The atmosphere throughout Training Sector Three had become unbearably tense as every student continued staring toward Platform Seven in complete disbelief. What was originally supposed to be a simple first-year evaluation match between a low-ranked trainee warrior and a combat division student had transformed into something far beyond anyone's expectations.
Because Huang Ming was changing.
Right in front of them.
The unstable spiritual fluctuations surrounding Huang's body no longer appeared completely chaotic like before. Although the energy still felt abnormal and dangerous, portions of it had begun to flow alongside Huang's movements rather than violently resisting him. Every dodge, every breath, every shift in posture now caused faint distortions to ripple subtly through the surrounding air. Even the pressure radiating from him felt increasingly unnatural, as though his body had begun functioning according to entirely different cultivation laws than everyone else around him.
And the most terrifying part—
The synchronization was still increasing.
Huang himself could feel it clearly now. His body no longer felt entirely unfamiliar to him, yet at the same time, it felt more dangerous than ever before. The pain spreading through his muscles and meridians remained intense, but his senses had sharpened to a frightening degree. Every sound inside the arena felt clearer. Every movement around him became easier to track. Even the spiritual energy flowing through nearby students felt strangely visible within his perception.
It was as though his body had forcibly awakened senses it was never supposed to possess this early.
"… This seriously cannot be healthy," Huang muttered quietly while trying to steady his breathing.
Inside his mind, Lyra answered immediately in her usual calm tone.
"Correct."
Huang's expression twitched instantly. "… You know, one day I'd really appreciate emotional support."
"Your survival probability has increased to sixty-two percent."
Huang blinked slightly, confused.
"… Wait, it was actually lower before?"
Lyra remained silent for several seconds.
Huang nearly lost emotional control internally.
"…WHY WOULD YOU NOT TELL ME THAT?!"
Numerous nearby students looked increasingly confused as Huang continued yelling at seemingly nobody in the middle of a high-level combat evaluation. Yet at this point, almost nobody cared about how strange he looked anymore because the pressure surrounding the platform had become impossible to ignore.
Across from him, Rex Hao's expression had completely darkened. Sweat slowly dripped down the side of his face while dense spiritual energy surged violently throughout his reinforced body. For the first time in years—
Rex felt pressured by someone weaker than him.
That realization alone filled him with frustration.
"You shouldn't be able to keep up with me," Rex said coldly while staring directly at Huang.
"… Trust me," Huang answered honestly while breathing heavily, "I'm also confused."
The surrounding crowd reacted nervously while whispers continued spreading throughout the arena.
"How is Huang still standing?"
"He's reacting faster every minute…"
"That energy around him feels wrong…"
Even higher-ranked students watching from nearby platforms had stopped underestimating Huang completely. Several second- and third-year students now observed the match with serious expressions because they understood something the weaker students didn't.
Huang Ming was using the anga technique.
He wasn't fighting skillfully.
His body itself was adapting instinctively under pressure.
And that made him unpredictable.
Far above the arena, the observation room had become equally tense. Multiple holographic displays continued analyzing Huang's spiritual fluctuations while instructors silently studied the abnormal readings appearing across the screens.
"The synchronization rate increased again."
"His body should've collapsed already…"
"No first-year student should survive this level of forced adaptation."
The older instructor standing near the center of the room remained focused entirely on Huang's combat data. Then slowly, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"… Interesting."
Another instructor immediately looked toward him.
"What now?"
The older instructor continued watching the readings carefully before finally speaking.
"The unstable energy is beginning to stabilize around his nervous system first."
Various instructors immediately frowned.
"That's impossible."
"No cultivation method works like that."
The older instructor remained silent briefly before continuing.
"This isn't a cultivation method."
Those words immediately made the atmosphere in the observation room grow heavier.
Because if Huang's condition wasn't caused by cultivation—
Then what exactly was happening to him?
Meanwhile, below, Rex Hao suddenly lowered his stance once more as spiritual energy exploded around his body. The already damaged platform beneath him cracked further as dense reinforcement patterns spread visibly across both arms.
Unlike before—
Rex no longer intended to test Huang at all.
He intended to crush him completely.
Several nearby students immediately sensed the difference in pressure radiating from Rex's body.
"He's pushing full reinforcement even further…"
"That amount of pressure is insane…"
"He's treating Huang like a real threat now…"
Even Instructor Zhao Ren narrowed his eyes after sensing the violent increase in power.
Across the platform, Huang instinctively felt danger spread throughout his entire body.
Real danger.
The kind of danger that caused every instinct inside him to scream.
Inside his mind, Lyra's voice echoed calmly once more.
"Warning. Opponent energy output has increased significantly."
"… Can you say something useful for once?"
"Recommendation: avoid being hit."
Huang nearly lost emotional control again.
"… That's your strategy?!"
Before Huang could continue complaining internally, Rex suddenly vanished once more.
But this time—
His speed had increased even further.
The metallic platform exploded beneath his feet as he rushed directly toward Huang like a reinforced missile. Countless weaker students completely lost sight of Rex's movements while shockwaves spread throughout the surrounding arena.
Yet for Huang—
Everything suddenly became clear again.
Not slower.
Sharper.
The flow of spiritual energy throughout Rex's body became visible within Huang's perception. He could see the exact moment Rex shifted his weight, the tightening of muscles before impact, and even the slight instability hidden beneath Rex's overwhelming force.
And instinctively—
Huang moved.
Rex's first punch barely missed Huang's jaw before the second rushed immediately toward his ribs.
Huang twisted sideways.
The third attack targeted his chest.
Huang stepped backward instinctively.
The fourth exploded toward his shoulder.
Huang leaned away moments before impact.
The crowd stared in complete disbelief.
Because this time—
Huang was barely surviving anymore.
He was keeping up.
Rex's eyes widened slightly as another reinforced punch missed completely.
"How…?!" Rex muttered in disbelief.
Even Huang himself looked shocked by his movements. Every attack now felt readable. Predictable. Not because Rex became slower—
But because Huang's perception had evolved again.
Far above the arena, the instructors immediately noticed it as well.
"His synchronization rate just increased again!"
"No… his neural adaptation speed increased…"
The older instructor stared silently toward the platform below before finally speaking in a low voice.
"… His body is prioritizing combat evolution."
Those words sent chills throughout the observation room because abilities capable of evolving during battle were already dangerous.
But abilities capable of selectively prioritizing evolution based on combat conditions—
We're something far worse.
Meanwhile, on Platform Seven, Rex Hao's frustration finally reached its limit. Spiritual energy erupted violently around his body as cracks spread throughout the entire combat platform.
"You're not supposed to exist like this!" Rex roared angrily before launching another reinforced strike directly toward Huang.
And for the first time since the match began—
Huang didn't dodge immediately.
Instead—
His body instinctively moved forward.