"Begin!"
The moment the final syllable of Venerable Sky Cloud's thunderous proclamation dissolved into the heavy, static-charged atmosphere, a sudden, sharp hum of raw primordial power vibrated through the stone floor.
Before any of the remaining hundred geniuses could even think of drawing a single breath or shifting their footing, a blinding flash of clear, mirror-like energy erupted directly beneath their boots.
At that exact second, a localized, immensely powerful spatial barrier shot straight up from the ground, morphing into a seamless, impenetrable dome of swirling silver runes that completely surrounded every single one of the remaining students.
The transition was so instantaneous, fluid, and absolute that the wide, flat plain field, the overcast sky, and the physical presence of their nearby companions were violently, systematically wiped clean from their senses.
Haoran blinked, looking around.
