I lay on the ground, letting the pain seep into me, grounding me from my inflated arrogance. Perhaps it was because Shadow—the one I had been preparing for all this time—was weaker than I anticipated. But arrogance had taken root, and I had let it flourish unchecked.
This punch was the perfect antidote to cut those wings of arrogance before they matured.
Of course, within seconds, my body healed to its peak. Super regeneration wasn't just an ability; it was a trait of my being as a supreme human. Immortality had its perks.
I rose slowly, my gaze locking on the clones. A shiver of excitement coursed through me. That punch had done more than humble me—it had forced my body to adapt to their strength.
If I could keep this fight going, I'd only grow stronger with time. My stats hadn't changed, but my muscles had consolidated their strength. A painful process, sure—but why endure it alone when I could use my opponent to aid my growth?
I glanced at Shadow. He seemed to be mulling over the same idea after witnessing the clones' raw power—power capable of striking me down like a child. Alone, he knew he stood no chance.
I teleported next to him.
"We have to work together if you want to survive this," he said hurriedly, summoning two massive swords from his armor. His eyes darted between the clones as he steadied himself.
I sighed and nodded. Playing along was my best move for now. These clones were mere shadows of the original, and if they could already overpower me, I couldn't begin to fathom the strength of their creator.
I needed Shadow to underestimate me, to see me as nothing more than a desperate human until the moment came to deal the decisive blow.
The thirty clones spread out, their movements unnaturally fast, shadows writhing beneath them. Tendrils of darkness snapped through the air like jagged whips, striking out at us.
Watts didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, he lifted a demolished bus using his magnetic powers and hurled it toward a cluster of clones. Before it could land, the bus crumbled mid-air, decaying into ash as the shadows devoured it.
"Damn," Watts muttered under his breath. He planted a foot into the ground, sending out a massive magnetic shockwave. The clones faltered momentarily, and shards of metal from the debris around him shot into the air, forming lethal projectiles.
Whoosh.
The projectiles sliced through the air with terrifying speed, but the clones dissolved into shadows, dodging death before reforming unscathed.
Shadow joined the fray, slowing time to a crawl as he dashed between the clones, striking each one with precise temporal attacks. Time energy crackled through the air, momentarily destabilizing the clones. But their shadowy forms twisted unnaturally, breaking free of the distortions.
The moment they regained their composure, they surged toward Shadow, but he rewound time on himself, retreating to stand beside Watts.
The clones reformed into a semi-circle, ready to overwhelm us with unyielding force. Watts gritted his teeth. "These guys don't just manipulate shadows—they're physically stronger, and anything they touch turns to ash."
Shadow tightened his grip on his swords, his jaw clenched. "I didn't sign up to die tonight, boy. What's the plan?"
"Survive first, plan later. They can't decay what they can't catch," Watts shot back.
"And how are we supposed to outrun them? They're faster than we'll ever be," Shadow countered grimly.
Watts smirked. "I have a plan."
The plan? Simple. Keep the clones occupied while Shadow prepared his ultimate move. For me, it was a golden opportunity. I had two objectives: exhaust Shadow enough to keep him out of the real fight and use this skirmish to grow stronger. The longer I endured, the more my body would adapt.
I charged forward like a bullet, the ground cracking beneath me. Reaching the encirclement, I swung a fist at the nearest clone. But before my punch could land, five strikes hit me simultaneously, sending me hurtling backward. My body slammed into a building, blood trickling from my lips.
I smiled.
The pain was worth it—every strike made me stronger, my muscles evolving to match their speed and power. I launched myself forward again, determined to keep them off Shadow. Only I was allowed to deal with him, after all.
The fight continued for ten grueling minutes. They pummeled me repeatedly, but by the third minute, I could react to their speed. By the fifth, I was stronger than them, though I feigned weakness, "barely" holding my ground.
Meanwhile, Shadow knelt, channeling his power. Time rippled around him as he drew energy from the timeline. Sweat poured down his face, his concentration absolute. The air around him thickened with temporal energy, signaling his final move.
The clones noticed the disturbance and surged toward him, but I intercepted them, unleashing a massive sonic wave that sent them crashing into nearby buildings.
"It's finished!" Shadow shouted, rising to his feet.
I teleported to safety just as Shadow unleashed a massive wave of temporal distortion. Time itself fractured—some clones froze in place, others aged into dust, and the rest dissipated into incoherent wisps of shadow.
The battlefield fell silent, the remaining clones staggering weakly. Without the connection to their leader, they were vulnerable. Watts didn't hesitate, using his electromagnetic powers to electrocute the remnants into oblivion.
The battle seemed over—until the slow, deliberate sound of clapping echoed through the stillness.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Bravo," came a calm, mocking voice from above. "Quite impressive, fighting off those clones. And you haven't even evolved yet. Fascinating."
A figure leapt from a rooftop, landing gracefully before us. The air around him shifted, heavy with an aura of unimaginable power. Every instinct in my body screamed danger.
Watts's expression hardened as he activated his abilities to their fullest, his body transforming internally into a cybernetic powerhouse. The alien chuckled, his eyes gleaming with predatory amusement.
"All your efforts are futile," the alien said, his voice smooth and menacing. "You unevolved ones lack the one thing that makes all the difference. Let me show you."
And with that, the air turned cold, the ground trembling beneath our feet. What followed stole the breath from our lungs