Some time later, medical staff and event assistants moved through the white metal hall, checking the candidates' conditions, guiding the eliminated out of the main competition area, and providing recovery potions to those who had suffered excessive feedback.
Some hung their heads in shame, some were still seething with rage, and some seemed completely unable to accept that they had been eliminated in the thinning stage before even reaching the real phase.
Not far away, Helen's connection pod opened as well.
When she sat up, her face showed fatigue too, but her overall condition was far more stable than most. She checked her wrists and shoulders first, confirming there were no real injuries on her body, then turned to look at Zich.
"You okay?"
Zich leaned against the edge of his pod, his tone flat. "This thing makes the sensation of getting hit feel way too real."
Helen let out a small laugh. "Yes, Green Corporation made sure it was as realistic as possible."
