Eighteen hours remained.
He would use every one of them.
The real trial was no longer theoretical.
It was coming.
The day passed in measured silence.
Trevor kept the team inside the residence until dusk. No unnecessary movement. No external contact. The network remained open at full saturation, every presence sharp and immediate. Light recovery only—food, hydration, short rest cycles, gear refinement. No sparring. No essence expenditure beyond baseline maintenance.
By late afternoon the final equipment layout was complete. Each member's armor had been adjusted for the expected cold of the Ice Forge. Thermal regulation runes were layered and tested. Toxin and frost filters were double-checked. Emergency beacons were calibrated to the Silver Guild's provisional frequency. Primary and secondary weapons were cleaned, edged, and sealed.
Trevor walked the line once more.
