Novel Square
Chapter 847
The Whipple procedure, known as one of the world's top ten toughest surgeries, was the unexpected challenge of the day. The organizers must have lost their minds choosing this as a competition task!
The contestants on stage looked like they'd just seen a ghost. This surgery's difficulty was off the charts, but despite the overwhelming odds, they had to keep pushing forward. The scoring was based on how much they could complete, so even if they didn't finish, they'd still earn some points. Everyone was convinced that nobody would actually complete it; they were all in the same boat.
"This time, Flora's luck might just run out!" someone commented. "Still, for her to push through with an injury this far is pretty amazing."
The crowd watched Flora, who wore an expression of calm indifference on stage, and sighed. The Whipple procedure demanded a super steady hand, second only to neurosurgery. Even the slightest tremor could mean failure. Most couldn't manage it with both hands, much less Flora, who was using just one.
From the sidelines, Kruiz and the panel of judges eyed Flora anxiously. This was no easy feat. Flora couldn't possibly pull it off with just one hand unless she risked using her injured one. But such a high-stakes surgery would surely worsen her injury, possibly causing lasting damage.
"Is she really going to try to tough it out?" Kruiz worried aloud. Although he hadn't spent much time with Flora, he knew she was fiercely determined. What if she ends up with permanent damage? They all had a soft spot for Flora and even hoped she'd join them at the medical base as a mentor someday.
In Team Austenberg, Mr. Tanner shared his concern but trusted Flora knew her limits. If she tried to overdo it, he'd personally step in and pull her off the stage.
Backstage, Connor, Amanda, KruzEthan, the Irving family duo, and Adrian were glued to the monitor, watching Flora's every move. Only the competing teams were allowed at the finals, but their concern for Flora brought them backstage.
Kruz was scratching his head, puzzled. "Why do they all look so stressed? Is this Whipple procedure really that bad?"
Ethan checked his phone, his
expression turning grim. Kruz peered over his shoulder and was floored to see it listed among the world's toughest surgeries. "Whoa!!! It's that hard? Flora's only got one hand, how's she supposed to do it? The organizers must be nuts for giving such a tough challenge! I'm tempted to go out there and give the question-maker a piece of my mind!"
"I'd like to give you a piece of my mind," Amanda quipped, her patience thin. "You're acting like a kid! Grow up a little!"
"I believe in Flora! Who is she? If she dared to step on that stage, she knows what she's doing!" Adrian declared with conviction, viewing Flora as almost superhuman.
Raul and Henrik were sweating bullets, caring less about the competition and more about their dear Flora. Connor stayed silent, his intense gaze fixed on the screen, his hand clenching slightly on his thigh.
As the surgery began, the Whipple procedure demanded hair-splitting precision. Even the slightest error was unacceptable. Several contestants barely made their first incision before the system declared them failed.
"Contestant number 17, failed." "Contestant number 6, failed." "Contestant number 21, failed."
The failure notifications echoed repeatedly, leaving the contestants on stage looking defeated. But their teammates sent reassuring looks reminding them they'd done well. No need to feel down! Just two minutes in, and already two-thirds of the contestants had failed, leaving only a few still in the game. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.