The narrow corridor stretched out ahead of the Genesis and Ascension factions, illuminated by glowing tiles that pulsed faintly with blue and red light. The faint hum of machinery filled the air, a reminder that the trial was far from over. The chamber behind them had offered a brief reprieve, but the challenge before them was a gauntlet designed to break even the most prepared leaders.
Instructor Han Yeseul's voice echoed again.
"This is the Corridor of Chaos. Each tile ahead triggers a random event—some beneficial, others harmful. Leaders must decide whether to move forward, retreat, or redirect their teams. There is no map, no pattern. Only decision-making will guide you to the end."
The twins exchanged a wary glance as they prepared to lead their factions forward.
Seojun's mind raced as he analyzed the corridor's layout. His Scholar System offered probabilities for each glowing tile, but without knowing what events the tiles triggered, his calculations were incomplete. He hated incomplete data.
"We don't have enough information to choose the best path," Seojun muttered, half to himself.
"That's a problem," Jiyeon said, standing beside him. "You can't hesitate forever."
Hyunwoo examined the glowing tiles. "If we're stuck guessing, why not test one? We can handle a trap or two."
Seojun nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Everyone, stay back. I'll test the first tile."
He stepped forward onto a blue tile, bracing for the worst. A low hum resonated as a shimmering barrier appeared ahead, blocking the path forward.
"A wall?" Jiyeon said, frowning.
"It's not permanent," Seojun replied, watching as the barrier faded after ten seconds. His Scholar System flagged the delay as valuable data. "Blue tiles trigger temporary obstacles. Avoid them when time is critical."
The group pressed forward, navigating carefully around the blue tiles. But just as Seojun felt they were gaining momentum, one of the recruits stepped on a red tile.
A loud click echoed through the corridor, followed by the sharp whir of machinery. The ceiling above them split open, releasing a swarm of mechanical drones armed with stun beams.
"Defensive positions!" Seojun ordered, his voice sharp.
Hyunwoo immediately sprang into action, using his Fabrication System to deploy a small shield generator. The recruits scrambled behind it as the drones opened fire, their beams scattering harmlessly against the energy barrier.
"Hyunwoo, take the lead," Seojun said, his Scholar System calculating the best way forward. "We'll cover you. Everyone else, follow me!"
The drones continued to attack, but Hyunwoo's shield held as they pushed through. By the time the swarm dispersed, Genesis Club had made significant progress—but the stress was already starting to show on the recruits' faces.
"Keep moving," Seojun said, refusing to let fatigue slow them down. "The end is close."
Eunha stood at the entrance to the corridor, her Scholar System overlaying potential paths on her display. Unlike Seojun, she didn't hesitate to act, confident in her ability to read the environment.
"Blue tiles are obstacles," she said, watching Genesis from afar. "That leaves red and unlit tiles. We'll avoid red unless absolutely necessary. Let's go."
Minho stepped beside her. "What if we hit something worse than a wall?"
"We won't," Eunha replied confidently. "I've already factored in the likelihood of major threats. Trust me."
The group moved quickly, weaving around the glowing tiles with precision. Her predictions held true for the first few steps, boosting the recruits' confidence.
But as they neared the midpoint, one of the unlit tiles triggered a sudden burst of fire from the walls. The group scrambled for cover, but one recruit fell behind, singeing their arm.
"Minho, help him!" Eunha ordered.
Minho pulled the recruit to safety as the flames subsided. "Your predictions are slipping, boss."
Eunha scowled but didn't respond. Her Scholar System flagged the fire trap as a rare event, but she hadn't accounted for its unpredictability.
"We keep moving," she said. "Everyone, stay tighter together. No more mistakes."
Hyuna gave her a sideways glance. "You sure you've got this?"
"I'm sure," Eunha replied, though doubt gnawed at the edges of her confidence.
Farther back in the corridor, Lee Soyeon and her Eclipse Society advanced at a steady pace. Unlike the other factions, Soyeon didn't bother avoiding the red tiles.
"Step on it," she ordered, her voice calm.
Her recruit obeyed, triggering another swarm of drones. But instead of panicking, the Eclipse members activated their Spectral Systems, creating illusions that confused the machines. The drones fired harmlessly at false targets while the group slipped through unscathed.
"The chaos works to our advantage," Soyeon said, her tone even. "While the others waste time avoiding traps, we use them to learn."
Her recruits nodded, their trust in her leadership absolute.
At the rear of the corridor, Park Jinwoo and his Vanguard Club relied on brute force to push forward. When a red tile triggered a swarm of drones, Jinwoo's Titan Combat System made short work of them, smashing through the machines with ease.
"We don't stop," Jinwoo commanded, his voice booming. "The more we hesitate, the more we lose. Keep moving!"
The recruits followed his lead, their confidence bolstered by his sheer presence. Jinwoo's strength was undeniable, but his reliance on force was beginning to strain the group.
"We'll make it," Jinwoo said, though his voice carried a hint of urgency. "Stay with me."
As the corridor's end came into view, Genesis and Ascension found themselves neck and neck. The recruits exchanged wary glances, the rivalry between the factions fueling their determination.
"Keep up," Seojun ordered his group, his Scholar System projecting a direct path to the exit.
"Don't let them beat us," Eunha said to her recruits, pushing them forward.
But as the two factions converged on the final stretch, a massive floor tile lit up beneath them, triggering the corridor's ultimate trap. The walls began to close in, forcing the groups into a single narrow path where only one faction could pass at a time.
"What now?" Jiyeon asked, glancing at Seojun.
"Push through," Seojun replied. "We won't back down."
"Neither will we," Eunha said, stepping forward to face him.
The siblings locked eyes, their rivalry boiling over into open conflict.
"Move aside," Seojun said coldly.
"You wish," Eunha shot back. "Ascension doesn't follow Genesis."
For a tense moment, it seemed like neither faction would budge. But before the situation could escalate further, Instructor Han Yeseul's voice echoed through the corridor.
"Decide quickly," she said, her tone sharp. "Hesitation is failure."
Seojun and Eunha exchanged a final glare before nodding to their factions.
"Genesis, regroup!" Seojun commanded, signaling a shift to a nearby path.
"Ascension, with me!" Eunha shouted, leading her group through the narrow corridor.
Both factions crossed the finish line moments apart, but the tense encounter left a lasting impression.
As the trial ended, the factions gathered in a waiting area to recover. The twins avoided eye contact, their rivalry simmering just beneath the surface.
"We could've passed them," Jiyeon muttered to Seojun.
"And triggered another trap," Seojun replied, though his Scholar System flagged the decision as a missed opportunity.
Across the room, Eunha stood with her recruits, replaying the trial in her mind. Her predictions had faltered, and while they had succeeded, the cost had been higher than she anticipated.
For both twins, the Corridor of Chaos had been a harsh lesson: logic and prediction could only take them so far.