A group of teachers and senior students stood before the towering metallic wall of Solaris City. They had watched the freshers undergo their trials and gain entry hours earlier, expecting their own turn to come.
But nothing happened.
No beasts emerged. No trials revealed themselves. Only silence.
"Why isn't it testing us?" one student finally blurted.
The single question spread like sparks on dry grass. Soon, the air buzzed with complaints, doubts, and curses. Many were furious—they had paid the entry fee, endured the humiliation of loans, only to be left waiting like fools.
The teachers' cold glares cut the noise short. Grumbling died on their lips, and some swallowed back their curses like bitter medicine.
The faculty formed a circle, speaking in hushed tones. A few suggested patience, but frustration was building quickly. Then, a bold voice rang out.
"Let's just break it. It's an abandoned city anyway," Zipper declared, his tone brash.
