However, beneath his calm demeanor, there was a great sense of responsibility to ensure that his team could survive and succeed in this arduous test.
The smoke from their cigarettes continued to billow, while their eyes remained alert, assessing the surroundings and the students who were preparing to face the challenges ahead. Rainforest Island was no place for the weak, and they knew very well that this test would push the physical and mental limits of the students.
Randi exhaled the last of his cigarette smoke and looked at the skinny man. "We'll see how they hold up. This is not just a test, but a harsh life lesson."
The skinny man nodded in agreement, then tossed his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it with his boot. "Yeah, one thing's for sure, we have to make sure no one dies here. Lein Island won't give us a second chance if we fail."
Randi gave a faint smile, then said, "Right, so let's make sure they're ready for whatever comes."
As the skinny captain had said, after their arrival, another 254 battleships continued to arrive nonstop, filling the vast beach of Rainforest Island.
The island was vast and had been meticulously prepared. Several special teams had been formed beforehand to conduct field surveys, map the terrain, and identify the types of monsters inhabiting the island. The primary purpose of these surveys was to ensure that Rainforest Island was safe to be used as a testing ground for the academy students.
Essentially, the entire operation was planned by the Academy, which worked closely with the government in terms of supervision and provision of facilities. As a result, the government sent Gold-level captains to lead each team, ensuring the safety and success of the training.
Among the crowd of newly arrived students, light conversations could be heard. "What class are you from? I'm really lucky to be on Team Yanti, one of the top 10 students in the academy," said a young man to his chubby friend.
"Yeah, you're pretty lucky. My team is full of regular folks who are only level 5," the chubby youth replied with a slightly dejected tone.
"I'm worried, are we going to be safe in the forest?" asked a young man with a bow, his voice anxious.
"Relax, we're being watched by Gold-ranked captains," another youth replied, trying to calm himself.
"Right, don't underestimate them. Every Gold-level captain is surely level 15 or above. I also heard that there's even a Platinum-level captain leading this test," explained a bespectacled youth who joined the conversation.
The lively discussions among the students grew, with scattered groups now gathering closer as almost all the teams had arrived. Essentially, these students were around level 8, with some reaching level 10 but not yet promoted.
Promotion was not easy. Crystal Cores were incredibly hard to come by. Relying on luck to obtain them from monster drops or golden chests was a slim chance. Therefore, nearly all lower-level students joined alliances to exchange member points for Crystal Cores.
"Everyone, line up!!"
"Everyone, line up!!"
The team captains, who were previously relaxing, now shouted loudly, calling their respective team members. Quickly, all the students lined up neatly, preparing to welcome someone important.
Sure enough, a large ship suddenly appeared out of nowhere, capturing everyone's attention. The ship was about 250 meters long and 50 meters wide. The golden cannons adorning its perimeter and other defense systems made anyone feel both awestruck and impressed. This was clearly not an ordinary ship.
It didn't take long before the large ship finally stopped at the edge of Rainforest Island. Without any cues or formal welcome, a young man jumped off the ship and landed on the ground with a loud thud.
"Hello there!" The young man shouted while trying to balance himself after the landing. A few seconds later, he stood upright, his black hair shimmering under the sun, and repeated his shout, "Hello there!"
The young man's voice was loud, yet it carried a powerful positive effect. Several students immediately felt their spirits significantly lifted.
"Hello, Sir!" the students shouted in unison, matching his energetic demeanor. Seeing the cheerful leader before them, they responded with equally spirited shouts.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Agis. I'm the leader of this test," the young man introduced himself with a wide smile, looking at all the students with an excited gaze.
"So young, how could his power be that strong," a female student whispered among the rows.
"Yeah, right, he's not even that much older than us," added another, her tone filled with admiration.
"Stop! Look, he's a Tier-2 ruler," said a young man, his eyes fixed on Agis's status panel while Agis still smiled warmly.
- Name: Agis Mahendra (Level 26)
- Race: Blue Planet Human
Yes, this time's team leader was a Tier-2 ruler with the rank of Platinum level captain. Tier-2 was the minimum requirement to become a team leader outside the island.
Agis, who was still standing confidently, then continued his speech to motivate the students. Although his age was not much different from theirs, he still had to be professional as the exam leader. A welcome speech was mandatory.
In the ten-minute speech, Agis informed them all about the rules, winning conditions, rewards, and various other important information.
"I know you are all ready. But before that, all captains please come forward and meet me shortly to obtain your team's test area," Agis said without wasting any time.
After that, he walked towards an area where a tent and other facilities had already been set up. Many staff members who had come with him were doing the hard work of building tents, cooking meals for the three days of testing, and many other tasks.
Rainforest Island was now fully prepared to be a testing ground for the enthusiastic students, under the supervision of tough captains, and led by an extraordinary young man named Agis.