Day 7 of the Test - 8:00 AM
The air was heavy with silence. The forest, once alive with shouts and footsteps, now stood still. Everyone packed their bags slowly, the weight of defeat pressing down on their shoulders. No one spoke. Not even a whisper. Just the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional metallic clink of gear being stuffed into backpacks.
Akira looked up from her half-zipped bag and broke the silence. "Um... Kei, do you think we still have a chance?" Her voice was soft, hopeful.
Kei didn't look up. He paused, sighed, and zipped his bag shut. "Based on our performance... and the fact that we didn't mark anyone... the odds are low."
Akira bit her lip. "Still... there might be a chance, right?"
Kairon stood a few feet away, his sword strapped to his back, his eyes scanning the sky through the treetops. "Who knows," he said quietly.
Suddenly, a loud buzz rang through their smartwatches. Everyone flinched. The screen glowed with a flashing message:
