The sky flickered at exactly noon.
No warning tone this time.
No dramatic tremor.
Just a quiet system broadcast.
A faint symbol appeared above Zhao Ren's position.
Not blinding.
Not overwhelming.
But visible.
A soft pillar of light, extending upward into the sky.
Across the river
Another pillar appeared.
Han Qian.
Two beacons.
Balanced on opposite sides of the city.
Chen Wei stood beside him, watching the sky.
"So it begins," he said quietly.
"Yes."
No fear in Zhao Ren's tone.
Only assessment.
Markers changed behavior.
Not immediately.
But inevitably.
Within ten minutes, Threat Detection pulsed more frequently.
Not attacks.
Movement.
Curiosity.
Lower-ranked survivors repositioning.
Some edging closer.
Some retreating farther away.
The marker did not weaken Zhao Ren.
But it increased attention.
Attention changed flow.
Chen Wei approached with an update.
"Two independent groups are circling outer blocks."
"Watching, not engaging."
"Maintain perimeter," Zhao Ren replied.
"No provocation."
Desperate challengers would come eventually.
But reckless defense would waste resources.
Patience remained the better weapon.
The eastern pillar remained steady.
Han Qian had not hidden.
Not masked.
He allowed visibility.
Confidence.
Or calculation.
Likely both.
Zhao Ren studied the distance.
The bridge line remained neutral.
But the markers erased subtlety.
Now every survivor in the district could see the two strongest positions.
Balance had become public knowledge.
By mid-afternoon, a small group approached from the north.
Not aggressive.
Five survivors.
Level 2–3 range.
They stopped outside barricade range.
One stepped forward.
"We want structured protection," he said carefully.
"We saw the marker."
Zhao Ren observed silently.
Threat Detection indicated anxiety.
Not deception.
Chen Wei handled the conversation calmly.
"Rules apply equally," he said.
"Rotations, contribution, discipline."
The group agreed quickly.
They were not here to challenge.
They were here to anchor themselves to strength.
Zhao Ren allowed it.
Controlled expansion through absorption of manpower.
Not blind recruitment.
But structured integration.
Later, as evening approached, Threat Detection pulsed again.
The same internal signature as before.
Stronger now.
Ambition tightening.
Zhao Ren did not turn immediately.
He let it stabilize.
Then he walked casually toward the storage corridor.
The survivor standing there froze slightly.
Not fear.
Calculation.
Zhao Ren stopped in front of him.
"Speak," Zhao Ren said calmly.
The man hesitated.
Then chose caution over pride.
"I thought about challenging the bridge."
"For reputation."
Zhao Ren's expression did not change.
"And now?"
"I won't."
No threats were exchanged.
No punishment declared.
Just clarity.
Ambition acknowledged.
Stability maintained.
Zhao Ren stepped away.
Control without spectacle.
That preserved order.
As darkness settled, both markers glowed softly against the skyline.
Two anchors in a fractured city.
Twenty-three hours remained until Phase 2 convergence.
No large-scale assaults occurred.
No reckless charges.
Just shifting alliances.
Careful positioning.
Zhao Ren opened his panel once more.
Grave Sovereign: 52 / 100.
Residual Extraction continued its quiet work.
Growth was steady.
No spikes.
No rush.
Across the river
Han Qian was likely doing the same.
Two apex survivors.
Visible.
Prepared.
The city held its breath.
And the Trial waited.