The Last Howl
The Grand Courtyard of Alpha Academy had transformed from a chaotic survival zone into something far more chilling. The afternoon sun cast long, amber shadows across the cobblestones, but no one was celebrating.
A massive, double-sided digital projection floated above the stone stage, glowing in high-contrast neon silver. It displayed the final leaderboard of the Freshman Survival Trial.
But it wasn't just a scoreboard. It was an executioner’s block.
"Ranks fifty-one through one hundred," Professor Hawthorne’s voice boomed across the silent courtyard, completely devoid of warmth. "Your journey at Alpha Academy ends today. You have thirty minutes to pack your belongings and exit the main gate