THIRD PERSON'S POV
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The assessments continued as the field buzzed with activity.
The first phase of the physical examinations — the Impact Tower — ended successfully.
Team 5 dominated once again with a total of 707 points out of 800, while Team 16 secured third place with 644 points.
Compared to the chaos of the strength tests, the medical examinations were much calmer.
No screaming.
No cheering.
Just the soft beeping of machines and quiet conversations between students.
The assessments began with the high school students and seniors.
"I've been meaning to ask..." Nora glanced around curiously as her team walked alongside George's group toward the medical section. "Where are the university students?"
"They're using the southern field," Richard answered patiently. "This area is only for secondary school, high school, and seniors."
Nora tilted her head.
"Why are seniors separated? Isn't it still technically high school?"
Donald gasped dramatically in mock offense.
"Excuse you, young lady. I graduated from high school two years ago."
Nora blinked.
"After high school, there's a stage that can last up to four years," James explained.
"They test your overall mastery and combat understanding before you're officially allowed into the university division."
"That's why they force everyone to take every level seriously," Albert added lazily. "Imagine getting demoted because you forgot Form One mathematics."
The entire group visibly shivered.
Nora frowned slightly, silently wishing she had known all this before transferring.
The medical section was far more organized than the previous testing area.
Nurses dressed in white and blue uniforms moved between students and machines while mentors gathered nearby in a resting area where food and drinks were served.
Renzo casually borrowed Donald's mirror to check his reflection.
Satisfied, he tossed it back before confidently heading toward the resting area.
Specifically toward the female mentors.
Lilian rolled her eyes immediately and followed after him.
"He's barely mature enough to be a mentor," Fiona muttered under her breath.
Meanwhile, she guided Lily and Nkechi forward like an exhausted mother hen.
The sound of machines filled the air as students underwent scans, questioning, and additional examinations.
Several hours later, group leaders and mentors finally received their reports.
Renzo stood beside George while casually eating chicken nuggets, grease smeared all over his fingers.
George cleared his throat before reading aloud.
"Alright... Team 5 seems stable overall..."
His eyes moved lower.
"825 points."
Everyone paused.
"Maybe that's before the bonus?" Renzo shrugged casually before taking another bite.
"What bonus?" Ivy asked.
"If no teammate falls below eighty percent health, the team receives an additional two hundred bonus points or more," George explained distractedly before frowning.
His expression slowly darkened.
"We only received a hundred-point bonus..."
The group immediately fell silent.
"We originally scored seven hundred and twenty-five."
The realization sank in almost instantly.
Fiona frowned deeply.
"...Okay. Who's sick?"
George sighed before continuing.
"George, one hundred percent. Donald, one hundred. Nathan, ninety-five. Zoe, ninety. Albert, ninety-five. Fiona, ninety. Lily, ninety..."
His voice trailed off.
"Ivy..."
Everyone held their breath.
George immediately looked up.
"Maybe the machines made a mistake."
He gently grabbed Ivy's wrist.
"Come on. Let's get you retested."
A confused Ivy allowed him to pull her back inside while Lily clutched Fiona's arm nervously.
Zoe crossed her arms tightly over her chest but remained unusually quiet.
Even Renzo slowed his eating.
After nearly an hour of repeated examinations, George finally returned carrying enough papers to resemble a textbook.
A deep frown sat heavily on his face.
Meanwhile, Ivy looked completely calm.
Nathan quietly took one of the reports and scanned through it.
"Ivy... sixty-five percent with deliberation on the final evaluation."
Silence.
Everyone stared at Ivy.
She looked strangely detached, as though they were discussing someone else's condition entirely.
Sarah's team had just returned, but their smiles faded immediately upon seeing the atmosphere.
Billy looked around cautiously.
"Did something happen?"
"It's nothing serious," Ivy answered calmly.
George immediately stepped in front of her.
"Nothing serious? Ivy, are you okay?"
For a brief second, Ivy avoided his gaze.
Just one second.
Then she looked back up with the same unreadable expression.
"I'm fine."
"Sixty-five percent with deliberation is not fine, kid."
Renzo finally threw away his food and wiped his hands clean before taking another copy of the report.
His heartbeat pounded loudly in his ears as he reread the words over and over again.
65% with deliberation.
Illness unknown.
Specialist involvement recommended.
Albert suddenly snatched one of the papers from George.
After scanning through it, he crumpled it violently and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.
"It's nothing."
His voice sounded sharper than usual.
"If she's not fine, we'll know."
He glanced briefly at Ivy.
She gave him a small grateful smile.
But Albert didn't return it.
Nora glanced toward the reports curiously but decided against asking questions as Lilian called Team 16 over for the next assessment.
Renzo dragged a hand down his face tiredly.
"Albert's right..."
His voice came out quieter this time.
"Let's just... finish the tests first."
No one argued.
The group silently followed after him, unconsciously keeping Ivy in the middle as they walked.