"Morning, candidates."
A calm female voice echoed through the entire base, carried by the speakers fixed along the ceilings and walls. The sound spread evenly, reaching every corner—from the dorm rooms where some were still asleep, to the café where a few were already eating, to the training grounds where movements suddenly slowed, and even to the public restrooms where people paused mid-action.
"Move to the hall now for new information on the seventh trial and the present ranking of all candidates."
Her tone was straight, without pause, without emotion.
The moment the announcement ended; movement followed immediately.
Chairs scraped against the floor, doors opened, footsteps overlapped. Some hurriedly dressed, others wiped sweat off their bodies, and a few simply dropped what they were doing and moved.
Ezra was already in the training ground.
