The message lingered in Alex's vision longer than any before it.
Remaining Candidates Have Formed an Alliance
For a moment—No one spoke.
Kael was the first to break the silence.
"…That's bad, right?"
Bren let out a dry laugh.
"…Three of them. One of him."
He glanced at Alex.
"…Yeah. That's bad."
Alex didn't answer immediately.
His eyes were fixed on the horizon where the system pointed.
An alliance…
That changed everything.
Until now, the system had forced isolation.
Competition.
Elimination.
But this—This was different.
"…It means they're not like him," Alex said finally.
Kael frowned.
"…Riven?"
Alex nodded once.
"…Riven fought alone. On purpose."
A pause.
"…These three didn't."
Bren crossed his arms.
"…So they're weaker?"
Alex shook his head slowly.
"…No."
That was the problem.
"They're smarter."
The air grew heavier at those words.
Because that meant—They weren't just strong.
They were thinking ahead.
Planning.
Adapting beyond the system.
The system pulsed again.
Alliance Stability: HighCooperation Efficiency: Increasing
Bren muttered under his breath.
"…Great. They're getting better teamwork buffs now too."
Kael looked at Alex.
"…So what do we do?"
Alex finally turned to face them.
"…We don't fight them head-on."
Bren blinked.
"…That's new."
Alex's expression didn't change.
"…If we go straight in, we lose."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just fact.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Alright. So what's the plan?"
For a moment—Alex didn't answer.
Because this wasn't like before.
This wasn't about winning a fight.
It was about breaking something bigger.
Then—His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…We break the alliance."
Bren raised an eyebrow.
"…Three people who already decided to work together?"
Alex nodded.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…Because it won't hold."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"…Why?"
Alex looked forward again.
"…Because the system won't allow it."
The ground shifted subtly beneath them again.
The instability increasing.
"…Only one can advance," Alex continued.
"…That doesn't change."
Bren's expression shifted slightly.
"…So eventually…"
Alex finished it.
"…They'll have to turn on each other."
Silence.
Kael nodded slowly.
"…So we just… wait?"
Alex shook his head.
"…No."
His eyes narrowed.
"…We make it happen sooner."
Bren smirked slightly.
"…Now that sounds more like a plan."
The system pulsed again.
Fragment Proximity: Increasing
They were getting closer.
But something else—Something new—Appeared.
Three distinct presences.
Together.
Moving as one.
Alex stopped walking.
"…They're already here."
Kael tensed.
"…All three?"
Alex nodded.
"…Yeah."
Bren sighed.
"…Of course they are."
The air shifted again.
But unlike Riven—
This wasn't a single focused pressure.
It was layered.
Different.
Three distinct forces overlapping.
And working together.
"…That's…" Kael muttered.
"…not normal."
Alex stepped forward slowly.
"…No."
Because it wasn't just cooperation.
It was synchronization.
Not perfect—But close enough to matter.
Three figures appeared ahead.
Standing side by side.
Waiting.
They didn't rush.
Didn't attack.
They were ready.
Prepared.
One stepped forward slightly.
A woman.
Sharp eyes.
Calm expression.
"…So you're the last one," she said.
Alex stopped a few meters away.
"…Looks like it."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"…You're stronger than the others."
Not a compliment.
An observation.
Alex didn't respond.
Because he was already analyzing.
The second one—Tall.
Broad.
Silent.
The third—Smaller.
But his presence—Unstable.
Dangerous.
"…We've been watching you," the woman continued.
"…Your fight with Riven."
That wasn't good.
Because that meant—They knew how he fought.
Bren muttered quietly.
"…That's really not good."
Kael nodded slightly.
"…Yeah…"
The woman tilted her head slightly.
"…Join us."
Silence.
Bren blinked.
"…Wait, what?"
Alex didn't react immediately.
"…Explain."
Her expression didn't change.
"…We eliminate the others. Reach the final stage together."
A pause.
"…Then decide."
Kael scoffed.
"…That's your 'plan'?"
The third one—the unstable presence—laughed softly.
"…It's worked so far."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
Temporary alliance…
It made sense.
Until it didn't.
Because in the end—Only one survives.
The woman stepped closer.
"…You can't beat all three of us."
Direct.
Honest.
Alex didn't deny it.
"…Probably not."
Bren looked at him.
"…Probably?!"
But Alex wasn't finished.
"…But you can't trust each other either."
The air shifted slightly.
Just a little.
But enough.
The woman's eyes sharpened.
"…We don't need trust."
Alex tilted his head slightly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…That's the problem."
Silence fell again.
The tension rising.
Because now—The cracks were visible.
Small.
But real.
The system pulsed again.
Alliance Stability: 91% → 88%
Bren's eyes widened slightly.
"…Did you just—"
Alex stepped forward.
"…So here's what's going to happen."
All three focused on him instantly.
"…You can keep your alliance."
A pause.
"…Or you can win."
The unstable one grinned.
"…You talk too much."
Alex didn't react.
"…Maybe."
Then—He raised his blade.
"…But I'm not wrong."
The air snapped.
Tension breaking.
The alliance—Shaking.
Just slightly.
But enough to start.The system flashed sharply—
Alliance Stability Dropping Rapidly
Conflict Imminent