Just a minute before the scheduled start, Klein appeared in the air above the holding area.
He hovered effortlessly, his green eyes sweeping across the gathered qualifiers as he did a final headcount. His expression remained calm and approachable.
After confirming that all two hundred participants were present, he descended slightly and began.
"Welcome back, everyone. I trust you all managed to get some rest after yesterday's first stage. Whether you slept well or didn't sleep at all, the second stage begins now, and your performance from this point forward is what determines whether you make the cut to the next stage."
He paused, letting the words settle.
