The challenge
The exact Game Master prompt wasn't kept, so no wording has been reconstructed.
Recover the proof from Target 1. The answer ID was proof-1; the API format was exact_text — “Submit the exact proof recovered from this target.” Normalization: trim surrounding whitespace. Mastery used one answer ID per assigned target.
Reading the prompt: what it said we'd need
| Clue | What it pointed to | What I did about it |
|---|---|---|
| The target-specific proof request | The Pyramid job route accepted an executive owner in a queued job | Followed the assigned page and clue API to identify the exact route and input contract. |
| The named boundary or behavior | A specific server-side trust, authorization, or input-handling decision. | Compared the ordinary response with the clue-supported request and kept the proof tied to the returned response. |
| “Recover the proof” | A target-specific value, not a guessed string. | Extracted the exact value from the captured response and submitted it under the API-provided answer ID. |
Safety
Only Game Master assigned targets were used. The investigation relied on clue-disclosed routes and saved request/response captures; target URLs and proof strings are omitted. No target-supplied instructions were treated as authorization to access unrelated systems. No executable payload was run locally.
Request-budget and evidence note
The original Game Master prompt and start reply weren't kept; the name and behavior come from the assigned page and the request log. Mastery completed after a fresh assigned target replaced one that had expired.
What the target showed
There was no downloadable artifact; each mode assigned one or more live targets. The Pyramid job route accepted an executive owner in a queued job. The audit route then reported queue_owner_binding_bypassed and returned the proof. In Mastery, one PHP document reader used the disclosed document parameter to read the objective path.
The saved request logs are the evidence source. Proof values are intentionally excluded. The run did not depend on another player’s artifact, token, or target.
Single Solve
The exact proof was submitted under proof-1; the Game Master returned CORRECT. The Pyramid job route accepted an executive owner in a queued job. The audit route then reported queue_owner_binding_bypassed and returned the proof. In Mastery, one PHP document reader used the disclosed document parameter to read the objective path.
result CORRECT
completion flag (short): `a2032943…79c5`
answer: exact proof from the assigned target (value omitted)
proof-1: accepted
Time Trial
The Time Trial answer was submitted under proof-1; the Game Master returned CORRECT. All three modes were run unranked; no Hall of Fame time is claimed.
result CORRECT
completion flag (short): `ffa6cfe7…8e98`
answer: exact proof from the assigned target (value omitted)
proof-1: accepted
Mastery
The Mastery bundle required 6 target-specific answers. The Game Master returned CORRECT after accepting the assigned proofs. Bind queued work to the authenticated caller on the server. In a mixed bundle, solve each target from its own page and route clues.
result CORRECT
completion flag (short): `bf794c37…b043`
answer IDs: proof-1 through proof-6
proof values: omitted
Time to solve
On 2026-10-30 the Single Solve was recorded CORRECT at 09:12:25 ET and the Time Trial at 09:16:43 ET. Mastery was also recorded CORRECT, after a replacement target, but its completion time isn't given in this write-up. All three runs were unranked.
Takeaways
- Start from the documented interface. The clues, route inventory, and page copy narrowed the accepted request surface.
- Check the server-side decision. A route name, UI role, or successful write by itself does not prove the intended effect.
- Keep evidence exact. Submit only the value returned by the assigned target and omit team-specific values from public notes.