The planet had changed.
Or maybe—
they had.
What once felt like an overwhelming, suffocating world of pressure and danger had now become something else entirely. Not easier—never easier—but… understandable.
The gravity no longer crushed them.
The beasts no longer terrified them.
The illusions no longer confused them.
Because now—
they had begun to adapt.
But Vicky…
He wasn't satisfied.
Not yet.
The sky above flickered faintly, currents of universal energy swirling like slow-moving storms. The ground beneath them trembled with a subtle rhythm—as if the entire planet itself was watching.
Waiting.
Testing.
Vicky stood in front of them.
Kael.
Eren.
Arelia.
All three—
exhausted.
Bruised.
But standing.
"You've improved."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
But not praising.
Kael wiped sweat from his face.
"That… sounds like a 'but' is coming."
Vicky didn't respond immediately.
He just looked at them.
"…But you're still weak."
Kael sighed deeply.
"Yeah, there it is."
Eren didn't react.
Arelia didn't either.
Because they knew—
he was right.
Aerito stepped forward, flames flickering lightly around his body.
"If this was enough… we wouldn't be here."
Luka added calmly—
"You've learned survival."
Arna's mirrors slowly began to rotate again.
"But now…"
Her eyes sharpened.
"You'll learn control."
Vicky turned slightly.
And then—
he raised his hand.
The entire environment shifted.
Phase One — Controlled Chaos
The ground beneath them split apart.
Massive floating platforms rose into the air.
Each one—
unstable.
Cracking.
Moving.
Below them—
the abyss returned.
But this time—
it was worse.
Stronger beasts.
Faster predators.
Creatures with energy-based attacks.
Flying monsters that moved faster than sound.
Kael blinked slowly.
"…You upgraded hell."
Vicky spoke calmly—
"Stay alive."
And then—
everything attacked.
Hundreds of creatures launched toward the platforms.
From below.
From above.
From every direction.
Kael jumped back instantly.
"WHY ARE THEY ALL COMING AT ONCE?!"
"Because on the battlefield…"
Vicky's voice echoed.
"…they won't wait their turn."
Eren moved forward.
No hesitation.
A beast lunged—
He dodged—
countered—
pushed it off the platform.
Another came—
He blocked—
barely—
but held his ground.
Arelia moved differently.
She didn't fight head-on.
She watched.
Analyzed.
Then struck.
Every movement—
precise.
Efficient.
Kael…
was struggling.
But—
not like before.
He dodged one attack.
Then another.
Got hit—
but didn't fall.
"…I'm not going down again…"
he muttered.
A flying beast dove toward him—
He jumped—
grabbed its wing—
flipped—
and landed on another platform.
"…Okay… okay… I can do this…"
More came.
Too many.
They were getting overwhelmed.
"Think!"
Vicky's voice cut through everything.
"Don't fight everything!"
Eren's eyes sharpened.
"…Then control the flow."
He moved—
not to attack—
but to position.
He redirected beasts.
Forced them into each other.
Created openings.
Arelia followed instantly.
Kael—
hesitated—
then copied.
Slowly—
the chaos became manageable.
Not because it reduced—
But because they adapted.
Phase Two — Breaking Limits
"Enough."
Everything stopped.
The beasts disappeared.
The platforms dissolved.
They landed back on solid ground.
Breathing heavily.
"…That was phase one."
Vicky said.
Kael dropped to his knees.
"…I hate phase two already."
Vicky ignored him.
He raised his hand again.
And this time—
the pressure changed.
It wasn't external anymore.
It was internal.
Their bodies began to feel heavy—
from the inside.
Their energy—
became unstable.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…Why does it feel like my own body is attacking me?!"
"Because it is."
Luka said calmly.
"You rely too much on external control."
Eren clenched his fists.
His energy fluctuated wildly.
Arelia's breathing became uneven.
"This phase…"
Arna spoke softly—
"…is about mastering yourself."
Their own power—
was now their enemy.
They tried to move—
but their energy pushed back.
Every step—
a struggle.
Every breath—
resistance.
Kael collapsed.
"…I can't even stand…"
Vicky looked at him.
"If you can't control your own power…"
His voice deepened slightly—
"…you don't deserve more."
Silence.
Kael's fingers dug into the ground.
"…Tch…"
He pushed.
Slowly—
painfully—
he stood.
Eren stabilized his breathing.
Arelia closed her eyes.
One by one—
they adapted.
Not by force.
But by control.
Phase Three — Absolute Trial
The sky darkened.
Something new appeared.
Three massive constructs.
Each one—
mirroring them.
Kael stared.
"…Is that… me?"
"Yes."
Vicky said.
"Your perfect opponent."
The clones moved.
Faster.
Stronger.
Sharper.
Eren's clone attacked instantly.
Perfect form.
Perfect timing.
Arelia's clone—
unpredictable.
Kael's clone—
relentless.
The fight began.
This time—
there was no guidance.
No instructions.
Only survival.
And growth.
Kael got hit.
Again.
Again.
But he didn't fall.
Eren adapted faster.
Arelia analyzed deeper.
Minutes passed.
Then—
something shifted.
Kael blocked.
Perfectly.
Eren countered.
Cleanly.
Arelia predicted.
Accurately.
And one by one—
They won.
The clones shattered.
Silence.
The End of Training
The sky returned to normal.
The pressure faded.
The planet calmed.
For the first time—
there was peace.
Kael lay on the ground.
"…I'm alive…"
Eren stood.
Still.
Arelia exhaled slowly.
Vicky stepped forward.
"You're ready."
Those words—
hit differently.
Kael slowly sat up.
"…For what?"
Vicky looked at them.
"For the next step."
The air shifted.
The Rule of Code's presence faintly echoed.
Their bodies—
had changed.
Stronger.
More stable.
More… capable.
They had endured.
Now—
they could receive.
Vicky raised his hand.
"…We begin the fusion."
Kael froze.
"…Wait—me first?!"
Vicky looked at him.
"Yes."
Kael swallowed.
Hard.
"…Okay…"
He stood.
Walked forward.
No jokes.
No complaints.
Just… readiness.
Vicky extended his hand.
Energy began to gather.
The ancient process—
about to begin again.
And as his hand moved closer—
The air trembled.
The moment—
paused.