The cafeteria was a mess. Chairs were overturned. Trays lay scattered, food smeared across the floor. Blue and red lights blinked and pulsed everywhere. The noise — screams, shouts, and scuffling feet — made Arman’s head spin for a moment.He crouched low, feeling Ievon stir inside his mind.“Stay calm. Observe first. Move second,” Ievon said.Arman nodded. His eyes scanned the room. He could see rookies frozen in fear, some huddled under tables, some circling each other like predators. The rules were brutal, but clear. One wrong strike, one mistake, and a badge could flip — or worse, eliminate someone.He moved first, low and silent, weaving between tables and overturned chairs. His Jeet Kune Do training kicked in automatically. Every step was smooth, every motion deliberate. His CQC skills helped him avoid collisions without touching anyone unnecessarily.A red badge rookie lunged at a blue, fists swinging wildly. Arman darted in, sliding under the swing. He grabbed the attacker’s a

The cafeteria was eerily quiet now. The chaos had reached a climax, and Arman crouched behind a toppled table, chest heaving, sweat streaming down his face. The last red badge rookie had lunged at someone across the room, but the strike was deflected by a quick dodge. For a moment, it seemed as if the chaos might never end.Then, slowly, the lights flickered. The deep reds and bright blues of the badges dimmed. The fluorescent glow that had pulsed across the cafeteria for what felt like hours began to fade.Arman exhaled, letting his body relax just slightly. The pulse of Void energy in the room died down, leaving a tense silence. Around him, rookies cautiously peeked from behind overturned chairs and tables. Some had badges flickering weakly; others had changed colors permanently. A few were gone — eliminated.“Status?” Ievon asked calmly.Arman scanned the room. “Most of the rookies are still standing. Several eliminated. A few switched.”He nodded to himself. Every move, every dodg