The applause continued to echo through TechnoAcademy's gaming arena as the trio, bewildered and confused, descended from the virtual high. The cheers of victory surrounded them, but uncertainty clouded their expressions.

As the emcee congratulated them on their unexpected triumph, the friends exchanged perplexed glances. Max scratched his head, Zoe furrowed her brow, and Alex adjusted his glasses, searching for an explanation.

"What just happened in there?" Alex muttered, his gaze fixed on the holographic display showcasing their victory.

"We were bouncing on virtual sand hills, and then there were lightnings, and suddenly, we were back here," Max added, his enthusiasm dampened by confusion.

Zoe took a deep breath. "The terrain, the lightning, none of that was part of the game design. It's like we experienced a completely different reality within the game."

Their competitors, still disoriented, approached, sharing similar tales of unexpected twists and turns within the Crystal Canyons. The Lunar Shadows were talking about some explosive trees, that apparently nobody else saw in the game.

"Something's definitely off," Zoe whispered, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

The trio decided to seek answers from the one person who might shed light on this mysterious turn of events – Headmaster Pricklypear.

---

Navigating the glass corridors of TechnoAcademy, the trio made their way to the imposing office of Headmaster Pricklypear. The door slid open with a hum, revealing a room adorned with holographic displays showcasing the many successes of the school's alumni. One of them, President Sharpknees, was seen smiling and addressing the nation in the holographic display.

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Headmaster Pricklypear, a distinguished figure with a mane of gray curls, welcomed them. "Congratulations, QuantumUnity! Quite an unexpected triumph in the first round. Your performance was truly impressive."

"Thank you, Headmaster," Alex began, "but we have some concerns. We think there was a glitch in the Crystal Canyons, and things happened that weren't part of the game design. It felt like a different reality."

Headmaster Pricklypear's eyebrows raised in curiosity. "A glitch, you say? That's highly irregular. Our gaming simulations are thoroughly tested. Describe what you experienced."

The trio recounted the unexpected terrain changes, the lightning, and the sudden ejection from the game. As they spoke, Headmaster Pricklypear's gray curls flickered with intensity.

"Most peculiar," he mused. "Such anomalies shouldn't occur. The virtual realms are meticulously programmed."

Zoe questioned, "Could someone have tampered with the game code? Maybe a competitor trying to gain an unfair advantage?"

Headmaster Pricklypear nodded thoughtfully. "It's a possibility, but our security measures are robust. Tampering with the game code would require a level of access that very few possess. But I am sure you understand that I need to look into this first."

"If there was a glitch, it must have affected everyone," Alex observed.

Headmaster Pricklypear said, "If that is true, this goes beyond a mere code malfunction."

The friends exchanged worried glances, realizing that their journey into the Virtual Nexus was becoming more unpredictable than they had anticipated.

"I will launch an investigation into the glitch immediately," Headmaster Pricklypear declared. "In the meantime, continue with the tournament. But keep this conversation a secret. We don't know if there was a glitch yet, and we don't want to upset students and parents, am I right? Not to mention the many viewers across the nation." He pointed to the holographic news broadcast behind his desk. Hundreds of people were waving and cheering in the Grand Square of the capital city. TechnoAcademy's Nexus games was quite the national sensation every year.

The trio left the headmaster's office with a mix of confusion and trepidation. As they returned to the gaming arena, the atmosphere had changed. Whispers of the glitch spread among the participants, spreading an air of uncertainty. The Virtual Nexus awaited, and the trio braced themselves for what lay ahead for them in the next round of the games.