The atmosphere in the classroom remained tense.
After the progress presentations, neither group could confidently claim victory.
Marcus's team had shown creativity and speed.
Lucien's team had demonstrated preparation and stability.
The competition remained balanced.
And that was exactly why everyone was nervous.
The next morning, students entered the classroom expecting another normal day of preparation.
Instead, they found their teacher waiting with a stack of papers.
She looked unusually serious.
"Before we begin today's lesson," she said, "I have an announcement."
Immediately, the room became quiet.
Announcements rarely brought good news.
The teacher placed the papers on her desk.
"The school administration has changed the requirements for the final evaluation."
Confused murmurs spread through the room.
Marcus frowned.
Lucien remained silent.
"What kind of changes?" a student asked.
The teacher took a breath.
"The final selection will no longer be based solely on the proposal."
The room froze.
"What?"
Several students spoke at once.
The teacher raised a hand for silence.
"In addition to your project, every group must participate in a live debate."
Silence.
A debate.
Everything had just changed.
Eli stared in disbelief.
"A debate?"
The teacher nodded.
"You will defend your ideas against direct challenges from the opposing group."
Excitement and panic immediately spread throughout the classroom.
A presentation was one thing.
A debate was another.
There would be no prepared scripts.
No hiding behind slides.
No avoiding difficult questions.
Every weakness would be exposed.
Marcus slowly smiled.
For the first time all week, he looked genuinely excited.
Across the room, Lucien noticed.
"You like this," Lucien said.
Marcus folded his arms.
"Of course."
"A debate rewards adaptability."
Lucien nodded.
"It also punishes carelessness."
Marcus's smile widened slightly.
"We'll see which matters more."
The challenge had been accepted before it even began.
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
Both groups immediately adjusted their plans.
New strategies.
New preparations.
New concerns.
The pressure doubled overnight.
Later that afternoon, Eli sat beside Lucien.
"You realize this changes everything, right?"
Lucien looked at the updated schedule.
"Yes."
"You sound calm."
Lucien closed the folder.
"Because the rules changed for everyone."
Eli blinked.
"So you're not worried?"
A brief silence followed.
Then Lucien looked toward Marcus's side of the room.
"No."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"But now we'll discover who understands their own ideas best."
Across the classroom, Marcus was already preparing questions.
Preparing attacks.
Preparing weaknesses to expose.
For the first time since the competition started—
The final battle had a date.
And everyone knew it.
The debate would decide more than a winner.
It would decide whose vision deserved to lead.