At precisely 06:00, the sky above Pearl Institute split open.
The sky thundered as thirty massive dropships hovered like iron whales above the southern training zone. The morning sky was still painted in shades of dawn, golden streaks barely cutting through the heavy clouds.
Inside the craft, over three hundred first years stood in neat formations, groggy, tense, and bracing for whatever fresh madness the instructors had planned for them today.
Professor Kong Hu's voice boomed across all ships through the mana channel.
"Today's training is simple."
That word again. The cursed word.
Several students flinched on instinct.
Professor Kong Hu continued without mercy.
"You will skydive to the southern ridge. No teleportation. No rescue. No outside help. Survive the descent. That's it."
Murmurs erupted.
"Descent?"
"Wait, skydiving?!"
Fatty grinned like a maniac. "Ha! Finally! My element!"
