While Jake and the few dozen thousand remaining participants were repeating the same nightmare for the third or fourth time, a few Players had already reached the shore.
Somewhere on a white sandy beach, a wave bigger than the others came crashing down, almost reaching the edge of the palm trees lining the nearby jungle. As the wave receded, dragging sand, wood and shells with it, an imposing silhouette with long claws and a carnivorous face walked out of the water with a heavy step. Behind it, a sea monster resembling a plesiosaurus was vigorously towed by this figure, the beheaded neck of the monster being firmly held by a steely grip.
At that moment, an artificial voice resounded in the air, informing it of its success of the first stage.
[Congratulations xxxxxx for being the first participant to reach the shore in only 3 minutes and 6 seconds.]
[10,000 points for passing the first stage and 100,000 points for being the first.]
Small digression: Jake is not necessarily weaker than those who succeeded quickly, Will is a good example. With the exception of a few Players, those who made it in less than 30 minutes all had a Bloodline, Aether Skill, Oracle Device Skill that could make it easier for them in this situation.
Those who are forced to repeat the scenario over and over again, simply take the ordeal as it is meant to be, their minds strengthening a bit after each resurrection.