Duong Minh closed his eyes and focused. Pain surged from every direction, driving straight into his brain each time he tried to transmit control signals to the drones. He forced himself to remain conscious through the agony, forced himself to remember who he was, to remember the people he loved so that he wouldn't lose his sanity in the storm of torment. All five drones wobbled violently in the air, trembling hard, yet none of them fell.
The other candidates saw Duong Minh's condition and were stunned, but they weren't permitted to intervene. He was still within his examination segment.
"I've located the source of the attack. It's coming from the chip at the back of Marcus's neck. He's using Cognitive Energy to activate it, sending an assault through the Digital Ocean into your control channel." Lyra spoke urgently.
"Strike back at him." Duong Minh replied within his mind, his face twisting from pain. "Don't worry about me."
Within the Digital Ocean, Lyra manifested as a stream of pure blue light. She followed the distorted signal upstream, cutting through layer after layer of encryption Marcus had established.
"Found it." Her voice turned cold as ice. "He believes his chip is well protected. He's wrong."
A pulse of pure energy was released.
"Boom." The chip at the back of Marcus's neck overloaded and exploded, accompanied by his piercing scream. Marcus collapsed onto the ground, writhing as agony nearly shattered his nervous system.
The moment Marcus fell, the pressure of interference vanished like mist dissolving in sunlight. Duong Minh gasped for air, sweat pouring down his face. But his hands no longer trembled. The five drones seemed liberated, streaking toward their control points with astonishing precision. One drone landed atop the blue pillar. Another on the red pillar. Two remained in defense formation. The final drone shot toward the yellow pillar.
10 seconds. 20 seconds. 30 seconds.
All three pillars are illuminated.
The system announced: [Completed. Time: 5 minutes 12 seconds. Drones intact: 5/5.]
He'd finished the exam. Not a single drone was lost.
The control chamber door opened. Duong Minh stepped out, pale, drenched in sweat. His legs trembled slightly.
A staff member hurried forward to support him.
"Are you alright? You look terrible!"
Duong Minh forced a faint smile.
"I'm fine... just a little tired."
Yue Lin approached, her gaze sharp and observant. She glanced at Marcus convulsing on the floor, then back at Duong Minh. A flicker of understanding lit her eyes.
"What did you do to Marcus?" She asked. There was no accusation in her tone, only curiosity.
Duong Minh met her gaze steadily.
"Just... self-defense."
Yue Lin remained silent for several seconds, her eyes scanning his pale face before shifting to Marcus, now being carried away by medical staff. In her mind, the pieces began to align: the abnormal interference signal, the precise timing of Marcus's transmission, the sudden "resurrection" of Duong Minh's five drones...
"Counterattacking through the attacker's own hacking route." She thought. "Not many can do that under emergency pressure."
Yue Lin nodded slowly. She said nothing more, but the way she looked at Duong Minh had changed entirely. The cold detachment was gone.
"98.7% synchronization is not a coincidence." She said softly, just loud enough for him to hear. "But enduring that level of pain while maintaining control... that's what truly deserves respect."
She paused, then added,
"We'll meet again in the Practical Combat segment. I look forward to seeing you at your best."
It wasn't a challenge. It was an acknowledgment.
Professor Delacroix and the medical team rushed to tend to Marcus. On the screen, the temporary rankings appeared:
Rafael Santos – 3 minutes 58 seconds Yue Lin – 4 minutes 17 seconds Marcus Webb – 4 minutes 23 seconds Duong Minh – 5 minutes 12 seconds
Although his time was slower, preserving all drones and overcoming malicious interference earned Duong Minh special bonus points.
Jonas stepped closer, his tone serious.
"I told you Marcus was dangerous. But you... you handled him intelligently."
Duong Minh merely nodded, struggling to keep his balance. In his mind, Lyra said,
"You need rest. Your nervous system's been overloaded. The Practical Combat begins in two hours. Use that time to recover."
But before Duong Minh could leave the examination area, Professor Delacroix called out,
"Duong Minh, come to my office for a moment."
Professor Delacroix's office was on the third floor, a small room overlooking Lake Geneva. Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass, casting long streaks across the wooden floor. On his desk, a small holographic display showed analytical data from the recent examination.
Professor Delacroix sat behind the desk, tapping it lightly with a steady rhythm, like a countdown clock. His gaze studied Duong Minh from the moment he entered—not harsh, not friendly, but the gaze of a scientist examining an unusual phenomenon.
"Close the door." He said quietly.
Duong Minh complied and stood before the desk. His legs still trembled faintly, but he forced himself upright.
Professor Delacroix didn't speak immediately. He enlarged the holographic projection with a swipe of his hand: Duong Minh's drones wobbling, Marcus convulsing, the chip at the back of his neck exploding.
"Do you understand what just happened?" He asked. His tone carried no reproach, only academic inquiry.
Duong Minh exhaled and chose his words carefully.
"Marcus attacked me through the Digital Ocean. I... defended myself."
"Defended yourself." Delacroix repeated, nodding slowly. "By sending a reverse electrical pulse through his hacked channel directly into his neural chip."
He paused, then looked directly at Duong Minh.
"Do you know the level of control that requires? Most Intellect Cultivators train for years before they can execute such a counterstrike."
Duong Minh remained silent.
Professor Delacroix continued,
"I reviewed the data logs. During Marcus's assault, your brain endured interference equivalent to 300% of the safe threshold. An ordinary person would've lost consciousness instantly. Even a gifted Intellect Cultivator candidate might endure a few seconds. But you... you lasted 47 seconds while maintaining control over all five drones."
He shut off the display and held Duong Minh's gaze.
"That can't be explained by synchronization percentage alone. There's something else within you."
Duong Minh felt his heart quicken. Lyra whispered in his mind,
"Careful. Reveal nothing unnecessary."
Professor Delacroix rose, hands behind his back, and walked toward the window.
"I'm not a fool, Duong Minh. I know you're not an ordinary student. Professor Volkov told me... a little. That you once... existed within the Digital Ocean."
He turned.
"He didn't elaborate. And I didn't ask. That's your privacy."
Duong Minh felt a quiet relief.
"But." Delacroix continued, his tone firm. "What concerns me is this: do you control that power?"
The question lingered in the air.
Duong Minh thought for a moment, then answered honestly,
"I'm learning."
Delacroix nodded, a thin smile appearing.
"An honest answer. Good. Overconfidence is far more dangerous than knowing one's not yet ready."
He returned to the desk and opened another file.
"As for Marcus, you need not worry. We investigated. There's sufficient evidence that he violated the primary rule. He'll be disqualified and banned from future participation for three years."
He looked at Duong Minh.
"But that also means you've made an enemy. Marcus has ties to TechNova Corporation, one of the largest technology conglomerates in the United States. They won't be pleased."
"I understand." Duong Minh said.
"No." Delacroix shook his head. "I don't think you fully understand. TechNova isn't merely a company. They have ambitious designs within the Path of Intellect. And they're not hesitant to use any method to obtain what they desire."
He lowered his voice.
"Inside the academy, you're protected. Outside... be careful."
Duong Minh nodded.
Professor Delacroix walked to the door and opened it.
"The Practical Combat begins in two hours. Go rest. You'll need your strength."
Duong Minh bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Professor."
As he prepared to leave, Delacroix called out again,
"Duong Minh."
He turned.
"What you did today." Delacroix said gravely. "Wasn't merely self-defense. It was a declaration that you're not someone easily threatened. That's good. But it also makes you a target."
He looked directly into Duong Minh's eyes.
"In this world, there are two kinds of people: the strong, and those who know when to remain hidden. The ones who live the longest are those who balance both."
Duong Minh let the words settle within him, then nodded.
"I'll remember."
When he stepped out, the door closed behind him. The corridor was quiet, his footsteps echoing against the wooden floor.
Lyra spoke softly,
"He's right. You revealed too much."
Duong Minh sighed.
"I know. But I had no choice. If I'd let Marcus continue, my brain might've suffered permanent damage."
"I understand." Lyra replied. "But from now on, we must be more cautious. Many eyes are watching you."
Duong Minh nodded and descended the stairs toward the rest area.
From that moment onward, his confrontation was no longer confined to the academy. It'd reached the forces standing behind it.