Welcome to the TDS Series.
In this story, we follow Manu's journey through a world where strength decides everything.
A world filled with powerful academies, deadly monsters, hidden enemies, and ruthless competition.
Manu possesses neither overwhelming power nor extraordinary talent.
Yet he continues moving forward.
One step at a time.
One battle at a time.
One survival at a time.
The road ahead is covered with countless spikes.
The question is not whether Manu will become the strongest.
The real question is...
Can he survive long enough to reach that future?
Let's begin.
CHAPTER 12: THE 1% DEATH MAP — SKYPILLER
Previous Chapter Reminder
In the previous chapter, we saw Manu talking with his team before heading to the stadium. After that, he finally arrived at the tournament arena.
Now, let's continue...
NARRATOR VOICE
Manu and the entire Falcon Team entered the stadium.
The moment they stepped inside, everyone instinctively closed their eyes because of the intense light shining from the center of the arena.
A girl stood proudly in the middle of the stadium.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
Fireworks exploded into the sky.
Yellow.
Red.
Green.
The colors spread across the air like a giant fountain of light.
---
Ruka
Welcome everyone to the Brain Games!
As you all know, I am your host, Ruka!
Today we will witness how far people can push their intelligence in order to win...
The Crown of Strategy Tournament!
And now...
It's time to introduce the teams!
---
Team Introductions
1) Velkar Academy — Leader: Valen Drakhar
2) Astra Academy — Leader: Orion Steelhart
3) Solarian Academy — Leader: Cassian Aurelius
4) Frost Vein Academy — Leader: Eira Frostbane
5) Ganga Academy — Leader: Mira Valestra
6) Asura Academy — Leader: Ragnar Bloodfang
7) Phoenix Academy — Leader: Aurelia Blazeheart
8) Serpent Academy — Leader: Kaizen Drath
9) Sun Academy — Leaders: Lyra and Manu
---
NARRATOR VOICE
The moment Sun Academy was announced, the crowd became confused.
---
Audience
A dual leadership?
That new boy must be their real strategy.
Sun Academy is definitely planning something unusual
Ruka
Now let's hear from the academy leaders themselves!
First—
Velkar Academy!
---
Valen Drakhar
We will win this tournament because...
"Talent can be trained. Blood cannot."
---
Ruka
Astra Academy!
---
Orion Steelhart
"A dull blade blames fate. A sharp blade blames itself."
---
Ruka
Solarian Academy!
---
Cassian Aurelius
"Wars are won long before armies march."
---
Ruka
Frost Vein Academy!
---
Eira Frostbane
"Victory is merely mathematics."
---
Ruka
Ganga Academy!
---
Mira Valestra
"Patience is not waiting. Patience is controlling the moment."
---
Ruka
Asura Academy!
---
Ragnar Bloodfang
"The world never asks if you're ready. It simply attacks."
---
Ruka
Phoenix Academy!
---
Aurelia Blazeheart
"If victory demands fire, then I will become the flame."
---
Ruka
Serpent Academy!
---
Kaizen Drath
"Kings, heroes, villains... all become pawns when they step onto my board."
---
Ruka
And finally...
Sun Academy!
---
Lyra
This year we will claim Rank One.
Believe me.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
The camera slowly turned toward Manu.
His entire body froze.
It felt like the brain-freeze someone gets after eating ice too quickly.
Lyra lightly shook him.
The movement helped him recover a little.
---
Manu
Hel... hello...
My na... name is M-Manu...
---
NARRATOR VOICE
The audience immediately burst into laughter.
To calm himself down, Manu took a deep breath.
Then another.
And another.
---
Manu
I am not participating in this tournament to win.
I am participating to survive.
Because humans inspire me.
No matter how many disasters come...
Humans always find a way to survive.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
For a moment, the stadium became silent.
Then people began cheering.
It was the first speech they had heard that wasn't about victory.
---
Ruka
Now then!
Let's begin Round One!
There will be three rounds in total.
The first round is...
RESOURCE WAR
Players must gather resources.
However—
There is one twist.
Players are not allowed to fight each other.
Resources are ranked from E-Rank to A-Rank.
Point System
A-Rank = 5 Points
B-Rank = 4 Points
C-Rank = 3 Points
D-Rank = 2 Points
E-Rank = 1 Point
You will be teleported to different locations through portals.
Your actions will be broadcast on giant screens.
If you face a life-threatening situation, break the black stone provided to you.
You will be safely removed from the tournament...
But you will also be disqualified.
The round will last three days.
Depending on circumstances, the duration may be extended.
Other than the no-fighting rule...
There are no restrictions.
Good luck.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
The scene shifted to Falcon Team.
---
Nyra Vale
What's our strategy, Leader?
---
Darius
Are you seriously calling that trash our leader?
I won't follow his orders.
---
Nyra
Funny coming from a tortoise.
Or maybe a turtle.
---
Darius
At least I don't make reckless decisions.
---
Lyra
Enough!
Stop fighting!
Let's vote instead of arguing.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
The team agreed.
---
Manu
Who wants to follow my strategy?
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Only Lyra raised her hand.
---
Darius
Who wants to follow the original strategy?
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Elira.
Aria.
Nyra.
All raised their hands.
---
Darius
Looks like the result is obvious.
---
Ruka
Strategy time is over!
Everyone, look at the screen.
A wheel will decide the battlefield.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Ruka spun the wheel.
The giant wheel rotated rapidly.
Round and round.
Faster and faster.
Until...
It stopped.
---
Ruka
OH?!
No way!
It's the 1% map!
Audience—
Today's battlefield will be...
SKY PILLAR
A map famous for its difficulty.
And famous for breaking contestants.
But their struggle is your entertainment!
Get ready!
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Every participant entered their respective portals.
The moment Manu arrived inside Sky Pillar—
Warm sunlight greeted him.
Not too hot.
Not too cold.
The kind of warmth you feel while drinking hot chocolate beside a fireplace during winter.
The players were scattered across floating islands.
Falcon Team landed on one island together.
Below the island was an endless ocean stretching into the clouds.
Grass covered the ground.
Ancient ruins stood silently.
Sunlight reflected off broken structures.
A small pond shimmered nearby.
Butterflies floated through the air.
The entire place looked beautiful.
---
Aria
This looks more like a picnic spot than a battlefield.
---
Darius
Listen carefully.
We won't fight any teams.
We'll hunt monsters and gather resources.
That's all.
---
Manu (Thought)
If I stay with them, I'll be eliminated along with them.
Right now they're acting like a raging bull.
And controlling a raging bull is easy.
You just need a red flag.
I need my own survival strategy.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Without saying a word—
Manu walked away from the group.
Alone.
While walking, he continued thinking.
Completely unaware of what waited ahead.
---
Manu (Thought)
First, I need to know how much time has passed.
Wait...
I don't even know that.
Maybe I should take a nap first.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Lost in frustration, Manu accidentally stepped on a strange gray square-shaped object.
A green light flashed.
FLASH!
Before he could react—
The object launched him somewhere else.
When Manu finally stopped moving...
Two shadows appeared before him.
Both of them smiled.
A terrifying smile.
---
COMING SOON...
Which part did you find the most interesting?
Keep commenting because your comments give me motivation to continue this story!
And if you're enjoying the story...
Throw a stone at it.
I mean...
A Power Stone. 😆
---
Wait a minute!
I have an announcement.
The Competition Arc has officially begun.
Because of that, there will be 2 chapters per week from now on.
I also split this chapter because it was becoming too long.
See you in the next chapter!