[Past]
Frank walked across the endless desert.
The scorching wind swept grains of sand around him, but he continued forward without hesitation.
After walking for a long time, he finally came to a stop.
He looked at the barren ground before him.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Frank: "Found it."
[Switch to Karry's POV]
The Next Day
Karry let out a long sigh as he looked around his room.
The morning had only just begun.
Suddenly—
Knock... Knock...
Someone knocked on his door.
Karry: "Who is it?"
"Who wants me this early in the morning?"
A familiar voice answered from outside.
Unknown: "It's me."
Karry's eyes widened.
Karry: "Sasha?"
He quickly put on his clothes before opening the door.
Sasha stood there with her usual calm expression.
Karry: "Come in."
She entered the room and sat comfortably on the edge of his bed.
Karry pulled a chair closer and sat opposite her before closing the door.
Karry: "Sasha, where have you been?"
Sasha looked at him with a teasing smile.
Sasha: "You really don't pay attention to where I am."
"Even Arnold would probably tell you the same thing."
Karry shrugged.
Karry: "I was just asking because I wanted to hear it from you."
Sasha crossed her arms.
Sasha: "Unlike you, who failed every mission..."
"I've completed plenty of mine successfully."
Karry immediately defended himself.
Karry: "My missions were all hardcore."
Sasha laughed softly.
Sasha: "You think mine were easy?"
She shook her head.
Sasha: "Compared to yours, maybe."
"But they were still dangerous."
She smiled faintly.
Sasha: "I'm just glad you're alive."
Karry smiled back.
Karry: "Do you have any missions now?"
Sasha shook her head.
Sasha: "Not at the moment."
"I've already collected enough points to survive for a while."
Karry frowned.
Karry: "Points?"
"What do you mean by points?"
Sasha sighed in frustration.
Sasha: "Seriously..."
"That damn Arnold didn't explain the point system to you?"
"He really enjoys throwing you into hardcore missions."
Karry blinked.
Karry: "What point system?"
Sasha leaned back.
Sasha: "Points are the currency we live on."
"You earn them through missions, achievements, feats, and sometimes your position."
"For rookies like us, we don't receive any daily points from our rank."
"So every point has to be earned."
She continued.
Sasha: "Living here consumes points every day."
"If you run out..."
"You won't survive for long."
Karry listened carefully.
Sasha went on.
Sasha: "The harder the mission, the more points you receive."
"There are also tournaments."
"During your lifetime, you're allowed to participate only ten times—once per tournament."
"If you finish in first, second, or third place..."
"You'll earn enough points to live comfortably for an entire year without taking any missions."
Karry remained silent.
Everything finally made sense.
"So that's your plan, Arnold..."
"You're pushing me into the hardest missions because they reward the most points."
"You really are forcing me to become stronger."
[End of chapter]