The pressure didn't drop.
It increased.
The elite unit stepped forward again.
Slow.
Precise.
Unavoidable.
"…You're the core," Aarav said quietly.
"…Affirmative."
Its response was immediate.
Calm.
Certain.
The other units moved.
Not randomly.
Not aggressively.
But—
Strategically.
They closed in.
Cutting angles.
Limiting space.
"…They're locking you in," Mira said.
"…Yeah."
Aarav's eyes didn't leave the elite unit.
"…And it's leading."
The elite unit raised its hand.
The air shifted.
Not violently—
But perfectly.
"…Correction field active," it said.
Aarav felt it instantly.
His movement—
Restricted.
Not stopped.
But controlled.
"…That's new," he muttered.
The elite unit moved.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
Cleaner.
Aarav reacted—
Barely.
The strike grazed past him.
Too close.
Another attack came.
From behind.
He turned—
Blocked—
But the impact pushed him forward.
"…They're synchronizing," Mira said.
"…With it."
The system flickered violently.
Struggling.
[ E X T E R N A L C O N T R O L D E T E C T E D ]
"…So it's not just the system," Aarav thought.
"…It's something layered."
The elite unit appeared in front of him again.
Instantly.
No transition.
"…Correction continues," it said.
A strike came.
Aarav stepped in—
But this time—
Too slow.
Thud.
The hit landed clean.
His balance broke.
His breath staggered.
"…Aarav!" Mira shouted.
The elite unit didn't stop.
Another strike.
Closer.
Faster.
Final.
Aarav's eyes sharpened.
"…Not yet."
He didn't dodge.
Didn't block.
He stepped wrong.
A movement that didn't follow logic.
Didn't follow direction.
Didn't follow anything.
The strike missed.
For the first time—
The elite unit paused.
"…Undefined input," it said.
Aarav moved.
Not fast.
Not strong.
But—
Free.
He slipped past the correction field.
Closed the distance.
And struck.
A direct hit.
The elite unit moved back.
More than before.
Mira's eyes widened.
"…You broke through it!"
"…Not broke," Aarav replied.
"…Avoided."
The other units moved again.
Faster.
More aggressive.
Trying to compensate.
"…Now!" Aarav said.
Mira reacted instantly.
A burst of energy exploded outward.
Wide.
Uncontrolled.
Chaotic.
The correction field reacted—
Trying to stabilize—
Trying to control—
But it couldn't.
Too many variables.
Too much noise.
That moment—
Was enough.
Aarav stepped forward again.
This time—
Without hesitation.
Strike.
Shift.
Counter.
His movement no longer followed reaction.
No longer followed system.
It followed—
Choice.
The elite unit responded.
Faster.
Sharper.
More focused.
But now—
It wasn't ahead.
It was catching up.
"…You're changing," it said.
"…So are you," Aarav replied.
The air tightened again.
More unstable.
More intense.
The system flickered violently.
[ C O N T R O L D E G R A D I N G ]
"…We're pushing it," Mira said.
"…Good."
Aarav stepped forward one more time.
"…Because next…"
A faint smirk appeared.
"…it won't be enough."
The elite unit's presence sharpened.
Its response intensified.
Because now—
It understood something.
This wasn't just an irregular.
This was—
Something it couldn't fully control.