"It will be random."

That single clarification made some students straighten in their seats, while others frowned.

Why random placement instead of assigned zones?

Lucia did not address the question directly.

"Within these zones, you will encounter entities ranging from standard Horror-class to Advanced Horror-class demons," she continued. "Sync-class entities may also be encountered, though they are primarily contained within the deeper sectors of the realm."

She paused briefly.

"However… containment does not equate to immobility."

That single line tightened the atmosphere once again.

"They are capable of movement under specific conditions," she added. "While such occurrences are rare, they are not impossible."

Dylan let out a quiet exhale.

"Of course they're not impossible," he muttered under his breath. "Wouldn't be fun otherwise."

Max shot him a brief look, though his own expression had grown noticeably more serious.

On the stage, Lucia continued as if nothing had been said.

"The duration of this assessment will be seven days," she stated clearly. "During that time, you are expected to sustain yourselves independently."

She began listing the expectations with precise clarity.

"You will manage your own resources. You will secure your own shelter. You will regulate your Myst usage to avoid exhaustion or backlash."

A student raised his hand hesitantly.

"What about supplies? Are we given anything before deployment?"

Lucia turned her gaze toward him.

"You will be permitted to carry a limited set of personal equipment," she answered. "However, excessive reliance on pre-prepared resources will be taken into account during evaluation."

In other words, bring what you want, but don't expect it to carry you.

"You are expected to adapt," she added simply.

Her gaze swept across the hall once more.

"Now, regarding the objective."

The room stilled again.

"The primary objective is survival," she said. "You are to remain alive within the realm for the duration of the assessment."

A brief pause followed.

"However, survival alone will not be the sole measure of your performance."

That drew the students' full attention.

"Throughout the duration of the test, portals known as 'extraction points' will appear within the realm," Lucia continued. "These points serve as temporary gateways through which a student may exit the assessment."

Several students leaned forward slightly.

"The activation of these points will be irregular," she said. "Their duration will be limited, and their locations will not be disclosed in advance."

A student near the front frowned.

"So we just… find them?"

"Yes," Lucia replied. "Or you fail to."

The bluntness of her answer left no room for interpretation.

"If you successfully reach and utilize an extraction point, your assessment will conclude immediately," she continued. "Your performance will be evaluated based on your actions up to that point."

Another student spoke up.

"And if we don't take it?"

"Then you remain within the realm," Lucia answered. "Until another opportunity presents itself… or until the end of the seven-day period, at which point a final portal will return you to the academy."

She paused briefly, then added,

"Understand this clearly, extraction points are not mandatory. They are options."

That distinction settled heavily.

Some students were already piecing it together.

Leave early and secure a safe evaluation… or remain longer, take greater risks, and potentially earn a higher standing.

Or fail entirely.

Lucia continued.

"During this test, you may encounter one or two other students within your assigned zone," she said. "If such encounters occur, you are permitted to cooperate."

A brief pause followed.

"However… this is an individual assessment. Your evaluation will not be influenced by the performance of others."

That made one thing very clear.

There was no reward for helping others, and no penalty for leaving them behind.

Lucia allowed that implication to settle before continuing.

"In the event that a student enters a critical state—defined as the inability to continue survival due to severe injury, Myst depletion, or proximity to death—they will be forcibly extracted by the academy."

Her gaze hardened slightly.

"And this will be recorded as a failure."

That alone silenced any lingering thoughts of relying on forced extraction as a fallback.

"You are expected to maintain control over yourselves at all times," she added. "Reckless overexertion will not be tolerated."

From the side, Sir Kaelen gave a faint nod, his silent approval reinforcing her words.

Lucia glanced down at her clipboard briefly before continuing.

"This assessment will follow a progressive escalation in difficulty—and this will occur without direct interference from the academy," she said. "Depending on where you are deployed, you may have a day or two to adjust… or you may be thrown straight into chaos from the very beginning."

A few students exchanged uneasy looks.

She then lifted her gaze fully from the clipboard, looking across the hall once more.

"You are being evaluated on your ability to function without structure," she said. "Your judgment, your restraint, your adaptability."

She paused briefly. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"And who you are… when you are alone."

That line lingered longer than the rest.

Then, finally—

"You are granted one day for preparation," she concluded. "Use it wisely. You are dismissed."

She stepped back slightly from the pulpit, signaling the end of her explanation.

For a moment, the hall remained silent as the students waited for the authoritative figures to leave first. Once they stepped out, the atmosphere shifted almost instantly.

Voices returned.

The hall filled with overlapping conversations, uneasy laughter, and waves of speculation.

Dylan leaned back in his seat, letting out a slow breath.

"Yeah… this is definitely worse than first year," he muttered, though there was still a hint of excitement in his voice.

Max ran a hand through his hair, his expression thoughtful.

"Random zones… individual deployment… extraction points…" he listed quietly. "They're really pushing us to our limits with this."

"That's what this academy is known for," Asher said from beside him as he stood up from his seat. "You'd be stupid to expect anything less."

"Guess you're right," Max muttered as he stood as well.

Meanwhile, a few rows behind them, Sheila turned her attention to Ariana as she, Charlotte, and Ariana rose from their seats.

"You think you'll be fine, Ariana?" Sheila asked, her tone carrying genuine concern.

Ariana didn't respond immediately. For a moment, she seemed lost in her own thoughts.

"Ari?" Sheila called, giving her shoulder a light shake.

That pulled Ariana back.

"Huh? Oh—yeah. I'm pretty sure I'll be fine," she said, though the lack of firmness in her voice didn't go unnoticed.

Both Sheila and Charlotte picked up on it instantly.

"Don't think too much about it, Riri," Charlotte said in her usual confident tone. "You've made it through everything else so far. Doesn't matter if this is an individual assessment—you've got this. Alright?"

Ariana looked at her in slight surprise at first, then a small smile formed. It eased some of the tension in her expression.

"Thank you, Charlotte," she said softly.

"No need to thank me," Charlotte replied casually. "I'm just stating facts."

"She's right," Sheila added. "You're more than capable of seeing this through."

Ariana's smile grew just a bit, her confidence returning.

"Yeah… you're both right. I'll get through this."

"Damn, what do we have here? A motivational circle?" Dylan cut in, approaching them with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Mind if I join?"

"Really, Dylan?" Sheila asked, giving him a judging side-eye.

"What? I could be your meat shield, you know?" Dylan said before pausing mid-thought. "Speaking of meat… now I'm hungry. Can we head to the cafeteria already? I'm on the verge of death here."

"Of course you are," Sheila muttered, rolling her eyes.

Even so, they all began heading toward the doors, leaving the hall behind. But as they moved, Liam had already taken the lead and was several steps ahead of them.

"I'll join you guys later," he said simply, glancing back briefly. "I've got something to take care of."

And without waiting for a response, he continued on his own path.

"You know," Dylan said, watching him go with an exaggerated thoughtful look, "that guy really knows how to make an exit without anyone questioning it. If that were me, I'd be bombarded with questions."

"It'd be the opposite, actually," Max replied. "You'd be the one telling everyone what you're doing without anyone asking."

"That sounds about right," Sheila agreed.

Charlotte hummed in agreement, and Ariana let out a small giggle.

"You guys are really against me, aren't you?" Dylan said in an overly dramatic, wounded tone as they continued toward the cafeteria, the others laughing at him.

All except Asher, whose gaze lingered in the direction Liam had gone.