“Shit…” Melissa’s breath hitched as she watched Samuel’s memories through the device Jack was holding. “What did they do to him…?”Jack smirked, raising the device, making sure that everyone would see it, including Melissa.“You’ve been wondering what’s real and what’s fake. Allow me to clarify.”The holograms played faster until the memories stopped through the time when Samuel was taken by Jack to the Card Elite.On the rounded device, they could see Samuel screaming in chains, doing his best not to say anything despite being hurt.And to top it all, Samuel’s memories were taken away so the Card Elite could use them as their tool.Jack’s eyes glittered with malice as he turned toward Nick and Ray, his expression devilish.“Surprise?” he asked with a smirk. “Well, you should be. This isn’t even the end of our fight. This is only the beginning.”The room went still for an instant, every soldier caught between awe and unease. It was rare for them to communicate with Jack as he was most

Melissa was watching intently, which is the reason why she realized something.Her voice erupted in their ears, panic barely held back as she needed to focus.“Nick, flank it! It may be strong, but its movements are predictive!" Melissa shouted through the comms. "Don’t aim where it is, aim where it’s going to be!”Nick exhaled sharply, forcing his hands steady. “Copy.” He darted sideways, anticipating the blur of movement.Then, he fired a three-round burst just as the clone shifted. One bullet ripped across its cheek, leaving a shallow burn.The clone froze for a fraction of a second, its head tilting with eerie mimicry, as if it was capable of being hurt like an ordinary human.“Adapting…” it muttered in Samuel’s warped voice.Nick cursed under his breath. “It learns. Fuck it."Rowan stood back, grinning like a proud puppeteer. “Yes, keep struggling. This is the fruit of your brother’s suffering. The more you fight, the more it evolves, and it's beneficial to us. It always will."

“Samuel was right in his suspicion, huh…” Jack said, his lips curving into a smirk. “It should be hard for you to defeat, let alone fight with me.”“But look at you. You’re dodging as if it were nothing.”Oliver chuckled, his hands folded as he moved from left to right, avoiding Jack’s attacks, not even thinking twice about his movements.“What’s Samuel’s suspicion about me?” Oliver asked, raising an eyebrow.However, it doesn’t look like Oliver was genuinely curious about it.It seemed like Oliver was just taunting Jack, letting him see how unserious he was in their battle.“Come on, Zero. Don’t act like you don’t know!” Jack smiled devilishly as he lunged forward, aiming for Oliver’s head. “He had a suspicion that you’re something else!”“And he was right. Look at you know. Do you think that was a movement of an ordinary person?”Jack intentionally moved faster, pushing Oliver to the corner, as he continued his attacks.“You’re moving faster than lightning.” Jack clicked his tongue

“Don’t attack recklessly, Nick! You’ll die!” Melissa shouted through the comms. “Stay back! I’ll find a way out!”Jack, who was in the same room as he was still fighting with Oliver, chuckled devilishly upon hearing those words.“I know one way out,” Jack muttered, smirking as he defended himself from Oliver’s attacks. “It’s for them to die.”The shivers sent onto Melissa’s skin, but she didn’t let those things affect her.Instead, she clicked through the keyboard, opening different feeds, desperate to find an exit.‘There must be a reason why they’re buying time…’ Melissa thought, her brows furrowing. ‘The

Without a warning, Oliver shoved forward, but Jack twisted, ducked low, and kicked upward, catching Oliver’s ribs.“Ugh!” he groaned as he staggered back a step.Then, he retaliated with an upward punch, landing onto Jack’s stomach as the latter’s back hit the wall.“Shit!” Melissa flinched as the walls shook, feeling the overwhelming energy of the people fighting beside her. Oliver didn’t realize it, but he used a part of his energy with that attack.He was having a hard time controlling it because of the different things running through his mind.Little did he know, Jack noticed it.“You’re having a hard time holding back now. Great.” Jack smirked. “I want you to give everything you got, Oliver.”“Because that’s how I can unleash everything, too.”As Jack was trained with the power given to him, he could unleash it whenever he wanted to, and he could also hold back when necessary.However, Jack wanted to end everything all at once.He didn’t want to make the same mistake three year