Seventy-two hours became forty-eight. Then twenty-four. Then twelve.
Rama stood in Jakarta's central plaza, watching the void rift form overhead. Purple-black crack spreading across reality. Something massive moving behind the tear. Level 140 entity manifesting. Sovereign-adjacent classification. Observer's validation test. Proof requirement. Everything.
"Readings confirm Level 140," Dr. Müller reported through communicator. Medical team on standby. Recovery protocols prepared. Everything ready for post-combat support. "Classification: Sovereign-adjacent. Combat capability equivalent to lower-tier Sovereign. Lethality comparable. Difficulty—" She paused. "—extreme. This is what you'll face at final exam. Just weaker. Slightly."
"Reassuring," Nakamura muttered beside him.
