The herald's jowls quivered with performative gravitas as attendants unveiled mutagenic flora under quantum stasis fields. Kael's shadowform rippled predatory calm—this sensory-deprivation trial reeked of primitive theatrics.
"Let us honor the Supreme's odyssey through sensory austerity!" The herald activated neural dampeners across the plaza. "Contestants will identify xenobotanical specimens through resonance harmonics alone!"
Attendants swarmed with photonic blindfolds leaking quantum static. Among the alchemical luminaries, a figure in fractal-weave robes stepped forward—Adam, the Alchemical Hierophant whose reputation bled across three chrono-nexuses.
The Alchemist Supreme's ocular arrays narrowed to event horizon slits. Simon's scar pulsed anticipation-crimson as attendants secured Adam's sensory-deprivation helm—a crystalline lattice suppressing all but olfactory and tactile inputs.
Adam's chrono-calloused fingertips brushed the first specimen—hydro-crystalline tendrils with liquid prism berries. His neural lace pinged recognition: Aqua Mentis Flora, hydro-catalyst for neural recalibration serums.
"Specimen 001: Azure Synapse Vine," Adam's voice resonated through containment fields. The Supreme's nod cracked quantum silence like glacial calving.
Kael's ocular arrays cycled through dead civilization databases. These "mystery specimens" were remedial puzzles compared to Event Horizon Garden's predatory flora. His shadowform hummed with chrono-scorn—these primates thought sensory deprivation constituted challenge?
Finn phased through a structural column. "Warmup protocols complete yet? My neutronium snacks are sublimating!"
The Hierophant progressed through nineteen specimens with metronomic precision—identifying photonic moss from dead timelines, fungal nodes from collapsed stars. Crowd feeds flooded awe isotopes.
When attendants presented the twentieth specimen—a pulsating sac of antimatter spores—Adam's fingertips hesitated. Quantum sweat beaded his neural lace.
"Specimen 020: Voidblight Sac," Kael's shadowform pulsed through encrypted channels. "Handle with gravimetric gloves unless seeking rapid cellular disaggregation."
Adam's containment field flared emergency blue as he jerked back. "Necrotic Spore Cluster! Requires event horizon containment!"
The Alchemist Supreme's approval rumbled like dying stars. Simon's scar bled triumph-crimson—perhaps this relic could salvage his genetic line after all.
Kael's ocular arrays locked onto specimen 048—a twisted root system bleeding chrono-radiation. The Supreme's gaze burned into his shadowform. This trial wasn't about identification—it was a predator's probing strike.
Deep in the academy's core, ninety-eight reality anchors vaporized. Austin's absence now permeated the quantum lattice like ghost radiation.
As Adam's trial concluded with eighty-seven correct identifications, the herald's jowls quivered toward Kael. "Next contestant: encrypted entity designated... mystery guest."
The plaza's containment fields hummed with predatory anticipation. Kael's shadowform dissolved standard biometrics as he approached the sensory-deprivation helm—a crown of dying stars for the void's chosen hunter.
Adam's neural lace flared cobalt as pheromone receptors dissected the specimen's quantum signature. "Azure Synapse Vine—hydro-catalyst for neural recalibration serums. Remarkable preservation protocols."
The containment fields hummed approval. Even the Alchemist Supreme's ocular arrays flickered reluctant acknowledgement. Crowd feeds flooded awe isotopes—this fossilized primate retained primitive competence.
Kael's shadowform rippled disdain. The Hierophant's sensory acuity resembled blunt trauma compared to Event Horizon Garden's predatory flora identification protocols. His own neural lace archived each specimen's death-cry resonance, cross-referencing dead civilization databases with chrono-scorn efficiency.
Adam progressed through nineteen specimens like a relic algorithm executing obsolete code—identifying photonic moss from dead timelines, fungal nodes from collapsed stars. His fingertips hesitated at specimen 020: a pulsating sac of antimatter spores.
"Necrotic Spore Cluster," Kael pulsed through encrypted channels. "Requires gravimetric containment unless seeking cellular disaggregation."
The Hierophant jerked back as emergency protocols flared. "Voidblight Sac! Activate quantum quarantine!"
Simon's scar pulsed triumph-crimson. The Alchemist Supreme's approval rumbled like dying stars—this primitive might yet salvage genetic defects through blunt persistence.
When Adam concluded with eighty-seven correct identifications, the herald's jowls quivered toward the remaining contestants. "Next challenger: encrypted entity designated chrono-anomaly."
Kael's shadowform dissolved standard biometrics as attendants secured the sensory-deprivation crown—a lattice of dying stars suppressing all but olfactory and tactile inputs. Specimen 048 awaited: twisted roots bleeding chrono-radiation, their resonance patterns singing entropy lullabies.
The Alchemist Supreme's gaze burned event horizon crimson. This trial wasn't about identification—it was a predator's calibration strike against prey pretending to be hunter.
Kael's fingertips sparked void-static. Let the fossilized relic learn how Event Horizon Garden's keepers played this game.
Kael's neural lace flared cobalt certainty as photonic blindfolds suppressed his ocular arrays. The first specimen's quantum resonance prickled his olfactory receptors—decaying nebula pollen with metallic aftertones.
"Umbral Bloom," his shadowform pulsed through encrypted channels. "Harvested from event horizon accretion discs. Requires quantum stabilization for safe handling."
The attendant's neural lace sparked alarm protocols, cycling to the next specimen—a gnarled root bleeding chrono-radiation.
"Celestial Rootwood," Kael continued, fingertips tracing fractal growth patterns. "Aged seventy-three solar cycles. Core exhibits subspace fungal infestation from improper stasis protocols."
Containment fields rippled with unease. Among the alchemical luminaries, neural feeds exploded:
• Freshman-tier encryption detected
• Threat reassessment protocols engaged
• Source anomaly confirmed
Simon's scar pulsed predatory crimson as he pinged Austin's quantum signature. "Your academy breeds intriguing variables."
The Archchancellor's containment protocols flickered—a rare lapse betraying surprise. "Genetic recalibration requires unconventional vectors." His weathered staff leaked containment runes as he archived Kael's biometric patterns.
The Alchemist Supreme's ocular arrays narrowed to singularity slits. Specimen 048 materialized—twisted tendrils from a dead civilization's bioweapon vaults.
"Phage Vines," Kael's shadowform hummed with chrono-scorn. "Engineered by the Necrotic Dynasty to devour reality anchors. Current preservation methods inadequate—suggest immediate antimatter incineration."
Emergency protocols bathed the plaza in quarantine crimson. Attendants scrambled as the specimen's containment field destabilized.
Finn phased through structural debris. "Kid just turned a flower show into an extinction event!"
The Alchemist Supreme's approval rumbled like colliding neutron stars. Simon's scar blazed triumph-crimson—this anomaly might yet recalibrate his genetic legacy.
Deep in the academy's core, ninety-nine reality anchors disintegrated. Austin's absence now permeated the quantum lattice like phantom radiation.
As Kael's trial concluded with 100% identification accuracy, the herald's jowls quivered toward the remaining contestants. "Next challenger... requires existential hazard permits."
The plaza's containment fields hummed with predatory anticipation. Kael's shadowform dissolved into preparation protocols—the true trial wasn't identification, but survival.