Smoke and ash clung to the air like poison as Hiruzen, Emma, and Jonathan dragged Liam’s unconscious body from the rubble. The southern sector was in ruins—buildings cracked open like eggshells, glowing embers drifting like fireflies through the burning wreckage. Sirens blared faintly in the distance, but the trio knew help wouldn't arrive fast enough.

  Jonathan (wiping sweat from his brow): "Okay, let's wrap this up before he wakes up and tries something stupid again."

  Emma (glancing around warily): "Be on alert. That explosion wasn’t just noise. Someone wanted this place leveled."

  Before Hiruzen could respond, echoing footsteps cut through the fire's crackle. From deep within the smoke, a slow clap echoed, deliberate and mocking.

  A tall figure emerged, his silhouette framed by the inferno. He wore a sleek, jet-black coat with glowing red circuitry stitched into the lining, reflecting the flames in eerie patterns. Resting casually on his shoulder was a small girl, dressed in a frilly black-and-white outfit like a porcelain doll, her blonde hair tied in twin pigtails.

  Adam (smirking): "Well, well, well. Liam, caught by high schoolers? What an embarrassment."

  Annie (giggling, waving): "Hehe~ but Liam-kun made such a pretty boom. He was a great little distraction. So... worth it!"

  Hiruzen (stepping forward, conjuring an ice lance): "Who are you people? You with A&M? What the hell is going on here?"

  With an effortless motion, Adam caught the ice lance and let it shatter in his grip.

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  Adam: "A&M? That’s just a bedtime story we feed the pawns, so they think they matter."

  Emma: "So Taser and the others... they were just bait."

  Adam: "Bait. Distractions. Cannon fodder. Take your pick. They served their purpose. Just like Liam did."

  Jonathan (stepping protectively in front of Emma): "If you think we’re handing him over, you’re delusional."

  Adam raised an eyebrow. "Oh, no, no, no. You’ve got it all wrong, speedy. We’re not here to take him back."

  He pulled a small silver remote from his coat pocket, his thumb hovering above the single red button.

  Adam: "We’re here to make sure he never talks."

  Hiruzen: "Wait—what are you—NO!"

  Adam pressed the button.

  A soft hum came from Liam's body, then a rapid, high-pitched whine.

  Jonathan’s eyes widened. In an instant, he threw his body between Emma and the glowing corpse.

  Jonathan: "HIRUZEN! GET EMMA OUT OF HERE NOW!!"

  Emma: "Jonathan, no!"

  Hiruzen didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Emma, his ice surging under his feet as he blasted down the hallway. Behind them, the world turned white.

  BOOOOOOOM.

  The explosion consumed the south sector. A wave of heat and force slammed against Hiruzen's back as he shielded Emma mid-leap, crashing through a window. They tumbled onto the charred courtyard below.

  Emma (coughing, panicked): "Jonathan!"

  Hiruzen (gritting his teeth): "He... he made the call. He saved us."

  A slow, mocking clap drew their attention once more.

  Adam and Annie stood at the edge of the shattered hallway, untouched by the blast.

  Adam (chuckling): "What a loyal teammate. Shame it was all for nothing. We were going to kill you three anyway."

  Hiruzen (rising, trembling with rage): "You think I’m going to let you walk away from this? After all the lives you've ruined? After what you just did?!"

  His hands shook. Frost crawled across the ground, the temperature dropping sharply.

  Annie (smiling): "Ohhh... he's mad. Look, Adam! He's gonna cry!"

  Adam: "I warned you, kid. You don't want this fight."

  Hiruzen (voice warping, eyes glowing bright blue): "No. I do. And you’re not going anywhere."

  The frost surged, walls of jagged ice rising behind Adam and Annie. Their escape route was sealed. A low hum vibrated the air as Hiruzen stepped forward, his breath forming thick clouds in the cold.

  Hiruzen: "No more running. No more escaping justice. I’m done watching people die."

  Annie's laughter finally faltered. Adam's smile thinned.

  Adam (flexing his gloves): "Guess the kid wants to die with a little flair. Fine. Let’s see what you’re really made of."

  Hiruzen: "You’ll see. I promise you, you’ll see everything."

  End Chapter