Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

After the open challenge where few students from all the academies challenged each other to test the strength and skills of top competition without revealing too much of their own strength and skills, the tense atmosphere calmed down a little.

No one wanted to reveal too much of their skills by showing off in a battle just before the main tournament began. Not to mention the opponent could also refuse the challenge if he didn't feel like fighting.

Obviously Rio was very happy to comply with all the requests. Beating the crap out of dumbasses who thought it'd be wise to challenge him and see what he can do, was good for his health, after all.

As for spending his mana or showing his skills before the match up and all the other primitive stuff, it didn't bother him. He was confident he could beat all the students his class year easily after all.

Not to mention mentally scarring these children and leaving a shadow of a mountain, kinda freshens up his mood a little. After all, hurting their ego in front of such a large crowd in a one-sided crushing is always a year long trauma for these young arrogant idiots.

"Silence." Professor Maleatus, the guy whose disciple offed himself, floated in the air, and gave a command.

His raspy voice amplified by mana echoed in the empty forest they were in and drowned all the chatter of every student.

"I'm sure everyone already knows how important this event is for you all. Not just to show your skills and prove to everyone about what you learned in this one year, but also to get the chance of entering the Ascendant Tower."

As the professor mentioned the tower , the crowd of students erupted into loud cheers and happy discussions amongst themselves. Their faces flourishing with their hopes and dreams to enter the tower and rise beyond their peers and leave their names in the history of world association.

Ignoring the loud cheering, professor Maleatus amplified his voice even more and continued his speech.

"Out of more than 10000 students who get enrolled at our academies every year, only the top 100 of them get the chance to enter the trial grounds of Tower.

And any one of you, who's here at this time, representing your academies, can be one of them."

"But to reach the dungeon test which would decide the top 100, you all would have to go through one final challenge." Professor said, looking at the groups of top 250 students from each academy sitting in front of him.

"You've all studied hard, trained harder and proved yourself by reaching here, but now, this round we have to shorten the numbers even more.

Out of 1250 of you from everywhere, only 500 students can enter the dungeon exam.

The hunt - The culling - The root out... whatever you call it, is here.

So be ready for your final challenge. The rules have been sent to your watches. If you have any doubts, ask the instructors and guides assigned to your batch.

You have 15 minutes to go through everything. Pray, plan, strategize, and get ready for this last hurdle.

I wish you all the very best luck."

"Man, does this guy love to talk?" Rio said while yawning by the time the long speech finished and the professor disappeared from the place.

"Rio." Freya Morgan, the student council president of Zenith, looked at him trying to doze off and shouted his name, causing his eyes to instantly widen get back in clarity. "The rules." she said, signaling how everyone else was checking the rules, and he was busy wasting time.

"Yes mam." Rio said, clicking on his watch as the square holographic screen popped up and lines of text became visible to his eyes.

He took a rough glance, before looking around to see Bernhardt, who was scratching his head smiling like an idiot, while Dahlia was explaining him something. On the other side, Lisa was seriously reading everything one by one, he could even hear her mumble some stuff but he didn't pay attention.

He looked ahead at the differently dressed students from other academies and saw everyone was busy with their head hung down, staring at those screens like their lives depended on it. Which actually kinda did, but who cares.

"Ummmm" Rio, who was busy staring at the birds flying in the air, counting feathers, thinking which unlucky student would get shit landing on their shoulders, was interrupted by a cough as a shadow loomed over him and soon a figure blocked his sight.

"Rio, have you read the rules?" Freya asked, with a slight smile that looked kinda cold for her hot figure and the fiery temperament she's known for.

'Already did. Before even you, if I'm right.' Rio said in his heart as his partner professor Ryuk had been a very helpful person in his plan this time.

But since he couldn't say that, he just smiled and nodded his head. Thinking to boast his genius brain in front of this girl who'll be the professor two years later and teach the protagonist.

But who knew, she'd play her cards wrong and instead of asking questions about rules, she gave that same professor- like reply. "Then read again."

Rio clicked his tongue on the wasted opportunity to show off and buried his head back into the transparent screen again.

[Rules for 'The Hunt']

The game of hunt would be held in the Frighenart forests. The students would be teleported randomly with the sole goal to hunt the monsters occupying the forest.

[The trick, not every monster will get you points, only those marked by a golden seal over their body would add on for your points.

So be sure to check your prey before jumping into a fight, or you might end up wasting your energy and not score anything.]

Point distribution scale

-– F rank monster - 1 point

E rank monster - 10 points

D rank monster - 50 points

C rank monster - 250 points

B rank monster - 500 points

(The one who lands the final blow is the one who gets the points.)

Other than the killings, finding the various herbs listed in the next image can be exchanged for points too.

The forest here has been affected by a spatial crack opened 10 years ago. And the creatures and plants inside have been constantly going through mutation ever since then. Find the source of these changes and solve the trouble.

— 10000 points

Fighting and stealing between students is allowed. But kill points once obtained cannot be transferred to anyone in any case.

The match would go on until only 500 students remained, or someone solved the final challenge.

There are mystery elements, traps, treasures and surprises in the forest too. So always be on your guard.

...

'Man, they really forgot to mention they threw in the death penalty criminals caught by world association inside the forests to die too huh. Promising freedom in return for how many students they eliminate.' Rio said in his heart and added "Along with the fact that you will be without any potions, any artifacts and other defensive measures of the academy too." He said to himself and smiled in his heart over why these old office guys liked surprising children so much.

'But that's only better, I got a surprise of my own too.' Rio thought and looked at the bright sun in the sky. 'Eclipse is coming.'

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Author note - Rio's game of hunt starts soon. And y'll finally get to see eclipse in action again.