The message appeared above the Citadel.
---
FINAL PHASE
CITADEL CAPACITY: 100
ONLY 100 LIVING BEINGS MAY ENTER BEFORE THE DEFENSIVE WARD ACTIVATES.
---
The orientation hall became silent.
One hundred.
Approximately one hundred and seventy first-years were still active inside the examination.
Then there were the civilians.
The wounded.
The children.
The soldiers.
Far more people than the Citadel could supposedly protect.
The arithmetic was immediate.
Professor Darius spoke first.
"Students."
Selene turned toward him.
"What?"
"Put the students inside."
"All of them won't fit."
"I know."
He stared at the screen.
"The strongest hundred, then."
Theoran looked toward him.
Darius immediately corrected himself.
"Or the students most likely to survive whatever comes after this."
Selene shook her head.
"Then you're deliberately sacrificing the weakest."
"It's an illusion."
"To us."
Darius frowned.
"Not this argument again."
"It remains relevant."
