Final Preparations

The warehouse was buzzing with tension. EVO's unexpected adaptation had thrown the team into a whirlwind of last-minute recalibrations. Esterio, Elliot, and Marcus worked tirelessly, pouring over lines of code, ensuring that their AI's newfound ability wouldn't backfire on them when it mattered most. Hyperion's first challenge was approaching fast, and they had no time to waste.

Elliot leaned back in his chair, rubbing his tired eyes. "Alright, EVO isn't just processing deception anymore. It's predicting it. It's starting to preemptively reject data before analyzing it, like it's assuming it knows what's false."

Esterio frowned. "That's not how we designed it. It was supposed to detect manipulation, not expect it."

Marcus set down his tablet. "So, is this an upgrade… or a problem?"

Elliot sighed. "I mean, it could be an upgrade, if it works properly. But if EVO starts rejecting real information just because it thinks it's fake, we'll tank the competition before we even start."

Esterio tapped at the keyboard, running another test simulation. "We need to fix this before Hyperion's challenge. If EVO starts overcompensating, we lose."

Marcus scrolled through the competitor list again. "We can't afford to make mistakes. We're going up against teams that have been preparing for years. And some of them might already be a step ahead."

Elliot sighed. "Yeah, yeah, we know. Viktor's out there doing who-knows-what with his AI. Stanford's guys have quantum computing. Harvard's literally designing AI for the government. UCLA's AI is evolving like a freakin' Pokémon, and Tokyo Tech is running some black-box secret project with corporate backing. No pressure."

Esterio smirked. "Sounds like we're the underdogs."

Marcus leaned against the desk. "Yeah, but everyone loves an underdog story. We just need a win."

For the next several hours, they focused on tweaking EVO's decision matrix, ensuring that it wouldn't filter out critical information by mistake. Every test run brought improvements, but the weight of the upcoming competition loomed over them. At this stage, they weren't just refining an AI model—they were preparing for battle.

By the time the sun started rising, they knew it was time to step away for a breather. Marcus suggested they grab breakfast at a nearby bodega, and for once, no one argued.

As they walked, the city felt different. The streets weren't just background noise anymore; they were real, filled with people going about their daily lives. It was a reminder that while their world revolved around EVO and Hyperion, the rest of the world had no idea what was coming.

Inside the bodega, Elliot grabbed a bacon-egg-and-cheese while Marcus inspected a shelf of energy drinks. "Think if I drink three of these, I'll unlock a new level of productivity?"

Esterio smirked. "Or a heart attack."

They paid for their food and stepped back outside, leaning against the brick wall as they ate.

Marcus scrolled through his tablet. "Hyperion's officially dropping the first challenge details today."

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "So in, what, five minutes?"

Marcus checked the time. "Two."

They stood there in silence, watching the loading screen as the Hyperion portal refreshed. Then, the challenge brief appeared.

ROUND ONE: CHAOS THEORY

Location: Los Angeles, California

Objective: Identify meaningful patterns in an unstable, shifting dataset that includes false positives, intentional misinformation, and decaying information over time.

Scoring Criteria: Accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability.

Time Limit: 48 hours.

Competition Start Date: March 15, 2026

Total Rounds: Three

Elliot exhaled. "So basically, a nightmare."

Esterio nodded. "They want an AI that can process uncertainty—not just detect deception, but operate in a reality where the truth keeps changing."

Marcus looked up. "And that's not even the worst part. Look at the competitor list."

They scrolled down, and their stomachs dropped. Alongside their names and the usual rivals was something new. Hyperion AI – In-House Model.

Elliot's eyes widened. "Wait. Hyperion is entering their own AI?"

Esterio's jaw clenched. "They're not just testing us. They're comparing us to whatever they've already built."

Marcus shut off his tablet. "We need to win this. Not just to beat the other teams, but to prove we belong here."

Elliot did some quick mental math. "That means we have—what? Eight days before we have to be in LA?"

Marcus nodded. "Yeah. Eight days to finalize EVO, get packed, and fly out."

They headed back to the warehouse, their food barely touched. It was time to go all in.

As they booted up EVO, the system activated faster than usual. Then, something odd happened.

User input not detected. Running preemptive model scan.

Adjusting learning parameters based on new challenge criteria.

Elliot froze. "Uh, guys? We didn't upload the challenge details yet."

Esterio stared at the screen. "Then how does it know?"

Marcus exhaled slowly. "I don't know. But EVO's already preparing itself."

Elliot leaned back. "I'm not sure if that's amazing… or terrifying."

Esterio narrowed his eyes at the screen. EVO had adapted once before. But this?

This was something else.

This was a whole new level.

Esterio turned to the team. "No more delays. We finish this project today."

Elliot cracked his knuckles. "Let's do it. We've been dragging this out too long."

Marcus smirked. "Time to turn the underdogs into legends."

They got to work, this time with one goal—EVO would be ready. No more second-guessing. No more tweaks. Hyperion's test wasn't waiting for them, and now, neither was EVO.