At least a dozen participants were currently spasming while lying on the floor. Swathes of white began to disappear from the space, leaving only small glimmers before they faded away. The beast before them also vanished just as quickly.

Palla quickly stepped up, checking their conditions before anything else.

“Get the medical team in here ASAP!”

The medical team wasted no time arriving, rushing the collapsed examinees to the medical ward. While they handled the worst of the group,

Click. Clack. Click.

Palla walked toward Dodge and was only a few inches away from his face.

“What did you think you were doing, using that artifact?”

Dodge handed it to Palla.

“I was doing my portion of the exam.”

Palla threw her arm to the side.

“Some of the examinees had seizures! When we were fresh examinees, neither of us could handle the sight of something like that, let alone the sight of a Sea God. The level of power they possess could very well send them to their deaths!”

Dodge threw his hands up in defense.

“How was I supposed to know what was on there? I found it in the vault and thought it would just have a zenith or something I could use to shake up the newbies. There’s no easy way of telling what's on this thing.”

She could tell he wasn't lying. In the years she came to know Dodge, she knew that he was lazy more than anything else.

"This is absolute negligence on your part.”

Dodge sighed.

“I had no clue it would turn out like this.”

Palla walked away from him, lifting her glasses and rubbing her temples, then turned back to him.

“Dodge, you need to take this seriously. Those examinees are our responsibility. When are you going to take something seriously in your life?”

Dodge sucked his teeth.

"I'm trying, alright. I'm just not the same as I used to be."

Palla agreed silently.

"I know. In any case, I’ll also have to take this issue straight to the diver tribunal."

“Those old farts? Fine. I guess you’re taking over for this exam?”

She shook her head. 

“I cannot. But I'll be keeping a closer eye. Depending on your actions, you might be digging this hole even deeper for yourself. It's almost certain you’re getting suspended at a minimum. Just... Try to act like the top twenty diver you once were and stop being so selfish for at least a day, alright?”

Dodge was hunched over and exasperated by the time Palla walked out of the room. The only ones remaining with him were those who managed to survive the experience mostly intact. Grace was finally able to catch her breath with the now immense pressure gone. She lay out on the ground, looking up to Yvie, who appeared to be in a daze.

“Yvie, are you alright?”

Yvie silently agreed.

“Y-yeah… That was weird. That thing had me in fight or flight.”

Grace wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“With how wide you were smiling, I thought you might just jump at it.”

Yvie looked at her trembling hands. Whether it was from excitement or fear, she did not know herself. She felt a gaze boring into her back and turned to see Luz staring directly at her. He walked over, his muscular frame nearly eclipsing Yvie. 

“What the hell are you?”

She tilted her head, confused.

“I’m Yvie Moore,” she smiled.

Luz gave her a listless stare.

“Are you dumb?”

Yvie raised a fist.

“Who’re you calling dumb?”

He sighed.

“I’m not playing this game with you. Good to know, though. It seems like you standing up to that beast was just a fluke. An idiot wouldn’t know when something’s got them beat.”

With his final words, he walked away. Yvie’s fist was shaking as she watched him escape.

“I’m gonna kick your butt in this exam!”

Luz looked over his shoulder.

“I’d like to see you try.”

As the rest of the examinees recovered, the shutters began to cover the windows and doors to the gym. The light from the outside began to slowly fade away until there was no light left in the room.

The remaining twenty-three were now standing in total darkness. Dodge's words echoed.

“Let's begin the final half of this exam.”