The black sedan cut through the darkness of the estate road.
Alex gripped the wheel, his body humming with a deep, bruised ache... the kind that came from pushing past limits.
Today had been a milestone.
For the first time, he hadn't just survived against Pavel; he had competed.
Thirty minutes.
He had lasted thirty grueling minutes of high-speed, full-contact sparring before Pavel finally swept his legs and pinned him.
Thirty minutes against a veteran killer... a personal record... but the System was still mocking him.
[BATTLE SENSE: 2.93%]
"Two point nine-three," Alex muttered, a sharp puff of frustration escaping his lips. "I pushed myself until I was vomiting bile, and I didn't even crack three percent."
"Don't be greedy," Lilith's voice slithered through his thoughts. "You've nearly tripled your intuition in two days. You're moving faster. Thinking sharper. That's enough for now."
Alex flexed his fingers. She was right. He felt different. He felt... dangerous.
