[Phase Nine: Active]
[Timer: 01:59:50]
[Objective: Survive 02:00:00]
[Safe Zone Radius: 1 Kilometer]
[Remaining Participants: 45]
The NightSun Grid came alive with sound again — shifting terrain, coded wind, and the deep thrum of the compression wall closing in another inch.
The Pact of Six stood at the heart of the new battlefield.
The ground was a collage of worlds — half volcanic plain, half frozen canyon, forest and sand merged by the system's endless calculations. Above, metallic clouds rolled like gears in motion.
Leice scanned the landscape, eyes glinting silver. Breakam One hovered beside him, its parts orbiting lazily like moons.
"Formation protocol, maintain five-meter spacing," he said.
"Yvonne, left wing. Kesha, right. Zack, center back. Aria, cover from behind. Gina—monitor energy nodes."
Everyone moved instantly. It was automatic now, as though they'd rehearsed it for years.
[Skill Activated: Command Sync – Ω]
[Effect: Shared Combat Awareness: 100 m Radius]
Their vision flickered as new markers lit the HUDs — every movement, every heartbeat in sync with Leice's.
[Hostile Signatures Detected: 20]
[Distance: 300 Meters]
From the east, a group of players emerged — a coalition of six teams who'd decided cooperation was their only chance.
Their armor gleamed with mismatched colors; desperation filled their eyes.
"Multiple teams," Gina reported, scanning. "Crest of Dailor, Neon Order, and—"
"—and they're already dead," Leice cut her off.
[Skill Activated: Field Override – α]
[DP Spent: 0]
[Effect: Vision Expansion +200% | Movement Prediction Active]
He raised his hand. Breakam One unfolded into its rifle form, three barrels rotating in a slow hum.
"On my mark."
Kesha's crimson blade shimmered. "About time."
"Mark."
They moved as one.
Yvonne's whips tore through the front line in arcs of lightning.
Kesha followed, blade splitting the ground with a wave of energy.
Aria raised her staff — blue barriers flaring against the counterstrikes.
Zack charged forward under her cover, finishing the stunned survivors.
Leice didn't need to join — every motion of his team was his own calculation rendered into motion.
[System Log Update: Player Eliminations +12]
[Remaining Participants: 33]
The field fell silent again.
"Thirty-three," Gina murmured. "And it's barely been ten minutes."
Leice's voice stayed calm. "Then we're on schedule."
——— x——— x——— x——— x———
Observation Deck
The NightSun Academy vibrated with cheers, gasps, and static from overloaded broadcast channels.
On every screen, Leice's team dominated.
[Current Kill Distribution – Pact of Six]
Leice Grape (103)
Yvonne Grape (68)
Kesha Billex (64)
Gina Millera (60)
Aria Sillena (12)
Zack Sillena (8)
Spectators whispered.
"They're not competing. They're evolving."
"It's no longer an exam — it's a demonstration."
Alicia Grape stood silent at the top tier, the glow from the projection reflecting in her eyes.
Her voice was low, trembling between awe and disbelief.
"He's controlling them all."
One of the Millera delegates leaned forward.
"Your son just turned six people into one mind. You realise what that means?"
"Yes," Alicia whispered. "It means Jaigoria's old gods are obsolete."
——— x——— x——— x——— x———
Back into the Arena – Mid Battle
The Pact of Six moved through the ruined forest zone, their footsteps synchronised perfectly.
Zack panted between breaths.
"Do you even get tired?"
Leice smiled slightly. "Exhaustion's for people without data."
Aria's staff pulsed beside him, maintaining their protective barrier.
The wind carried static; energy signatures fluctuated erratically.
[Safe Zone Radius: 900 Meters]
[Remaining Participants: 31]
"More coming," Gina reported. "Southwest quadrant."
"Take formation Delta," Leice ordered.
Yvonne rolled her shoulders. "I still owe you for that whip comment."
"Then pay in kills," he said.
They charged.
The world exploded into light again — barriers, bolts, and sonic blasts.
Every second ended with another notification:
[Player Eliminated]
[Remaining Participants: 30]
The sound faded as the last echo of battle dissolved into pixels.
Steam rose from the fractured ground.
Aria's voice was soft, almost human again.
"It feels endless…"
"It's meant to," Leice said. "Endless pressure. Endless trial. That's how the system filters the ones who think."
Gina watched him carefully. "And what about you? What are you filtering for?"
He looked at her — the calm curiosity in her eyes reflected like a mirror.
"I'm looking for the point where it breaks."
——— x——— x——— x——— x———
Observation Deck — Tension Rises
The observers' hall had gone quiet again.
Lines of code flickered on the main screen.
[Warning: Behaviour Outside Predictive Model – 92%]
[Recommendation: Manual Override or Observation Continuation]
Alicia's aide whispered, "Madam, the system's requesting permission to limit Leice's influence on other players."
Alicia exhaled slowly.
"Deny it. Let him finish what he started."
Across from her, the Billex and Millera families exchanged worried looks.
"If this continues," said Lord Billex, "your son will destroy the test parameters entirely."
Alicia smiled faintly. "Then maybe he deserves a new world to test."
[Timer: 01:12:33]
[Safe Zone Radius: 800 Meters]
[Remaining Participants: 30]
The wind howled through the shrinking map.
Leice wiped a streak of dust from his face, eyes glowing brighter than ever.
"An hour left," he murmured. "Time to thin the noise."
Breakam One shifted into its scythe form, arcs of light stretching into the sky.
Aria steadied herself, whispering, "You're really enjoying this."
"It's what I was built for."
[Skill Activated: Break Sequence – Δ]
[DP Spent: 0]
[Effect: Area Erasure Radius 50 m]
The world ignited again—
and the Pact of Six advanced together into the inferno.