Morning light filtered through the outpost's medical area where Riva y on a cot, her midsection wrapped in bandages infused with medicinal herbs. The puncture wounds from the Leviathan's teeth had been cleaned and treated, but she still winced with each breath.

  Alexander stood nearby as Healer Jorith, a quiet man with steady hands, changed Elijah's bandages. His brother had sustained a nasty gash along his forearm during the final moments of the battle—a wound he'd ignored until Riva was stable.

  "Will she be able to travel tomorrow?" Alexander asked quietly.

  Jorith nodded. "The wounds are clean, no infection. She'll need rest breaks, but she can move."

  "Good," Alexander said, his mind already organizing their transition to Floor 8. The victory over the River Leviathan had cost them—physically and in terms of resources. Before leaving the outpost, they needed a clear understanding of where they stood.

  He found Lyra outside, tinkering with one of the underwater breathing devices they'd earned. Her fingers moved with precise efficiency, making tiny adjustments to the mouthpiece.

  "I'm calling a team assessment meeting," he told her. "One hour, in the pnning room."

  Lyra gnced up, a small wrinkle appearing between her eyebrows. "Assessment? We won, didn't we?"

  "We did," Alexander agreed. "But we need to understand how, what worked, what didn't, and what we've learned. Captain Verna says we can use her space until midday."

  Lyra shrugged, returning to her work. "If you say so."

  Finding Valeria was easier—she was in the training area, methodically cleaning her equipment. Since their confrontation, she'd maintained a professional demeanor, neither overly friendly nor visibly resentful. Alexander respected her pragmatism, if nothing else.

  "Team assessment, one hour," he said simply.

  She nodded without looking up. "I'll prepare my notes."

  An hour ter, they gathered in Captain Verna's pnning room. Maps of Floor 7's river system covered one wall, while another dispyed sketches of the Leviathan they'd defeated. Alexander had arranged the space with chairs in a circle rather than the standard military briefing rows he'd been raised with. Even small things like seating arrangements sent messages about hierarchy, and he was consciously reshaping their dynamic.

  Riva arrived st, moving carefully with Elijah's support. Her face was pale but determined.

  "You should be resting," Alexander said, concern evident in his voice.

  "And miss my own performance review? Not a chance," Riva replied with forced cheerfulness. "Besides, lying down was getting boring."

  Once everyone was settled, Alexander stood. This wasn't his first time leading an assessment—he'd run hundreds during training simutions. But those had been focused solely on efficiency metrics and combat outcomes. This team needed something different.

  "Floor 7 presented unique challenges," he began. "Water environments, complex navigation, specialized combat requirements, and ultimately one of the most dangerous guardians we've faced. Before we move to Floor 8, we need to understand what worked, what didn't, and how we can improve."

  He turned to a sheet of paper attached to the wall where he'd listed key events from their time on Floor 7.

  "Let's start with the River Maze navigation. Our initial approach was too linear—we wasted nearly a day before developing a proper mapping system. Thoughts?"

  To his surprise, Valeria spoke first. "We should have established elevation markers. The water level changes affected our maps, making some passages appear closed when they were just temporarily flooded."

  Alexander nodded. "Good point. Elijah?"

  His brother shifted in his seat, still favoring his injured arm. "We relied too heavily on visual ndmarks. In water environments, we need to develop non-visual navigation systems. Sounds, currents, even temperature variations could be more reliable."

  "Exactly," Alexander agreed, making notes. "Lyra, anything to add?"

  Lyra looked up from the breathing apparatus she was still adjusting. "The river current patterns were actually predictable once you understood the underlying system. We could have saved time by measuring flow rates at junction points."

  Alexander continued through each major challenge they'd faced, encouraging input from everyone. The discussion flowed naturally, with team members building on each other's observations without the competitive edge that had characterized their early interactions.

  When they reached the guardian battle assessment, he deliberately focused first on what went wrong.

  "We nearly lost Riva due to inadequate underwater defense positions," he said bluntly. "I take responsibility for that. I should have anticipated the pulling tactic."

  "We all missed it," Valeria said unexpectedly. "Captain Verna mentioned the heads could attack from multiple water sources, but none of us properly prepared for underwater dragging."

  Riva touched her bandaged side gingerly. "I don't bme anyone. That thing moved faster than anything I've ever seen."

  "The rescue coordination worked perfectly though," Elijah pointed out. "Alexander and Valeria executed underwater extraction fwlessly, and we had medical treatment ready immediately upon return."

  Alexander nodded. "True, but it would have been better to prevent the need for rescue entirely." He turned to Lyra. "Your underwater sensors were crucial. Without them, we wouldn't have found Riva in time, let alone located the guardian's central body."

  Lyra shrugged, but he could see she appreciated the acknowledgment. "They were just modified versions of standard detection equipment."

  "Modified by you," Alexander emphasized. "Which brings me to an important point." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Throughout Floor 7, Lyra's technical contributions have been essential to our success. The hydroengineering solutions in the Confluence Conundrum, the equipment modifications for water environments, and especially the electrical discharge device that ultimately defeated the Leviathan."

  He looked directly at Lyra. "I want to formally recognize your role as our technical specialist. Not just for Floor 7, but going forward."

  Lyra blinked, clearly not expecting this formal recognition. "I just do what needs doing."

  "And you do it exceptionally well," Elijah added warmly. "You saved all our lives yesterday."

  "Which is why," Alexander continued, "I want to adjust our information sharing protocols." He gnced briefly at Valeria before continuing. "Recent events have highlighted the importance of secure communication within the team. Going forward, I propose we implement Lyra's modified channel for all sensitive internal discussions."

  Valeria's expression remained neutral, though Alexander could see she understood the implications. Their agreement about her reporting had established boundaries, but this was Alexander making it clear where his priorities y.

  "I've trusted Lyra with my life multiple times now," Elijah said, his voice taking on an unusually firm tone. "She's proven her loyalty repeatedly, most recently by nearly electrocuting herself to save Riva. If anyone has earned full integration into this team, it's her."

  Alexander was surprised by his brother's passionate advocacy. Typically, Elijah was the diplomatic one, avoiding confrontation. This direct approach suggested how strongly he felt.

  "I agree," Riva said simply, wincing as she shifted position. "Anyone who helps pull me out of a monster's mouth gets my vote."

  All eyes turned to Valeria, whose position as the team's original strategic advisor had been increasingly shared with Lyra. To her credit, she nodded professionally.

  "Lyra's technical capabilities are exceptional," she acknowledged. "Formalizing her role makes tactical sense."

  Alexander studied Lyra, who seemed uncomfortable with being the center of attention. She'd spent her life in the margins—an Unaligned survivor from Sector 17—and now found herself being formally integrated into a team led by the son of VitaCore's leader. The irony couldn't be lost on her.

  "If we're done with the official recognition ceremony," Lyra said with obvious discomfort, "maybe we could get back to the assessment? The breathing apparatus needs calibration for each of us, and I still have questions about the optimal depth settings."

  Alexander smiled slightly. Deflection was Lyra's default response to personal acknowledgment, but he'd made his point. "Let's move on to equipment inventory and resource allocation," he agreed.

  For the next hour, they cataloged their current supplies, with Healer Jorith occasionally stopping by to check on Riva and adjust Elijah's bandages. Captain Verna contributed brief observations about their performance from the outpost's perspective, offering valuable outside analysis.

  "You've developed a unique configuration," she noted. "Most teams follow standard corporate structures, but you've adapted to individual strengths rather than predetermined roles. It's unconventional, but effective."

  Alexander took her assessment as high praise. Breaking from standard corporate tactical doctrine didn't come naturally to him, but the results spoke for themselves.

  As they finished the inventory, Alexander updated their formal documentation:

  Team Inventory (Major Items):- Underwater breathing apparatus (5) - Calibrated for each team member- River Leviathan scales (12) - Waterproof material, potential armor reinforcement- River Leviathan teeth (8) - Exceptionally sharp, viable weapon components- Modified signal detector (Lyra) - Enhanced for underwater operation- Medicinal herbs (Elijah) - Sufficient for approximately 7 treatments- Waterproof ammunition containers (4) - Forest Watch design- Forest Watch river maps - Complete set for reference- Floor 7 completion token - Required for advancementTeam Roles (Formalized):- Alexander Voss: Strategic coordinator, primary combat specialist- Elijah Voss: Medical officer, perception specialist- Lyra Kess: Technical specialist, equipment modification expert- Valeria: Tactical advisor, secondary combat specialist- Riva: Range specialist, reconnaissance expertInjuries Requiring Continued Treatment:- Riva: Puncture wounds to midsection, mobility limited for 3-5 days- Elijah: Laceration on right forearm, limited weight capacity- Alexander: Minor rib contusion, negligible impact- Lyra: Electrical burns on hands, treatment applied, minimal impact- Valeria: No significant injuries"I've also prepared a list of key lessons from Floor 7," Alexander said, dispying another sheet of paper.

  Floor 7 Key Lessons:1. Develop non-visual navigation systems for limited visibility environments2. Establish communication protocols that function underwater3. Create defensive formations specifically for aquatic predator patterns4. Maintain elevation markers for changing water levels5. Implement Lyra's technical modifications across all equipment6. Apply Captain Verna's rotation strategy for sustainable resource gathering7. Utilize three-dimensional space in combat pnning (vertical + horizontal)8. Establish secure information sharing through modified channels9. Maintain medical supplies specifically for water-reted injuries10. Train for emergency underwater extraction scenariosAs evening approached, the formal assessment transitioned into a more rexed gathering. Riva had returned to the medical area to rest, while Valeria excused herself for the evening security rotation she'd volunteered for—a gesture Alexander recognized as an attempt to demonstrate her continued value to the team.

  In the outpost's common area, Alexander found Lyra sitting alone, still working on one of the breathing devices. He sat down across from her, watching her skilled hands make minute adjustments to the apparatus.

  "You didn't have much to say during the assessment," he observed.

  Lyra didn't look up from her work. "Not much to say. We survived, we won, we move on."

  "You know it's more than that," Alexander said quietly. "The formal recognition wasn't just for show. This team wouldn't have made it through Floor 7 without you."

  Her hands paused briefly. "I'm still not sure why you added me to your team in the first pce. Corporate heir takes in Unaligned salvager—not exactly standard procedure."

  "Almost nothing about this team is standard procedure anymore," Alexander replied with a wry smile. "Maybe that's why it works."

  Lyra finally looked up, studying him with those unusual amber eyes. "Your brother trusts too easily."

  "And you don't trust easily enough," Alexander countered. "But you're both still alive, so maybe there's value in both approaches."

  A ghost of a smile crossed Lyra's face. "Maybe." She handed him the breathing apparatus she'd been working on. "This one's calibrated for you. Larger lung capacity than standard."

  Alexander accepted it, recognizing the gesture for what it was—Lyra's way of acknowledging her acceptance of her formalized role. Not with words or ceremonies, but with practical contribution.

  "Get some rest," he told her, standing up. "Floor 8 tomorrow."

  As he walked back toward the sleeping quarters, Alexander reflected on how far they'd come since entering the Green Realm. His father had trained him to lead through authority and hierarchy. Instead, he was building something different—a team bound together by complementary abilities and earned trust.

  It wasn't what Marcus Voss had intended when he sent his son into the Game with a pre-selected team. But as Alexander had noted in their assessment, adapting to changing circumstances was the most important skill of all.

  Tomorrow they would face Floor 8 and its living tree vilge. But tonight, they were no longer just five individuals thrown together by circumstance. They were becoming something his corporate training had never taught him to create—a team that was starting to feel like something more.