During a Trial Tower challenge, Ashton astonishes everyone by defeating a Ghostclaw Bear without physically attacking it, revealing he inflicted a hidden status effect. Suspicious rivals accuse him of cheating, but Mr. Russell hesitates to question the National Defense Force officials overseeing the trial. Ashton earns a new Rank A talent, Brutal Charge, which stuns enemies on impact, aiding his combat strategy. After clearing the known five floors, Ashton opts to enter a secret sixth floor recently discovered, deepening the mystery. Meanwhile, officials attempt to manage student unrest amid broadcast disruptions, leaving the hidden floor’s content and Ashton’s fate uncertain.