The moment the attacker's beam fired, the battlefield split.

  Senshi barely had time to react before Samui yanked him aside, both of them crashing behind the remains of a broken pillar. A deafening BOOM split the air as the beam annihilated the spot where Senshi had just been standing—stone vaporized into nothing, leaving a gaping hole in the ground. "Damn," Senshi cursed under his breath, heart hammering. “That shot would’ve erased me.”

  “No time to freeze up!” Samui snapped, already repositioning. “Cover to cover!”

  Across the battlefield, the man adjusted his stance. He exhaled, then smirked. "The Special Officer Force may already know who I am," he said, his voice smooth yet dripping with confidence. "But I'll say it anyway. I am One." His gaze flickered as he scanned the area, expression unreadable. "My whole life, I've always been first—number one at everything. Strength, intelligence, power—it's my right, my identity. And none of you can change that. And yet, somehow, Wise has always stood above me." A bitter edge crept into his tone. "But not for long. Do you really think I was just another loyal pawn? I am the real mole. The one who made sure you were always a step behind. And when the time is right, I’ll take Wise’s place. That’s the kind of ambition you can’t erase." Even as he spoke, he kept firing—beams slicing through the air, each one forcing the team further back, cutting off their escape routes.

  Weird suddenly broke from cover, charging straight at One with reckless speed. "Yeah, yeah, we get it! Number one at everything! Let’s see if you can dodge this!"

  One quickly realized the danger of striking Weird directly—any hit would be reflected back. Instead, he twisted and sidestepped each of Weird’s attacks with calculated ease, avoiding both contact and counterfire while still keeping his beams aimed at the rest of the team.

  Weird pressed the assault, his strikes fast and erratic, but One maneuvered around them flawlessly, never allowing himself to connect while maintaining his relentless barrage against the others.

  "Even now," One sneered, weaving through Weird’s strikes while still unleashing beams at the others, "I’m outmaneuvering all of you. Excellence is my nature. My reaction time is unparalleled, my precision unmatched. Every battle, every challenge—I've come out on top."

  Senshi twisted to the side as a beam streaked past, scorching the air where he had just been. He hit the ground and rolled, barely stopping in time behind a jagged slab of broken concrete.

  Samui ducked low, using the flickering remnants of a shattered wall as cover, her device scanning for an opening. Data scrolled across her screen—trajectory analysis, dodge timing, evasive patterns. She muttered under her breath, 'There’s a delay... small, but there.' Another shot blasted through, forcing her to dive forward, landing hard before scrambling back up.

  Khem calculated his movements carefully, sidestepping at the last possible moment before a beam sliced through the space he once occupied. His sharp eyes followed One’s movements, analyzing the way he dodged Weird’s attacks. A pattern was forming. With each dodge, he inched toward a better position, mind racing for a counterstrategy.

  Shining ducked low, narrowly avoiding a beam that seared past his shoulder, leaving a burning scar on the wall behind him. He glanced at Khem, catching the shift in tactics. 'You got something?' With a burst of speed, he flipped backward, using the momentum to propel himself behind cover just before another shot disintegrated the ground where he had stood. He landed low, muscles tensed. Breathing hard, he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Tch... This guy doesn’t let up."

  Khem’s voice cut through the chaos. "He dodges in patterns—we can force him into a mistake. Senshi, drive him left! Samui, confirm the next shift! Shining, be ready to cut him off!"

  But One’s smirk widened. He could feel their strategy shifting, their attempt to pin him down. With deliberate ease, he adjusted—changing his rhythm, varying his steps, making his movements unpredictable. "You think you've figured me out? Pathetic. I refuse to be second to anyone—not in combat, not in life. And certainly not to Wise." His voice carried a sharp edge now, his usual arrogance laced with something deeper—resentment. "If the opportunity ever arises, I’ll take his place in a heartbeat. That man stands at the top, but he doesn't deserve it. Not like I do."

  Weird swung hard, but One pivoted away at the last second, his movements smooth, almost taunting. 'You’re getting predictable,' One scoffed, sidestepping effortlessly. 'But I suppose that’s expected when you’re always playing catch-up.' But now, One’s movements had changed—his steps irregular, his dodges sharper. The brief pattern SOF had caught onto vanished in an instant, leaving them scrambling once more. Weird noticed it first—One always moved the same way, right foot back, weight shift, counter-step. But they needed more than just a pattern—they needed a way to break it. Before he could call it out, One’s feet shifted differently—he was reading them just as much as they were reading him. His smirk deepened.

  Suddenly, a searing burst of light erupted across the battlefield. Shining’s entire body flared, his light intensifying to a near-blinding level. One instinctively flinched, his vision overwhelmed for just a second. Samui didn’t waste the opportunity. With a flick of her wrist, she activated her remote. A pulse of energy shot toward One—his body froze mid-motion, as if the very air around him had turned to ice. Khem’s eyes locked onto the moment. He lunged forward, knowing that if he could land this one strike, the fight would be over. One would be locked in absolute stasis, his threat neutralized for good. Every muscle in Khem’s body tensed—this was the moment to end it.

  But in that instant, One’s frozen form twitched ever so slightly—too slight for anyone else to notice. A sharp glint flickered in his eyes, and his index finger moved just enough. A concentrated beam fired, but instead of following a straight path, it twisted unnaturally, bending midair—redirecting straight toward Khem. Khem’s instincts screamed at him. He had mere fractions of a second. His body reacted instantly, canceling his forward momentum as he activated his defensive Stasis, freezing himself in place just before the beam could reach him, nullifying any damage. The battlefield held still, both fighters locked in suspended animation, leaving the others momentarily stunned.

  Senshi and Shining exchanged glances, their breathing heavy, muscles still tense from the rapid exchange. Samui’s fingers twitched over her scanner device, already recalibrating for any sudden shift. But then, One’s frozen form shuddered again—his fingers twitching in sharp, deliberate motions. Suddenly, a barrage of beams erupted from his fingertips, surging straight at Khem. Khem remained in his stasis form, unable to move, forced to endure the relentless assault. The beams struck around him, exploding debris in all directions, as his frozen state became his only defense. The team watched in shock—if Khem deactivated his stasis for even a second, he’d be erased instantly. But Senshi refused to stand idly by.

  "RYU!" he roared, his fist igniting with swirling flames as he rushed forward, his dragon fire-infused punch aimed directly at One. The heat radiated outward, scorching the air as he closed the distance in an instant. At the same time, Shining reacted, his instincts sharp. He raised his arm and fired a concentrated laser beam straight at One, the brilliant energy streaking across the battlefield with pinpoint precision. Weird wasn’t about to be left out either. With a fierce grin, he sprinted toward One from the opposite side, aiming for a brutal takedown, his movements wild but unpredictable. If One somehow evaded Senshi and Shining, Weird would be there to bring him down by force.

  But One was not finished yet. A flicker of energy pulsed from his fingertips, and in a split-second decision, he redirected his power downward. A concentrated beam erupted beneath him, erasing an entire chunk of the battlefield. The ground beneath them vanished instantly, sending everyone—including himself—plummeting into the abyss below. A collective gasp filled the air as the team felt the sudden drop. Senshi flailed for balance, his heart pounding as the solid ground beneath his feet was replaced by open air. "He just—he just erased the ground?!"

  Samui’s scanner device flickered with emergency alerts. "Damn it, he’s still got more tricks up his sleeve!"

  Weird let out a frustrated growl. "How the hell does he keep pulling this off?!"

  Shining barely managed to keep his composure, his eyes darting for anything he could use. "Focus! We need to find a way to counter—now!"

  Khem, still frozen in his stasis form, could only watch as One twisted in mid-air, regaining control faster than anyone. The smirk on One’s face was undeniable—he wasn’t finished yet.

  As they fell, One’s frozen state broke, his body regaining movement mid-air. A wicked grin spread across his face as he raised both hands, energy crackling along his fingers. "Fall faster!" he taunted, his voice echoing in the chaos. "Let’s see if you can dodge this!"

  Senshi reacted first, roaring, "RYU!" as his fire dragon wrapped around him and yanked him off-course, pulling him just out of the beams' trajectory.

  Shining grabbed a large piece of falling debris, angling it in front of him just in time. The erasure beam struck, disintegrating the debris instantly—but it had bought him a moment to adjust his fall.

  Samui, ever precise, activated her ability mid-air, rewinding herself just enough to shoot upward, narrowly avoiding the deadly barrage.

  Above them all, Khem remained frozen in stasis, floating motionless as chaos erupted below. But his sharp eyes tracked everything. One was fully focused on the others—this was his moment. With a deep breath, Khem released his stasis and began plummeting, arms outstretched. His entire focus was locked on One. This time, he would land his strike. But just as his hand neared One, the attacker twisted his body mid-air, eyes locking onto Khem with a wicked grin. His index finger extended, energy gathering at the tip, ready to fire.

  "You think I forgot about you?" One sneered, aiming directly at Khem.

  Then, suddenly—

  "FREEZE!"

  A commanding voice thundered through the battlefield. In an instant, everything stopped—One, Khem and the rest of SOF. A pulse of sheer force locked the entire battlefield in suspension. Brave had arrived.

  His presence alone sent a wave of authority crashing through the air. The tension that had gripped the fight moments before now lay shattered under the weight of his power.

  "Khem," Brave’s voice rang out again, unwavering. "Move."

  In that instant, the invisible force holding Khem released. He dropped downward, his body regaining momentum, and before One could react, Khem crashed into him, his palm striking One’s chest. A pulse of energy rippled outward as the stasis took full effect. One’s body locked completely, his power cut off in an instant. He fell limply, his once-dominant presence now frozen in time. The battle was over.

  SOF slowly regrouped, catching their breath. The reality of how close they had come to losing weighed heavily on them. Senshi wiped sweat from his brow, his flames flickering weakly before dying out. Shining exhaled sharply, stretching his sore limbs. Samui adjusted her scanner device, scanning the battlefield with a wary expression.

  "That was... too close," Samui muttered.

  "No kidding," Weird added, shaking his head. "If Brave hadn't shown up when he did, we'd be toast."

  Brave stepped forward, his presence as imposing as ever. "I was already planning to move in and support you. Back at the warehouse, I detected movement heading toward SOF’s position. I knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened."

  They absorbed his words in silence, realizing just how far ahead Brave had been thinking. Khem, still catching his breath, nodded in acknowledgment. "We owe you one."

  Meanwhile, One remained frozen in shock, his body locked in place but his mind still fully aware. The smirk he had once worn so confidently was gone. His silence spoke volumes.

  Brave turned toward him. "Secure him. We have a lot of questions for our mole." The tension in the air thickened as SOF prepared for what came next—the interrogation of One.

  One sat restrained in the high-security facility, his body locked in a suppression field, a power-suppressing device securely fastened to his wrist to ensure he remained contained, his once-proud smirk reduced to silent observation. But internally, his mind was a whirlwind of calculations. This was bad. Worse than he had anticipated. He had expected interrogation, but not like this. The way Brave, Samui, and the others moved—the way they orchestrated the situation—it felt too controlled. He wasn’t in charge here. They were.

  The first seed of doubt planted itself in his chest. The room was dimly lit, sterile, and devoid of any comforts. Brave, Samui, Khem, Senshi, and Weird stood around him, exchanging calculated glances. The plan was already set in motion.

  Khem deactivated the suppression field just enough to let One regain movement. One stretched his fingers slightly, his sharp gaze moving from face to face. He exhaled a quiet laugh. "You think I’m going to beg? You wasted your time bringing me here."

  Brave stepped forward, his tone unreadable. "We don’t need you to beg. We need you to listen."

  Samui crossed her arms. "You were never Wise’s favorite. You know that, don’t you?"

  One’s smirk returned. "Oh? And what nonsense are you about to spin?"

  "Not nonsense," Samui said coolly. "We intercepted communications. Wise had contingencies for traitors. Even you."

  Weird leaned against the table, shaking his head. "Tell me you didn’t really think Wise would let you run free? You were never more than a pawn. And now, he’s cleaning house."

  For the first time, One’s expression shifted. A flicker of doubt crossed his face, but he buried it quickly beneath his usual arrogance.

  "You expect me to believe Wise would waste his time eliminating me? That he’d send an assassin just for me?" One scoffed.

  Brave slid a file onto the table—fabricated evidence, designed for just this moment. It contained falsified kill orders, surveillance logs, and Wise’s supposed plan to erase One the moment he became a liability.

  One’s gaze flicked toward it, but he didn’t reach for the file. Instead, he forced a smirk. "You think this scares me? Wise wouldn’t waste resources on something like that. If you think I’m going to fall for—"

  Samui cut in smoothly. "You sound nervous. Are you?"

  One’s jaw tightened. He hated this. He hated that they were making him react. He narrowed his eyes, staring at the documents. Silence stretched in the room. "Tch." He clicked his tongue, setting the file aside. "Even if what you're saying is true, what makes you think I’ll talk?"

  Brave pulled out a second folder, this one containing real intelligence—reports from Wise’s previous 'eliminations' of allies who outlived their usefulness. "You’re not special. You’re just next."

  One’s fingers tensed slightly, his smirk wavering for the briefest moment.

  Samui leaned forward. "You knew this was coming, didn’t you? That’s why you wanted to take Wise’s place so badly. You weren’t just ambitious. You were scared."

  One let out a low chuckle. "You think you’ve got me figured out?"

  "I think you don’t have a choice," Brave corrected. "We’re offering you a way out. Relocation. New identity. Away from Wise. You cooperate, and we make sure you disappear before he sends someone to finish the job."

  One leaned back, exhaling through his nose. "And if I refuse?"

  Brave gave him a knowing look. "Then you wait here for the assassin to come. Your call."

  A tense moment passed. Then—

  One exhaled slowly, rubbing his wrist against the restraints as if testing them. His mind spun in loops, searching for an angle—any angle. If Wise really had sent someone after him, then escaping with SOF might actually be the best option. Or... was that exactly what they wanted him to think? He weighed his options carefully. Then, finally, he sighed, tilting his head slightly. "Fine." He leaned forward, his gaze sharp, but the arrogance was thinner now, diluted by something else. Doubt. "But only under one condition. I walk out of here with you. No holding me in this place."

  Brave didn’t hesitate. "Done. But you talk first."

  One smirked again, this time without his usual confidence. "Wise isn’t after power. He’s after something greater. And you’re already too late."

  Brave narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. "What do you mean exactly?"

  One exhaled weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Wise is building a machine..."

  Samui’s eyes narrowed as she stepped forward. "A machine for what?"

  One exhaled weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You know that Wise is collecting every single meteorite stone, right? He is building a machine to harness the stones' power."

  SOF stood frozen for a moment, their minds racing as the weight of One's words settled in. The implications were staggering. If Wise truly had the means to harness the stones' power, the consequences could be catastrophic.

  Samui's grip on her scanner device tightened. "That means he's not just amassing them for power—he's engineering something bigger." Her voice was laced with urgency.

  Senshi exchanged a tense glance with Shining. "We need to act. Now."

  Weird let out a slow breath, his usual sarcasm absent. "If this is real, then we’re already behind."

  Brave exchanged glances with the team. There was no time to dwell on it. He straightened. "Then let's move. We get him out of here now."

  With practiced efficiency, SOF moved into formation. Senshi and Weird flanked One, keeping a firm grip on him as they maneuvered through the dimly lit corridors of the facility. Samui walked ahead, her scanner device sweeping for potential security breaches, while Khem stayed at the rear, ensuring no surprises would catch them off guard.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  As they navigated the corridors, the tension remained thick. Senshi adjusted his grip on One’s arm, muttering, "Hope you’re enjoying the VIP treatment."

  One let out a quiet chuckle. "I expected better service."

  "Keep moving," Brave ordered. "We’re almost clear."

  Suddenly, the alarms blared, loud and urgent. One stiffened, his smirk vanishing as tension crept into his features. His eyes darted around, muscles tightening. "What the hell was that?"

  "Stay calm," Brave said firmly, keeping his voice measured. "We’ve got this under control."

  Samui tapped at her scanner device, feigning concern. "Something tripped the outer perimeter. It could be Wise’s forces. We need to move—now."

  Weird placed a steadying hand on One’s shoulder, acting as if he were shielding him. "Relax. We’re getting you out of here. Unless you'd rather stay and find out who just broke in?"

  One swallowed hard, nodding stiffly. For the first time since the interrogation began, a flicker of real uncertainty crossed his face. He had no choice but to trust them now.

  "Then let’s move," Brave ordered again, and SOF quickened their pace, maintaining the illusion that they were truly escorting One to safety.

  SOF led One through the facility, alarms blaring in the distance—part of their orchestrated deception. To sell the illusion, Samui had triggered false security breaches, making it look like an external force was invading. The team moved quickly, escorting One through dimly lit corridors, their movements tight and controlled.

  They were almost at the exit when a shadow moved in front of them.

  A figure dropped from above, landing with smooth grace—YornYang.

  Unlike One, YornYang wasn’t aligned with any faction. He wasn’t Wise’s pawn, nor SOF’s ally. He simply existed in the chaos, drawn in by the commotion unfolding around the facility. His sharp gaze swept across the team before settling on One. "Didn’t think I’d find something interesting tonight," YornYang said, cracking his neck with a slow, deliberate motion.

  Brave’s eyes widened, his breath hitching for just a moment before he clenched his jaw. His usual composure cracked as he snapped, "Everyone, get ready! This wasn’t supposed to happen!" His stance tensed, his fingers twitching slightly before he forced himself back into control. "Stay sharp! We don’t know what he wants!"

  Senshi’s hands clenched into fists, flames instinctively flaring at his fingertips. "This wasn’t part of the plan! What the hell is he doing here?"

  Samui’s scanner device beeped rapidly as it recalibrated, struggling to process YornYang’s sudden presence. "No prior movement detected… He just—appeared."

  Weird took a cautious step back, every instinct in his body screaming danger. "Oh, great. Another wildcard. As if we weren’t already screwed enough."

  Khem exhaled slowly, repositioning himself. "Stay sharp. If he’s not with Wise, then what does he want?"

  YornYang tilted his head, intrigued. "Moving a prisoner in the middle of a security breach? Looks suspicious. Makes me curious."

  One’s breathing grew uneven, his eyes darting wildly as he shifted uneasily. "W-wait—who are you?!" His voice cracked slightly, panic creeping in.

  YornYang moved before anyone could react. Then—he was gone.

  One’s eyes widened in horror as he realized YornYang had simply vanished into thin air. The room felt colder, heavier, as if the air itself had shifted in his absence. For a moment, silence reigned, then One’s panic erupted. "No, no, no, no—he’s still here! You don’t understand! He’s not normal! He could be anywhere!" One thrashed against SOF’s grip, desperation taking hold. "Take this thing off! If you want me alive, you need me to fight!" His hands jerked toward the power-suppressing device clamped onto his wrist, but Brave stepped in front of him, his expression unreadable. "Stay calm."

  "Are you insane?!" One shouted, his voice cracking. "He’s going to kill me! You need me at full power!"

  Senshi scoffed. "And let you run wild? Not happening."

  One’s breath was ragged, his composure shattered. He looked between them, eyes frantic, then back to the space where YornYang had once stood, paranoia creeping in. "You don’t get it… I’d rather take my chances fighting him than being a sitting target."

  Brave’s gaze didn’t waver. "Then you better hope we keep you alive. Now move."

  Before One could protest further, the temperature in the air shifted—just slightly. Subtle, almost imperceptible, but Samui’s scanner device beeped erratically in response. A static distortion rippled through the hallway like a mirage, sending a chill down everyone’s spine.

  Then—

  The world inverted.

  For a split second, everything flipped—up became down, down became up. The entire team found themselves weightless, their bodies twisting in midair before violently crashing onto the ceiling, now the new "ground."

  "What the hell?!" Weird grunted, scrambling to orient himself.

  Shining clenched his teeth, gripping onto a steel railing embedded in what used to be the ceiling. "He’s warping space. Stay alert!"

  YornYang’s voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once. "Ah, I do love seeing people struggle with new perspectives. Makes you think about how fragile your footing really is."

  Before anyone could respond, the gravity shifted again. Senshi was yanked sideways, slamming into the nearest wall. Khem barely managed to roll with the motion, planting his hands against the surface before his feet found something solid again. One screamed, flailing mid-air, his power suppression device rendering him completely defenseless. Then came the next distortion.

  Shining aimed a concentrated laser shot at the distortion in space, trying to pinpoint YornYang’s location. The beam fired—but the moment it left his hand, it reversed course, spiraling backward toward him instead. Eyes widening, he barely dodged in time, the beam slicing past his shoulder and scorching the metal plating behind him.

  Samui’s voice crackled through the comms, "Cause and effect—he’s inverting more than just space! Don’t attack blindly!"

  Brave clenched his fists, mind racing for a countermeasure. But before he could issue an order, YornYang finally revealed himself again—standing calmly on what was now the 'ceiling,' smirking down at them as if gravity didn’t apply to him at all.

  "Brave didn’t hesitate. "YornYang!" His voice rang out with the weight of authority, sharp and commanding, cutting through the shifting battlefield like a blade. "Enough of your games—focus on me!" Without hesitation, Brave unleashed his power, his words striking like hammer blows. "Freeze! Step back! Lose your footing!" The sheer force of his commands rippled through the air, forcing YornYang to react instinctively.

  YornYang’s smirk wavered ever so slightly as the world around them flickered, his own reality warping momentarily disrupted by the layered commands. For a split second, his form seemed to stutter—an unnatural hesitation that hadn't been intentional. He quickly recovered, but Brave’s eyes caught the momentary lapse.

  Brave pressed forward. "Now hesitate! Doubt yourself! Stop!" His voice carried an undeniable weight, forcing YornYang’s movements to slow, his reaction time slipping just enough for SOF to seize the moment.

  Samui’s fingers flew over her scanner device, rapidly analyzing the patterns in YornYang’s distortions. Despite the unpredictability, there was always some logic behind ability users—an anchor that tied their powers to rules, even if warped. She narrowed her eyes, piecing together fragments of data. "He’s warping reality in cycles… but there’s something off. Why are you even here, YornYang? What’s your real objective?"

  YornYang’s smirk faltered for just a fraction of a second before annoyance crept in. His gaze flicked toward Brave, clearly irritated by the constant barrage of commands. "You want to know why I’m here? Simple—I heard the sirens. A facility like this in full alert? How could I not take a look?"

  Brave didn’t wait. "Move now!" he commanded. Senshi and Shining immediately sprang into action, maneuvering around YornYang to flank him. Samui continued scanning his distortions, narrowing in on any pattern she could exploit. Khem adjusted his position, preparing to strike the moment an opening appeared.

  Meanwhile, Weird stayed back, positioning himself in front of One. One kept his expression neutral, but inside, his thoughts churned. He had always prided himself on being two steps ahead—on manipulating situations to his benefit. Right now, he was trapped, but traps could be broken. He shifted ever so slightly, testing his range of motion, watching Weird’s focus. If he could create even the smallest distraction, if YornYang did something big enough... That was his chance. His stance was firm, eyes darting between the battle unfolding and One’s every movement. "Don’t even think about running," he muttered. "I’m not in the mood to chase you down."

  One swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his ears. His breath came in short, uneven bursts. Every time YornYang shifted reality, his stomach twisted—not just from the disorienting effects but from the sheer realization that he had no control here. His instincts screamed at him to act, to run, to do something other than stand as a powerless observer. He prided himself on control, on always being one step ahead—but as he watched SOF adapt to YornYang’s movements, he felt something foreign creeping in: helplessness.

  His mind raced. They were reading the battlefield faster than he expected. Worse, they were adapting. YornYang, for all his strength, was being forced to adjust. If SOF could do that to someone like him... then what chance did One have if he remained helpless? He needed a way out, a way to tip the scales back in his favor. YornYang was struggling, even if only slightly. And if YornYang could falter... what chance did he have?**

  His fingers twitched, itching for an opening. His gaze darted to his power-suppression device. A cruel joke—this thing, this shackle, had reduced him to a spectator. But if he could remove it... The thought was intoxicating. He swallowed, steadying himself. First, he needed to move unnoticed. If SOF kept their eyes on YornYang, he might have the opportunity he needed. If YornYang was pushed too hard, he might lash out at everyone—including One himself. He wasn’t about to let that happen. He needed to think, needed to find a way to stay in control. One swallowed hard, his panic barely contained as he watched SOF close in on YornYang.

  Brave seized the moment. "Samui, what's the pattern?!"

  Samui's scanner device pulsed as she narrowed her eyes, locking onto YornYang's shifting distortions. "His warps cycle in bursts! Three shifts before he resets! The next one will pull him forward—Senshi, get ready!"

  Brave wasted no time. "Senshi, push him left! Khem, cut off his exit! Shining, disrupt his balance!"

  Senshi moved first, his fist igniting in swirling fire as he launched himself toward YornYang. The air around him shimmered with heat, forcing YornYang to react. Just as predicted, YornYang's reality shifted—pulling him forward right into Khem’s path.

  Khem lunged, his hands outstretched, aiming for a stasis lock.

  But YornYang's smirk returned. With a sudden flick of his wrist, the space around him warped again—just slightly off from the expected pattern. Khem’s fingers brushed the edge of his cloak but failed to connect fully.

  "Close," YornYang mused. "But not enough."

  Shining didn’t hesitate. A pulse of concentrated light erupted from his hands, blindingly bright. Even YornYang flinched for half a second, his form momentarily solidified. That was all Brave needed.

  "Now!" Brave roared.

  Senshi twisted mid-air, launching a devastating flame kick toward YornYang’s torso. The moment of hesitation cost him—YornYang barely managed to phase out of its full force, but the edge of the flames seared across his arm. He clicked his tongue in mild irritation as he flipped backward, landing on the inverted surface above them.

  "Not bad," YornYang admitted, rolling his shoulder. "You actually made me move differently. That almost stung."

  Brave’s eyes gleamed with determination. "Good. Let’s see if we can make it hurt for real."

  YornYang exhaled, brushing his scorched sleeve with an almost amused expression. "I have to admit," he said, flexing his fingers, "you're making this more interesting than I expected. But do you really think you've got me figured out?"

  Samui's scanner beeped rapidly. "He's shifting his cycle—adjusting to compensate! His next move will be an inverse escape."

  Brave's response was immediate. "We won’t let him reset. Senshi, feint high! Khem, anticipate the reversal! Shining, disorient him again!"

  Senshi shot forward with a blazing roundhouse kick, deliberately aiming wide. YornYang smirked, already dodging into the expected gap—only for Khem to be waiting. The instant YornYang phased into position, Khem's palm struck toward his chest, energy surging with stasis potential.

  But YornYang twisted at the last possible moment, shifting his position in a way that defied physics. Khem’s strike missed by an inch, but the momentary hesitation it caused gave Shining the chance he needed.

  A concentrated beam of pure light erupted across the battlefield, engulfing YornYang in a dazzling flare. The moment the light hit, Samui’s voice rang out. "Now, Senshi!"

  Senshi didn’t hesitate. He launched himself forward, fists engulfed in fire. He struck hard, his attack landing squarely against YornYang’s torso. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and YornYang was flung back, crashing against the opposite wall with a forceful impact.

  The dust settled. YornYang remained motionless for a brief moment before letting out a low chuckle. Across the battlefield, SOF members adjusted their stances, wary of his next move. Senshi clenched his fists again, ready to strike. Samui’s scanner beeped as it picked up more fluctuations. Even Weird, who had been focused on One, threw a glance toward YornYang, expecting another twist. "Impressive." He lifted his head, a gleam of something unreadable in his eyes. "But tell me, SOF—what will you do when the rules stop making sense?"

  With a snap of his fingers, the entire battlefield shifted again. Gravity flipped, surfaces twisted, and time itself seemed to stutter for an instant.

  Brave gritted his teeth. His gaze flickered for the briefest second—he had seen that moment of hesitation, however minor. It meant something. But now wasn’t the time to analyze. "Hold your ground! Press the attack! We’ve got him on the ropes—don’t let him reset!"

  YornYang exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. For the first time, his smirk wavered—not from amusement, but calculation. His fingers twitched, and the air around him rippled slightly. Then, as the burns from Senshi’s last attack lingered on his arm, the damage began to reverse. The raw, seared flesh mended itself, the wound closing as if it had never existed.

  "Oh, hell no," Senshi muttered. "He's healing?"

  Samui’s scanner device beeped wildly as it tracked YornYang’s energy fluctuations. "Not just healing—he’s reversing his own injuries. He’s undoing damage the same way he inverts cause and effect."

  Khem’s grip tightened. "That means he can keep going indefinitely if we don’t finish this now."

  Brave’s mind raced. Then, he noticed something. The healing wasn’t instantaneous. The burn took a second longer to fade than it should have. It was subtle, but it was there.

  "No," Brave said. "He’s slowing down. His reversal isn’t as fast as before."

  YornYang gave a slow chuckle, flexing his fingers as his injuries continued mending. "You’ve noticed? Tch. That’s annoying."

  Brave pointed forward. "We don’t let him fully recover—hit him before he resets!"

  Senshi was the first to move, launching forward with a fiery strike. Shining followed immediately, his light intensifying in a dazzling arc aimed directly at YornYang’s eyes. Khem moved in tandem, his stasis ability ready to lock YornYang in place before he could fully erase his injuries.

  YornYang’s smirk returned, but this time, there was a flicker of something else beneath it—calculated frustration. He exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders, his fingers twitching subtly. "Tch… So you've caught on," he muttered under his breath, his voice carrying the first hint of something uncharacteristic—strain. His movements, once effortless, now carried the slightest delay, a fraction of a second longer than before. His power was still potent, but for the first time in this battle, he was adjusting instead of dictating.

  The battle wasn’t over yet.

  Sensing the shift, Brave pressed forward. "He’s faltering! Keep the pressure on!"

  Senshi launched another blazing kick, this time aiming lower to disrupt YornYang’s balance.

  YornYang’s eyes flickered with irritation as the flames closed in. He twisted his body mid-air, attempting to phase through the attack, but for a split second, his usual seamless evasion lagged. The fire caught the edge of his leg, the heat searing through fabric and skin alike. A sharp hiss escaped him as he flipped backward, landing hard against the inverted surface. His smirk returned, but there was a sharp edge to it now—an acknowledgement that things weren’t going his way.

  "Hmph. That actually stung a little," he muttered, rolling his ankle slightly before setting his stance. "Maybe you’re not entirely hopeless." Shining, still capitalizing on YornYang’s hesitation, unleashed another burst of concentrated light, forcing their opponent to shield his eyes momentarily.

  Samui’s scanner beeped again. She flicked through the data rapidly, her fingers moving instinctively across the device. "His ability isn’t working as fluidly. Function degradation—his reversals are taking more energy per use. If we keep forcing consecutive inversions, we might shut him down entirely." Her eyes sharpened as she toggled another function on her device. "I’m adjusting my remote. If I can disrupt one of his reversals mid-cycle, he won’t just slow down—he’ll fail to complete the action."

  YornYang clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch. You think you can overwhelm me just by forcing me to use my ability? That’s cute."

  But Brave wasn’t listening to his words—he was watching YornYang’s movements. His posture had shifted. The fluid, confident grace was giving way to minute adjustments, compensating for the lag. He wasn’t just reacting anymore—he was stalling.

  Brave’s eyes sharpened. "Shining, Samui—pressure him into another reversal! Khem, be ready to capitalize!"

  Samui didn't hesitate. She activated a pulse command from her remote, timing it perfectly as YornYang dodged. The pulse latched onto the distortion field around him, briefly scrambling his ability. YornYang's eyes widened in irritation as the expected inversion failed to complete, leaving him momentarily vulnerable.

  Shining took aim, firing another beam, but this time, Samui followed with a synchronized secondary attack, launching a timed energy pulse straight into YornYang’s predicted dodge path. The moment YornYang attempted to invert one attack, the second one struck his shoulder, sending him reeling back.

  A flicker of frustration crossed his face—this wasn’t going his way anymore.

  Khem lunged forward, his movements sharp and deliberate, his fingers poised for the precise touch needed to trigger his stasis ability. "This ends now!"

  But before he could make contact, a sharp pulse of energy erupted from behind. A triumphant laugh cut through the battlefield.

  "Did you forget about me?" One's voice rang out, filled with manic satisfaction. The suppression device on his wrist lay shattered at his feet, the remnants sparking faintly. His arm was already raised, a concentrated beam of raw energy charging at his fingertips.

  With wild exhilaration, One fired, the golden beam streaking toward YornYang in a surprise attack. "Let’s see you dodge THIS!" The beam surged forward, tearing through the air with an unstoppable force. But just before it could strike, YornYang's form vanished.

  A breath of silence passed. Then, in a blink, he reappeared, standing a few feet away, laughter spilling from his lips. His shoulders trembled with amusement as he wiped an imaginary speck of dust from his sleeve. "Oh, One," he chuckled darkly, "you really are something special."

  One's triumphant grin faltered. "What—?"

  YornYang extended a hand, flexing his fingers as a strange glow rippled across his form. "You don’t even realize what you’ve done, do you? This power of yours—erasure—it inverts upon me. And what’s the opposite of erasing?"

  One’s eyes widened in horror. "No..."

  YornYang’s smirk deepened. "Yes."

  The energy from One’s beam didn't destroy YornYang—it restored him. Every wound, every trace of fatigue vanished in an instant. His power surged, renewed and amplified, his very being recreated to perfection. YornYang let out a slow exhale, rolling his shoulders. "I haven’t felt this refreshed in ages. You should be thanking me, really."

  One staggered back, horror flooding his expression. "No... no, this isn’t possible."

  YornYang’s smirk sharpened, his fingers twitching subtly. "Let’s see what happens when we reverse something a little more personal."

  Before One could react, YornYang made a slight gesture—and suddenly, One’s body lurched. His breath hitched as an unnatural force surged through him.

  His skin began to wrinkle, his muscles withering, his bones weakening. Decay spread across his body rapidly, the very essence of his being unraveling in reverse. His once-youthful frame collapsed inward, his strength evaporating within seconds.

  SOF stood frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing. One—once arrogant, once powerful—was aging, crumbling, disintegrating before their eyes.

  One collapsed to his knees, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His once-confident smirk was gone, replaced by the sheer terror of his own impending demise. His fingers clawed weakly at the ground as his body withered, aging decades in mere seconds. The rapid decay ate away at him, his skin tightening over brittle bones, his eyes sunken with the weight of unnatural time. His fingers twitched, then stilled. His chest rose for the last time, then fell into stillness. A faint shimmer passed over his body—then, in an instant, he vanished, leaving nothing behind.

  One was gone.

  A heavy silence fell over the battlefield. Senshi exhaled sharply, his fists still clenched as if he expected One to stand back up. "That was... brutal." His voice was quieter than usual, the weight of what they had just witnessed pressing down on him.

  Samui's scanner flickered with activity as she processed the aftermath. Her lips pressed into a thin line. "No trace of him left. He’s not just dead—he's erased. Completely." She glanced up at YornYang, her expression unreadable. "Like he never existed."

  Weird scoffed, though there was no humor in it. "Damn. I know he was a pain, but that was one hell of a way to go." He shook his head, exhaling slowly. "Guess he wasn’t as untouchable as he thought."

  Khem remained silent, his gaze locked on the empty space where One had stood just moments ago. His hand instinctively flexed, as if still prepared to fight.

  The silence that followed was deafening. Brave let out a slow breath. His attention shifted to YornYang, eyes narrowing with renewed focus. They couldn’t afford to waste time—defeating him quickly was the only way they could turn their full attention to Wise.

  "We end this now," Brave said, steeling himself for the fight ahead.

  The battlefield was still shifting, unstable under YornYang’s influence. Samui quickly recalibrated her scanner, searching for any exploitable weakness, while Senshi cracked his knuckles, flames sparking at his fingertips. Shining adjusted his stance, preparing to unleash another burst of light, while Khem rolled his shoulders, watching for the perfect opening to strike. Weird stood near the rear, eyeing YornYang cautiously, ready to intercept any unexpected movement. They all knew—this fight needed to end now.

  Brave exhaled sharply, centering himself. "Stay sharp. We take him down fast—then we deal with Wise."

  The tension in the air thickened as YornYang stretched lazily, his smirk widening. "Finally," he said, amusement laced in his tone. "I was wondering when you'd stop mourning and start fighting."

  Without another word, the battle resumed, the air crackling with energy as SOF charged forward.