The dorm screen blinked:
Phase 1 — Day 6: Bloc Challenge Reorganization and New Match Preparations
Aïna closed her eyes. The Mantle existed. The Grey Zone was real. The Edge remained dangerous.
Survive. Lead. Adapt. And maybe one day… wear the Mantle.
The next morning, the early wind whistled across Field 3. Aïna felt the cold in her bones and the tension in the air. Fatigue piled up, but the pace of the bloc challenge left no room for exhaustion. No rest. No break.
A metallic gong rang. The candidates formed perfect rows. The massive screen lit up.
— Today's challenge: Chaos Drill. A simple, brutal sentence. No extra details.
Ethan Kovač stood at the center, motionless like a statue. His eyes scanned the rows, weighing each candidate.
— Each team will face an unstable terrain. Obstacles, changing rules, random positions. You will have five minutes to reorganize. After that, the game begins. And remember: survival is measured by your ability to adapt instantly.
A shiver ran through Aïna.
Unstable. Random. Five minutes…
Reorganization and Tensions
Aïna looked at the tablet: her team was mixed again. S, A, B, C, and D-level together. But this time, an S-level offensive mid had been replaced by an unexpected D-level—a candidate clearly on the edge of the Edge.
— Great, — murmured Sora, her dark eyes betraying anxiety.
— We adapt, — thought Aïna. — We survive.
Mila, already on the line, frowned:
— This D-level will ruin everything.
Aïna shook her head internally. She could not underestimate the potential of someone on a knife-edge.
Coverage. Anticipation. Silent. Every move counts.
She focused on positioning, silently guiding her team through placement, timing, and invisible micro-adjustments. Sora mirrored every step perfectly.
Chaos Drill Begins
The shrill whistle blew. The field was no longer linear: distorted lines, moving cones, obstacles appearing everywhere. The ball rolled unpredictably. Opponents changed strategy every minute.
Aïna felt her heart leap.
A panicked D-level froze in front of her, unable to react to a pass from an S-level.
— I cover, — thought Aïna, stepping in and intercepting the ball in a smooth gesture. She guided the D-level to a safe position without a word.
An S-level from the opposing bloc dashed through. Aïna intercepted. One split-second to decide: block or push to another teammate. She chose anticipation. The ball changed direction. An attack avoided.
Every decision was a life—or a potential elimination. Sweat ran down her back, legs screamed, but her mind stayed calm, calculating.
Conflict and Leadership
Suddenly, a shout pierced the chaos. Mila, frustrated by the D-level's unpredictable moves, rushed to scold:
— You're moving randomly! We'll lose!
Aïna stepped forward, blocking Mila's gaze. Not a word. One silent movement, a subtle reposition, and the D-level understood what was expected.
Sora followed the lead, and the team realigned. A silent dance of wordless leadership had formed. Even the trembling D-level began to anticipate movements, guided by Aïna.
I cannot control everything… but I can teach those who want to survive.
Critical Moment
At the twentieth minute, an opposing S-level broke through on the right flank. Aïna judged that the panicking D-level wouldn't intervene. She calculated. Only one trajectory possible to intercept the ball. She slid into position, beat the player to it, and redirected to Sora.
Time seemed to slow. Invisible spectators, cameras, stress—all converged on this move. Sora passed to a B-level, who opened the play. A perfectly silent counter-attack.
Aïna felt an adrenaline rush: they had survived the most dangerous attack of the match.
We can survive even in chaos.
End of Match and 5 Eliminations
The final whistle blew. The candidates collapsed, gasping. The field was a perfect mess. But Aïna, Sora, and their team had held firm.
The board lit up:
Immediate Eliminations (5 candidates):
Candidate #12 — Unable to follow silent instructions
Candidate #98 — Repeated panic during counter-attacks
Candidate #134 — Failure to respect implicit positions
Candidate #205 — Disruptive individualism
Candidate #276 — Lack of coordination with the team
Promotions: 3 C-levels promoted to B for their adaptation
Exceptional Performance: Aïna noted for silent leadership and strategic coverage
Candidates remaining: 282
Aïna felt warmth rise within her. She had not spoken. She had not shouted. Yet they had seen her.
Sora looked at her, eyes shining:
— You… you're incredible. Without a word, you guided us all.
— We survived together, — murmured Aïna, with an exhausted smile.
Mila nodded, humbler than ever.
Final Reflection
Back in the dorm, Aïna lay on her bed. The fire of the Mantle burned stronger within her. The Grey Zone was no longer an obstacle; it was a springboard. And the Edge… she now knew how to tame those trembling at the brink.
Silent leadership. Total adaptation. Absolute survival.
The message on the screen blinked:
Phase 1 — Day 6: Bloc Challenge Results. Day 7 starts at 0600. Prepare for Final Evaluation of Phase 1.
Aïna closed her eyes. Tomorrow, the real sorting would begin. But she was no longer afraid. She had found her voice… and the world would hear it without her speaking.