Bang! The red dragonfly bomber exploded midair. The blast triggered a chain reaction. Several nearby bombers burst one after another. In other words, taking out one could wipe out a whole cluster. Number 79's eyes flicked to Thora's pistol, curiosity flashing behind his mask. After Thora acted, both Ashley and Number 79 stopped running. "Aim for the circular ring on their bellies," Thora said flatly. Without hesitation, they raised their weapons, dodging fire while targeting the rings. Bang! Bang, bang, bang!... Explosions echoed nonstop through the forest. The bombers that had been hunting them moments ago were now the prey. The trio wiped them out fiercely. Their marksmanship was flawless. Not a single bullet missed. During a brief pause, Thora glanced at Number 79. He held a black pistol with a long barrel. Its muzzle velocity was clearly faster than a standard pistol. Her eyes lingered on the weapon for just a second before she looked away. Something about its material felt strangely familiar. "We finally swatted those flies!" Ashley breathed out, flipping her hair back. She twirled her short gun and planted a foot on a rock, radiating strength and confidence. Thora refocused, inspecting the destroyed bombers with Luke behind her. She picked up one with its "head" intact, pried it open, and found a tiny circular component. A faint smile appeared. "It's a sensor." That meant everything they'd done since the bombers appeared had been under surveillance. Apart from the academy, there was no other possible culprit. Good thing she hadn't used her ability earlier, or she would've been completely exposed. Number 79 and Ashley had probably realized the same, which explained why they hadn't used theirs either. Thora's gaze hardened slightly. How many ability users were hidden in this year's Blue Star Military Academy intake? "Let's move," she said, straightening up and looking toward the other side. "If I'm right, the others must've faced similar attacks by now." "How do you know?" Ashley asked curiously. "The chief examiner said the first round isn't just about endurance," Thora replied. "It also tests reconnaissance, counter-recon, and marksmanship." Everything clicked in Ashley's mind. Her eyes lit up. "I feel so safe sticking with you, Thora." Thora frowned slightly and looked Ashley up and down. A six-foot-tall woman looking for protection? That felt oddly off. Number 79 stayed silent, occasionally glancing at Thora, clearly uninterested otherwise. Maybe taking Ashley out would make things more fun for him. Inside the monitoring room, examiners held tablets displaying live feedback from the candidates. They were logging data and rating the teams fast, but the four-person squad kept their focus longer than anyone else. "This team's destruction power is ... kind of terrifying," one examiner muttered while studying the numbers. Meanwhile, Thora's team continued on their way. At this speed, they might reach the edge of the next map section before the others. Their idea was wonderful, but reality cut off their shortcut. Up ahead was a pond, about 30 feet across. The real problem was the countless crocodiles lurking beneath the surface. Their jaws gaped, ready to snap at anyone who stepped in.