The void stretched infinitely, fragmented by shards of shattered planets and rivers of flowing cosmic energy. Gravity twisted unpredictably, and the air pulsed with threads of reality straining under the trial.
Astro exhaled, aura flickering between shadow, light, and the six elements he now controlled. "Bruh… the universe really went all out this time. Let's see who survives this mess."
Tenji landed beside him, fists radiating terrain and light-energy manipulation. "This ain't just another trial… it's every nightmare we've ever had coming to life. We need to evolve, fast."
Lyara appeared, her glow calm but commanding. "Stage Four: Cosmic Ascension. Here, your abilities will branch into subsets. Each of you will develop variations of your powers, mastering versatility while retaining your core strengths. Only by evolving individually can you survive this crucible."
Astro – Shadow-Light and Elemental Synthesis
Astro focused. His shadows stretched and light flared, merging seamlessly with elemental forces.
Offense Subsets: Shadow swords, elemental blasts (fire, ice, earth, darkness, light), adaptive strike forms that counter enemy powers automatically
Defense Subsets: Shadow barriers, elemental shields, green-thread barriers that heal or absorb energy
Manipulation Subsets: Teleportation via shadows, light bending to blind or trap enemies, environmental manipulation through elemental Threads
Astro grinned. "Bruh… Big dawg's not just swinging punches anymore. Shadows, light, elements… they do the thinking now."
Arc Highlight: Astro faced a vision of his friends falling, testing his mental focus. Using his subsets, he created constructs that protected and countered simultaneously, proving he could adapt under psychological pressure.
Tenji – Terrain and Light-Energy Mastery
Tenji's fists glowed as the fragmented battlefield bent to his will.
Mobility Subset: Terrain spikes, floating platforms, gravity-assisted jumps
Offense Subset: Light-energy projectiles, terrain strikes amplified with aura energy
Environment Control Subset: Reshaping fragments, creating shields, redirecting attacks
Arc Highlight: Tenji encountered a collapsing floating island filled with illusions of innocent lives he could lose. He learned to combine his subsets instinctively, using terrain to trap illusions while striking decisively, evolving both mind and body under stress.
Hunter – Temporal-Probability Expansion
Hunter's Omni-Grid flickered, probabilities twisting like threads of fate.
Prediction Subset: Reading enemy actions and environmental shifts
Reaction Subset: Acting in micro-time pockets to dodge or counter
Mental Interference Subset: Disrupting enemy thought patterns or illusions, redirecting energy against foes
Arc Highlight: Hunter faced mirror versions of himself executing every possible failure. By using subsets creatively, he not only avoided defeat but turned mirrors against themselves, proving his analytical mind could evolve under extreme stress.
Phantom – Shadow Autonomy
Phantom merged with his shadows, darkness curling like living smoke.
Mimicry Subset: Copying enemy abilities briefly for tactical advantage
Offense Subset: Shadow strikes, tendrils, and elemental-infused attacks
Defense Subset: Phasing, autonomous shadows blocking multiple directions
Arc Highlight: Phantom faced a swarm of shadow clones representing his fears and doubts. Using subsets, he split his focus across clones, adapting each to a different strategy, showcasing mental fortitude and versatility.
The Arena – Reality Responds to Individual Evolution
The cosmic arena reacted to their personal growth:
Gravity shifted according to Astro's constructs
Terrain fractured and reformed under Tenji's control
Probability and time pulses warped around Hunter's actions
Shadows extended from Phantom to manipulate zones autonomously
Universe-tier enemies emerged:
Celestial Titans feeding on Thread energy
Mental constructs embodying regrets and fears
Shadow-Elemental Behemoths testing adaptability
The squad used their subsets individually, creating a seamless flow of combat without needing to track all abilities. Each friend's evolution allowed them to handle chaos while supporting one another implicitly.
Personal Arcs and Growth
Astro: Learns to balance offense, defense, and manipulation under psychological pressure
Tenji: Discovers instinctive fusion of mobility, offense, and environment control
Hunter: Masters probability and mental disruption, learning to trust subsets over raw calculation
Phantom: Gains autonomy and precision in shadows, confronting inner darkness without hesitation
Foreshadowing Stage Five
Lyara's voice echoed: "Stage Five will test everything you've built: your powers, minds, and your very essence as humans. The stones from Chapter 1 are beginning to react. Your evolution is only a fraction of what is possible."
Astro's aura flared. "Bruh… next stage? Big dawg ready to transcend reality. Let's go."