The Unmaker: Level 1 to Godhood

The staff members ushered the applicants into the next room, their movements brisk and efficient. The atmosphere shifted dramatically as they stepped inside. Gone was the sterile, clinical environment of the previous chambers. Instead, they were greeted by a sprawling, futuristic space that seemed to hum with energy. The walls were lined with sleek, cylindrical capsules, each one glowing faintly with a soft blue light. At the center of the room, a massive holographic map of the battle royale arena floated in mid-air, its terrain shifting and rotating to display different regions.

Above the walls, banners of the top five guilds in the Philippines were prominently displayed, their emblems glowing with an almost regal authority. The guild leaders and executives watched from elevated platforms, their presence commanding and intimidating. The room buzzed with murmurs of awe and nervous excitement as the applicants took in the sight.

The Trident Brotherhood, the top-ranked guild, dominated the room with their banner. Murmurs about them rippled through the crowd.

"That's the Trident Brotherhood. They have the most members and the widest reach in the country."

"Their guild leader is Manuel Castro, the Dragon Knight. He's the top-ranked national hunter. Can you imagine being in the same room as him?"

Rob glanced up at the platform where Manuel Castro stood. The man exuded an aura of power, his presence alone enough to silence the room. His armor gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, and the faint outline of a dragon's shadow seemed to flicker behind him. Rob couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and intimidation.

Next to the Tri-Forged Covenant was the banner of the Akar Knights Guild, the second-ranked guild. Their emblem, a stylized phoenix rising from flames, seemed to burn with intensity. The guild was known for its history, tracing back to the pre-monster era, and its members were trained like Spartan soldiers from the Byzantine Empire.

"That's Feliciano Mario," someone whispered, pointing to the guild's leader. "He's the fourth-ranked national hunter, a Hoplite Vanguard. Famous for his leadership and group combat tactics."

Rob noticed the tension between the two top guilds. The air between their platforms felt charged, like a keg of gunpowder waiting for a spark. Even from a distance, he could sense the rivalry—a history of violence and territorial disputes that had carried over from the pre-monster era.

The third-ranked guild, the Golden Ram Legion, had a more subdued presence. Their banner depicted a golden ram's head, its horns curling elegantly. The guild was said to be the oldest organization, established right after the Great War. Their leader, Luis Bautista, the sixth-ranked national hunter and an Arcane Gunslinger, was famous for his rapid response to gate breaks in remote provinces.

"They don't get involved in the rivalries as much," someone explained. "Most of their members are wealthy families, politicians, and corporate owners. They're more about influence than fighting."

The fourth-ranked guild, the Serpent Vanguard, was known for its martial artists. Their banner featured a coiled serpent, ready to strike. Most of their members were trained in Kali martial arts, even before their awakening. Though their guild leader wasn't present, their vice guild leader, Leah Quezon, the second-ranked national hunter and a Blademaster, stood in his place. Her presence was sharp and commanding, her gaze scanning the room like a predator.

Finally, the fifth-ranked guild, the Emerald Circle, stood out with their banner of intertwined vines and leaves. Composed of shamans, mages, spirit mages, druids, and dryads, they were led by Sheila Margo, the eighth-ranked national hunter. Rob felt a pang of curiosity about them. If he were to join a guild, it would likely be the Emerald Circle. But that was assuming too much. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to be in a guild in the first place.

The Applicants' Reactions

The room buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as the applicants took in the sight of the guilds. Some whispered eagerly about the possibility of being scouted, while others looked visibly intimidated.

"Do you think they're watching us?" someone asked, glancing nervously at the guild leaders.

"Of course they are," another replied. "This is our chance to impress them."

Rob stood quietly, his mind racing. The presence of the guilds added a new layer of pressure to the upcoming test. Not only would he have to survive the battle royale, but he'd also have to perform well enough to catch the attention of the right people.

Lina leaned over, her voice low. "Nervous?"

Rob forced a smile. "A little. This is… a lot."

Lina smirked. "Just don't embarrass yourself out there. If you do well, you might even get scouted."

Rob glanced at the Emerald Circle's banner. "Do you think they'd be interested in someone like me?"

Lina shrugged. "Maybe. But don't get your hopes up. Guilds like that only take the best of the best."

Before Rob could respond, the evaluator's voice echoed through the room. "Attention, applicants. The battle royale will begin shortly. Please prepare yourselves."

The staff members began directing the applicants to the capsules, their movements efficient and precise. Rob took a deep breath, his heart pounding as he stepped toward his assigned capsule.

This was it. The final test.

As Rob climbed into the capsule, the holographic map of the arena flickered above him. The terrain was vast and varied, with dense forests, rocky mountains, and open plains. He could see markers indicating where the field bosses would spawn.

The capsule door closed with a soft hiss, and the interior lit up with a soft blue glow. A voice echoed in his ears. "Initializing virtual reality transfer. Please remain calm."

Rob took a deep breath, his mind racing with strategies and possibilities. He didn't know what to expect, but one thing was clear: this test would push him to his limits.

And he wasn't sure if he was ready.

Rob awoke to the sound of rushing water. His vision blurred for a moment before clearing, revealing a dense forest edge near a river. He blinked, taking in his surroundings. The air was crisp, and the sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. He looked down at himself, relieved to see he was still wearing the standard test suit. At least I'm not naked this time, he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips.

In his peripheral vision, his stats and health were displayed, updating in real time. His mana bar flickered slightly, reminding him of his limited reserves. He was glad the Bureau only had access to his declared class and stats, not his actual skills. It gave him an edge, and he intended to use it.

At the top right of his vision, a small person icon with a circle appeared. He tapped it, and a stat window popped up:

Name: Robert Malque

HP: 70

Mana: 36

Class: MindForge

STR: 8

AGI: 7

PER: 5

VIT: 7

MAG: 12

"Seems about right," Rob muttered, dismissing the window. Below the stat icon was a shopping cart icon. He tapped it, and a shop interface appeared:

[ Shop ]

Coins: 0

Weapons

Armor

Trinkets

Consumables

Items

Rob dismissed the shop for now. He couldn't afford to linger. The battle royale had just begun, and he needed to stay alert. Who knew if someone was already sneaking up on him while he was distracted?

At the top left of his vision, a small minimap appeared. He opened it, revealing a detailed map of the arena. The terrain was varied, with forests, mountains, and open plains. A large circle marked the safe zone, and a red-shaded area indicated where the zone would shrink next. Below the map was a timer: 30 minutes left.

Rob frowned. In a game, 30 minutes might seem like a long time, but here, it was generous. The Bureau had given the applicants plenty of time to prepare and farm coins from monsters. He dismissed the map and scanned his surroundings. The area seemed safe—for now.

As he moved cautiously through the forest, something caught his eye: a shining, floating coin in a nearby clearing. His heart skipped a beat. Coins were essential for buying gear and consumables, and this one was ripe for the taking. But there was a catch. Guarding the coin were several goblins, their beady eyes scanning the area as they patrolled.

Rob crouched low, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to waste time battling the goblins directly. Who knew if another applicant was nearby, waiting to ambush him? He needed to act quickly and decisively.

Just as he was about to make his move, he spotted another applicant approaching the clearing. The man moved recklessly, charging straight at the goblins. The creatures immediately aggroed on him, their screeches filling the air. Rob watched as the applicant began brawling with the goblins, his fists moving with surprising efficiency. A brawler, Rob thought. This might be my chance.

Rob prepared his spells, his mind calculating the best approach. He needed to take out both the goblins and the brawler in one fell swoop. He focused on two spells: Sprinkle, a harmless water spell, and Chain Lightning, a high-damage spell that would chain between targets.

A window appeared in his vision:

[ Summon: Sprinkle ]

+0 MAG ATK

Mana Cost: 0

Yes/No

[ Summon: Chain Lightning ]

+54-13 MAG ATK (damage decreases per longer chain travel)

Mana Cost: 10

Yes/No

Rob hesitated. The mana cost for Chain Lightning was high, and he wasn't sure if it would be enough to finish off the brawler, who was already taking damage from the goblins. Just to be safe, he prepared a third spell: Fireball.

He tapped Yes on Sprinkle first. A gentle spray of water droplets erupted from his fingertips, covering the area where the brawler and goblins were fighting. The brawler barely noticed, too focused on the goblins to see the droplets falling around him.

Rob quickly tapped Yes on Chain Lightning. The spell surged through the water droplets, creating a web of electricity that arced between the brawler and the goblins. The lightning chained endlessly, striking each target with brutal efficiency. The goblins screeched as they were electrocuted, their bodies disintegrating into holographic dust. The brawler convulsed, his body shaking violently before collapsing to the ground, unconscious but still alive.

Rob didn't wait. He cast Fireball, finishing off the brawler. The man's body turned to holographic dust, and a notification appeared in Rob's vision:

[ Global Kill Feed ]

Robert -> Florence

[ Coin Notifications ]

+70 Coins (You have slain x7 goblins)

+100 Coins (First Kill Achieved)

Rob grinned, his heart pounding with adrenaline. "I did it. I fucking did it."

The global kill feed flashed across his vision, announcing his first kill to everyone in the match. He didn't have time to celebrate, though.