The training grounds were quieter than usual that afternoon. Most students had left after the morning trials, leaving only those assigned to advanced combat exercises. Arjun Vale stood in the center, his mark glowing steadily. The Broken Sky System pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, whispering fragments of guidance and observation.
Harshil approached, his usual smirk replaced by a serious expression. "Vale… you've improved again. Faster than I expected." He drew his sword, electricity crackling along its edge. "Let's see if you can keep up."
Before Arjun could respond, a portal opened at the far side of the field. Shadowy figures emerged — Riftsouls, stronger and faster than before. Their claws shimmered in unnatural light, and their eyes glowed with an eerie intelligence. It was clear the morning's trials had been only a test.
The system's voice echoed:
> "Absorb fragments. Adapt rapidly. Surpass previous limits."
Arjun's mark flared brightly. Fragments of light rose around him, spinning like shards of a storm. He moved instinctively, intercepting the first Riftsoul with a surge of energy that disintegrated it into fragments. The others charged in unison, and Arjun dodged, countered, and absorbed fragments, his body moving faster than the eye could follow.
Harshil fought alongside him, slicing through Riftsouls with precise strikes. For the first time, he genuinely acknowledged Arjun's power. "Vale… you're not just surviving, you're dominating," he shouted over the chaos.
The Riftsouls adapted quickly, coordinating attacks from multiple angles. Arjun's mark pulsed violently as the system responded, forming weapons, shields, and arcs of light that extended from his body. Every motion was seamless, every strike calculated. He could feel the fragments guiding him, almost as if they anticipated the enemy's moves before he did.
Above, Drave observed silently, his expression unreadable. "Interesting," he murmured. "He's evolving beyond expectations. But evolution alone will not define victory."
From the shadows, Punya and Godly watched closely. "He's surpassing control limits too quickly," Punya whispered. "If Ruin notices this early… it could accelerate events."
Godly's calm voice followed. "Yes. But for now… let him grow."
The largest Riftsoul lunged with incredible speed, its shadowy claws aimed directly at Arjun. He extended his hands instinctively, and a surge of light exploded outward, absorbing fragments of the attack mid-air. Energy tendrils swirled around him, creating a vortex that forced the creature to retreat.
Arjun felt the system expand, the fragments resonating with a new power he hadn't fully comprehended before. His movements became sharper, faster, more precise. Every attack absorbed, every strike countered, taught him something new. He was not just fighting; he was learning, evolving, and growing stronger by the second.
The final Riftsoul charged. Arjun moved in a blur, striking it with coordinated arcs of energy that shattered it into shards of light. The training ground was silent for a moment, broken only by the fading hum of his mark.
Harshil stepped forward, breathing heavily but grinning. "Vale… you've outdone yourself. I can't believe what I just saw."
Arjun exhaled, letting the fragments settle around him. "This… is just the beginning. The system has much more to teach me."
Punya and Godly disappeared silently into the shadows, leaving only a lingering sense of observation. Drave descended, landing quietly beside Arjun. "Your progress is impressive," he said calmly. "But remember… the real trials have yet to begin. Power is not enough. You must control it, or it will control you."
Arjun looked at his mark, fragments still floating around him. A thrill ran through him — excitement, anticipation, and a faint sense of foreboding. The Broken Sky System was awakening inside him, and with each passing moment, he was becoming something far beyond what anyone at Aetherion Academy had ever seen.