- Oliver -

  Even though the day had ended for Oliver, many other recruits were still lining up for their attempts. Because of this, he tio watch the uping trials through the holographiterfa his gau, all while his injured arm was submerged in a mini-vat for healing.

  However, it wasn't what was happening on the field that was drawing attention, but rather what was happening off it.

  Some other recruit had captured footage of Oliver exiting the arena, including his exges with the others—especially when he boldly decred he'd reach the first pce the day.

  Within mihat short video clip had bee a viral hit o. Predictably, opinions were sharply divided. Some thought he was crazy for boasting after only just making it onto the leaderboard for the first time; others pitied him, believing he was deluded by fleeting glory. A select few, however, were intrigued, eager to see him challehe status quo and front the trial head-on. They began to support him, although they didn't expect him to show anything different from the rest.

  Oliver didn't have profiles on any social works—at least none created i hundred years—but he still enjoyed following and ughing at the reas. He easily found the trending topics at the top of the timelines: #OliverCrazy, #IsOliverInsane, #F**kThemOliver.

  Each tag was more iing tha. However, upourning from the infirmary, Oliver already had his pn firmly set in his mind. He would o wait until the day to put it into a.

  Since he'd caused quite a otion earlier in the line, he preferred to return to the dormitory and follow Katherine and Isabe's attempts from there.

  As soon as Oliver discovered one of the bck robots' oints, the other recruits began sharing the information. Quickly, even on the same day, the leaderboard dated multiple times.

  Katherine, who up until that moment hadn't mao hit the leaderboard, finally achieved a time of 02:13. Not much different from Oliver's time, but the fact that she started the match already prepared to exploit the oint and avoided wasting time desperately trying to think of a way out was enough to optimize her position.

  | Leaderboard Update| #92 — Katherine York| Time: 02:15

  However, Katherine's and Oliver's positions were gradually slipping down the leaderboard. With eaew run, recruits exploited the robots' vulnerabilities in innovative ways. Fresh strategies circuted like wildfire, eae desigo outperform the st.

  Oliver's initial rank of #103 had plummeted to #551 by the few hours. Eaew discovery chipped away at average pletion time, and the petition intensified as seds were shaved off with every attempt.

  Amidst this frenzy, one person remained ued: Isabe. Fueled by Oliver's earlier revetion about the robots' oint, she abandoned her p lio re-equip and strategize. Moments ter, she reappeared at the lih additional ons and gear, entirely focused ing the legend of "MissileGirl" to life.

  From his room, Oliver watched ily as Isabe prepared for her run. The live feed streamed across his holo-s, every detail rendered with crystal crity. She stood at the arena's entrance, a figure of fierce resolve. Gone was aation from her earlier attempts.

  She unched herself into the arena from the sed entrance, accelerating toward the target house with blinding speed. The impact was explosive—she crashed through the structure, obliterating nearly the entire front facade.

  This time, though, she was ready. She had meticulously practiced log the Orb, itting every detail to memory. As the bck sentinel robots verged on her position, she didn't falter. Instead, she employed the tactic Oliver pioneered—firing at the ground to colpse the floor beh the robots, sending them plummeting to the levels below.

  The arena's timer halted as she arrived at the exit point, and the leaderboard updated once more.

  | Leaderboard Update| #11 — Isabe de Luca| Time: 01:25

  Oliver leaned ba his chair, a mixture of amazement and pride swelling within him. He had always known that Isabe's Boon—her unique ability to manipute kiiergy—was exceptionally suited for this kind of sario. But witnessing her rapid ast was something else entirely. She hadn't just improved; she had obliterated previous records, exeg a near-perfect run.

  Across the , reas exploded iime. entators and spectators were caught off guard, their earlier ridicule silenced by her undeniable prowess. Those who had mocked her "MissileGirl" persona now found themselves eating their words, while others who simply sought eai reveled in the spectacle she provided.

  In mere minutes, discussions that once tered on Oliver's bold cims and troversial tactics shifted focus. The trending topics that had debated his sanity—tags like #OliverCrazy and #IsOliverInsane—were overshadowed by a new phenomenon:

  #MissileGirlIsOurQueen

  The outp of support was overwhelming. Clips of Isabe's run spread like digital wildfire repyed and analyzed from every ceivable angle. Enthusiasts praised her audacity, skill, aermination. Memes and fan art appeared, depig her as a s et or a warrior queen leading the charge.

  In the dormitory, Oliver couldn't help but smile as he scrolled through the test memes cirg o. ‘She's going to hate all of this,’ he thought, chug as he g one meme.

  Just then, the door slid open with a soft hiss, and Isabe and Katherine burst into the room, their faces alight with excitement.

  "We did it!" Isabe excimed, her eyes shining as she tossed her gear onto her bed. "We finally secured our times on the leaderboard!"

  "Now es the hard part," Katherine added, though her smile remained unwavering. "Keeping ourselves among the top ranks. Feels like every time someone new runs, our positions shift."

  She flopped onto her bed with a mix of exhiration and exhaustion.

  Isabe, however, seemed more rexed. She stretched out, propping herself up on one elbow. "Unless someone discovers something groundbreaking, I think my time is safe," she said fidently. Then, casting a sidelong g Oliver, she added, "You're not pnning on nullifying my score tomorrow, are you? If you are, maybe save it for the st day."

  Oliver leaned ba his chair, an enigmatic smile on his lips. "o worry," he replied, his tone light. "What I'm pnning is a oime bullet. I doubt they'll even allow it again after I'm done."

  Isabe’s curiosity iqued as she sat up straighter. "Oh, really? Then spill it! What are you going to do?" she pressed, eyes gleaming with i.

  He shook his head slowly, the smile never leaving his face. "Sorry, it's a surprise."

  Katherine ughed softly from her bunk, watg the exge with amusement. "He's not going to crack, Isabe."

  Isabe narrowed her eyes pyfully at Oliver. "e on, give me something! Are you at least going to use some new equipment?"

  "Nope," Oliver replied, enjoying the game of cat and mouse.

  She tapped her thoughtfully. "Hmm, will you be using the same entrance as before?"

  "Yes," he firmed, his gaze steady.

  She huffed in mock frustration. "You're impossible! How am I supposed to prepare if I don't know what you're up to?"

  He chuckled. "Maybe you're not supposed to prepare."

  "That's hardly fair," she retorted, though a smile tugged at the ers of her mouth.

  Katherine swung her legs over the side of her bed, leaning forward. "You know he's enjoying this, right?"

  "Absolutely," Oliver admitted, shrugging.

  Isabe threillow at him, which he deftly caught with one hand. "Fine," she said, a hint of a challenge in her voice. "Keep your secrets. But don't think I won't figure it out."

  Oliver tossed the pillow bato her bed. "By all means, try."

  The three friends spent the rest of the evening in lighthearted bahe atmosphere in the dormitory warm despite the underlying tension of the exams. Isabe tio pepper Oliver with questions, eae skillfully deflected.

  "Will you be fog on speed or strategy?" she asked at one point.

  "Both," he replied vaguely.

  "Are you pnning to exploit a weakness in the simution?"

  "Perhaps."

  "Ugh!" She threw her hands up. "You're insufferable!"

  Katherine ughed. "Give it up, Isabe. You'll find out soon enough."

  As the night wore on, the versation shifted to other topics. But every so often, Isabe would loop back, trying a different ao extraformation from Oliver.

  "Do you think the instructors suspect what you're pnning?" she ventured.

  He smiled subtly. "It's possible. But even they might be surprised."

  Eventually, fatigue began to settle in. Katherine yawned, stretg her arms over her head. "I think it's time we called it a night. Big day tomorrow."

  Isabe nodded relutly. "Yeah, you're right." She pointed a fi Oliver. "But this isn't over."

  He raised his hands in surrender. "Wouldn't dream of it."

  Exhausted from the day's trials, the three friends quickly fell asleep. Yet, despite the fatigue, adrenaliill coursed through Oliver's veins. Before the first light of daw into the dormitory, he was already awake, his mind sharp and ready.

  As m broke, the trio vened for breakfast. The cafeteria buzzed with recruit chatter, but Oliver was quiet. His thoughts focused on the pn he was about to execute. Isabe and Katherine exged curious gnces but respected his silence.

  After their meal, Oliver headed straight for the arena. A line had already formed, eager faces waiting their turn, but today, the queue moved swiftly. Word had spread of Oliver's bold cim to seize the top spot, and anticipation hung heavy in the air.

  When his turn arrived, he stepped forward with calm determination. He gnced back to see Isabe and Katherig, their expressions a mix of excitement and .

  As was his , he selected the first entrance for the examination. The massive gate closed behind him with a resounding g, sealing him within the prep chamber. Ahead, the gate to the arena began to open.

  But instead of charging in, Oliver remaiill.

  He closed his eyes, drawing in a steady breath. The distant whir of robotitinels patrolling filled his ears.

  Careful not to cross the threshold, he tilted his head upward to the arena's ceiling, where the timer dispy blinked.

  | 00:00

  A satisfied grin spread across his face. "I'm right," Oliver whispered to himself.

  But rather than advang, he did somethiirely ued: he sat down on the etal floor just ihe gate and began to wait.

  Miicked by. Five mien minutes. Oliver remained seated, eyes occasionally flig to his gau, monit the passage of time. The arena around him stayed active, but he showed no iion of moving.

  At the twenty-minute mark, a soft chime sounded on his gau. His eyes snapped open.

  "It's time," he decred fidently.

  [Prometheus]

  Rising smoothly to his feet, Oliver summoned his Energy, eling it directly into his legs. A warm surge coursed through his muscles as his Boon activated, filling him with enharength and agility.

  In one explosive movement, he leaped forward, crossing the arena's threshold and propelling himself high into the air. The force of his jump sent him s over the t walls and fortifications.

  Oliver nded with a solid thud, the impact sending a small cloud of dust billowing around him. Yet, the arena remained eerily silent. No arms bred, no robotitinels verged on his position.

  Without hesitating, Oliver sprioward the Grand House. The front doors stood ajar—a stark trast to the usual locked and guarded state. Slipping inside, he navigated the hallways with practiced ease, heading straight for the chamber that housed the Orb.

  The Orb hovered above its table. He quickly approached and grasped the objective.

  Turning on his heel, Oliver retraced his steps, exiting the Grand House unimpeded. The grounds remaiill, devoid of the usual patrols.

  As he crossed the arena's exit, a new notification was sent.

  | Leaderboard Update| #1 — Oliver Nameless| Time: 00:31

  As soon as Oliver left, the soldiers finally ehe field to check the robots, which were pletely out of battery.

  GCLopes