She wasn't wrong—she just wasn't fast enough.
Lucy's eyes glimmered with hope once again. She had no choice now; she actually had to believe in herself. The truth was simple: she wasn't going to get it right just by staring into the screen and hoping something magical would happen.
In a leap of faith, with trembling fingers and a slightly clenched jaw, she gently wiped away the tears welling at the corners of her eyes. She took a sharp breath, closed her eyes for a second… and finally clicked the button.
---
Derek had successfully completed all ten levels of zone 4. As he stepped into a new chamber, his mind settled on one thing this was a new zone so it was definitely going to be different. But still it been the first level he expected something calm
He wasn't expecting it to be too complicated. Honestly, he thought it would be refreshing, maybe even simple—a bit of a cool-down level after everything he'd gone through.
The room was dimly lit, almost atmospheric, with an eerie yet calming feel. The floor beneath his feet had a smooth glow, shining like polished obsidian stone, reflecting soft rays of light from the walls.
In the center of the room floated a peculiar object—a 3D pyramid, suspended perfectly in the air. The pyramid was entirely transparent and composed of multiple smaller blocks, each with their own unique properties. These blocks displayed different colors, numbers, and strange markings, with three visible faces on each cube.
It didn't take long for Derek to notice that parts of the pyramid were clearly missing—fragments that were essential to its completion. The incomplete shape was obvious in its structure.
Under the floating 3D pyramid where several other cubes hung midair—undoubtedly the missing pieces required to fill the pyramid.
Derek took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied both the pyramid and the suspended cubes. It didn't take a genius to figure out the task.
He examined the pyramid's sides—each one decorated with a mixture of colors, symbols, and numbers. At first glance, the arrangement seemed random, like a scattered puzzle without meaning.
But Derek knew better.
There was no way it was random.
Not at this stage.
Something was off. He could feel it.
He raised his eyes to the glowing screen hovering just ahead.
> Objective: Complete the pyramid. Align all faces logically. Patterns and formations must be respected.
Note: Every incorrect placement will result in a 10-second lock and automatic structural reshuffle of the pyramid.
After reading that, Derek formed a quick plan in his head. But before putting it into action, he checked the countdown clock—62 seconds remaining.
He shrugged slightly, reaching for a random cube and placing it in an empty space within the pyramid.
Almost instantly, a harsh red light flashed across the screen.
> Incorrect. 10-second lock initiated. Structural reshuffle in progress.
The pyramid lit up and began to rotate, its pieces shifting wildly. A soft hum vibrated through the chamber as the entire structure transformed, reshuffling its blocks in a circular motion.
Seconds later, it stopped.
A digital lock timer appeared, counting down from 10.
When the lock ended, the pyramid didn't look any more ordered than before. If anything, it looked even more confusing.
Derek reached for another cube, determined to get it right this time. But his hand froze mid-air.
What if he failed again?
What if he used up the last of his precious seconds on another wrong answer?
The consequences would be huge.
Glancing quickly at the countdown—46 seconds left—Derek hesitated. His eyes locked onto the puzzle, and his brain started working overtime.
What was the real solution here?
As he stared at the chaotic pattern before him, something clicked.
The problem wasn't just the pyramid.
It was him.
He wasn't trusting his instincts.
He had ideas, but the time pressure was making him doubt himself. He needed clarity—and fast.
He briefly considered skipping the level. Maybe he could carry the lost points forward and recover later.
But the thought didn't last long.
He couldn't do that.
He wouldn't do that.
People had placed their hopes in him. He had made it this far because others had believed in him—had sacrificed time, energy, and resources for him.
Letting them down was not an option.
There were over 20,000 candidates in this tournament. Only 70 would advance to the next stage. This level might very well be the one that determines everything.
And that thought lit a fire in Derek's chest.
With new determination, he took a deep breath and stepped back from the puzzle. He glanced at the timer again. 35 seconds remaining.
No time to second-guess.
Instead of rushing to fill the pyramid, Derek closed his eyes and began visualizing what the completed pyramid should look like.
He stopped trying to solve it block by block. That was the mistake.
He focused hard, building the image in his mind—aligning the colors, predicting the markings, imagining the ideal structure that would logically make sense from all angles.
22 seconds remained.
Still no breakthrough.
The timer ticked louder in his head.
He tried to ignore it, to block it out completely. But it was tough.
10 seconds.
His heart pounded.
Was he going to fail?
Then—clarity.
He saw it.
The pattern had been there all along. It wasn't in the colors or numbers alone—but in the way the blocks connected. He had missed a small but crucial detail: the position of a corner piece that dictated the entire flow of the structure.
5 seconds.
He moved like lightning.
One by one, he grabbed the cubes and began inserting them in rapid succession—each placement guided by that new vision in his head.
Click. Click. Click.
The final cube locked in just as the timer ticked down.
Derek stepped back, breathing hard.
He didn't look at the screen.
Had he made it… or not?
---
Miss Alison and Mr. Austin sat quietly, their eyes fixed on the central monitors.
Earlier, they had both agreed not to watch Derek or Lucy's trials directly. It would only worsen their anxiety and add unnecessary pressure. But even watching Thompson's trial didn't bring any peace.
There was something… unsettling about that boy.
The way he tackled every level.
His ruthless efficiency. His speed. His unwavering confidence.
The cocky grin he wore each time a level began.
And, perhaps most frightening of all—the time it took him to finish. Always fast. Too fast.
Everyone in the tournament had a dream, a reason, a burning goal.
Miss Alison had been teaching for a long time. She had guided many students through different ranks and phases. She had seen all types. And even though everyone here had dreams and ambition…
Thompson was different.
There was something special about him. Something she couldn't quite place—not yet.
She was still lost in thought when Mr. Austin leaned toward her and gently tapped her arm.
"Can you take a look at the leaderboard?"