The academy's training grounds were silent that morning. The air was heavy with the memory of the previous battles, and students moved cautiously, glancing nervously at the distant horizon. Arjun Vale stood in the center, fragments of light spinning around his wrist and shoulders. The Broken Sky System pulsed softly, yet urgently, as if sensing an approaching storm.
Harshil approached, his expression serious. "Vale… I can feel it. The energy… it's different from before. Stronger."
Arjun nodded. "I know. The fragments… they're reacting to something. Something big is coming."
Punya's pale eyes shimmered from the shadows. "Ruin has begun to test him directly. Every movement you make is being observed. He will not be patient."
Godly's calm voice followed. "Yes. Observation alone is no longer sufficient. Adaptation is now mandatory."
The calm was shattered when the air above the northern wall warped violently. A massive rift tore open, and a new type of Riftsoul emerged — larger, faster, and more intelligent than any Arjun had faced before. Its form flickered between shadow and solid, radiating a dark aura that distorted the very air around it.
> "Ultimate threat detected… adapt immediately," the system warned.
Arjun's mark flared, and fragments of light surged around him. Weapons formed seamlessly, shields spiraled into position, and tendrils of energy moved almost of their own volition. Every motion he made was precise, every strike guided by instinct and the system simultaneously.
Harshil moved beside him, sword crackling with energy. "Vale! Cover the flanks, I'll engage the center!"
The Riftsoul lunged with blinding speed. Arjun reacted instinctively, intercepting its strike with a spinning arc of energy. Fragments absorbed the blow and countered with precision. The Riftsoul twisted mid-air, avoiding his first strike, and attacked from a new angle.
> "Adaptation required… survival probability critical," the system warned.
Arjun's mind worked in tandem with the fragments. Shields rotated automatically, energy tendrils intercepted incoming attacks, and arcs of light struck the enemy from multiple angles simultaneously. The Riftsoul adapted quickly, testing his reflexes and control, but Arjun's fragments responded faster than ever before.
From the shadows, Punya whispered, "He's evolving beyond prediction. Ruin will notice soon, and the test will escalate."
Godly's calm voice echoed, "Yes. But every evolution comes with a cost. Be prepared, Vale."
The battle escalated. Multiple smaller shadow constructs emerged from the rift, attempting to flank the academy and disrupt the students. Arjun extended tendrils of light, intercepting multiple attacks at once while protecting those nearby. Harshil cut through the shadows, coordinating with him flawlessly.
The large Riftsoul paused for a moment, its glowing eyes locking on Arjun. A pulse of dark energy radiated outward, warping the fragments around him. He staggered slightly as the system responded, reinforcing his shields and weapon arcs instantly.
> "Potential exceeded… evolution threshold rising… ultimate threat imminent," the system whispered.
Arjun clenched his fists, letting the fragments respond in unison. A vortex of light formed around him, spinning violently and striking the Riftsoul with overwhelming force. The creature twisted, countered, but fragments absorbed its attacks and redirected energy back at it.
Harshil exhaled, awe in his voice. "Vale… that… was incredible."
Arjun's gaze was steady. "This isn't over. The system is evolving with me, but Ruin… he's preparing something."
From the observation tower, Punya and Godly watched silently. "The fragments are awakening," Punya murmured.
Godly's calm voice added, "Yes. And soon… the real test begins."
The Riftsoul lunged again, larger and faster, but Arjun was ready. He extended spinning shields and arcs, intercepting and countering with precision. Fragments absorbed energy from each strike, glowing brighter with each movement.
The academy trembled under the intensity of the battle. Students and instructors watched in awe as Arjun's control over the system reached a new peak. Every move, every strike, was faster, sharper, and more instinctive than before.
The final clash came swiftly. The Riftsoul attempted a massive strike, but Arjun's fragments responded in perfect unison, forming a spinning storm of energy that intercepted the blow and countered with a spiraling beam, forcing the enemy back into the rift.
As the dust settled, the fragments circled him, glowing faintly, the system whispering:
> "Observation continues… evolution complete for this stage… ultimate threat remains."
Arjun looked at the horizon. The rift was closing, but he could sense it — Ruin was watching, waiting for the right moment to strike. The fragments around him spun like restless spirits, ready to respond.
Harshil placed a hand on his shoulder. "Vale… whatever comes next, we'll face it together."
Arjun nodded, gaze firm. "The Broken Sky System is awakening… and I will not falter."
The wind howled across the academy grounds, shadows lingered in the distance, and fragments of light pulsed in anticipation. The war for control, power, and survival had only just begun.