The aftermath of Jade's accident had not only altered him physically but had also left a mark on his soul. While he now possessed the uncanny ability to mimic abilities, he could feel the strain it placed on his mind and body. Each new power carried with it fragments of memories, emotions, and instincts from the original user. It was exhilarating but overwhelming, like holding the weight of a thousand lives.
In the forest, the silence after the explosion was deafening. The once vibrant clearing was now littered with charred remains of trees, the ground scarred by energy blasts. Jade knelt in the center, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Logan and Deadpool approached cautiously, their eyes reflecting both concern and curiosity.
"Kid," Logan began, his tone gruff but tinged with worry, "you alright?"
Jade looked up at him, silvery energy flickering around his claws. "I… I don't know. It's like everything's louder—sharper. I can feel the powers I copied, but they're fighting me, trying to take over."
Deadpool crouched beside him, inspecting Jade like a curious scientist. "So, you're saying you're like a walking buffet of superpowers? Cool! Except for the whole 'losing control and going kaboom' part. That's less cool."
Logan shot him a glare. "Not helping, Wade."
Deadpool shrugged. "Hey, I call it like I see it. But seriously, if Sinister finds out about this…"
Jade stood, the faint glow around him subsiding. "Then we don't let him. I'm done being a target. It's time we start fighting back."
Logan crossed his arms, studying Jade for a long moment. "If you're serious about that, you're gonna need training. Real training."
Deadpool clapped his hands. "Oh, oh! Can I be the fun teacher? Logan can be the grumpy drill sergeant, and I'll be the quirky sensei with questionable morals!"
Jade smirked despite himself. "Fine. But if we're doing this, I want both of you to push me. No holding back."
---
Elsewhere: Sinister's Plans Unfold
In a hidden facility buried deep beneath the earth, Sinister watched the footage of Jade's transformation with a mixture of fascination and triumph. His crimson eyes glowed in the dim light of his laboratory, reflecting the rows of holographic screens displaying Jade's DNA sequence.
"Magnificent," he murmured. "The perfect balance of adaptability and power. The key to my designs."
A figure entered the lab, his mechanical limbs clicking softly against the floor. Pierce, the leader of the Reavers, stood at attention, his expression grim. "The boy's getting stronger. If we don't act now, he'll become a threat we can't control."
Sinister didn't look away from the screen. "Let him grow. The stronger he becomes, the more valuable he is to me. And when the time comes, he will have no choice but to serve my purpose."
Pierce frowned. "And what of his companions? Logan and Deadpool won't go down easily."
Sinister finally turned to face him, his smile sharp and cold. "You underestimate me, Pierce. The Reavers are but pawns. My new creations will deal with them. You focus on bringing the boy to me—alive."
Pierce nodded reluctantly. "Understood."
As he left, Sinister turned back to his screens, his smile widening. "The game is just beginning."
The trio retreated to a secluded cabin deep in the mountains, a place Logan had used as a hideout in the past. Surrounded by dense forests and jagged cliffs, it was the perfect location to train without interruption.
Logan took the lead, his methods brutal but effective. "The claws aren't just weapons, kid. They're a part of you. You need to move like they're an extension of your body."
He demonstrated, slicing through a thick log in a single, fluid motion. Jade watched closely, then tried to mimic the movement. His first attempt was clumsy, the claws getting stuck halfway through the wood.
Logan shook his head. "Too much force, not enough control. Try again."
Meanwhile, Deadpool offered his own unique brand of training. "Lesson one: style matters. If you're gonna fight bad guys, you need to look cool doing it."
He somersaulted onto a boulder, striking a dramatic pose. "Lesson two: always have a snappy comeback. Like, 'Hey, Omega Black, your mom called—she wants her armor back.'"
Jade chuckled despite himself. "What's lesson three?"
Deadpool grinned. "Lesson three: dodge."
Before Jade could react, Deadpool hurled a rubber dagger at him. It bounced harmlessly off his chest, but the point was made.
As the days passed, Jade began to adapt. He grew more confident with the claws, combining Logan's precision with Deadpool's unpredictability. He even experimented with blending their abilities—enhancing his agility with Deadpool's chaotic energy, using Logan's healing factor to push his limits.
But it wasn't just his skills that grew. In quiet moments around the campfire, he learned more about his mentors. Logan spoke sparingly of his past, but his words carried the weight of loss and regret. Deadpool, in contrast, deflected with humor, but occasional slips hinted at the pain beneath his mask.
Through it all, Jade found himself understanding them—and himself—more deeply.
One evening, as the trio sat around the fire, Logan's sharp senses picked up a distant hum. He stood, his claws extending. "We've got company."
Deadpool tilted his head, listening. "You sure? Could be a really big mosquito."
Jade closed his eyes, focusing. His enhanced senses caught it too—the faint sound of rotors, almost imperceptible.
"It's not a mosquito," he said, his voice steady. "It's them."
High above, a sleek aircraft hovered, cloaked in near-invisibility. Inside, Pierce stood with a squad of Reavers, their weapons gleaming.
"Remember," Pierce growled, "the boy is the priority. Kill the others if you must, but bring him back alive."
Below, Jade's claws extended, shimmering with silvery energy. He glanced at Logan and Deadpool, his expression fierce.
"This time," he said, "we fight on our terms."
Logan smirked, his claws glinting in the firelight. "Let's give 'em hell."
Deadpool unsheathed his katanas, bouncing on his heels. "Finally! I was getting bored. Time to paint the forest red!"
As the first Reavers descended from the aircraft, the trio stood united, ready for the battle ahead.
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Would you like to dive straight into the action in Chapter 10 or explore more of the dynamics between the trio before the fight begins?