Walter used powerful vibration to smash through the roof, piercing through three floors with a single strike.
"Walter, pick up the pace. A lamb has strayed from the flock. We need to find and eliminate him."
"Understood."
Walter concentrated vibration in his right fist and punched through the floor, clearing the remaining six stories of the hospital.
Right... turn knob. It's broken.
Left... broken door. Left... locked door. Palm strike.
He saw a sign for "Emergency Room."
Corridor one: "Exit" sign. Corridor two: "Testing Lab" sign.
Turning toward the Testing Lab, he found a corpse on the floor with a broken jaw. Behind it was the "Research Laboratory." Security had been breached.
"Walter reporting, Stevens. The sensor is broken and the door is open."
"Dammit, we're too late! Check if the RHX-32 is there."
"Negative. Only Sofia's lab coats and a dissected Minion. No message... nothing."
"Copy that. Walter, follow the underground signal. Keep your distance and don't lose it." "Understood."
He sped out of the lab toward the exit. He found a hole leading straight into the hospital's sewer system less than a kilometer away. He dropped in, maintaining a constant electrical charge. He funneled electricity to his legs and accelerated.
"Found you, vermin," he whispered. His target was emerging from another hole five kilometers away.
Left... Right.
Right... Left.
Left... Left.
Right... Right.
He climbed out of the sewer and saw a boy entering a dilapidated building less than two kilometers away.
"Horus, analyze him."
"As you wish, sir. Analyzing... Analyzing. Analysis complete. Results sent to your brain, Walter."
Height: 1.60m. Build: Medium, lean. Weight: 56kg.
Pressure: High.
Confirmed Threat Level: Category 2.
Name: Jack Walker.
Age: Nearly 15.
Abilities: Undefined.
"I can't detect more than one Class 2 subject. That is all. Have a good day, Walter. Shall I request backup?"
"That's not possible. Re-run the analysis, please."
"Alright, Walter. Analyzing... Analyzing. Analysis complete."
Height: 1.60m. Build: Medium, lean. Weight: 56kg.
Pressure: High.
Confirmed Threat Level: Category 2.
Name: Jack Walker.
Age: Nearly 15.
Abilities: Undefined.
"There's no error, Walter. The analysis is correct. The boy is very strong, and based on his pressure traces, he's an Augmenter type. He will continue to evolve. Shall I request backup?"
"No, I'll call Stevens myself. If he's really Class 2, I can't stop him alone." "Understood, Walter. Good luck... please return to base when you're done!" "Copy that, thanks."
"Walter reporting, Stevens. Target located. It's a Level 2 threat." "Impossible! You sure Horus didn't glitch?"
"No, we ran it twice. The data holds. This kid is strong!" "Confirmed. I'll reach you in five minutes."
"Understood. Cutting transmission. The kid is leaving the building without a backpack."
"Copy that. Enter the building and see what he left behind. Let's hope he's naive enough to have left the RHX-32."
Walter headed into the building, while the boy entered a mini-mart near the ruins...
I already know you've been following me since the hospital. I'm not giving you anything! Well, to kill time, I'll look for some flour. I still don't know what Valentine wants it for, but
I can't say no to a spoiled brat like her.
He finished shopping, left the mini-mart, and headed back to the abandoned building. He expanded electricity throughout the place.
"It's not just one anymore. There are two of them."
He slowly climbed the stairs with his groceries in his backpack—along with the recording, the notes, and the RHX-32.
"Stevens, there's nothing here but trash."
"What a shame, Walter. The kid isn't as dumb as we thought... he played us." "Let's find him fast, Stevens. He must be close."
Stevens and Walter turned around. Just then, the boy walked through the door behind them. "You don't need to look for anyone... you bastards."
"You've got a sharp tongue, kid," Stevens said.
"Hand over the RHX-32 and whatever else you stole," Walter shouted.
"Here's your trash back!" He threw the crutches toward Jack. One shattered, and the second grazed Jack's face before he caught it.
"You bastard! You're going to pay for that! You shouldn't have broken it!" he shouted, placing the crutch on the ground.
He raised his hand and extended it like a claw, pulsing against the floor until the building began to shake from his rage.
"None of you has the right to damage someone else's things and mock them... you freaks. I didn't steal anything. I found it first, and now it belongs to me."
He instantly covered his body in electricity and lunged at Walter before he could react. He raised his left leg, jumped, and landed a kick on Walter's head. Walter was sent crashing into the left wall.
Stevens raised his weapon and fired two shots into Jack's right shoulder. The third shot was aimed straight at his skull, but Jack raised his left hand and deflected it toward Stevens' leg using vibration. Stevens fell to one knee.
Jack extended his right hand toward Stevens' weapon, and it began to melt until it was completely destroyed.
"No weapons, you bastard... this is a fair fight!" he roared, his face twisted in disgust as the floor continued to tremble.
He expanded his electricity, straining to keep it constant. Ten bullets from the left side were heading straight for his left leg, ribs, and face. However, he stopped them with a small burst of electricity and vibration five centimeters from his body.
"Don't do that, damn you! I'm starting to get pissed! How many times do I have to tell you?
This is a fair fight!"
He closed in on Walter at great speed, landing a right-hand blow to his abdomen, sending him straight into the ceiling and disarming him instantly. He grabbed the weapon, crushed it with both hands, and threw it out of the building.
"Dammit! This is the second time you've put me through concrete, you little brat!" Walter yelled. He lowered his center of gravity, extending both hands forward—fingers slightly toward the floor—one hand slightly behind the other.
Stevens stood up. He lowered his center of gravity and extended both hands forward in a claw position, one behind the other.
Both fixed their eyes on their target. Jack took his distance. He shifted his center of gravity, extending his right foot forward. He held his right palm out, fingers together, and his left palm raised toward the ceiling.
"Attack with everything you've got! Or I'll crush you!"
They all began to close in.
Jack: Right punch... Walter lightly deflected it with his right hand.
Stevens: Spinning left kick to the ankles... Jack countered with a right kick to the face. He falls.
Walter: Left palm strike to the face. Followed by a left kick to the ribs... Jack blocked the strike with his right palm. The kick landed, shattering the block.
Counter: Left kick to the neck. Both fall and spit blood.
"Wow, looks like you actually know how to fight... you bastards. But it's not enough. I can't keep wasting my time with you. I have to get home."
"Don't worry, kid... you aren't going home alive today," Stevens shouted, getting up with Walter.
They raised their fists, and their suits began to glow light blue at the legs, chest, and arms. It was like seeing small power conduits. Both charged their uniforms with constant electricity.
I love those suits. I want one too.
They all took their stances. However, something was wrong with Jack's balance.
Dammit, I feel like I'm losing my balance.
Walter lunged at him with lightning speed and struck with his hand in a claw position aimed right at Jack's eyes. Jack managed to dodge by a hair, but Stevens had already landed
a kick to his neck, sending him flying into a column on the right side of the building, punching a hole through the wall.
Jack spat blood twice, and his legs began to tremble slightly.
"What's wrong, kid? A minute ago you were so arrogant, and now you're on the ground."
My body's starting to feel heavy... dammit. And these aren't side effects from overusing my
abilities; the trembling in my legs is different. These bastards did something to me.
Jack tried to stand, but he fell again. This time, he couldn't move, slowly losing consciousness.
"It's working, Stevens."
"Yeah, it took longer than expected, Walter. This guy's a tough nut to crack. He really is a
Level 2 threat."
Stevens approached Jack's motionless body.
"It's nothing personal, kid... we need those documents," he whispered, taking the backpack from the boy and slowly backing away.
"We're done here, Walter... let's go. Mission accomplished."
"Understood."
Wait, you bastards... that's mine.
The building began to shake even harder, and several old windows started to shatter.
Danger... Threat confirmed. Subject Level 3 confirmed. Danger... Threat confirmed. Subject Level 3 confirmed.
"I told you to give back that backpack... trash," he growled, standing up.
Walter and Stevens turned to look at Jack, completely blindsided. A deep darkness surrounded the boy's body.
Danger... Threat confirmed.
Subject Level 3 confirmed.
"Impossible! He should be out for at least an hour," Stevens said in disbelief.
Jack turned his head to the left, and the darkness reached out toward Walter, slamming him against the wall. His eyes began to bleed slightly, tears of red running down his cheeks.
"Die, you bastard."
He extended his right arm, and black spikes pierced several parts of Walter's body. Walter fell to the ground unconscious.
"Your turn, trash," he barked, landing a blow between Stevens' solar plexus and heart, shattering part of his suit. He snatched the backpack back and sent Stevens flying out of the building.