The second distortion formed faster than the first.
Aiden noticed it immediately.
The air ahead twisted inward with greater force, the space compressing before splitting apart once more.
Unlike before, the fracture did not remain unstable for long.
Something within it was already taking shape, as if the system had adjusted after observing his first response.
Aiden did not stop moving.
He stepped forward, closing the distance before the creature could fully emerge, his focus fixed on the shifting point where its form struggled to stabilize.
The moment its outline became solid enough to exist, he struck.
The impact disrupted its formation.
The creature let out a broken sound, its body flickering violently before collapsing in on itself.
It dissolved almost instantly, unable to maintain its structure under pressure.
But this time—
It didn’t end there.
Another distortion appeared to his left.
Then another.
Aiden slowed, his gaze shifting as he took in the changes.
The air around him grew heavier, the pressure increasing as if the space itself was responding to his presence.
The system was no longer testing whether he could react.
It was increasing the difficulty.
“…So it adapts.”
The thought settled quietly.
Three distortions stabilized at once.
The creatures that emerged were no longer as unstable as the first.
Their forms held more consistently, their movements sharper, more defined.
Though still incomplete, they no longer felt fragile.
They felt hostile.
Aiden adjusted his stance slightly, his breathing steady as he observed them.
Rushing forward blindly would no longer be efficient.
The situation had changed.
So he adapted with it.
The first creature moved.
Then the second.
The third followed half a second later, their movements overlapping just enough to limit his space.
Coordinated.
Not intentionally—
But effectively.
Aiden stepped back just enough to avoid being surrounded, his gaze flickering between them as he calculated their movement patterns.
Their speed was still manageable, but the timing between their attacks created pressure that hadn’t existed before.
The first strike came from the front.
Aiden shifted to the side, avoiding it cleanly, but the second attack followed immediately from his blind spot.
This time, he raised his arm, deflecting the impact rather than dodging completely.
The force traveled through his body, controlled but noticeable.
“…Stronger.”
Not enough to overwhelm him.
But enough to matter.
The third creature lunged as soon as his balance shifted.
Aiden reacted without hesitation, stepping forward instead of retreating.
His movement disrupted their spacing, forcing them out of alignment.
At the same time, he struck again, targeting the weakest point in the nearest creature’s structure.
It shattered.
Gone.
But the remaining two did not falter.
If anything—
They moved faster.
Aiden’s expression remained calm, but his focus sharpened further.
This was no longer a simple test of reaction.
It required control, timing, and the ability to read movement under pressure.
The next attack came from both sides.
Aiden lowered his center of gravity, shifting his weight as he pivoted between them.
One strike missed him entirely, while the other brushed close enough to disrupt his balance slightly.
He corrected it immediately, stepping into the opening it created.
His hand struck again.
Precise.
Measured.
The second creature collapsed.
Only one remained.
It hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Aiden noticed.
And ended it.
The final strike landed cleanly, breaking its unstable form apart before it could recover.
The space around him fell silent once more, the pressure easing slightly as the distortions disappeared.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
“Synchronization: 19%”
The number rose again.
Aiden exhaled quietly, his posture relaxing just enough to release the tension that had built during the exchange.
The increase was steady, predictable.
“…So the threshold is manageable.”
For now.
But the change in difficulty was clear.
The system was not static.
It was observing.
Adjusting.
Testing.
A faint flicker passed through the interface—so brief it could have been missed.
Aiden’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“…That wasn’t normal.”
The system stabilized immediately afterward, the display returning to its usual clarity as if nothing had happened.
But Aiden had seen it.
A small inconsistency.
An interruption.
The same kind of irregularity he had sensed—
Back then.
He didn’t dwell on it.
Not yet.
Because the test wasn’t over.
Another distortion began to form in the distance, larger than before, the air around it warping more violently as something heavier forced its way through.
Aiden straightened slightly, his focus returning fully to the present.
“…So it continues.”
He stepped forward without hesitation.
Because stopping here—
Was not an option.
In the quiet room far from the distorted space, the stillness remained unchanged.
A small figure sat near the window now, his gaze fixed outside, though there was nothing in particular he was looking at.
The world beyond continued as it always did, but his attention lingered elsewhere.
Waiting.
Time passed slowly.
“…He’s late.”
The words were soft, uncertain.
But he didn’t move away.
Because he had been told to stay.
And more than that—
He believed.
Back within the designated zone, Aiden moved toward the next distortion, his steps steady despite the growing pressure in the air.
The system had begun its test.
And he—
Had only just begun to respond.