Eryndor finally descended into the pit, walking across floating platforms with unnatural calm.
"Students," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "The maze, the beasts, and the illusions are only the beginning. You must prove mastery over strategy and magic in coordination with your peers. One wrong move, one hesitation, and failure is permanent."
He raised his staff. A massive shadow dragon erupted from the mist, its wings spanning the entire pit, eyes glowing like molten gold.
Chaos exploded. Students screamed. Lyra, Mira, Kael, and the supporting students coordinated instinctively:
Lyra's chains restrained the dragon's tail.
Kael's shadow blades disrupted its wing strikes.
Mira's wind blasts lifted weaker students out of danger.
Tarin's lightning surged into the dragon's eyes, temporarily blinding it.
Joran's flames scorched the dragon's shadow, weakening it.
Selina's illusions distracted smaller phantom beasts that were swarming around.
Eryndor observed silently, nodding faintly. "Good… but your limits are only beginning to be tested."