John opened his eyes.

  And the world was different.

  Not just brighter. Not just clearer.

  Sharper.

  Like he had spent his entire life half-asleep—and now, for the first time, he was awake.

  John felt everything.

  The faintest movements in the air. The distant vibrations of the city above.

  He could hear the quiet cracking of stone beneath his feet, feel the damp air shifting against his skin.

  His senses weren’t just enhanced.

  They were limitless.

  And that wasn’t all.

  John took a slow breath.

  His body felt… perfect.

  Like every flaw, every weakness, every ounce of fatigue had been erased.

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  He clenched his fist—and the stone beneath him cracked.

  John froze.

  Not from shock.

  From realization.

  He hadn’t even tried.

  That? That was new.

  "Now you understand."

  The voice was inside him.

  Not invasive. Not controlling.

  Just… there.

  Like a presence woven into his very existence.

  John exhaled slowly.

  "Who are you?" he asked.

  A pause.

  Then—"I am what was lost."

  John clenched his jaw. "Not an answer."

  "And yet, it is the only one that matters."

  John exhaled. Fantastic.

  He had finally found the Mask.

  And it came with riddles.

  John needed to know his limits.

  He turned toward the nearest wall—solid concrete, reinforced with steel.

  He lifted his hand.

  No hesitation.

  No second-guessing.

  Just action.

  And he struck.

  The impact shattered the entire section.

  Dust erupted into the air, the wall crumbling like paper.

  John didn’t even feel the resistance.

  He stared at his hand.

  Unmarked. Unharmed. Unstoppable.

  And for the first time, he truly understood.

  His entire life, John had been limited.

  By the city. By Cain. By the simple truth of being human.

  But now?

  Now he was free.

  He wasn’t just stronger.

  He wasn’t just faster.

  He wasn’t just better.

  He was beyond.

  And Cain?

  Cain had no idea what was coming for him.

  John exhaled slowly.

  Then, without another word—

  He stepped out of the ruins.

  Into the world.

  And for the first time, he wasn’t just surviving.

  He was rising.