The loudspeaker announcement echoed across the training grounds, drawing every participant's attention.
"Attention all students. The dungeon hunt trial has officially ended. Please assemble for the results."
A giant screen flickered to life, displaying the rankings:
1st Place: Aeloria Academy
2nd Place: Lumina Academy
3rd Place: Ravencrest Academy
Zane's academy—Ravencrest Academy—had come in third. The team exchanged looks—proud, yet disappointed. Not the victory they had hoped for, but a solid finish nonetheless.
Sera let out a sigh, wiping sweat from her brow. "We made it to the top five... but if we hadn't gotten distracted, we might've done better."
Nearby, Valerie, proudly standing with the Lumina students, smiled at her academy's second-place finish. Zane caught her glance, and despite everything, he gave a small nod.
Nyx hovered beside Zane, whispering, "Not bad at all. But next time? Let's aim for first."
Zane's gaze sharpened with determination. "Next time, we win."
As the crowd began to disperse, the teams regrouped, already thinking about what to improve. For Zane and his friends, this was just the beginning of the challenge.