The Unmaker: Level 1 to Godhood

The evaluator's voice crackled over the speakers, cutting through the low hum of conversation in the lounge. "The break is over. Please follow the staff members to the next testing chamber."

As if on cue, two staff members opened the doors and gestured for the applicants to follow. Rob stood up, his heart pounding as he joined the crowd filing into the next chamber. The room was unlike anything he'd seen before. Rows of sleek, futuristic capsules lined the walls, their surfaces glowing faintly with blue light. Staff members bustled around, adjusting settings and preparing the equipment.

The evaluator stepped forward, her voice calm but commanding. "The next test is one of the most crucial for any future hunter: the Vitality Test. This will measure your physical and magical endurance, pain tolerance, stamina, and overall survivability in hazardous environments."

A murmur of unease rippled through the crowd. Some applicants shifted uncomfortably, while others exchanged nervous glances. Rob felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. Survivability? Hazardous environments? What exactly are we walking into?

The evaluator continued, gesturing toward the capsules. "These capsules house a state-of-the-art virtual reality engine. Once inside, your consciousness will be transferred into an artificial environment with a 95% synchronization rate. This means everything you experience will feel almost entirely real."

A large screen descended from the ceiling, displaying five distinct biomes:

The Forest: A dense, sprawling jungle teeming with life and hidden dangers.

The Sandy Dunes: A vast desert with scorching heat and unpredictable sandstorms.

The Cold Arctic: A frozen wasteland where the cold itself is a deadly threat.

The Scorching Lava Fields: A volcanic landscape with rivers of molten lava and toxic fumes.

The Ocean: A deep, treacherous sea with crushing pressures and unknown creatures.

The evaluator's voice grew more intense as she explained the hazards. "Each biome is filled with anomalous dangers. You may encounter areas that electrocute you, burn you, release poisonous gases, or emit deadly radiation. Some zones will even teleport you to random locations on the map. Additionally, there are wildlife and monsters—some neutral, others hostile. These include gate monsters, ranging from F-Rank to A-Rank."

The room fell silent as the weight of her words sank in. Rob glanced around, noting the mix of reactions. Some applicants looked terrified, their faces pale and eyes wide. Others seemed excited, their expressions eager and confident. A few, like Rob, remained stoic, masking their unease.

The evaluator continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "You will be given 20 lives. Each time you die, you will respawn in a different biome—whether in a cave, high in the sky, or deep underwater. The test has a time limit of 2 hours, but inside the virtual reality, 2 hours equates to 1 week of in-game time. If none of you survive the full duration, the highest rating will be awarded to the applicant who survives the longest and uses the fewest lives."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "And don't worry—we have psychics on standby to help relieve any traumatic memories from this test."

The applicants exchanged uneasy glances. Rob's mind raced as he processed the information. Twenty lives. Five biomes. A week in-game. This is insane.

The evaluator's voice took on a more encouraging tone. "For those who survive at least 1 hour—or 3 days in-game—you will be rewarded with 1 Rare Rank item of your choosing." The screen shifted to display a variety of items: weapons, armor, potions, and skill books, all glowing with a rare, otherworldly light.

A murmur of excitement broke out, but the evaluator wasn't done. "And for those who break the highest record of 2 hours and 15 lives, the reward will be one set of Epic Rank gear tailored to your class—or one Unique Rank item from the Bureau Treasury. This reward is exclusive to applicants and valid only for today."

The room buzzed with anticipation, but the evaluator's next words brought everyone back to reality. "Do note that you will encounter each other in the virtual environment. However, you cannot attack or defend yourselves against other applicants. Your only options are to run and survive. Use every wit, survival skill, and tip you have. Being a hunter isn't just a game—it's real life." She smirked, adding, "And it's stupidly fun."

Rob felt a mix of dread and determination. This is it. The real test. He glanced at Mia, who stood a few feet away. She met his gaze and gave him a small, encouraging nod. Rob returned it, steeling himself for what was to come.

The staff members began directing applicants to the capsules. Rob stepped into his assigned pod, the interior surprisingly comfortable. As the lid closed, a soft voice echoed in his ears. "Initializing virtual reality transfer. Please remain calm."

Rob took a deep breath, his heart pounding as the world around him faded to black.

Rob's consciousness snapped into focus, and the first thing he felt was the furious rush of wind tearing at his body. His eyes flew open, and he immediately regretted it. The world around him was a blur of white clouds and endless blue sky. His stomach lurched as he realized he was falling—fast.

"What the hell?!" he shouted, his voice swallowed by the roaring wind. He glanced down at his body and groaned. "Naked? Seriously?!" The evaluator hadn't been joking about the respawn locations. He was falling from what felt like the stratosphere, completely exposed to the elements.

The wind was relentless, biting into his skin like a thousand tiny needles. His private parts were not spared either, the cold air making him wince in discomfort. "At least give me a parachute!" he screamed into the void, though he knew no one could hear him.

Then it hit him—the evaluator's final warning. "Do note also that you can't use your class skills. So, good luck."

Rob cursed under his breath. "Fuck! If I could just use my Creation skill, I could make something to slow my fall!" But the rules were clear. No skills. No shortcuts. Just raw survival instincts.

As he plummeted, the clouds around him thickened, their vapor piercing his skin like icy nails. The pain was sharp and unrelenting, but Rob forced himself to focus. Think, Rob, think! You can't die like this—not on your first life!

Then he heard it—a deep, guttural roar that sent shivers down his spine. His face paled as he turned his head, squinting through the clouds. "Oh no… please don't be a wyvern. Please don't be a dragon."

But luck wasn't on his side. Emerging from the clouds was a squadron of wyverns, their massive wings cutting through the air with terrifying precision. Their scales glinted in the sunlight, and their eyes locked onto him like he was their next meal.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Rob's mind raced. He was falling to his death, and now he had a pack of wyverns to deal with. This is the worst respawn ever.

Then, an idea sparked. Wait… if I can't use my skills, maybe I can still outsmart them. He glanced at the wyverns again, their massive bodies soaring effortlessly through the air. If I can just hitch a ride…

It was a long shot, but it was his only chance. Rob twisted his body, trying to angle himself toward the nearest wyvern. The wind resistance made it nearly impossible, but he managed to shift his trajectory slightly. The wyverns were closing in fast, their roars growing louder.

"Come on, come on…" Rob muttered, his heart pounding. He stretched out his arms, aiming for the wyvern's back. The creature was massive, its wingspan easily twice his height. If he could just grab onto something—

The wyvern banked sharply, its tail whipping through the air. Rob barely managed to dodge it, the force of the wind nearly spinning him out of control. "Not helping!" he shouted, though the wyvern clearly didn't care.

He tried again, this time aiming for the wyvern's wing. As he got closer, he could feel the heat radiating from its body, the sheer power of its movements. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the rough scales. For a brief moment, he thought he had it.

Then the wyvern jerked its wing, sending Rob tumbling through the air. He cursed, flailing as he tried to regain control. The ground was getting closer—he could see the jagged peaks of mountains rising through the clouds. This is it. I'm going to die on my first life.

But Rob wasn't ready to give up. He twisted his body again, this time aiming for the wyvern's tail. It was a risky move, but he had no other options. As he got closer, he reached out with both hands, his fingers gripping the rough scales for dear life.

The wyvern roared, thrashing violently as it tried to shake him off. Rob held on tight, his arms burning with the effort. "Yeah, not happening, buddy!" he shouted, though his voice was lost in the wind.

For a moment, it seemed like he might actually make it. The wyvern's movements slowed, and Rob managed to pull himself closer to its body. But then, without warning, the creature dove sharply, its wings folding as it plummeted toward the ground.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Rob screamed, his grip slipping as the wyvern accelerated. The ground rushed up to meet them, and Rob knew he was out of time. He let go, tumbling through the air as the wyvern pulled up at the last second, leaving him to face the inevitable.

The last thing he saw was the rocky ground rushing toward him. Then, everything went black.