With the carrier now docked and the group having barely recovered from Ryan's usual chaotic "pep talk," the youths were marched across the gleaming white stone yard into a new section of the examination grounds.
No one spoke much. Most were stiff from determination or fidgeting nervously. But one thing was clear; every single one of them had fire in their eyes.
They had made it this far, survived beasts and horrors that disqualified hundreds, and now they were only one step away from reaching the gates of the Ambassador's Academy—the most prestigious academy in the world!
Becoming a student there was like being handed a golden ticket to success.
Fame, wealth, resources, ancient techniques, and endless paths of growth… all within reach. And only one phase remained between them and that glory.
Before long, the ground in front of them began to shimmer.
A soft humming filled the air, like the ringing of a massive bell in the distance, and the wind shifted ever so slightly.
