The storm did not calm after the second shift. It intensified—layer upon layer of pressure folding into the wind until the very air seemed ready to tear itself apart. The sky twisted into an unnatural spiral, the clouds circling the upper atmosphere like predators orbiting prey. The light dimmed into a metallic gray, and the sound of distant thunder became a constant pulse.
Students across the plateau had believed they were prepared for Phase Three. They had studied the island's predicted hazards, trained for environmental combat, and mentally prepared for unpredictable terrain. But nothing in their simulations matched the raw, living aggression of Stormfront Protocol. It wasn't just an exam—it was a declaration from the Academy itself:
**Adapt or break.**
