The group arrived at the location just a few kilometers from the edge of the battlefield. The ashen ground still carried the scars of recent devastation, but here, amidst the destruction, something stood tall and unnatural—a shimmering portal, 2.5 meters high, pulsating with a faint, otherworldly energy.
Surrounding the portal were more than thirty young men and women, their faces a mix of relief, confusion, and fatigue. Aurelius's eyes scanned the group, his heart skipping a beat as he recognized them.
"The examinees…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. "They're here."
The others quickly noticed as well. The familiar faces of those they had come to rescue filled their view—though not all were accounted for, seeing so many alive brought a flicker of hope.
Aurelia took a step forward, her voice trembling slightly with relief. "They're safe…"
