In Sector 7-A, near an open-air amphitheater, there was a subtle tension in the air.
Kaelen Sorel had assembled three other lower-ranked contestants—two Talented from minor houses and an assassin from a secondary syndicate.
They stood in a semicircle around Samantha, who stood at the center of the concrete stage, her spear resting lightly against her forearm.
"The clue says 'an ancient legacy untouched by modern forges,' Kaelen declared, his voice ringing with absolute certainty.
"There isn't a single weapon in this entire academy that fits that description except that black stick in your hands, Samantha!"
Samantha looked at the four contestants surrounding her. Her expression was entirely calm, her eyes measuring their footwork, their balance, and their distance.
"Kaelen," Samantha said, her tone steady and even. "If I am the Phantom Target, the system would have issued me a notification confirming my status as an objective. I received no such notification."
