Arjun moved fast.
But not blindly.
Three targets.
Three nodes.
Resource point.
Control anchor.
Spawn suppressor.
"…We take all three before he reacts," Arjun said.
The squad split instantly.
No hesitation.
That was the difference now.
[Zone Capture Progress]
Arjun → 11%
Unknown → 28%
"…He's still ahead," the girl said.
"…Not for long."
Arjun reached the first node.
A collapsed structure.
Energy pulsing beneath it.
[Control Anchor Detected]
No monsters.
No resistance.
"…Too easy."
He activated capture.
The system responded.
[Anchor Secured]
[Progress Updated]
Arjun → 19%
Unknown → 31%
"…Still ahead."
Arjun didn't stop.
"Next."
He moved toward the second node.
But halfway—
He stopped.
The map flickered.
Paths changed.
"…What?"
The drone reacted.
[Enemy interference detected]
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"…He's not fighting directly."
The map updated again.
The resource node—
Shifted.
Position altered.
"…He rerouted it."
The girl blinked.
"…That's possible?"
The system answered.
[High-level control manipulation detected]
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"…System user."
This wasn't just a commander.
This was someone who understood the system.
Same level.
Same mindset.
"…He's playing the map."
Silence.
"…So we play better."
Arjun recalculated instantly.
New path.
Faster.
But—
When he reached the second node—
It was already active.
Purple.
Captured.
[Progress Updated]
Arjun → 19%
Unknown → 43%
The girl froze.
"…He's that fast?"
Arjun shook his head.
"…No."
"…He predicted us."
Silence.
For the first time—
Arjun felt it.
Pressure.
Real pressure.
"…So this is the level."
The drone spoke.
[Strategic disadvantage detected]
"…I see it."
Arjun closed his eyes for a second.
Then—
Opened them.
Sharper.
"…We're not faster."
"…We're readable."
The girl frowned.
"…Then what do we do?"
Arjun looked at the map.
Patterns.
Routes.
His own movements—
Predictable.
"…We break pattern."
He erased all marked paths.
"…From now on—no logic."
The older man blinked.
"…That sounds like bad strategy."
"…It is."
Arjun smiled slightly.
"…Which is why he won't expect it."
The system pulsed.
[Tactical deviation detected]
Arjun moved.
Not toward nodes.
Not toward objectives.
He went sideways.
Into empty space.
"…What are you doing?" the girl asked.
"…Resetting the board."
The map struggled to update.
Predictions—
Failed.
[Prediction accuracy: reduced]
Arjun reached a random structure.
No marker.
No objective.
But—
Something was there.
Hidden.
[Unregistered Node Detected]
The girl's eyes widened.
"…That wasn't on the map."
"…Exactly."
Arjun activated it.
[Hidden Control Node Secured]
[Progress Updated]
Arjun → 37%
Unknown → 46%
The gap—
Closed instantly.
Silence.
"…You just skipped the system," the older man said.
"…No."
Arjun looked at the map.
"…I went where it didn't look."
The system flickered.
Unstable.
[Warning: External system interference detected]
Arjun's expression changed.
"…He sees it now."
The map shifted again.
Purple markers—
Stopped.
Paused.
Then—
Moved.
Directly toward him.
"…He's coming," the girl whispered.
Arjun nodded.
"…Good."
For the first time—
This wasn't a race anymore.
It was inevitable.
Two commanders.
Same level.
Different minds.
Closing distance.
Fast.
Arjun raised his rifle slightly.
"…Let's see how you adapt."
The air shifted.
The game—
Was no longer about speed.
It was about:
Who breaks first.