The Extra's Rise

"What's with this sudden island survival nonsense?" Rose groaned, flopping dramatically onto the table beside me. "I thought we were supposed to be learning magic and fighting techniques, not playing castaway."

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Yeah, I'm surprised too."

Surprised was putting it mildly. This wasn't just a regular training exercise—this was a full-blown survival test, dumped onto us out of nowhere, in the middle of the semester, with no prior warning. It wasn't even the midterms, which meant it had no real stakes.

Which made it even more suspicious.

Across the cafeteria, first-years were already buzzing with theories, their voices a mix of excitement and frustration. Some were already forming alliances, while others were grumbling about the unfairness of it all.

Rose stirred her drink with unnecessary aggression, watching as a group of Class B students huddled together, deep in what was obviously a strategy meeting.

"You think this is really just training?" she asked.

I leaned back, watching the others. "Maybe. But I doubt it's that simple."

Her gaze flicked to me, questioning.

"This is exactly what Cecilia was talking about," I said. "She told me our midterms would be a survival battle royale. But now they're throwing us into something that looks exactly like it, only they're calling it an 'experience-building exercise.'"

Rose frowned. "So, what, they're testing the waters?"

"Or setting expectations," I muttered. "Either way, this isn't just a drill."

She didn't reply, but the crease between her brows deepened.

Across the hall, Rachel was talking with Lucifer, her arms crossed, her expression thoughtful.

Ian was grinning ear to ear, clearly far too excited about the idea of being thrown into the wilderness with things to fight.

Ren looked deeply unimpressed, and Jin had barely reacted at all, which was on brand.

Rose sighed again. "So, are you going solo, or…?"

"I haven't decided."

She pursed her lips. "Well, if we run into each other, let's not fight."

"Agreed," I said, because at this point, I was picking my battles carefully.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The sun hung high and merciless as the first-year students stood in the Academy's massive teleportation hall, awaiting their inevitable doom.

Instructor Nero stood at the front, as collected and unimpressed as ever.

"Listen carefully," he said, his voice carrying across the hall. "The rules of this exercise are simple."

A sharp flick of his wrist, and small silver bracelets materialized in front of each of us, hovering in the air.

"These are your tracking bracelets."

I caught mine, examining it. The smooth silver band pulsed faintly, inscribed with runes I couldn't quite recognize.

"They will log every beast you defeat," Nero continued, "as well as every student you defeat."

Murmurs rippled through the hall.

"But before any of you get excited," he said flatly, "defeated students are not eliminated. This is not a last-man-standing exercise. If you lose a fight, you lose points—nothing more."

I frowned slightly.

That made it sound even more like a test run for something bigger.

Cecilia, standing a few rows away, caught my eye and winked.

I sighed.

"The island itself is densely populated with mana beasts," Nero continued, "and has been divided into different biomes. You will be randomly teleported to various locations, and it is up to you whether to form alliances or go solo."

Another wave of whispers—students were already planning.

Rose shot me a sideways glance, but I had no time to respond—

Because a second later, Nero lifted his hand, and the warp gates activated.

A flash of light, a pull of mana, and the world tilted—

And then—

I landed somewhere entirely new.

The cool shade of a dense jungle surrounded me, the scent of damp earth thick in the air, the sound of distant beasts rumbling in the distance.

I exhaled, adjusting my stance.

"Right," I muttered. "Time to survive."

The important thing here wasn't just fighting—it was surviving. 

Or, more accurately, knowing how not to die on an island filled with hostile mana-infused wildlife, questionable food sources, and students who might decide that knocking their classmates out for extra points was a valid strategy. 

Luckily, this was where I had an advantage over the noble-born prodigies who had probably never gone a day without prepared meals, enchanted lighting, and servants ensuring their lives remained perfectly comfortable. 

In my previous world, I was an avid camper. 

And while I had never set up camp while dodging magical beasts, the fundamental principles of survival remained the same—find shelter, secure food, and don't get eaten. 

The jungle was thick, humid, and buzzing with unfamiliar sounds. Insects flitted between the trees, larger than they had any right to be, while deeper in the undergrowth, something rustled, moving with a deliberate patience that suggested it wasn't just a passing herbivore. 

I moved carefully, my sword resting in its sheath but ready at a moment's notice. The Academy had allowed us to keep our weapons, which meant they expected us to need them. 

I found a small clearing by a stream, the ground dry enough for a decent camp, with a few large trees creating a natural barrier behind me. It was as good a place as any to rest, though I wouldn't risk sleeping here without securing the area first. 

After gathering a few large leaves and loose vines, I fashioned a simple snare trap, setting it just along the animal trail leading toward the water. If I was lucky, I'd have something to eat by nightfall. If not, I'd need to get more aggressive with my hunting. 

I crouched by the stream, splashing some water onto my face, letting the coolness ease the heat building in my body from the thick air. The island had a strange energy to it, the kind that made the air feel heavier, charged with something just beneath the surface. 

Then I felt it. 

A shift. 

Not in the air, not in the water, but in the silence. 

Something was watching me. 

I turned slowly, standing up as my fingers curled around the hilt of my sword. 

At the edge of the clearing, half-hidden in the shadows of the trees, a beast stood. 

It was massive, its dark fur streaked with faint lines of glowing blue mana, its golden eyes fixed on me with the kind of intelligence that made my skin prickle. Its claws were long enough to gut me in a single swipe, its muscles coiled in anticipation. 

It wasn't reacting out of instinct. It was measuring me. 

Deciding whether I was worth the effort. 

I exhaled, adjusting my stance. 

If I could take it down, I'd get a serious boost in points. If I failed, I'd be limping through the rest of this survival exercise with more than a few broken ribs. 

It snarled, baring sharp teeth. 

Then it charged.