Adrian, Bobby, and Cassie stood shoulder to shoulder, staring down the warden.
Behind him, rows of battered and bloodied mutant prisoners slumped against the walls. Some were unconscious. Some… weren't breathing.
The air grew thick.
Without a word, the Warden charged.
BOOM—The floor cracked beneath his feet as he sprinted straight for Adrian.
"Oh shit—!" Adrian cursed, snapping into action.He activated Smokescreen, his body releasing a dense cloud as he sank into the floor using Permeation.
The Warden swung through nothing but vapor.
Adrian emerged behind the smoke, crouched and ready, mist still pouring off him."Whew... that was close."
Bobby didn't hesitate. Without thinking, he made a slicing gesture—Spatial Cut—sending a jagged rift of space tearing toward the Warden.
At the same time, Cassie materialized twin shadow daggers and hurled one with precision.
A thick cloud burst around the Warden from the combined impact.
Silence.
Then—tap tap tap—he calmly stepped forward through the smoke, suit barely scuffed. He patted himself down, annoyed only by the dust.
"Impressive," he said coolly. "I underestimated you three. But…"
His eyes locked onto Bobby.
"I don't make that mistake twice."
WHAM!With a single punch, he sent Bobby crashing through a concrete wall.
"BOBBY!" Adrian and Cassie screamed.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. He clenched his fists. No more holding back.
One For All: Full Cowling – 3%
Red lightning arced across his body as his muscles surged with power. His eyes glowed crimson.
The Warden raised an intrigued brow. "Interesting. I wasn't aware your mutation had an energy-based enhancement. Perhaps we should dissect it. Thoroughly."
Adrian cracked his knuckles. "Oh yeah? How about you go back to World War II and shove a missile up your ass!"
He launched himself forward, fists crackling, striking with blinding speed.Cassie reacted quickly—forming a new shadow dagger and tossing it to Adrian mid-dash.
The Warden deflected a few blows, but didn't expect Adrian to phase through a pillar, reappearing behind him. A quick slash—cut across the Warden's cheek.
He stumbled back, touching the blood on his face.
"Hmph… Impressive. You're still an amateur in combat, but you've got bite. Unfortunately—"
He vanished in a blur and reappeared in front of Adrian.
"—this ends now."
BOOM!A brutal punch missed Adrian by inches, but the wall behind him exploded from the impact. Debris, pipes, and wires scattered everywhere.
"Damn!" Adrian grunted. This guy's insane. The only reason I'm keeping up is One For All and High Specs helping me read his movements. I can't beat him. Cassie's on support. Bobby's down. I need a plan—fast.
Suddenly—
A hand grabbed the Warden's ankle.
One of the bloodied prisoners. His eyes glowing faint blue.
The floor beneath the Warden's feet froze solid, ice spreading rapidly up his legs.
The Warden's face twisted with fury. "You… traitorous freak…!"
The ice climbed to his shoulders.
Adrian's eyes widened. Now's our shot!
"CASSIE! Grab Bobby! We're retreating—now!"
The Warden roared, trying to activate his power, but the ice locked his limbs too tight.
Adrian and Cassie sprinted to Bobby's side.
"Bobby, can you hear me?" Adrian shouted.
Bobby coughed, blood on his lip. "Did you kick that guy's ass yet…?"
"No, but if we don't move, we're gonna get our asses kicked!" Adrian barked.
"Cough… Pussy…" Bobby smirked weakly.
"NOT the time," Cassie snapped, dragging his arm over her shoulder. "We're moving!"
"Cassie, the vents!" Adrian ordered. "Can you reinforce the shadows, keep us quiet?"
She scoffed. "What do you think I've been training for?"
Darkness wrapped around the vent shaft, suppressing every creak, every sound.
"Go!"
Adrian carried Bobby, with Cassie leading the way, all three disappearing into the shadows.
Warden's POV
"Damn it all…" he growled.
He finally shattered the ice with a furious stomp—BOOM—cracking the floor in every direction.
"They got away…"
He looked in the direction of the air vents, where Adrian and his team had vanished.
"That boy… Adrian."His eyes narrowed, mind racing.
Smoke teleportation… lightning enhancement… tactical intelligence beyond his age.A threat.
"A big one."
He turned to the prisoner who had frozen him.
Without hesitation, the Warden raised his foot—and stomped. The floor caved in.
"You're all going to pay."
His voice echoed through the facility like a curse.
"When I find those three… they will never see the light of day again."