John walked out of the ruins a different man.
Not just stronger.
Not just faster.
Something beyond human.
He felt limitless.
But power was one thing. Control was another.
And right now?
He had no idea what he had truly become.
John moved through the lower districts, his hood pulled low.
Everything felt different.
The neon lights that had once been blinding—he could now filter them out.
The endless noise of the streets—he could focus on each individual sound.
His mind was faster. Sharper.
It wasn’t just an upgrade.
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It was an evolution.
And yet—no one knew.
No one saw him for what he was now.
Not yet.
John needed to understand his limits.
He turned down an alley, making sure no one was watching.
Then—he moved.
In an instant, he was at the other end of the alley.
Not running.
Just there.
His breath hitched. He hadn’t even tried.
His body reacted before he had even fully decided to move.
This wasn’t speed.
This was something else.
Something deeper.
John exhaled slowly.
He needed more than just a test.
He needed a real challenge.
John moved carefully through the slums, keeping his pace normal. Deliberate.
His instincts wanted to push forward, move faster.
But he couldn’t afford to draw attention.
Not yet.
When he finally reached the abandoned lot, Eli was still there.
Curled up, half-asleep, but his eyes snapped open the moment John approached.
"You're back," Eli muttered, rubbing his eyes.
John nodded. "Yeah."
Eli blinked at him.
Then—he frowned.
"You seem… different."
John’s pulse slowed.
Even a kid could tell.
That meant it was only a matter of time before everyone else did too.
John exhaled. "We need to move."
Eli frowned. "Move where?"
John clenched his jaw.
"Somewhere safe. Because Cain isn’t going to wait much longer."
And deep down, John knew.
Cain had been watching before.
But now?
Now, the real hunt was about to begin.
