The Unmaker: Level 1 to Godhood

The virtual sun rose over the forest, casting long shadows across the dense canopy. Seven in-game days had passed since the test began, and the once-thriving group of applicants in the cave had been whittled down to a handful of survivors. Rob sat near the cave entrance, his back against the cool stone wall, staring out at the trees. The forest was eerily quiet, as if even the monsters were holding their breath.

Lina approached, her footsteps soft against the dirt floor. She handed him a small piece of roasted meat—the last of their supplies from the saber-toothed tiger they had killed days ago. "You look like you're a million miles away," she said, sitting down beside him.

Rob took the meat with a nod of thanks. "Just thinking about how far we've come," he said, his voice low. "Remember when we first got here? It was chaos. No one knew what they were doing. Now… well, we're still here. Some of us, anyway."

Lina sighed, her gaze drifting to the cave floor. "Yeah. We've lost a lot of good people."

The memories of their fallen companions hung heavy in the air. The tall man who had led them with such authority, sacrificing himself to save the group during a monster attack. The young woman who had been so skilled at foraging, taken by a pack of wolves. The scrawny guy who had finally started contributing, only to be caught in a radiation field. Each loss had left a mark, a reminder of how fragile their survival was.

"Do you think they're watching us?" Rob asked suddenly, glancing up at the sky. "The evaluators, I mean. Do you think they see what we've been through?"

Lina shrugged. "Probably. They've got those monitors everywhere. But I doubt they care about the details. To them, we're just numbers. Survivors and failures."

Rob frowned, tearing off a piece of the meat. "Maybe. But if they're watching, I hope they see how hard we've fought. How much we've lost."

The group's numbers had dwindled, but their bond had grown stronger. The remaining members—Rob, Lina, a former botanist named Mira, a quiet but skilled hunter named Jax, and a resourceful crafter named Taro—had become a tightly-knit team. They worked together seamlessly, each person playing a vital role in their survival.

Mira approached, her hands full of freshly gathered herbs. "I found some more medicinal plants," she said, placing them in a makeshift basket. "We can use these to treat wounds if—no, when—the next attack comes."

"Good work," Rob said, giving her a tired smile. "We're going to need all the help we can get."

Jax, who had been sharpening a spear near the fire, looked up. "Speaking of attacks, we need to reinforce the cave entrance. That last monster nearly broke through. If it hadn't been for Taro's traps, we'd all be dead."

Taro, who was busy weaving vines into a net, nodded without looking up. "I'm working on it. But we're running out of materials. If we don't find more soon, we'll be defenseless."

Rob stood, brushing dirt off his legs. "Then we'll have to risk another foraging trip. Lina and I can go. We'll be quick."

Lina raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? Last time we went out, we almost got eaten by that… whatever it was. The thing with the horns."

"The deer-horned Bigfoot?" Rob said, grinning despite himself. "Yeah, that was fun. But we don't have a choice. We need those materials."

The foraging trip was tense. Rob and Lina moved through the forest like shadows, their senses on high alert. They gathered vines, sharp stones, and anything else that could be useful, but the constant threat of monsters kept them on edge.

As they worked, Rob couldn't help but reflect on how much he had changed since the test began. He had started as a nervous, inexperienced applicant, barely surviving his first few respawns. Now, he was a leader, someone the others looked to for guidance. It was a responsibility he hadn't asked for, but one he had grown into.

"You've come a long way, you know," Lina said, as if reading his thoughts. "From eating grass and crying in a tree to leading a group of survivors. Not bad for a rookie."

Rob chuckled. "Yeah, well, I had a good teacher."

Lina smirked. "Damn right you did."

Back at the cave, the group worked together to reinforce their defenses. Taro's traps were set, Jax's spears were sharpened, and Mira's herbs were ready. They were as prepared as they could be, but everyone knew the next attack could be their last.

That night, as they sat around the fire, Rob looked at the faces of his companions. They were tired, bruised, and scarred, but there was a determination in their eyes that hadn't been there before. They had been through hell together, and it had forged them into a family.

"Whatever happens tomorrow," Rob said, his voice steady, "I just want to say… thank you. For sticking together. For not giving up. We've lost a lot, but we're still here. And that's something."

The group nodded, their expressions solemn. No one needed to say anything more. They all knew what was at stake.

The final day of the test arrived, and with it came the most brutal attack yet. A horde of monsters descended on the cave, their roars shaking the ground. The group fought valiantly, using every trick and resource they had. Rob and Lina worked together, their movements in sync as they fended off the creatures. Jax and Taro held the entrance, their traps and spears buying precious time. Mira tended to the wounded, her hands steady despite the chaos.

But the monsters were relentless. One by one, the group's defenses were overwhelmed. Jax fell first, his spear shattered as a massive beast trampled him. Taro was next, dragged into the shadows by a pack of wolves. Mira managed to save Rob from a deadly swipe, but she paid the price, her body crumpling to the ground.

By the time the attack ended, only Rob and Lina remained. They stood amidst the carnage, their bodies battered and their spirits bruised, but alive.

The test finally ended, and the surviving applicants emerged from their capsules. Rob blinked against the bright lights of the Hunter Bureau, his body trembling with exhaustion. The transition from the virtual world to reality was jarring, and he stumbled slightly as he stepped out of the pod. Lina stood beside him, her face pale but determined. She reached out to steady him, her grip firm.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.

Rob nodded, though his legs still felt like jelly. "Yeah. Just… feels weird being back."

The evaluator approached, her expression unreadable but her tone professional. "Congratulations," she said, addressing the group. "You've survived the test. Not many can say the same."

Rob looked around at the other survivors. There were only a handful of them left—maybe a dozen out of the original group. Their faces were a mix of relief, exhaustion, and sorrow. Some were crying quietly, while others stared blankly at the floor, their minds still processing the horrors they had endured.

The evaluator gestured toward a large screen on the wall. "Your scores are up. Take a look."

Rob turned to the screen, his eyes scanning the list of names. His own name was there, in 8th place, with a note that he had survived all seven in-game days with several lives remaining. Beside him were the names of his fellow group members—Lina, Mira, Jax, and Taro—all of whom had made it through the test. A small smile tugged at his lips. We did it.

At the top of the scoreboard was a name that caught everyone's attention: Kai Nakamura. The tall, cold-faced applicant who had scored 463 on the Reflexes Test. He had survived all seven days as a lone survivor, with an impressive 13 lives remaining.

"Damn," Lina muttered, her eyes wide. "That guy's a machine."

Rob couldn't help but agree. Surviving alone in that hellscape for seven days was no small feat. He glanced over at Kai, who stood apart from the group, his expression as unreadable as ever. If he felt any pride in his accomplishment, he didn't show it.

The evaluator continued, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "For those of you who didn't make it, psychics are on hand to help relieve your traumatic memories. Please see the staff if you need assistance."

Rob watched as a group of psychics moved through the room, their presence calming and reassuring. They approached the applicants who had run out of lives early, their hands glowing faintly as they worked to ease the trauma of the test. It was a small comfort, but one that seemed to help.

One of the applicants, a young woman who had been eliminated early, approached Rob and Lina. Her eyes were red from crying, but she managed a small smile. "I watched you guys on the monitors," she said. "You were amazing. I… I wish I could've been as strong as you."

Rob shook his head. "You were strong just for trying. This test… it's not fair to anyone."

The woman nodded, her smile growing a little brighter. "Thanks. And… good luck with whatever comes next."

As she walked away, Rob turned to Lina. "Did you hear that? We were on the monitors the whole time."

Lina smirked. "Guess we're famous now. Too bad we didn't get any royalties."

Rob chuckled, but his laughter was cut short as the evaluator addressed the group again. "Before we proceed, I want to remind you that the seven days you experienced in the virtual reality were only two hours in real time. I know you were informed of this before the test began, but I understand it's still disorienting. Try to ground yourselves. You're back in the real world now."

The room buzzed with murmurs, but there was no shock or disbelief this time. The applicants had known about the time compression, but knowing it and experiencing it were two very different things. Rob ran a hand through his hair, trying to reconcile the two realities. Seven days in two hours. It felt like a lifetime.

Lina shook her head, her expression a mix of awe and exhaustion. "I knew it was going to feel long, but… damn. That was intense."

Rob nodded. "Yeah. Knowing it and living through it are completely different."

The evaluator gestured toward the lounge. "For now, take a break. We've prepared meals to help you readjust. Enjoy some real food—you've earned it."

The group shuffled toward the lounge, their steps slow and unsteady. Rob and Lina followed, their exhaustion giving way to a faint sense of relief. The lounge was a stark contrast to the virtual world they had just left. The air was warm and inviting, the smell of freshly cooked food filling the room. Long tables were set up, laden with plates of steaming rice, grilled meat, and vegetables. It was a feast compared to the scraps they had survived on in the virtual world.

Rob grabbed a plate and piled it high, his stomach growling in anticipation. He sat down beside Lina, who was already digging into her meal. For a moment, they ate in silence, savoring the taste of real food.

"This is… amazing," Rob said between bites. "I forgot what real food tasted like."

Lina nodded, her mouth full. "I could eat this forever."

As they ate, Rob glanced around the room. The other survivors were scattered at the tables, their expressions slowly softening as the food and warmth brought them back to reality. Even Kai, the lone survivor, was sitting alone at a corner table, eating quietly.