The western bridge stood silent under the pale afternoon light.
Abandoned vehicles blocked half the roadway.
Wind moved loose papers across cracked asphalt.
Zhao Ren stood at the center lane, studying the structure carefully.
Height advantage.
Limited crossing width.
Clear sightlines.
It was the perfect choke point.
Chen Wei and six selected survivors followed behind him.
Not random volunteers.
Disciplined ones.
Those who listened more than they spoke.
"Two barricade layers," Chen Wei instructed calmly.
"Inner fallback position near the bus."
No panic.
No wasted movement.
Zhao Ren watched quietly.
Threat Detection remained stable.
No immediate hostility nearby.
But something felt different.
Intent.
Not aggressive.
Not yet.
Measured.
Observing.
He looked across the river.
On the opposite end of the bridge
Three figures had appeared.
They stood evenly spaced.
No weapons raised.
No aggressive posture.
One stepped slightly forward.
Level 3.
Balanced stats.
Behind him
Two Level 2 survivors.
Organized.
Controlled.
Not scouts.
Representatives.
Chen Wei noticed them too.
"Contact?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Zhao Ren replied.
The figure across the bridge raised one hand slowly.
Not a wave.
A signal.
Neutral approach.
Zhao Ren walked forward alone.
He stopped at the midpoint of the bridge.
Leaving visible space between them.
The man across did the same.
Distance maintained.
Calculated.
"You're Zhao Ren," the man said evenly.
Not a question.
"A ranking board makes that easy," Zhao Ren replied.
The man gave a slight nod.
"I represent the East Tower."
"Liu Zhang."
Threat Detection pulsed faintly.
Not hostility.
But strong confidence.
Zhao Ren observed carefully.
Level 3.
But efficient posture.
Disciplined breathing.
This wasn't Rank 1.
But close to him.
"You hold the western district," Liu Zhang continued.
"For now," Zhao Ren replied.
A brief silence passed between them.
Controlled tension.
"Direct conflict benefits neither side," Liu Zhang said.
"Not yet."
Honest.
Zhao Ren appreciated that.
"What does Rank 1 want?" Zhao Ren asked directly.
Liu Zhang's expression did not change.
"He wants stability."
"Controlled expansion."
"And eventual convergence."
The word lingered.
Convergence.
So they had interpreted the 72-hour announcement the same way.
Top 100 would be marked.
Territory would matter.
Allies would matter.
"Temporary boundary," Liu Zhang said.
"River division."
"Information exchange optional."
"And if I refuse?" Zhao Ren asked calmly.
"Then conflict begins earlier."
No threat in his tone.
Just fact.
Behind Zhao Ren, Chen Wei and the others remained steady.
No aggressive movement.
Zhao Ren considered carefully.
Early war would slow growth.
Waste resources.
Reveal capabilities prematurely.
Three days remained.
Preparation mattered more than pride.
"Temporary boundary accepted," Zhao Ren said.
"For now."
Liu Zhang nodded once.
"Then we compete."
"Openly."
They both stepped back simultaneously.
No handshake.
No alliance.
Just acknowledgment.
The representatives returned to the eastern side of the bridge.
Zhao Ren watched them leave.
Threat Detection pulsed again
Briefly stronger.
Not from Liu Zhang.
From farther behind him.
One of Chen Wei's survivors.
A flicker of ambition.
Quickly suppressed.
Zhao Ren didn't react outwardly.
But he memorized it.
After a few seconds, Chen Wei approached.
"Well?"
"Temporary peace," Zhao Ren replied.
Chen Wei exhaled slowly.
"That buys time."
"Yes."
Zhao Ren turned toward the western skyline.
The bridge now belonged to neither side.
It was a line.
And lines existed to be crossed.
Above the city
A quiet system message appeared.
Major Event Probability Increased
The air shifted subtly.
Something larger was preparing.
Across the river
Rank 1 was consolidating.
On this side
Zhao Ren was evolving.
Soon
The Trial would force movement.
And when it did
Only one side would remain dominant.