Arjun didn't chase.
That was the first change.
"…He's faster when we react," he said.
The squad regrouped.
The map floated—
But now it felt… unreliable.
"…Don't trust it completely," Arjun added.
The girl frowned.
"…Then what do we trust?"
"…Patterns."
The system pulsed.
[Zone Capture Progress]
Arjun → 44%
Unknown → 46%
Close.
Too close.
"…He won't give us a clean fight now," Arjun muttered.
The drone reacted.
[Irregular system activity detected]
"…There it is."
The map flickered.
Nodes shifted.
Paths changed.
Routes—
Unstable.
"…That's not normal," the older man said.
"…It's not the system."
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"…It's him."
The interface updated again.
Three nodes appeared.
All within reach.
All high value.
"…Too convenient," Arjun said immediately.
The girl hesitated.
"…Trap?"
"…Not exactly."
Arjun stepped forward.
"…It's bait."
Silence.
"…So we ignore it?" she asked.
Arjun paused.
Looked at the map.
Then—
At the movement patterns.
"…No."
The squad froze.
"…We take it."
"…What?" the older man said.
Arjun's voice stayed calm.
"…But not the way he expects."
He marked positions.
But this time—
Not clean.
Not structured.
"…Mess it up," he said.
"…What?"
"…Don't follow paths."
"…Break formation."
"…Act wrong."
Silence.
"…That's dangerous," the girl said.
"…So is predictability."
They moved.
Not like before.
Uncoordinated.
Unclean.
Imperfect.
The system struggled to update.
[Prediction accuracy: unstable]
They reached the first node.
It activated instantly.
[Node Secured]
[Progress Updated]
Arjun → 51%
Unknown → 49%
"…We passed him," the girl said.
"…For now."
Arjun didn't relax.
"…Watch the map."
The second node—
Still active.
They moved.
Closer.
Closer—
Then—
The system screamed.
[WARNING]
Everything froze.
The node—
Exploded.
Not physically—
System-wise.
A surge of corrupted energy spread outward.
The ground cracked.
The interface glitched violently.
"…It was rigged," the older man said.
"…No."
Arjun's voice dropped.
"…It was delayed."
The drone reacted.
[System trap triggered]
The blast hit.
Not damage—
Disruption.
Arjun's interface—
Shattered.
[System Functions: Limited]
"…Damn it."
The map—
Gone.
Predictions—
Gone.
Control layer—
Offline.
"…He didn't bait us to kill us."
Arjun clenched his jaw.
"…He baited us to blind us."
Silence.
The girl's voice shook slightly.
"…What do we do now?"
Before Arjun could answer—
Movement.
Fast.
Too fast.
The air shifted.
Then—
He appeared.
Right in front of them.
The unknown commander.
Closer than ever.
"…You adapted," he said calmly.
"…But not fast enough."
Arjun didn't respond.
He couldn't see the map.
Couldn't predict.
For the first time—
He was back to instinct.
"…You removed your own advantage," the man continued.
"…Smart."
"…But temporary."
Silence.
"…Now we play my way."
The man moved.
Fast.
Direct.
This time—
Not system.
Combat.
Arjun reacted—
Barely.
The first strike came—
Sharp.
Precise.
Arjun blocked—
But the force pushed him back.
"…He's faster physically too," the girl whispered.
The man didn't stop.
Second strike.
Arjun dodged—
Late.
The edge hit his shoulder.
[Suit Integrity: 61% → 48%]
"…So this is your weakness," the man said quietly.
"…When the system disappears."
Arjun steadied himself.
Breathing slower.
"…Not weakness."
He raised the rifle slightly.
"…Just a different game."
The man smiled.
"…Then show me."
No map.
No prediction.
No control layer.
Just—
Instinct.
And for the first time since evolution—
Arjun had to fight—
Without advantage.
And this time—
The opponent—
Was ready.