The fracture formed instantly.
No delay.
No hesitation.
It appeared—
As if it had been waiting.
The air tightened.
Everyone felt it.
Clear.
Focused.
Not scattered like before.
Directed.
At us.
Chen Xu stood still.
Eyes steady.
Chen Xu spoke calmly. Do not move unless necessary.
Lin Yue adjusted his stance.
Sword ready.
But restrained.
Su Yan stepped slightly to the side.
Her breathing even.
Controlled.
Han Wei remained where he stood.
His aura unstable—
But rising.
System observed in a low tone. Targeting pattern has changed.
Chen Xu replied inwardly. Of course.
The fracture pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
It shifted.
Not toward the weakest.
Not randomly.
It chose—
Su Yan.
Her pupils contracted.
But she did not retreat.
Good.
Su Yan spoke calmly. It is focusing on me.
Chen Xu watched closely.
Chen Xu answered. Hold your ground.
The pressure intensified.
The space behind her distorted.
A second fracture formed.
Closer.
More precise.
Han Wei took a step forward.
Instinct.
Chen Xu spoke sharply. Stop.
Han Wei froze.
A moment of hesitation—
That was enough.
The fracture surged.
Toward Su Yan.
Her aura flared instantly.
A defensive layer formed around her.
Contact.
The air twisted violently.
Her body trembled—
But did not vanish.
Instead—
The distortion stalled.
Unstable.
Chen Xu narrowed his eyes.
Chen Xu spoke quietly. Resistance increases instability.
System confirmed. Output exceeding expected threshold.
Su Yan clenched her teeth.
Her voice remained steady. It is pulling—
Her sleeve began to fade.
Slowly.
Not instant.
Good.
Chen Xu stepped forward.
Lin Yue spoke urgently. Too dangerous.
Chen Xu ignored him.
Chen Xu focused. Maintain your position.
Su Yan did not move.
The fracture intensified.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
It was adapting—
In real time.
System issued a warning. Escalation detected.
Chen Xu responded calmly. Not enough.
Void Eyes activated.
Not directly at Su Yan.
But at the fracture itself.
At the point of interaction.
For a brief moment—
Everything slowed.
The pull weakened.
Su Yan's form stabilized.
Half of her sleeve remained.
Half—gone.
Han Wei's eyes widened.
Han Wei spoke under his breath. It can be resisted…
Chen Xu shook his head slightly.
Chen Xu corrected. It can be disrupted.
The fracture trembled.
Then—
It shifted again.
Not retreating.
Not collapsing.
Redirecting.
Toward—
Lin Yue.
His eyes sharpened instantly.
But this time—
He was ready.
Lin Yue moved.
Fast.
Not away—
But across.
Breaking the alignment.
The fracture missed.
For the first time—
It failed to connect.
Chen Xu's gaze deepened.
Chen Xu spoke quietly. Movement affects targeting.
System confirmed. Pattern dependency detected.
Lin Yue landed several steps away.
His expression tense.
But composed.
Lin Yue spoke. It locks onto position.
Chen Xu nodded.
Chen Xu replied. And intent.
Silence.
The fracture flickered.
Unstable.
Conflicted.
It hesitated again.
But only briefly.
Then—
It surged.
This time—
Toward me.
Direct.
No delay.
No test.
A decisive move.
Good.
Chen Xu stood still.
Chen Xu spoke softly. Now we see.
Lin Yue shouted. Move.
Chen Xu did not move.
The fracture reached—
Contact.
Void Eyes activated instantly.
No gap.
No delay.
The two forces collided.
The world distorted.
Sound disappeared.
Time—
Stretched.
The fracture twisted violently.
Struggling.
Not advancing.
Not retreating.
Locked.
System reported rapidly. Direct confrontation sustained.
Chen Xu focused. This is the limit.
The pressure increased.
Cracks spread across the ground.
The air shattered like glass.
Then—
A rupture.
The fracture collapsed.
Violently.
A shockwave spread outward.
Everyone staggered.
Su Yan steadied herself.
Han Wei took a step back.
Lin Yue raised his sword to block the impact.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Still.
I remained standing.
Unmoved.
Chen Xu exhaled slowly.
Chen Xu spoke quietly. It is not complete.
System responded. Clarify.
Chen Xu looked forward.
Chen Xu answered. It does not understand its own limits.
Su Yan lowered her arm.
Her gaze fixed on me.
Su Yan spoke. And you do?
Chen Xu remained silent for a moment.
Then—
Chen Xu replied. Enough.
That was all.
Han Wei looked between us.
His expression darker now.
Han Wei spoke slowly. You are leading it.
Silence.
Lin Yue frowned.
Su Yan did not speak.
But she did not deny it either.
System noted rising suspicion.
Chen Xu looked at Han Wei.
Calm.
Unmoved.
Chen Xu answered. I am observing it.
Han Wei's eyes hardened.
Han Wei stepped forward slightly. And provoking it.
Chen Xu did not deny it.
A faint smile appeared.
Chen Xu spoke quietly. That is the only way to understand it.
Silence.
The truth—
Was not comforting.
The fracture was gone.
But the presence—
Remained.
Watching.
Closer than before.
More focused.
System spoke softly. It is adapting faster.
Chen Xu nodded slightly.
Chen Xu replied. Good.
Because now—
It was no longer just reacting.
It was learning to fight.
And so was I.