The observation hall was not really a hall at all. It was a technological amphitheater sunk deep into the north wing of the Academy—a semicircular expanse of suspended platforms, wall-sized curved screens, and an ever-shifting ecosystem of floating blue holograms. The air smelled of warm metal and reheated coffee, a sure sign that several professors had spent far too many hours in this place.
The seats were arranged in tiers, as if the Academy wanted to remind even its instructors that hierarchies applied to them as well. Some groups were already engaged in quiet debates, while others observed silently, jotting notes on glowing tablets. At the topmost level, a series of soundproof capsules made it clear that any professor who wished to work without being disturbed by the chatter of others could do so. As always, no one occupied them.
At the center of it all, on a rotating platform, was the control panel: a circular assembly of projectors, crystalline recorders, and resonant sensors. Standing there was Samara, the professor responsible for coordinating all practical exams.
She tapped lightly on the table to draw attention.
"Alright, now we'll review the status of Víctor's students."
Professor Víctor raised two fingers as though accepting an award. His glasses were crooked, his shirt wrinkled, and his smile entirely unnecessary—typical for him.
"None eliminated," he hummed cheerfully, completely out of place with the tension in the room.
Harad Vens scanned the list on his tablet.
"That's correct," he said. "Your class remains at a hundred percent. Impressive, considering the overall chaos."
Yume Ishari, tutor of Victoria's group, tensed. It was only for a second, a barely perceptible gesture—but enough for Víctor to sniff it out like a predator with too much time on his hands.
"Funny, isn't it, Yume?" he said, his tone childish and intentionally teasing. "My students, zero losses. Yours… five. Want me to send some of my classes your way? Might boost your averages."
Half the hall held its breath.
Yume narrowed her eyes, forcing herself to remain calm.
"I appreciate the offer," she replied evenly, "but I prefer to focus on Victoria and Duke who are still alive."
Víctor winked with a theatrical flourish.
"Of course. Those who are left."
Samara stepped in before the exchange could escalate into a full-blown playground argument.
"That's enough. Let's move on to the analysis—that's what matters."
She nodded at Harad, who was already taking notes on his tablet.
"They've accumulated a significant number of points," he said. "One of them could enter the top three if they maintain this efficiency. And it's all thanks to their intense hunting and the alliance they formed to face Victoria's group."
Víctor tilted his head, half-smiling in complicity.
"The surprising thing is that they managed to confront Victoria," Tamara said. "She's one of the strongest and smartest students in the course. Her team is elite, and she's a clan heir. Almost everyone avoids provoking her; few dare to attack head-on. But I suppose she underestimated her opponents."
Samara advanced the recording, showing the moment Marcus and the others appeared unexpectedly in Victoria's territory, moving with determination.
"And here lies the key," Harad commented. "Victoria didn't expect such an attack. She assumed the prey would remain prey until the end of the exam. But Liora's group grew tired of being passive—they struck first. That unpredictability was decisive. They managed to break Victoria's line because no one expected anyone to take such a risk."
"That was Marcus' idea," Samara continued. "Reckless, impulsive, direct… yet talented. He's still a novice at the Academy. His monstrous form is basic and doesn't hold much potential compared to the clan elites, but his instinct and audacity allowed him to create the initiative that opened the breach."
Víctor leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. With a proud smile.
The screen shifted to show Liora, moving with precision among her teammates, assigning positions and marking targets.
"But without Liora, none of this would have worked," Samara continued. "She took Marcus' idea and turned it into strategy. She gathered the group, assigned roles, and consolidated the offense. Her cunning and leadership transformed a scattered, newly formed group into a coherent and effective team."
"And then there's Adrian," Harad added. "The silent but essential piece. His ability to scout and move unseen is exceptional. He tracked Victoria's group, anticipated their movements, and allowed the team to position themselves for an undetected strike. His contribution was enormous."
Víctor smiled smugly as the screen showed John aiming from a distance, his shots precise and deadly.
"John also had a major contribution, much," Víctor said, with an unexpected serious tone . "Twice he saved teammates in critical moments and eliminated Miranda. Without him, Adrian and Emma could have been exposed, and the attack's effectiveness would have collapsed. Sometimes the smallest contribution can tip the balance, and here it did."
And of course, the contributions of Emma and Rylan, who provided the raw muscle behind the plan, could not be ignored.
Samara paused, scanning the professors in the room.
"To summarize," she said, "the success of this attack was not based on sheer strength, but on the combination of audacity, coordination, and seizing opportunities. Marcus provided the spark; Liora organized and directed; Adrian scouted and secured movement; John stabilized the offense at critical moments. Together, they created an unexpected strike that, while it didn't fully topple Victoria's group, caused irreparable damage."
Harad inclined his head, evaluating each gesture.
"It's remarkable," he murmured. "For an individual exam, where collaboration is forbidden, these students demonstrated exceptional coordination. Their unity arose from necessity, yes, but that does not diminish the merit of their execution."
Víctor crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair.
"My students are unpredictable. I like that," he said lightly, pride lacing his tone. "Even if their success came from improvisation, they know how to adapt. What they achieved today, with so little time to know each other and during the first exam of the year, speaks volumes about them."
Samara switched the recording to the scene in which the monster appeared after the offensive—a long, twisted creature that emerged from nowhere, forcing the students to react.
"Notice this," she said. "The speed with which they devised a functional plan and eliminated the monster was incredible. Less than a minute. Many groups, even experienced ones, would have been thrown into chaos. Here, we see coordination, reflexes, and improvisational skill."
Harad murmured, almost to himself.
"This is what separates the good from the excellent. Few could execute a plan like this under pressure while keeping everyone safe."
Víctor stood slightly, a crooked grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, yes… my students are stubborn. They inherited that from me."
Yume scoffed from her seat.
"Let's hope they don't inherit your immaturity," she said dryly.
Víctor looked at her, a childlike grin on his face, holding up the five fingers of his right hand.
Yume could only clench her teeth and wait for her opportunity to retaliate.
After several minutes of analysis, Samara exhaled and changed the display to a three-dimensional map of the next objective: a rocky mountain riddled with tunnels and nests.
All conversation ceased.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced, "the final event has arrived."
The projection dove into the mountain's depths: extensive galleries, resonant chambers, swarms of monstrous ant-like creatures flowing like living rivers.
At the center, a single gigantic egg pulsed.
"There's only one," Samara explained. "A queen egg. Its point value is enough to secure the top spot for whoever obtains it."
Elliot squinted.
"Trapping them in there… that's bold."
"And necessary," Samara replied. "This will reveal who can improvise, who collapses under pressure, and who deserves to advance."
Víctor smiled, placing his lollipop back in his mouth as if he were watching a private performance.
"Perfect. An event where most students will converge on the same location, a single prize, a labyrinth full of monsters, and no room for oversized egos.
Inés added, "And it ensures that both groups meet. They won't be able to avoid each other."
Samara simultaneously shut down all the screens. The room was bathed in the red glow of the starting markers.
The silence became expectant, almost tense.
"Let the Burrow begin," she said.
The mountain lit up on the monitors, a labyrinthine expanse of tunnels, chambers, and monstrous movement. The stakes were clear: only the most cunning, agile, and daring would emerge victorious.