Minutes passed before consciousness slowly returned to Eryon.
His body ached with every breath, wounds burning and muscles trembling with exhaustion. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upright, swaying slightly as he steadied his footing.
The massive corpse of the crocodile lay before him, smoke still curling from its scorched mouth.
Staggering forward, Eryon gripped his dagger tightly and dug into the beast's head, prying free the heavy Rank Three core, still warm and pulsing with energy.
He tucked it carefully into his pouch, breathing heavily.
No time to waste, he thought grimly.
The final day was still ticking away, and he had no intention of leaving anything to chance.
Despite his battered state, Eryon pressed on through the forest. He targeted smaller prey now—Level One creatures—harvesting their cores quickly and efficiently. His movements were slower, less precise, but his willpower drove him forward.
The forest, once alive with battle cries and distant roars, had grown eerily quiet. Fewer beasts roamed now. Fewer candidates remained.
As Eryon knelt to retrieve another core, a sudden voice echoed through the Verdant Wilds.
"Attention all candidates. The trial is over. Prepare for extraction."
A brilliant light enveloped him, and before he could react, the world twisted and shifted once again.
When the light faded, Eryon found himself back at the original platform where the trial had begun.
He looked around.
Of the dozens who had entered the forest, around fifty remained.
Their clothes were torn, their bodies covered in bruises, cuts, and blood. Some sat heavily on the ground, barely conscious. Others stood defiantly, clutching their pouches of beast cores like precious treasures.
Eryon spotted Kael and Ryn among the survivors, both battered but alive.
Relief flooded through him as he made his way toward them.
"You survived," Kael said with a grin, his face smeared with dirt but his eyes bright.
"Barely," Eryon muttered, sharing a tired smile.
Ryn clapped him on the shoulder, grimacing slightly from his own injuries. "Knew you would."
They exchanged brief, proud nods, savoring the moment of reunion.
In the distance, near another cluster of survivors, Eryon caught sight of Alice Dawnmere.
Her golden hair was matted with sweat and dirt, but her posture was as proud and regal as ever, her piercing blue eyes scanning the crowd.
Their gazes met briefly.
Before any more words could be exchanged, a sharp voice rang out across the platform.
"Silence!"
Ardyn Vale, the examiner, stepped forward, his presence immediately commanding attention.
"The trial has concluded," he announced. "Now, we begin the ranking of survivors. Prepare yourselves."
The air grew thick with tension.