The world became noise and motion.
Sixty-nine bodies surged forward, a human tsunami crashing toward seven distant gates.
I sprinted hard, lungs already burning. The Twisted Circus gate pulsed ahead—red-white-red-white—deceptively close but impossibly far.
The fog thickened almost immediately, reducing visibility to mere meters. Shapes became shadows, and shadows became obstacles.
Yuhyun's shoulder brushed mine. Jisoo's labored breathing came from my right. Jinwook's longer stride carried him slightly ahead.
We moved as a pack, four bodies trying to stay together in the chaos.
Then someone slammed into me from the left.
Shoulder-first, full force.
My breath punched out. I stumbled sideways, vision blurring. Mud squelched beneath my foot as I fought for balance.
The trainee who'd hit me—I couldn't even see their face—barreled past without slowing. Alpha scent cut through the fog, sharp and aggressive.
"Jiwon!" Yuhyun's hand caught my elbow, steadying me.
