The assembly ground exploded into noise the moment the announcement landed.
"What?!"
"One-on-one?"
"Are they serious?"
"How is that even going to work?"
Trainees immediately turned to one another, voices overlapping from every direction. Even the quieter contestants could not hide their shock. A one-on-one format changed everything they had gotten used to.
In group performances, mistakes could be hidden. Weaknesses could be covered. Stronger members could lift weaker ones. But in a one-on-one battle, there was nowhere to hide. No teammate, no backup or safety net. You have yourself only!
Doyun could already feel the atmosphere shift around him. Some trainees looked excited, as if this was the kind of challenge they had been waiting for. Others looked visibly pale. A few were already scanning the crowd, trying to guess possible matchups before anything had even been explained.
