The announcement for day two came at 0700 exactly. All teams gathered in the central area where Dean Morrison stood on her platform. "Day two challenge: The Hunt," she announced. "Each team will be given a list of targets. These are academy staff members positioned throughout the facility, dressed as enemy combatants. Capture a target and return them to your base camp for points. Each target has a different point value based on difficulty of capture." She paused, scanning the assembled students. "However, teams may also ambush other teams and steal their captured targets. If you eliminate an opposing team member, you can take their targets and earn their points. The Hunt lasts until 1800 hours. Points are tallied based on targets held at the end." Carter immediately saw the problem. This wasn't just about finding targets. It was about deciding whether to hunt for new targets or ambush other teams. And teams would be scattered across the facility, vulnerable to attack. "Target loc

Dean Morrison's voice echoed across the facility at 7:30 AM. "Day two challenge: The Hunt. Academy staff members are positioned throughout the facility, dressed as enemy combatants. These are your targets. Capture a target and return them to your base camp to earn points. Point values range from one hundred to five hundred based on target difficulty and location." A pause. Carter could hear the tension in the silence. "However, teams may also ambush other teams and steal their captured targets. Additionally, eliminating members of opposing teams earns bonus points. The Hunt ends at 1800 hours. Points are tallied based on targets held at end time and enemy eliminations." The announcement ended. Immediately, Team Phoenix erupted in argument. Alex pulled up a map on his tablet. "We need to split into three groups. Cover more ground, capture more targets. Speed is essential." "Splitting up makes us vulnerable," Kira countered. "We should stay together as one unit. Smaller groups wil

Carter woke before dawn on the fourth day of the Crucible.The tent was cold. His body was stiff from yesterday's injuries, the cracked ribs he'd been hiding from everyone sending sharp pains through his chest every time he breathed too deep. He'd used Overdrive again during the hostage extraction. The backlash was worse this time.The Protocol displayed its morning assessment:MUSCLE DAMAGE: MODERATE TO SEVERECOGNITIVE FATIGUE: SIGNIFICANTOVERDRIVE BACKLASH: ACTIVERECOMMENDED: 72 HOURS RESTHe didn't have 72 hours. He didn't have 72 minutes.Carter forced himself upright. The tent fabric rustled and Omar's voice came from outside."You're awake.""Barely.""Dean Morrison's announcement is in twenty minutes. Team leaders are required to assemble at the command center." Omar paused. "Your face is pale. Worse than yesterday.""I'm fine.""You're not fine. But you'll pretend to be fine because that's what the situation requires. I understand."Carter emerged from the tent. Omar studie

The final morning of the Crucible was cold and gray.Carter woke before dawn, his body stiff and painful but functional. Dr. Mora's stabilizer had done something to his perception. Everything felt slightly distant, slightly muffled, like he was experiencing reality through a layer of thick glass.The Protocol's morning diagnostic confirmed the change:NEURAL STABILIZER: ACTIVEENHANCED ABILITY ACCESS: REDUCED 40%COGNITIVE SPEED: REDUCED 31%PHYSICAL REACTION TIME: REDUCED 27%POWER POINTS AVAILABLE: 4WARNING: ABILITY USE DURING STABILIZATION WILL CAUSE SEVERE BACKLASHCarter acknowledged the warning and pushed it aside.Team Phoenix assembled for their final strategy meeting. Alex stood at the center, his expression serious."Team Combat Elimination. Eleven teams enter the arena. Last team standing wins. Points are awarded based on elimination order. First place gets two thousand points. Second place gets fifteen hundred. Third gets one thousand. Fourth gets five hundred. Everyone e

The private coaching session began at exactly 2000 hours.Carter was led to a small training room on the third floor of the Grace Manor estate. He had been summoned back to the manor immediately after the team practice, transported by a silent driver in an unmarked car. Reginald met him at the entrance and escorted him through corridors Carter had never seen before.The training room was sparse: padded floor, mirrors along one wall, a single chair in the corner. No windows. No visible exits beyond the door they entered through."Your coach," Reginald said, and stepped aside.The woman who entered was not what Carter expected. She was older, perhaps sixty, with gray hair pulled back severely and the posture of someone who had spent decades in military service. Her face was weathered and unreadable. Her eyes assessed Carter in a single glance and found him wanting."Owen Grace. Or whatever your name actually is." Her voice was rough, accustomed to command. "I am Colonel Eve Chen, retire