The Unmaker: Level 1 to Godhood

The roar that had echoed through the forest was deafening, a primal sound that sent shivers down Rob's spine. The applicants in the cave froze, their eyes wide with fear. Then, the sound of crashing underbrush and panicked shouts reached them.

"It's coming!" someone screamed from outside.

Rob and the others rushed to the cave entrance, their makeshift weapons in hand. What they saw made their blood run cold. A massive saber-toothed tiger, its fur striped with shadows and its eyes glowing with feral rage, was locked in a deadly dance with one of the applicants. The man, barely in his 20s, dodged and weaved with desperate agility, a sharpened stick clutched in his hand.

"Can someone please help me?!" the man shouted, his voice strained with fear and exhaustion. He lunged forward, stabbing the monster in the eye. The tiger roared in pain, its massive paw swiping at the air as it tried to retaliate.

For a moment, the other applicants hesitated, their fear rooting them to the spot. But then, the older applicants—those in their 30s who had taken on a leadership role—rushed forward. They brandished flimsy stone knives and sharpened sticks, their faces set with grim determination.

"We can't let it kill him!" one of the older men shouted. "Surround it! Go for its legs!"

The group moved in, stabbing and slashing at the tiger's flanks. But their weapons were crude, and the monster's thick hide absorbed most of the damage. The tiger snarled, its massive body twisting and turning as it lashed out with its claws. One of the older applicants was sent flying, his arm bleeding from a deep gash.

"We're not doing enough damage!" another applicant cried, panic creeping into his voice.

Then, a younger applicant—a man in his mid-20s with a muscular build—stepped forward. He raised his fists, his stance like that of a boxer. "Move aside!" he shouted, his voice filled with bravado.

The boxer dodged a swipe from the tiger's paw and delivered a powerful uppercut to its jaw. The blow didn't do much damage, but it staggered the monster, giving the others a brief opening.

"What are you waiting for?!" the older applicant who had been knocked down shouted, clutching his wounded arm. "Tie it with vines! We finally have meat!"

The group sprang into action. Rob grabbed a length of vine and tossed it to Lina, who was already moving toward the tiger's hind legs. Others followed suit, using the vines to entangle the monster's limbs. The tiger roared in fury, its massive body thrashing as it tried to break free.

"Hold it down!" the man who had been fighting the tiger shouted. He stabbed the monster in its other eye, blinding it completely. The tiger's movements became more frantic, but its lack of vision made it easier to predict.

The boxer delivered another punch, this time to the tiger's ribs, while the others worked to tighten the vines. Slowly but surely, the monster's struggles grew weaker. Finally, with a collective effort, the group managed to tackle the beast to the ground.

"Now! Finish it!" the older applicant ordered.

The man who had been fighting the tiger didn't hesitate. He drove his sharpened stick into the monster's throat, ending its life with a final, gurgling roar.

The cave was silent for a moment, the only sound the heavy breathing of the applicants. Then, as the reality of what they had just accomplished sank in, a cheer erupted.

"We did it!" someone shouted, their voice filled with disbelief and triumph.

Rob collapsed onto the ground, his heart still racing. He looked at the tiger's massive body, its fur matted with blood, and felt a strange mix of relief and guilt. They had survived—but at what cost?

The older applicants quickly took charge, directing the group to butcher the tiger and prepare the meat. "We can't waste this," one of them said, his voice firm. "This could keep us fed for days."

Rob helped carry the meat back to the cave, his mind still reeling from the battle. As he worked, he couldn't help but notice the way the group had come together. Despite their differences, despite the arguments and tension, they had fought as one.

But as he glanced at the wounded applicant being tended to by Lina, Rob knew that their victory had come at a price. The tiger was dead, but the forest was still full of dangers. And the next threat might not be so easy to overcome.

After the intense battle with the saber-toothed tiger, the older applicants—those in their 30s who had taken on a leadership role—gathered in a corner of the cave for a meeting. The atmosphere was tense but focused. The group had survived the tiger, but the experience had made it clear that they needed better organization if they were going to survive the virtual environment.

"We need structure," one of the older applicants said, his voice firm. "Right now, we're just a bunch of individuals trying to survive. If we're going to make it, we need to work together."

The others nodded in agreement. Respect for elders was a tradition many of them had grown up with, and it seemed natural to defer to the older members of the group. One of the women, a no-nonsense type with a sharp gaze, spoke up. "I think we should have departmental leaders. One person to handle food, another for logistics, and so on. It'll make things more efficient."

"Yeah, that's good," another man added. "We need a logistics department leader to distribute food, handle inventory, and manage the bodies of hunted animals. Someone else can be in charge of foraging and hunting."

The group quickly fell into a rhythm, brainstorming roles and responsibilities. One of the older men, a tall, broad-shouldered figure with a commanding presence, took charge. "Alright, listen up," he said, pointing at individuals as he spoke. "You're going to be the leader of foraging and hunting. You," he pointed at another, "are assigned to logistics and inventory, like you suggested. You," he pointed at a third, "are in charge of butchering and cooking the food we have. And you," he pointed at a fourth, "are assigned to security."

The chosen leaders nodded, accepting their roles. But one of them raised a question. "How are we going to enforce this? The system prevents violence, so we can't just punish people who don't follow the rules."

The tall man smirked. "Then we'll get creative. The system detects direct violence, but what about indirect methods? Like tying someone up. Let me demonstrate."

He grabbed a length of vine and approached one of the other applicants, a younger man who looked confused but didn't resist. The tall man quickly tied his hands together, the vine tight but not painful. "See?" he said, turning to the others. "No violence, just restraint."

Another applicant, a skeptical-looking woman, crossed her arms. "What if they resist?"

The tall man shrugged. "Let's find out." He chose another applicant at random, a man who had been lounging near the cave entrance and hadn't contributed much. "You," he said, "come here."

The man hesitated but eventually stood up, his expression wary. The tall man approached him with the vine, but as soon as he tried to tie the man's hands, the man resisted, pulling away and struggling. But the tall man was stronger and more determined. After a brief scuffle, he managed to tie the man's hands together.

"See?" the tall man said, turning to the others. "Even if they resist, it's not violence. It's just… persuasion."

The group murmured in agreement, though some still looked uneasy. But the need for order outweighed their discomfort. The tall man clapped his hands, getting everyone's attention. "Alright, let's gather everyone and announce the new system."

The applicants were called together, their faces a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The tall man stood at the front of the group, his voice carrying authority as he spoke. "Listen up, everyone. We've survived this long by working together, but we need to do better. Starting today, we're implementing a new system to keep things organized."

He outlined the new structure, pointing to each department leader as he introduced them. "We'll have a foraging and hunting team, led by him," he said, gesturing to the first leader. "A logistics and inventory team, led by her," he pointed to the second. "A butchering and cooking team, led by him," he pointed to the third. "And a security team, led by me."

The group listened intently, though some of the lazier applicants looked less than thrilled. The tall man continued, his tone firm. "If you don't contribute, you don't eat. If you steal, you'll be tied up and left to starve. We're not playing games here. This is survival."

He then announced the final department: a crafting team responsible for making tools, weapons, and other necessities. "Each department leader will choose their own members," he said. "If you're not chosen, you're free to join whichever team you want. But remember—everyone has to pull their weight."

The announcement was met with mixed reactions. Some applicants nodded in agreement, relieved to finally have some structure. Others, particularly the lazier ones, grumbled under their breath. But no one dared to openly challenge the new system—not after seeing how quickly the tall man could tie someone up.

As the group dispersed to their new roles, the tall man raised his hand, signaling for everyone to pause. "One more thing," he said, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "It's been two days since we started this test. That means we all have a chance to grab that rare rank gear if we survive. But let me make one thing clear: if anyone is uncooperative, they'll be tied to a tree and left as bait for the monsters. Their remaining respawn might not last them three days, so until that point, everyone must contribute and respect the system—or leave."

The cave fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. The threat was harsh, but the message was clear: survival required unity, and there was no room for freeloaders.

The tall man continued, his tone firm but not unkind. "Not every applicant is here right now. Some are still out there, roaming and dying gruesome deaths. We're the lucky ones to have established order. If we want to avoid dying like that, it's best to cooperate as one."

Rob glanced around the cave, noting the mix of expressions on the applicants' faces. Some looked relieved, others uneasy, but no one dared to argue. The tall man's authority was undeniable, and the stakes were too high to risk disobedience.

The tall man raised his voice one last time. "Final announcement: if you find another applicant out there who isn't part of our group, call them and bring them in. We're stronger together. Understood?"

The group murmured their agreement, and with that, the meeting was over. The applicants dispersed to their assigned tasks, the cave buzzing with activity. Rob and Lina gathered their makeshift bags and headed for the cave entrance, ready to face the dangers of the forest once more.

As they stepped outside, Rob couldn't help but feel a sense of cautious optimism. The new system wasn't perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. For the first time since arriving in this virtual hellscape, he felt like they might actually have a chance.