Morning light spread slowly across the city.
For the first time since the Trial began, the sky looked almost normal.
But the silence felt unnatural.
Too still.
Zhao Ren stood at the edge of a rooftop overlooking the river that divided the city.
Threat Detection pulsed again.
Stronger than before.
Not immediate danger.
But powerful intent.
Focused.
Disciplined.
He narrowed his eyes toward the eastern district.
Across the river
A tall office building stood intact.
Smoke drifted from its upper floors, but not from damage.
From signal fires.
Deliberate.
Organized.
Whoever was there wasn't surviving randomly.
They were consolidating territory.
A system panel appeared briefly.
So it wasn't imagination.
Rank 1 was there.
Zhao Ren didn't feel urgency.
He felt calculation.
Crossing the river now would mean entering unfamiliar territory.
Unknown faction strength.
Unknown terrain.
Unknown traps.
He had no reason to rush.
Three days remained before Phase 2 marking.
Time favored preparation.
He turned back toward Chen Wei's zone.
If a confrontation was inevitable
Information would matter more than aggression.
When Zhao Ren returned to the supermarket perimeter, the atmosphere felt slightly different.
Threat Detection activated gently.
Not monsters.
Human tension.
Two survivors were arguing near the storage entrance.
"he's not even part of us!"
"but he saved the barricade!"
"and now he's Rank 2!"
The conversation stopped when Zhao Ren approached.
They avoided eye contact.
Fear mixed with uncertainty.
Not rebellion.
Yet.
Chen Wei stepped forward.
"I'll handle morale," he said quietly.
Zhao Ren nodded once.
"I don't need loyalty."
"I need efficiency."
Chen Wei gave a faint smile.
"That's why they're nervous."
Later that morning, Chen Wei brought a small city map.
Hand-drawn markings.
Cleared zones.
High-density monster areas.
Possible supply points.
"I want to expand two blocks west," Chen Wei said.
"Secure food storage and medical kits."
"Risk level?" Zhao Ren asked.
"Moderate."
Zhao Ren studied the map.
Then he circled an area near the river bridge.
"Secure this first."
Chen Wei looked at the location.
"That's exposed."
"Yes," Zhao Ren replied.
"But it's also a control point."
If Rank 1 attempted westward expansion
The bridge would be the crossing route.
Holding it meant control of movement.
Chen Wei understood immediately.
"You're thinking long-term."
"I'm thinking inevitable."
There was no rivalry in his tone.
Only realism.
Zhao Ren's gaze sharpened slightly.
Talent evolution.
That meant scaling wasn't linear.
His SSS Grave Sovereign
Could grow further.
But conditions mattered.
He opened his status panel.
Grave Sovereign (SSS)
Current Stage: Dormant Phase 1
Requirement for Evolution:
Absorb 100 Unique Targets
Progress: 37 / 100
So it was accumulation-based.
Not boss-based.
Not level-based.
Unique targets.
Interesting.
That meant reckless slaughter wasn't optimal.
He needed diversity.
Different monster types.
Different humans.
Different traits.
Strategic hunting.
Suddenly
A deep vibration rolled across the river.
Not random.
Not chaotic.
Controlled force.
A faint system message flickered.
Zhao Ren didn't react outwardly.
But inside
His focus sharpened.
Rank 1 had just leveled again.
During daylight.
Without chaos.
That meant systematic growth.
Efficient.
Disciplined.
Similar mindset.
Across the river
A faint plume of dust rose near the office tower.
Someone was clearing territory.
Just like he was.
The city had divided itself naturally.
Two apex hunters.
Separated by water.
For now.
Zhao Ren turned away from the skyline.
"Begin securing the bridge," he said calmly.
Chen Wei nodded.
The game had shifted from survival
To territory.
And soon
Paths would cross.