The next day, many of the candidates gathered at the training ground, their thoughts unconsciously aligned toward a single point.

Let’s see the Tower.

Even those who tried to act calm could not hide the curiosity in their eyes. Some stood quietly with their arms folded, others whispered within their groups, while a few simply stared ahead without speaking, trying to prepare themselves mentally for what was coming next.

Still, even though today was the start of the sixth trial, not everyone came.

Felix’s group was noticeably incomplete.

Since the moment he returned from the fifth trial, the atmosphere around his group had changed in a way that even outsiders could sense. It was heavy, tight, and filled with something no one wanted to say out loud. Their leader...Felix...had locked himself inside his room and had not come out since that day. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Even now, during something this important, he was still absent.

That alone said enough.

Ezra arrived early, earlier than most.

He had already begun his morning routine before the crowd fully gathered, stretching his body slowly while observing everything around him. After that, he tied a thick rope around his waist, and at the other end of the rope, a heavy sandbag of three hundred kilograms, dragged along the ground behind him.

Before he started jogging, he took a few glances at the tower that stood in the center of the training ground like something out of place.

Tall.

Each floor had glass windows that reflected a faint blue glow, the light steady and unmoving, giving the structure a strange, distant feeling. At the base were four doors, each fitted with a key-card lock system, clean and metallic.

Six guards stood around it.

They wore black military caps, each decorated with a silver cross and revolver insignia that caught the morning light. Their black capes were tied to one side, covering only half of their bodies, leaving the rest exposed, and the wind pushed lightly against the fabric as it flowed behind them.

They did not move nor did not speak, they simply just stood there like statues.

"So... the trial begins once someone enters, right?" one girl asked quietly beside another.

"Yeah," the boy next to her replied, nodding once.

Soon, more voices overlapped.

Low murmurs spread across the field, forming a constant background noise that filled the space, yet no one truly relaxed.

Because, understanding the trial...

And facing it...

Were two completely different things.

"The real problem is... who goes first," someone said a bit louder.

That single sentence shifted the atmosphere.

Eyes began to move.

Glances were exchanged.

Every group started looking at the others, each person silently thinking the same thing.

The first ones to enter...

Would be the ones testing the unknown and no one really wanted to be the sacrifice.

The murmurs grew louder again, spreading across the training ground like ripples, while at the far back, Ezra finally began moving, dragging the heavy sandbag behind him as he started a slow jog.

The rope tightened and the sandbag scraped against the ground.

Yet his pace remained steady even though, while training, most of his attention stayed on the crowd.

Not far from him, a few other candidates were also training, though their eyes constantly drifted toward the Tower, waiting to see who would make the first move.

"Guys!"

Veda stepped forward from the crowd.

Nickolas followed behind him, and the rest of his group moved along, making space as they reached the front.

At the same time, Henry, Priscilla, Bale, and Vera also stepped out from their respective groups, their presence immediately drawing attention.

"Is Sir Veda’s group going first?" someone from Vera’s group whispered.

Veda looked at everyone, his expression calm, steady as always.

"Why don’t we arrange in a way," he said, his voice clear enough for all to hear, "so that every group can start the trial at the same time?"

Silence followed.

"Ehh..."

Vera stepped forward, folding her arms loosely, her gaze resting on him with mild amusement.

"Since when did you start making suggestions like this... little brother?" she said, dragging the last two words just slightly, her tone light but clearly teasing.

"That’s because I want everyone to face this trial without unnecessary conflict," Veda replied with a small smile.

"Humph."

Priscilla stepped forward as well, crossing her arms.

"I don’t hate the idea," she admitted, "but we have six groups... and only four doors."

She pointed toward the Tower.

"That’s true," Veda nodded.

"Are we even counting Felix’s group?" Henry added with a smirk.

"I haven’t seen him since the last trial, and his group doesn’t look stable."

"I’m sure if he were here, he’d try to control everything," Bess added with a chuckle. "Something like ’the strongest group gets top priority.’"

"Then we could just fight for it," Keith raised his hand. "Using the arena system."

Both Bale and Fay turned toward him immediately.

"That’s a bad idea," Bale said without hesitation.

Fay kicked his leg.

"Ouch!"

Keith jumped slightly, grabbing his leg.

"I was joking!"

"Don’t suggest things that will only make things worse," Fay said, pointing at him.

"My bad..." he muttered.

"What he said isn’t completely wrong," Nate added calmly, folding his arms. "But there’s no need to waste energy fighting over something we can settle easily."

He looked toward Veda with confidence.

"This is an individual trial. If I decide to go in now... no one can stop me."

Veda tilted his head slightly, confused by the direct challenge.

"Organization is beauty, commoner," Zack said flatly, adjusting his glasses.

"I agree to that," Bess added, nodding.

"Then the answer is simple."

Vera’s voice cut through the noise.

Clear and calm.

Everyone’s attention turned to her immediately.

"Since the current ranking places my little brother first..." she said, her tone smooth, "his group will go first."

She paused, then glanced around.

"As for Felix’s group... is anyone here?"

A few hesitant figures stepped out slowly.

"Don’t be nervous," Vera said, smiling gently, though her eyes remained sharp. "No one here is going to antagonize you."

She tilted her head slightly.

"I think."

The subtle pause made a few people stiffen.

"Hmm... I thought Gareth would come," Vera said, her tone light, almost absent-minded, as if she were commenting on the weather rather than something important.

Her eyes moved lazily across the three figures from Felix’s group who had stepped forward.

"But for today... one of you will do."

She spoke as if the decision had already been made long before they even arrived.

The three exchanged glances.

No one argued or questioned her.

They nodded quickly, whispering a few words to each other before one of them turned and ran off, clearly heading back to inform Felix about what was happening.

"So... we’re going by our leaders’ rankings?" Nate asked, his gaze shifting toward Vera, trying to measure her reaction.

"What?" Nina’s head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing instantly. "You don’t like the idea?"

She stepped forward slightly, her tone sharp.

"If you don’t like it, then maybe we leaders can settle this with rock-paper-scissors."

Vera turned her head slowly toward Nate, then to Veda, Henry, Priscilla and Bale.

Her expression, not changing.

"NO!"

Henry, Priscilla, Veda, and Bale shouted at the same time, their voices overlapping in a way that made several people at the back flinch in surprise.

A brief silence followed.

The reaction was... too immediate.

"Using the rankings works for me," Priscilla said quickly, clearing her throat as if she wanted to move past that moment as soon as possible.

"Yes, yes... rankings are fine," Henry added, nodding repeatedly, his expression carrying a faint trace of something that looked like past trauma.

Nate stared at them, confused.

"...What happened to them?" he muttered under his breath.

"Hmm..."

Vera tapped a finger lightly against her cheek, watching them with quiet amusement, as if she had just confirmed something she already suspected.

"Too bad," she said casually, already turning away from the conversation as though she had lost interest.

She walked back toward her group; her movements relaxed.

"Well, since none of you seem capable of handling something as simple as decision-making without turning it into a disaster," she continued, her voice still soft but carrying clearly across the area, "then we will keep it simple."

She raised one finger slightly.

"I don’t know how long each of you will take inside, and frankly, I don’t care."

Her eyes swept across the crowd.

"Each group decides amongst their people who goes first."

She paused.

"Once one candidate finishes, the next group proceeds. We repeat that cycle until the trial ends."

Her lips curved faintly.

"There. Organized enough for you?"

Everyone shaked their heads with no one arguing.

"So..."

She spread her hands slightly in front of her group.

"Who wants to go first?"

For a brief second, there was hesitation.

Then...

Hands shot up.

"Let me go, Lady Vera!"

"I’ll do it!"

"I won’t disappoint you!"

Voices overlapped as several candidates stepped forward at once, their earlier tension replaced by excitement and determination.

At the same time, in other groups, the reactions were a bit different.

Some stepped forward, others hesitated while some simply hid behind others watching.

"My Lady," Zack stepped forward, adjusting his glasses with a composed expression.

"Allow me to set the stage for our group."

Vera looked at him from head to toe slowly.

"...You sound confident," she said lightly.

Then she nodded once.

"Alright."

"If Zack is going, then I will go as well," Tracy stepped forward immediately from Veda’s side, her voice firm.

The reaction from the crowd was instant as the energy rose.

"Hmm... this is getting interesting," Niki said, stepping out from Priscilla’s group, cracking her knuckles as she moved forward.

"I’ll join too."

Cedric followed from Henry’s side, adjusting his stance as he stepped out.

"I suppose I should also represent my group properly," he said, his tone calm and confident.

His group erupted into cheers behind him.

"I also have to go," Keith said, pointing at himself, though his eyes shifted slightly when he felt everyone looking at him.

"Well... you’re not starting immediately," Bale said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Good luck." He looked at him with bright eyes.

"Argh..." Keith groaned as he began walking toward the tower, his steps dragging slightly.

Just like that, the first set was decided.

Zack, Tracy, Cedric, Niki, Keith and one highline from Felix’s group.

Maybe it was because of the level of strength and respect the other candidates had for them. The atmosphere that felt tight loosened and everyone cheered for their group member.

The boy from Felix group stood among them quietly, compared to the others, he looked out of place.

No presence, no confidence and majorly, without Felix there...

He didn’t dare to speak.

So, while people cheered for their fellow group member, he just walked to the door, his to enter quietly.

"I’ll reach past the fifth floor," Zack said calmly, adjusting his glasses again as he glanced sideways at the others.

"What exactly are you trying to imply?" Tracy asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Interpret it however you like," Zack replied without looking at her.

"Well, I also have to perform well," Cedric said, flipping his bangs aside before tying a black bandana around his forehead.

"To improve Sir Henry’s chances of becoming the heir."

He tightened the knot, then turned his gaze toward Zack.

"I’ll do better than you."

Zack didn’t even turn.

"And you will be disappointed when you fail miserably," he replied in a flat tone.

The boy from Felix’s group stood there silently, his eyes moving from one speaker to another, unable to insert himself into the conversation.

The gap between them...Was clear as day.

The four stepped toward the doors.

One by one, they scanned their key cards against the lock system.

Click.

A mechanical sound echoed.

Then another and another.

The four doors opened at the same time, the synchronized movement sending a low vibration through the air as steam flowed outward from inside.

Everyone watched as the four entered all at once.

The doors closed behind them and immediately the blue glow from the first-floor window shifted.

White.

Bright and clear.

The Sixth Trial...Had begun.