surrounded by spartans. Everyone was athletic and even the old man. The turtle neck and leather pants couldn’t hide the greek adonis body.

[ Round 1 of 3 completed!

60 seconds till next round. Please use the market to aid in arena completion. ]

With the monstrous octopi (that’s what they most resembled) were cleared, a screen in his mind appeared.

It was divided into many sections like melee, ranged and supplementary and it had a small reminder.

[ Simply think about the item and speak buy. You may change buying procedure later.

Points transfer available.

Balance: 100 points ]

Seeing the others browsing the shop he also looked. His mind was still muddy and brain still half asleep but he could at least copy what they were doing.

Izo went the melee section as he knew nothing about guns or anything there.

[ Stabber (500 points)

Aluminum composite. Doesn’t rust and needs minimal cleaning. Commonly found in jungle worlds. ]

‘Where are the cheap ones?’

He categorized by cheapest price and found useless free like “shell” or “broken needle”. So he filtered from 1 to 10 points.

‘This!’

[ Common Branch (2 points)

A common branch from a common terrestrial planet. Useful as a weapon and source of light when burned ]

Izo saw it materialize, glimmering in a countless colored coat. Arm length and hefty, it could knock out a man.

[ Round 2 of 3 begin! ]

From the air appeared formless visages that solidified into more eggs. They cracked as they fell and slimy octopi came out.

Standing in front, in priestly attire that should’ve been dignified, was a gaunt bearded man. He’s clothes were creased and reeked of body odor. His eyes were a bit drooping and he had no smiles as he held a wooden shield and pipe wrench.

Joined by an office worker that could’ve been a wrestler, the old man, his granddaughter, they looked ready enough.

‘Let me stand back. Ehem. I don’t want interfere with my nonexistent fighting skill.’

The octopi slithered stupidly to the closes victim and pounced. The priest easily deflected them to the sides to the waiting others. The grandfather had holstered his gun and instead switched to a golf club. He wasn’t sure why they weren’t using their guns but the gunless man doesn’t complain.

Thankfully, the things were brainless and targeted the closest prey. The shield bounced them back easily enough and consequently allowed them to be dealt with slowly.

Round 2 was easily cleared without Izo doing anything.

With the market open again. He was embarrassed for not contributing so he thought about what he could do to help. The grandfather asked at the same time.

“Any ideas to make clearing these things easier?”

“A grenade since they tend to clump up.”

“Girl, do you want our friend to be pierced by shrapnel?”

Izo checked the market for a grenade alternative. He found an equivalent of a gas cannister.

[ Promethium Gas Can (20 points)

Volatile but also effective fuel. Warning can easily combust, spreading burning liquid.]

“Umm. Here, I found something.”

“Good work young man. No one would object if we pooled points for this one, yes?”

With that round 3 began with over 100 eggs appearing at the same time. When they did crack some of the octopi looked entirely different. They had a black carapace and were twice as large.

At this point, Izo released the breath he was holding. He was scared and adrenaline made him jumpy. He was the only one that was scared here but he couldn’t help it.

“Don’t worry if you’re scared. It’s normal when you don’t have experience. The bigger issue to me is you’re trying to be fearless when you haven’t the basis for it.”

The girl said to him as she slapped his shoulders.

“Take arms against a sea of troubles and end them but start slow.”

“Thank you.”

*

They jumped and attacked but they swatted them back. At the same time, they made sure to retreat back. Since there were too many of the octopi Izo had to contribute now. When one targeted his face, he let all his fears go and swung hard. His waist hurt a bit for it seemed that he pulled something but he was successful it beating it back.

A couple more of awkward swings and they were sufficiently grouped up. The girl threw the gas cannister with a lit cloth now hanging on it lip.

The flame engulfed the octopi and began burning the moisture out their flesh. They writhed and shrieked but the fire didn’t die till they were charred.

[ Arena Completed!

+50 points

Points Expended = 6

Total Gain = 44]

He was panting. His beating heart began slowing down and it was replaced by physical exhaustion.

“Good work.”

The girl was examining the octopi remains when she said that.

“Thanks.”

“Yes, good work.”

The beautiful smile was replaced by the bulging muscles of a man and his white hair.

‘Why do I have the feeling that he’s blocking my view?”

[ Congratulations for completing the first challenge. We hope that the candidates have got a good grasp of the difficulty that you’ll have to go through in the future.

You may rest for now. Tomorrow, the grand opening ceremony begins.

14:00:00 time left. ]

With that the door appeared once more.

*

“Build a shelter to spend the night?”

“Hunt some food too.”

Izo didn’t speak as he had no experience with wilderness survival. The other members of the group discussed back on the beach where no signs of civilization could be found. Also nobody else has returned yet it seems.

‘Weird. Seems earth-like but not.’

There was a crab but it had four claws and four eyes. The priest hit it with the pipe.

“Sorry, weird crab.”

“The market is available here.”

They checked it and found the survival section. There were pre-made logs and electronic appliances there. Only they were too costly. They decided instead to buy saws and axes to build their own shelter.

Everyone was delegated a task where Izo was to find firewood. The priest was tasked to scout the nearby area so thankfully he had someone to accompany him. He wasn’t really used being around people so he was anxious and faintly keeping distance.

“I’m sorry for you, being stuck with a stinky vagrant.”

“Uhm, no. It’s fine Sir priest, sir.”

“Sir? I’m no sir. Just Petro.”

“Petro. Uhh. Izo.”

Petro offered his hand.

‘It’s just a handshake. Don’t worry if you give an awkward handshake. Phew.’

“I see you’re quite nervous. Seeing the others who also came here, you’re not really not in the similar domain as a person. Most of the them seems military, criminal or athletes. You however.”

Petro eyed him top to bottom.

“You have guts at least to come here. May I ask what was the first test you did?”

“Investigate a shady mall? I had no experience so it was tough.”

“Mine was to battle in an arena for a day. Hmm. Well, maybe you have skills that I don’t Izo. The same in reverse. If you need help just ask. If I need help, I hope I can count you.”

“Sure. Sure.”

Petro spoke fondly about preaching and helping people but once the church was mentioned he got quiet. They talked for a while more but parted soon.

‘I’m not sure how a priest had the physique and skills that he has but definitely not a normal person.’

He diligently searched for burnable wood and soon had enough. Once he walked back, other people had returned. The sound of voices and chopping of wood permeated the jungles.

He dropped the wood at where the grandpa and his granddaughter were building a hut.