The next few days were quieter.
Too quiet.
No new fragments. No distortions. No signs of movement.
It should have been a relief.
It wasn't.
Jovian paced slowly across their base, arms folded, his thoughts running in circles. Vital Mirage flickered in and out behind him, never fully settling.
"He's waiting," Jovian said.
Lucien leaned against the wall. "Or preparing."
"Same difference," Iggy muttered.
Alaric remained still, watching all of them. "…Then we use the time."
Jovian stopped. "For what?"
"To get ahead," Alaric replied.
That sounded good in theory.
In practice, it meant one thing.
Training.
Iggy groaned. "We just fought something that learns mid-battle and now we're back to training?"
"Yes," Alaric said flatly.
Lucien pushed himself off the wall. "…He's not wrong."
Jovian exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
Vital Mirage appeared fully this time, its presence stronger than before.
"If he's evolving," Jovian said, "then we don't stay the same."
No one argued.
Because they all knew—
The next fight wouldn't give them time to figure things out.