<Hello, test participants. Thank you for waiting.>
Leonardo sprang to his feet. He grabbed the brim of his hat and lifted his head.
<Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Sandra of the Council Xenogrant TF, in charge of conducting Group F Test Part One. I sincerely welcome all of you who have joined the League.>
The host’s voice boomed across the sky, reaching every corner of the island. It was loud enough to drown out the sound of the waves, so there was no risk of missing it. Even so, Leonardo held his breath and focused on the announcement.
<Due to the large number of participants in this League, the test match will be conducted outside the main stadium through connected portals. This location is a cluster of uninhabited islands east of Agrizendro territory where Plarinus flowers grow naturally. Each island has been assigned 100 participants, and the initial arrival points after passing through the portal were designed to keep participants at least 500 meters apart.>
Leonardo raised an eyebrow. Setting aside the unexpectedly large number of people, what surprised him was that all 100 participants could be separated by more than 500 meters.
Since a grid is the most efficient arrangement... assuming one person lines up at every 500 meters along length and width... ten across and ten down makes 100 people. One side would be 4.5 km. Minimum area 20.25 square kilometers.
Yet within the visible 500-meter radius there was no one, and the coastline was not a neat square either. The actual area would be far larger than estimated.
<I will now explain the rules of the test match. The explanation will be given twice. Please pay close attention. The match conducted here today is “Plarinus Tower Occupation.”>
Tower occupation?
<Plarinus is a plant belonging to the hibiscus genus, possessing five petals and a long protruding stamen. The size of the flower varies by type, but the stamen can grow up to 50 meters tall, and when the petals are fully spread the maximum area reaches 500 meters, making it a gigantic plant.
At specific locations on each island, this Giant Plarinus is fixed in a blooming state, and at its center exists the stamen tower. The method is simple. All participants must head toward the stamen tower and pass through the portal that opens only at the top, returning to the goal point inside the main stadium.>
Simpler than expected. Then why can’t I see it?
Leonardo looked around. A plant that large should have been visible immediately, yet he could not even find a similar shape. However, he was at the coastline with a tall cliff beside him, so he had not yet checked above it.
He would probably have to climb the cliff once the match began. If he confirmed the tower’s location, he could teleport and finish in five seconds.
<However, three materials are required to open the portal at the stamen tower. They are the crystals of the small Plarinus scattered across the island.>
Leonardo’s confident expression twisted.
<Small Plarinus is officially classified as a harmful plant. This plant absorbs salt and moisture carried by the wind through its roots and leaves. It then stores clean fresh water inside its bud and forms a salt crystal at the tip of its stamen. This crystal contains a Plarinus seed, and despite being composed mainly of salt, it emits a sweet scent that attracts demonic beasts and animals.
The crystals differ in color depending on the flower and come in three types: white, yellow, and red. Collect these three crystals, head to the Giant Plarinus, and place them into the ovary at the top of the stamen tower to open the portal for 30 seconds.
The portal closes immediately after a single group in physical contact passes through and releases smog around the tower, blocking visibility for a time. Afterward, the Giant Plarinus undergoes a cooldown of approximately 45 minutes before reopening the portal. During this time, placing crystals in the ovary will not open it.>
“Annoying plant.”
Leonardo muttered bluntly while reviewing the rules. So first he had to find the small Plarinus, gather crystals, and reach the top of the Giant Plarinus faster than anyone else.
<For reference, each person may insert only two crystals into the ovary. If a single person inserts three, it will not result in final disqualification, but the pass will be invalidated by the referee.>
Nothing ever comes easy...
<Additionally, the small Plarinus alternates between blooming and closing every two hours, and once a crystal is harvested the flower requires one week to form another. Across the island there are methods to obtain crystals other than harvesting them directly from Plarinus, so please make the best use of the League rules and the island’s ecosystem.
In this match, to evaluate participants’ basic physical ability, judgment, and individual stats, the use of teleportation and firearm-type weapons is prohibited. However, if a teleportation tool is carried as a support item, it may be used within the limits of 100 meters per use and a 30-minute cooldown.
The total time for this test is six hours, and the number of successful candidates is limited to 26.>
When the number of successful candidates was announced, it felt as though the entire island stirred for a moment. Only a quarter would pass. The standard was tighter than expected. Everyone must have sighed at the same time.
Yet the number 26 felt oddly ambiguous. He wondered about it, but the host simply repeated the explanation once more.
After hearing the cumbersome rules twice, most of it sank in. As Leonardo organized everything by drawing in the sand with his finger, the host explained how to forfeit and the safety zone, then delivered the final closing words.
<Finally, there is one way to pass the test without using the stamen tower. If you collect seven crystals of the same color and enter the safety zone, you will be included among the 26 successful candidates.
If a small number of participants gathers multiples of seven crystals to pass and a specific color’s crystals on the island reach zero, all remaining participants who have not passed will be eliminated. However, this is Part One of the test, and you will have another chance in additional tests, so do not give up until the end.
Now, the Group F Test Part One will begin. I wish you all good luck.
3, 2, 1.>
Bang—
The moment the formal count ended, a thunderous gunshot split the sky. At the same time, a humid sea wind blew once.
At that instant, movement rustling through the brush was detected atop the cliff. Leonardo stared up there, loosened his arms, and took a deep breath.
“Yeah. When has the world ever been fair to me.”
A collar like this—he should be used to it by now. Just think of it as a handicap for the weaker ones. Even wearing restraints, he would still be the strongest among the hundred here.
With that resolve, Leonardo firmly packed the sand beneath his feet.
Can’t use teleport? Then I’ll just fly.
Dry sand scent and heat shimmer rose from the ground he stepped on. The sea wind met the heat and formed a fiercer gale.
Leonardo pressed down his hat with one hand. Sand scattered everywhere as the ground beneath his feet caved in. His short jacket fluttered as he leapt into the air in an instant.
***
In truth, even Leonardo had never heard of the Giant Plarinus before. He had seen gigantic plants occasionally and only guessed it would be similar in size. But the real Giant ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Plarinus was on another level.
That’s a flower?
It would be more believable to call it the peak at the center of a volcanic island. The Plarinus he witnessed the moment he jumped above the cliff stood at the highest point of the island. Drooping petals rested across the jungle using countless trees as support. Beneath it was not merely shade but total darkness with no light at all.
At the center of the petals, the stamen tower rose firmly, and inside the bud where its base was embedded, water filled it like a lake. The tower itself was not very tall, but because it stood on high ground, clouds of condensed mist obscured it. The sparse hairs and unidentified mucus along the stamen looked threatening. Around it, dark shapes—birds or demonic beasts—flew in groups.
Don’t see a portal anywhere. Not open yet?
Leonardo flew quickly between the trees while recalling the giant flower’s shape.
The stamen tip was blunt and pale yellow like the petals. Height did not matter since he could fly, but he worried there might be another mechanism.
First focus on collecting crystals. Only 26 passers... worst case, only around 26 crystals exist. If I can’t get them I’ll take them later, but then I’d have to check each opponent’s color, and the biggest problem is...
Once opened, the portal had a 45-minute cooldown. Even if crystals were gathered within the first 20–30 minutes and people passed in sequence, within 360 minutes the portal could open only seven times.
If one per person allowed three people to pass seven times, 21 would succeed, leaving five spots with no time to open it again. For those five to collect same-color crystals, they would need 56 crystals total... would the island even have that many?
Leonardo shook his head. If crystals were that abundant, at least one small Plarinus per square kilometer should appear. Yet despite flying around, he had not seen anything resembling the giant flower. Instead, more people were simply running around aimlessly. He was no exception.
So rather than hoping for peaceful assumptions, a more realistic scenario was that three of the five would steal crystals from seven teams to eliminate 21 and pass alone.
One of those three could be him. But his goal was victory, not massacring civilians who just signed up for participation rewards. He was not a bad person, nor particularly fond of tormenting people.
While searching, he encountered someone else flying in the air like him. He considered passing by, then realized at least one temporary partner was needed to insert three crystals.
Better someone who can fly. Should I ask to team up?
The moment he hesitated, the other person slowly approached. He naturally extended a hand to propose cooperation—only for the opponent to raise a sledgehammer.
Clearly not friendly. Clicking his tongue, Leonardo slipped back into the jungle instead. It had not even been ten minutes; that person could not have crystals yet. No reason to waste time fighting.
“Aaagh!”
While moving away, screams and shouts from two men tangled behind him. He flinched but only glanced back briefly. The attacker seemed to be using the “other method” of obtaining crystals the host mentioned.
At the same time, a faint smell of blood drifted nearby. Trees cracked and fell.
The overview said combat between participants was allowed without separate restrictions, but it was surprising to see such a serious bloodbath already.
Is it normally like this?
As he looked around in confusion, a sweet scent finally brushed his nose for the first time.
Judging instinctively it was a Plarinus crystal, Leonardo stopped midair and slowly set foot on the ground. It looked uncool, but he raised his nose and chin, sniffing as he walked toward the stronger scent.
Feeling faint heat and presence, he hid behind a thick tree and held his breath. Peeking around, he saw a bizarre shape between dense trunks.
A purple flower larger than a person. Its bud gaped open, extending a bright yellow stamen like a lightning rod. The heat seemed to come from there.
How is that small?
Compared to the massive plant at the island’s center it was small, but objectively it was not small at all—at least two to three meters tall. Fine fuzz covered the petals like fur or leather. White dots marked the five petals, and the bud held plenty of water.
At a glance it resembled a drinking fountain shaped like a flower. Indeed, some creature—beast or demonic—was half-draped over the petal drinking. A young one perhaps, unaware of humans.
Something glittered at the stamen tip. Leonardo was certain it was a crystal. He cautiously stepped forward, worried the creature might eat it.
“That’s mine!”
Someone shouted behind him. The brush shook violently as an intruder ran toward them.
Mouthing a curse, Leonardo leapt toward the flower first. The startled beast lifted its head and turned.
It pushed off powerfully—but it happened in an instant.
Gurgle, slurp—
Leonardo froze. The other participant also stopped.
Crunch, rip—
The giant flower twisted and swallowed the beast whole. It closed its petals and forced the struggling limbs into the bud. A grotesque gulping sound echoed.
Fresh water spilled between the petals and splattered to the ground.
It resembled a greedy human drooling while devouring food.
The petals curled around the stamen like a tulip, fully closing. Soon the movement inside ceased.
The crystal at the tip vanished with it. Both Leonardo and the intruder stood there for a while.
The flower became still again, but the bulging lower petals revealed prey inside.
Suddenly Leonardo recalled the host’s words.
His golden eyes twisted fiercely.
Fuck... they didn’t say it eats things.
