Garrick cracked his knuckles, exhaling sharply as he glanced at the large clock mounted on the far side of the training hall.
"We've already wasted a good five minutes," he stated, his gruff voice carrying through the hall. "That leaves me with just twenty minutes to explain things. After that, we've got an hour and fifty-five minutes to assess whether you lot are worth anything on your own."
His gaze swept over the students.
"Listen up—this assessment is purely based on solo efforts. No teams, no partners. If you were hoping to rely on a friend to carry your weight, forget it. We already saw how most of you fumbled during the Battlefield Exam."
A few students tensed, some shifting uncomfortably at the reminder of their less-than-stellar performances in team-based combat.
"We're not interested in seeing how hopeless some of you are in groups," he continued bluntly. "This is about how well you can stand alone."
