We’re in a classroom. I don’t know which of the gods it is that designs these floors, but whoever it is, they should get fired into the sun. There’s a blackboard, seats for everyone, a striking lack of windows, and anything else you might need to make people like me have an anxiety attack. Luckily enough, I’m sitting next to Gecko—unfortunately, though, we’re at the very front.

Before anyone else in the room—I count twenty-eight in total—has time to freak out about the sudden teleportation, Hunter slides in from exactly nowhere, taking his place in front of the blackboard. At least now he’s wearing proper clothing. But that’s only if I look at him with my left eye.

If I look at him with my right...

…Nah. I don’t feel like getting the heebie-jeebies right here. That can wait.

“Welcome, everyone! You must be wondering where we are. Here, allow Me to…”

He makes a face of concentration, and suddenly…

Hell Difficulty Thirty-Sixth Floor:

The Prison Island.>

<[Clear Condition]

Listen and learn!>

A hand instantly flies up, and Hunter points to it. The person clears their throat before speaking. “Yeah, uh, what the fuck?”

“Excellent question!” Unlike the last time he said this, Hunter actually proceeds to answer it. “This floor used to be fairly different, however, after some complaints, and a couple of wishes, We opted to alter it into an introductory showcase to get everyone up-to-date regarding the ante-purgatory trials. Now, before I explain things you already know, can anyone tell Me what the ante-purgatory trials are?”

Gazes are shared between challengers. In the end, a few hands tentatively rise. Hunter points at one of them, and the person, although stunned, quickly begins explaining what the heck is going on. “W—well, um, isn’t it a test to check if we’re ready to move onto purgatory?”

“Almost! Even more than that, the ante-purgatory test decides how long you have to spend in Purgatory before being given the opportunity to do the final part of the tutorial and graduate.” Another hand flies up. “Yes?”

The guy whose hand was raised lowers it. “Isn’t it also a way to prove that we’re deserving of the skills we’ve received?”

“Precisely! Depending on the grades you get during these trials, you may be branded by one to seven Ps, each one sealing a skill, which you’ll have to regain by completing the decrees of the Gods who granted them. The trials will test you in survival, combat, willpower, and,” he glances at me, grin widening, “—teamwork!”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Ah. Shoot.

“Some of you may be wondering,” he continues, not sparing me another glance, “about what your difficulty will change for the trials. Will you be judged more harshly? Will there be more enemies? Will you be alone? All great questions. Unfortunately, none of these are the case. The difference in difficulty lies in how many of the trials you’ll have to complete.”

Seriously? That sounds pretty… I mean, if that’s the case, does it mean the easy difficulty guys only have to do one or two?

…Will I have to do an extra one?

After a long pause, he turns to me. “You’ve got it the other way around.” I blink at him. Did he…? But, no, he’s looking out at everyone, now. “Since you who have fought through the higher difficulties have overcome greater hardships and tougher tribulations, you will be deemed as more capable by default. Those of the Normal difficulty are exempt from the willpower trial; those coming from Hard will be allowed to skip both willpower and combat; and our one and only Hell challenger, the charming Kitty, will only have to do the teamwork trial! Delightfully topsy-turvy, no?”

If he hadn’t pointed at me to show off his point, they wouldn’t have known. Then, they wouldn’t all be looking at me like I was a little green alien. Much like I have done many times before, I crouch down further in my seat, wishing against hope that people might stop looking at me.

But… that’s not the worst thing. That isn’t all of it. There’s a horrific possible meaning to his words, and even though I don’t really mind whatever it is a bad grade means, I still have to ask.

I slowly raise my hand. He points at me, nodding. “So, um…” I gulp. “If you skip all trials but one, does that one trial decide your entire grade?”

He grins maliciously. “Oh, no, We aren’t that cruel. The other trials become an automatic A. Don’t fret about that!”

That’s calming, I guess. But it still doesn’t change the fact that of all the trials I could be forced to participate in, I specifically have to do the one that makes my skin crawl at the mere thought.

This sucks.

And you know what sucks even more? The answer has caused a divide in the other challengers. The Easy difficulty people, which is the majority, are noticeably upset. But even the people doing Normal look a bit mad, because while they may be better off than some, they aren’t as well-off as they think I am. So, as I devolve into a mild bout of panic, they begin to mutter and mumble and grumble.

Ah. This really sucks.

Hunter claps his hands, and the classroom falls silent. “Let’s not envy each other, yes? I failed to mention this earlier, but none of your lives will be threatened during this trial. Even the survival and combat segments will be closely guarded, and if I deem you unfit to continue, you’ll be removed from the trial. This will result in a grade docking, but that’s only to be expected.” His eyes move across the room. “And… that’s about it! After this trial, alongside a grade talk with your difficulty administrator, you’ll be let loose in Purgatory, free to chase your destiny. Regain your skills, get to know the world you’re being trained to save, and if you want to, you don’t need to continue to the paradise section. If you want to, you are more than welcome to remain in Purgatory, creating a life for yourselves. So to speak…” His smile is warm. Inviting. No, even more than that—welcoming. “You’re in the home stretch, now.”

Excited looks are shared. When I turn to look at the other people around, I spot Gecko, who smiles at me with barely withheld excitement. Trying not to show my surprise too much, I match her smile.

“With that all said…” Hunter clasps his hands behind his back. “What say we go ahead and start the first trial?”

The room, which had previously been bustling with enthusiastic voices, abruptly falls quiet. We all turn to look at him.

Wait, already?

Basking in the silent tension of the room, Hunter wanders over to one of the walls of the room, grabs a hold of a red seam I hadn’t noticed before, pulls on a thread, and grins as the seam starts to come undone. “The trial for survival starts… now!”

He tugs on the string, the entire seam unfolds, and as though on cue, the whole room falls apart, revealing the classroom to be in the middle of a sandy beach, on the shore of a small island.

…What the heck?