The shift was subtle.
So subtle that, to anyone else, it might have gone unnoticed.
But Alex saw it.
The moment his words settled—The alliance cracked.
Not outwardly.
Not yet.
But internally.
A flicker in the woman's gaze.
A slight tightening in the tall man's stance.
The unstable one's grin sharpening just a bit too much.
Doubt.
That was all it took.
The system confirmed it.
Alliance Stability: 88% → 79%
Bren exhaled quietly.
"…It's working."
Kael didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Because this was the dangerous part.
The moment right before everything broke.
The woman stepped forward again.
Her voice calm.
Controlled.
"…You're trying to divide us."
Alex shrugged slightly.
"…Don't have to try that hard."
A pause.
The unstable one laughed softly.
"…He's not wrong."
The tall man didn't react.
But his eyes shifted—Just slightly—Toward the others.
Watching.
Measuring.
That was the second crack.
The system pulsed again.
Alliance Stability: 79% → 72%
The woman's gaze sharpened.
"…Enough."
The pressure spiked instantly.
Not coordinated this time.
Three separate forces—Rising.
Clashing.
Interfering with each other.
Kael felt it immediately.
"…They're losing sync."
Alex stepped forward.
"…Exactly."
This was the moment.
Before they stabilized again.
Before they corrected it.
Or—Before they turned on each other.
The unstable one moved first.
Not toward Alex.
Toward the tall man.
A sudden strike—Fast.
Unpredictable.
The tall man blocked instantly.
But the force pushed him back.
"…What are you doing?" he growled.
The unstable one grinned wider.
"…Just testing something."
The woman's expression darkened.
"…Stop. Now."
But it was too late.
The damage was done.
Trust—Broken.
The system pulsed violently.
Alliance Stability: 72% → 54%
Bren whispered.
"…That escalated fast."
Kael nodded slightly.
"…Yeah…"
Alex didn't move.
Because this—Was exactly what he needed.
The unstable one tilted his head slightly.
Looking at the tall man.
"…You felt that, right?"
The tall man didn't respond.
But his stance changed.
More guarded.
Less open.
Against his own allies.
The woman stepped between them.
"…We don't have time for this."
Her voice was sharper now.
Less controlled.
Because she felt it too.
The alliance slipping.
The system reinforcing the inevitable.
Alex took another step forward.
"…You're running out of time."
All three looked at him.
"…The longer this lasts," Alex continued,
"…the worse it gets."
The unstable one chuckled.
"…Or better."
Then—He disappeared.
This time—Straight toward Alex.
The woman reacted instantly.
"…No—!"
Too late.
The unstable one's attack came fast—Chaotic—Unpredictable.
But Alex was ready.
He didn't block.
Didn't counter.
He stepped aside—Letting the attack pass.
And aimed his blade—Not at the attacker—But at the tall man.
A shift.
A forced redirection.
The tall man reacted instantly.
Blocking Alex's strike.
But now—They were all in motion.
All engaged.
No longer aligned.
No longer synchronized.
The woman moved to intercept—But hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Because now—Everyone was a threat.
The system pulsed again.
Alliance Stability: 54% → 31%
Bren's eyes widened.
"…That's it. It's breaking."
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"…Do we jump in?"
Alex's voice cut through sharply.
"…No."
They froze.
Because they understood.
This—Wasn't their fight.
Not yet.
The unstable one attacked again—But this time—The tall man didn't just block.
He countered.
Hard.
The impact sent the unstable one sliding back.
A real hit.
The woman moved again—Trying to regain control.
"…Stop this! We're losing—"
A sudden shift.
The unstable one laughed again.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…We are."
Then—He turned.
Not toward Alex.
Toward her.
And attacked.
Silence broke instantly.
The woman barely blocked in time.
Shock flashing across her face.
"…You—"
The tall man moved too.
Not to stop it—But to strike.
At both of them.
The alliance shattered.
Completely.
The system flashed violently.
Alliance Status: TERMINATED
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
Three candidates—Fighting each other.
Fully.
No hesitation.
No coordination.
Just survival.
Alex exhaled slowly.
"…Now."
He stepped forward.
Because now—It was no longer three against one.
It was four fighters.
All alone.
The system pulsed one more time—
Final Fragment Has Activated