For the next hour, I immersed myself in silent contemplation. The soft rustling of grass beneath my feet and the distant chirping of insects and birds blended into a soothing symphony that calmed my restless mind.

There was no need to rush; having a firm mindset would serve me far better than sheer skill levels. Or at least, I hoped that was how it worked in this world. I let the cool breeze brush against my face, grounding me in the present.

My escape into nature was interrupted by another sudden update from the quest system.

Finale Rush: Get 2X Rewards for the killing in the last 4 hours.

Haha, you noobs must have wasted your token again.

Sucks to be you X1.

Ends in 03:56:12 Hours.

Kills: 25

A smirk tugged at my lips as I read the message. While my experience in Professor Alaric's dungeon was notorious for its harshness, it seemed like he genuinely enjoyed his work.

Another increase in reward points, I mused. Why would the professor in charge do something like this? There seemed to be no logical reason behind these abrupt changes. The first increase could be seen as a motivational incentive, but there was no need for the second.

A part of me wondered if the professor took some twisted pleasure in watching us scramble for points, our desperation laid bare. But then, perhaps it was simply a game to them, a way to keep us engaged and on edge.

Maybe it was a test, designed to push us to our limits and see how we adapt. Or perhaps it was a way to weed out those who couldn't handle the pressure.

I shrugged off the thoughts, recognizing the uselessness of dwelling on motives that were beyond my understanding.

Instead, my eyes fell on the number of kills displayed on my interface. Twenty-five. Hmm.

As the quest update faded, introspecting my own motives might be more beneficial to me. While I had shied away from the unpleasant feelings, there was little else to do in these plains if I stayed away from the cursed forest. I plucked a blade of grass, twirling it between my fingers, feeling its texture against my skin. Maybe it was time to confront them.

The exhilaration I felt earlier now left a bitter taste in my mouth, a stark reminder of the duality of my emotions. There was a difference, between the thrill of victory and the dark satisfaction derived from the act of killing monsters that I had fought.

The grass blade twirled faster in my fingers as I sort out my feelings. After hours of contemplation, I recognized that half of my satisfaction came from victory, yet there was an undercurrent of darkness on the other half that scared me.

If not for the abruptness of these feelings, I might have ignored these little clues. But I had read too many stories to let these small details slide.

I looked around, the vast expanse of the plains stretching out before me, the sky a canvas of soft blues and whites. The gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth, creating a serene contrast to my turbulent thoughts. Did this world change me, or was there something else going on? I wondered. While I could appreciate my adapting skills, I didn't want to adapt in ways that were totally undesirable.

Even if slaying monsters brought a certain satisfaction, I refused to let myself become a vindictive person who kills out of fear, weakness, hatred, or any other clichéd motivation.

This is my second life, and there's no way I would let it shape me into someone I might not like. Not when limitless possibilities lay before me.

I straightened, letting the blade of grass drop from my fingers. With the cool breeze still whispering against my skin, I reaffirmed my new resolve to keep myself in check and not let this world change who I was at my core.

After settling my inner turmoil for now, I turned my thoughts back to the competition and quests.

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2nd Quest — The Trial of Skills

Survive, Thrive, Kill.

Finale Rush: Get 2X Rewards for the killing in the last 4 hours.

Ends in 03:25:48.

Kills: 25

Survive, Thrive, Kill. The competition was much more physical and lethal. My small amount of research should have prepared me for this, but the reality hit harder.

The ruthlessness and killing should be common among the students here, but for me, it was a major shock from the relative safety I was used to. Back in college, the most intense competition I faced was during our book club discussions. The biggest crisis was defending my interpretation of a novel's theme against the passionate critiques of my fellow literature enthusiasts.

I chuckled, recalling the heated debates over character motivations, the joy of discovering hidden easter eggs, the satisfaction of a well-argued point—it all seemed so trivial now. There was never a risk of getting mauled by a monster with saliva dripping from its fangs.

My moment of reminiscence was shattered by the growl of my stomach. My hand instinctively went to my midsection, feeling the faint pangs of hunger. The last of my rations had been consumed in the morning, and now, after the fight, my body demanded sustenance once more.

I scanned my surroundings for any sign of food. A few birds flitted through the rock formations, their colorful feathers catching the dappled sunlight. But I hadn't noticed anything nearing the Mist Willow Forest. Even they understood not going near the creepy forest.

The Starchaser with shimmering blues and dark purple plumage would occasionally fly in circles above my head before landing nearby, pecking at the ground before flying to another area.

For a fleeting moment, I considered roasting small animals, but I had no idea how to hunt or cook food for that matter. The thought of trying to catch one of those quick, agile creatures and then somehow preparing it for a meal was overwhelming. My stomach growled again, and I sighed, feeling a bit helpless. Suddenly, a bag fell on my head.

Recognizing it instantly, I almost hurled it at the professor’s face in my mind but settled for chewing the jerky inside. Of course, they are observing the students. This is an artificial dungeon, and not having surveillance would be ridiculous. The idea of being constantly watched made my skin crawl. Hopefully, most of it should be handled automatically. But at least it had its perks and I didn’t have to waste time searching for food.

I tore off a piece of jerky, chewing thoughtfully. The familiar taste grounded me, the jerky’s savory, salty flavor bringing a strange comfort as it softened with each bite. Despite the brutal nature of my recent battles, the act of eating felt oddly normal.

After what felt like sufficient consumption, I decided to check on how the competition was progressing. Everyone must be rushing to get those kills after seeinf the increased rewards.

Even I was getting more eager to kill, though I managed to handle my impulse. Whether it stemmed from my desire to improve or just plain bloodlust, I didn't know and wasn't inclined to find out for now.

Next, I looked at the updated rankings.

Competition Rankers

Name — Pillar — Year — Tokens — Kills

* Kael Ryker — Valerian — 2nd Year — 6 tokens — 86 kills

* Seraphine Vale — Obsidian — 1st Year — 5 tokens — 75 kills

* Elara Thorn — Ascendent — 2nd Year — 5 tokens — 68 kills

* Marik Draven — Valerian — 2nd Year — 5 tokens — 67 kills

* Talia Moon — Mystical — 2nd Year — 4 tokens — 59 kills

* Arin Lyra — Obsidian — 1st Year — 4 tokens — 59 kills

* Orion Black — Merchant — 2nd Year — 2 tokens — 52 kills

* Freya Star — Artifier — 2nd Year — 3 tokens — 49 kills

…

I noticed the new column with kill entries, and looking at the scores, I was unsure if there was something wrong with my feelings. But then I realized it was mostly due to experience. These students had been through this before; they knew the rhythms of the competition.

But one death was enough for me. I wasn’t about to risk another encounter with death so soon.

The top ranker, Kael Ryker, had lost five tokens. That meant he had died that many times if my guess about the relation between tokens and death was right. The idea of dying five times and still pushing forward was impressive. It showed a resilience I was sure I didn't possessed yet.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the two Obsidian students in 2nd and 6th places. The Valerians having large kill counts was within expectation, but Seraphine Vale's rapid ascent up the ranks was surprising. Even Arin had gone up.

The people using their tokens early must have felt some heartache seeing the Finale Rush rewards. They had pushed themselves hard early on, likely thinking the initial rush of tokens would give them an insurmountable lead, only to see others now benefiting more from the increased rewards.

The second quest was highly dependent on the first quest for having better results and getting more kills and rewards, so I was not surprised by the lack of any major changes.

Scrolling further down, I saw my own name at 68th rank:

68. Nova — Obsidian — 1st Year — 1 token — 25 kills

Below the 73rd rank, everyone had 0 tokens. Looking at the kill counts and tokens used by the others, I didn’t know what to think. Were these people crazy, or was I? Maybe I would become like them as I interacted more with the world and got more familiar with it.

Seeing my own rank gave me a moment of reflection. I had only one token left and twenty-five kills. The numbers seemed small compared to the top contenders, but they represented my first foray into the monthly contribution competitions.