> Stage 1 - 2.545%

Alonso wiped the shark’s blood off his hands, staring at the orb as it disappeared into his skin. His muscles ached from the effort, and his mind buzzed with the rapid progression. Twenty-five down, but he still had 24 more to go. The shore was littered with the remains of his kills, forming an eerie backdrop to his quest.

The once serene lakeside now looked like a battlefield, with massive shark carcasses strewn across the rocks. He’d moved along the shore, creating makeshift barriers with their bodies to attract more sharks and make the hunt easier. But now, exhaustion was creeping in, and even with his progress, the end seemed distant.

While he had a superhuman physique and could go longer without rest, there was a limit. He’d traveled over 700 kilometers non-stop, evaded hundreds of scorpions and falcons, fought three men to the death in the Oasis, endured a grueling duel with Chiara, and now hunted 24 sharks. Hell, he even wondered how he was still standing.

His legs felt like lead, his arms burned with fatigue, and his mind was screaming for a break. But he couldn’t stop. Not now. Not with Siddharth looming on the horizon.

Alonso knew it was more efficient to increase his stage progress first, then train. The more progress he made, the faster his thoughts would become, and the stronger his EM wave control would be. So… he couldn’t stop. At most, he could afford a very short break. And so he did.

He made his way back to where Ayu sat, meditating. She had likely been focusing on her own EM wave control the whole time. He sat down a bit farther from her, making sure to respect her space, while taking in deep, steadying breaths and allowing his body a moment of rest.

For the first time, Alonso really looked at her. He hadn’t had the chance—or the confidence—to do it earlier.

He had to admit, Ayu was, by all standards, an attractive young woman. If he had to guess, he’d peg her nationality as somewhere around Thailand or Indonesia. Her skin had a deeper tan than the typical Chinese or Korean, and her face carried that unmistakable Southeast Asian charm.

She also had an incredibly well-shaped, athletic body.

Just as he caught himself lingering on those thoughts, Houston’s voice rang in his mind, brimming with sarcasm.

“Chiara and now Ayu. You’re literally their prisoner, on a life sentence, with death looming in two days, and you’re sitting here thinking, ‘Wow, Ayu’s hot.’ Man, I feel robbed. I could’ve been in Chiara’s head, but nooo, I got stuck with you. Maybe I’ll apply for a transfer. Who knows, after enough work experience, I could climb the corporate ladder and land myself a better mind to hang out in.”

Alonso stifled a laugh, shaking his head. "Shut up, Houston," he muttered under his breath.

"Hey, I’m just saying. Chiara’s got that boss vibe and is a genius with EM waves. You, meanwhile, are sitting here in shark guts, swooning over your captor. Real progress, Alonso. Real progress."

Alonso snorted, glancing at Ayu, who remained completely unfazed. She didn’t seem to notice—or maybe she didn’t care—about whatever nonsense was going through his head. He leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment, letting the exhaustion sink in for just a few seconds longer.

His mind drifted back to everything that had transpired since he arrived at the Oasis—things he hadn’t had the time to process, especially the death sentence hanging over him.

“Why is this stupid rule applied to newcomers?” he thought, anger bubbling up as he tried to make sense of his predicament. “Who even told me the laws around here? And now, just because I killed someone on this live-or-die island—where all I’ve learned is to kill creatures and… humans—I’m sentenced to death. Just because they’ve got this Oasis-Utopia thing going, suddenly I’m the bad guy?”

Houston’s voice interrupted his thoughts, dry as ever. “Oh, poor Alonso, tossed into the Oasis and sentenced to death for killing people. How unjust. You’d think they’d roll out the red carpet for you.”

Alonso could feel his temper rising. “That’s not the point,” he mentally snapped back. “They expect me to follow their rules when I didn’t even know they existed. What did they think would happen when a newcomer lands in a kill-or-be-killed scenario? Hand out pamphlets titled, ‘Don’t Kill the Residents?’”

“Yeah, maybe if you’d asked nicely, they would’ve given you a free pass for your first murder,” Houston replied with biting sarcasm. “Oh wait, you did it three times!”

"I didn’t ask for this! I never wanted to be thrown into this! I hate killing humans, and I’d prefer to avoid it altogether. But I also hate being put at the mercy of a makeshift society where two band leaders, in what’s basically a community of warriors, hunters, and murderers, make their own crappy rules. And what if the newcomer is talented, an asset that could help them progress through their trials? Where’s the preferential treatment for that? Are they afraid of being surpassed? That any newcomer has to become passive, hang up their weapons, and lick their boots? Where’s the sense in that?"

“Ah, logic. Funny how you still think that matters here. This isn’t about who’s right or wrong, or whether you had a reason. It’s about power, Alonso. You’re not powerful enough to make the rules, so you’re stuck following them. Welcome to the Oasis.”

Alonso gritted his teeth, feeling the truth behind Houston’s biting words. “Power. Of course, it always comes down to that. Here I am, doing everything to survive, but unless I’m strong enough to change the game, I’m just another pawn in someone else’s messed-up world.”

“You’re starting to catch on,” Houston's voice echoed in his mind. “They don’t care about your potential, not unless you’ve already proven yourself. Until then, you’re nothing but a risk—a wildcard they can’t control. So, either you rise, or you get crushed. And if I had to guess, that’s why the trial by combat exists in the first place. If the one who killed has the power to back it up, then he’s no longer the one sentenced, but the executioner instead.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Alonso’s thoughts churned at Houston’s words. It made a twisted kind of sense. In this world, everything was about strength. The rules didn’t matter if you were strong enough to break them.

The trial by combat... it’s not just a punishment, Alonso realized, it’s a test. If I win, I’m not the condemned anymore. I’m the one in control.

Houston continued, his tone a mix of cynicism and cold reality. “Exactly. The Oasis isn’t about justice—it’s about power dynamics. If you win, they have no choice but to accept you. You become the one with the leverage, and suddenly, you’re no longer a problem—they are.”

“But they make winning nearly impossible, especially for a newcomer. If Siddharth were here in the camp and not off in that tunnel, I’d have to face someone with way more stage progress than me. It’s basically no different from a death sentence.”

“And what did you expect? Fairness? That didn’t even exist on Earth, and you want it here? In this savage community? Please.”

Alonso took a deep breath, the anger boiling inside him now focused and sharp. No, he thought. I don’t need fairness. I just need power.

Grabbing his sword, he stalked back toward the water’s edge.

He surveyed the field—the shore littered with the carcasses of the dead sharks, their bodies piled up like a makeshift fortress. He could use that to his advantage. He wasn’t here to play fair either.

A shadow appeared in the water—another shark drawn by the scent of blood. Alonso’s grip tightened on his weapon, his movements now swift and fluid. He activated Fake Reality again, but this time, his decoy wasn’t just bait—it was part of the strategy. The illusion appeared on the far side of the carcasses, drawing the shark’s attention, while Alonso moved with purpose, darting behind the dead bodies and using them as cover.

The shark lunged at the decoy, its massive jaws snapping down, but Alonso was already on the move. Using the slippery, blood-soaked bodies of the fallen sharks as leverage, he vaulted over the carcasses, sword raised high. With a powerful swing, he brought the blade down hard into the back of the shark’s skull, the strike precise and deadly.

The beast thrashed violently for a moment, but Alonso didn’t flinch. He twisted the sword deeper, finding the orb within, and yanked it free. The shark fell limp, sinking into the bloody waters.

> Stage 1 - 2.548%

But Alonso didn’t stop. Another ripple in the water signaled the arrival of the next shark. He barely spared a glance at Ayu, who continued her meditative state nearby, likely watching in silence.

The sharks kept coming, one after another, but Alonso was no longer the prey. He was the hunter.

He moved with speed and precision, using the dead bodies of the sharks like barricades, forcing the incoming predators into narrow pathways where they couldn’t maneuver easily. His attacks were relentless. Each strike was clean, efficient, and deadly. His movements, honed by battle and desperation, were swift and controlled, fueled by the burning need to prove he wasn’t a victim of their twisted rules.

Another shark lunged, but Alonso sidestepped easily, using a nearby carcass to block the shark’s momentum. As it floundered, he plunged his sword into its side, driving it deep until he felt the orb. Another kill. Another surge of power.

> Stage 1 - 2.551%

The sun climbed higher in the sky, but Alonso barely noticed. His body was soaked in blood, water, and sweat, but he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was the next kill, and the one after that, until he reached his goal.

One shark after another fell, their bodies adding to the growing pile on the shore. Alonso’s sword was slick with blood, but his grip never faltered. His movements were automatic now, a deadly rhythm of strike, evade, and kill.

He lost track of time. The sun burned hot above him, but Alonso’s mind was on fire, focused entirely on the hunt. Every shark that surfaced was dispatched with brutal efficiency, their orbs absorbed into his body as he pushed further toward his goal.

Finally, as the 49th shark appeared, Alonso felt the weariness creeping in. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored them. This was the last one.

The shark rushed at him, jaws wide and deadly, but Alonso was ready. He used the stacked bodies as a springboard, leaping into the air as the shark surged beneath him. Mid-air, he twisted, bringing his sword down in a perfect arc, driving the blade deep into the creature’s skull.

The water exploded in a spray of blood as the shark’s death throes rocked the surface, but Alonso didn’t hesitate. He reached into the wound, feeling for the orb, and ripped it free with one final, exhausted pull.

> Stage 1 - 2.644%

He’d done it. Forty-nine kills. Not even five hours had passed since the hunt started.

image [https://i.imgur.com/EPU265m.png]

September 3, 2024 - Yarra Ranges, Australia

“Hey, MAI, give me a review of the progress,” Pablo ordered while adjusting his VR helmet.

Survival rates update since 3 days ago (individual/non-cumulative):

* Completion of 1st Floor: 90% → 91%

* Completion of 2nd Floor: 84% → 85%

* Completion of 3rd Floor: 37% →40%

* Completion of 4th Floor: 58% → 66%

* Completion of 5th Floor: 98% → 100%

* Completion of 6th Floor: 34% → 36%

* Completion of 7th Floor: 72% → 73%

Overall chance of overcoming the first tier: 3.89% → 5.37%

Weak areas:

* Combat proficiency

* Susceptibility to fear

* Vulnerability to temptation

Strong areas:

* Extensive scientific knowledge

* Advanced EM (electromagnetic) control

Suggested exercises:

* Focused combat simulations

* Fear resistance training

* Mental fortification exercises to reduce temptations

World ranking (limited to current VR users):

* 42nd percentile

"Not very appealing as always," Pablo muttered. It makes you wonder how that freak Alonso survived all of that without any training or prior knowledge.

Notification: As requested, this is a push notification announcing the release of the report on the three climbers killed.

Huh? Oh, yes! Pablo quickly clicked the link and a holographic screen appeared before him. However, the information was much briefer than he expected:

"Killed by another climber in a one vs. three scenario. Location: Oasis (Challenge-?, Tier 2, The Tower)."