Jin paced back and forth inside the cave, his brow furrowed with worry. He hadn't heard from Jon since he left to investigate the sudden disturbance. The faint ripples of residual energy still buzzed faintly in the air, a subtle reminder of the unknown threat looming nearby.
"I'm going to check on him," Jin said abruptly, breaking the tense silence.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Amy asked, her voice hesitant.
Jin nodded firmly, his resolve unshaken. "Jon's out there alone. If something happens to him, we're all vulnerable."
Without waiting for a response, Jin grabbed his sword and moved toward the entrance. Rex, leaning against a nearby pillar, straightened up with a sigh. "If you're going, I'm coming too," he said, stretching his arms. "You're not getting all the fun without me."
Jin glanced at him, his expression softening slightly. "This isn't about fun, Rex."
"Yeah, yeah," Rex replied, following Jin out of the cave. "Let's just make sure the old man's okay."
Meanwhile, at the shattered remains of the cavern, CP0 stood across from Jon, his cold gaze locked onto the man who had just outwitted him with time manipulation. The faint hum of residual energy from their clash hung in the air, a subtle reminder of the destruction they'd caused.
"You think you've won, don't you?" CP0 said, his voice calm but laced with an icy edge. "That your time manipulation makes you untouchable."
Jon tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady. "It doesn't make me untouchable," he said. "It just makes you predictable."
CP0's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Then I'll surpass it."
Without warning, CP0's body began to radiate a faint red glow, the energy swirling around him like a violent storm. The hum in the air grew louder, almost deafening, as the ground beneath him cracked and splintered under the pressure of his power.
"What is this?" Jon murmured, his eyes narrowing as he watched the transformation.
The glow intensified, and then, with a deafening explosion of energy, CP0 vanished. It wasn't teleportation—it was speed. Pure, unrestrained speed that defied the limits of the human/machine body. CP0 reappeared in front of Jon in the blink of an eye, faster than Jon's mind could fully register. His hand clamped onto Jon's arm, and with a sharp, powerful movement, CP0 swung him through the gaping hole in the cave ceiling his body crashing through the walls and little pillars.
The Battle Above
The two figures shot into the open air above the cave, the vast plains stretching out before them. CP0 moved with unimaginable speed, dragging Jon through the air as if he weighed nothing. They crashed into the ground, dirt and debris flying in all directions as CP0 hurled Jon toward a nearby wall of stone. The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the surface as Jon's body collided with it.
CP0 didn't give him a moment to recover. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance, his hand clamping around Jon's neck and lifting him off the ground. Jon struggled briefly, his body hanging limply in CP0's grasp.
"Impressive, isn't it?" CP0 said, his tone almost conversational. "You think your time manipulation makes you untouchable, but speed… speed bypasses time itself."
As he spoke, CP0's right hand began to glow faintly, a frost spreading from his fingertips and creeping up Jon's neck. "I'll freeze you," he said, his voice calm but menacing. "And then I'll shatter you."
The frost spread quickly, encasing Jon's body as his movements slowed. In mere moments, Jon was completely frozen, a lifeless statue of ice in CP0's grip. With a single sharp motion, CP0 hurled Jon's frozen body to the ground, the statue shattering into countless shards upon impact.
CP0 stood over the shattered remains of Jon, his expression unchanging as he observed the destruction. "Pathetic," he muttered, turning to leave.
But just as he took his first step, a familiar voice echoed behind him. "You never learn."
CP0 froze mid-step, his head turning sharply toward the source of the voice. There, standing a few paces away, was Jon—completely unharmed. A faintly glowing compass hovered beside him, its hands spinning slowly.
Jon's expression was calm, almost amused, as he looked at CP0. "I'll admit," he said, his tone casual, "that speed of yours is remarkable. You've surpassed every limit I thought possible. If I didn't have my time manipulation, I'd probably be dead."
CP0's eyes narrowed, his body tensing. "How…?"
Jon gestured toward the compass beside him, the faint glow reflecting off its surface. "Time manipulation isn't just about reversing damage or predicting your moves," he explained. "It's about observation. I let you freeze and shatter me so I could see exactly what you're capable of."
The compass began to spin faster, its glow intensifying. "But now that I know… I'll make sure it doesn't happen."
From the distance, Jin and Rex emerged over the edge of the plain, their eyes widening as they took in the sight before them. The devastation, the fractured land, and the figures of CP0 and Jon standing amidst it all painted a grim picture.
"Jon!" Jin shouted, rushing forward.
Jon turned slightly, his expression unreadable as he raised a hand to stop Jin. "Stay back," he said firmly. "This isn't over yet."
Rex, stepping beside Jin, narrowed his eyes at CP0. "Who the hell is that?"
"Trouble," Jon said simply, his gaze never leaving CP0. "And if you're not careful, he'll be the last trouble you ever face."
From the edge of the plain, Jin and Rex sprinted toward the battlefield, their arrival stirring the tension between Jon and CP0. The faint glow of Jon's compass magic lingered in the air as CP0 stood poised, his cold eyes locked onto his opponent.
But from the shadows, Broken saw his opportunity.
With one swift, calculated motion, Broken disappeared into the chaos, his body moving soundlessly like a wraith. The distraction created by Jin and Rex was all he needed. From behind, Broken appeared at Jon's back, his hands snapping out like steel traps to seize Jon's wrists. A sharp twist rendered Jon unable to summon his compass magic, the glow dimming as his movements were restricted.
"Not so fast," Broken whispered, his tone dripping with quiet malice. His grin widened as he tightened his grip, his strength far greater than it appeared.
Jon struggled, his eyes darting to Broken in shock. "You…" he began, but the words were cut off as CP0 seized the moment.
With blinding speed, CP0 closed the distance between them. His hand, glowing with crackling red energy, plunged into Jon's chest with brutal precision. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, the force of the strike echoing in the air like a thunderclap.
Jon's body convulsed as CP0 pulled his hand back, holding something intangible yet essential—Jon's very life force. The glow of the compass magic faded completely as Jon crumpled to the ground, his breathing shallow and strained. He gasped for air, his spirit already beginning to slip away, the light in his eyes dimming. CP0 commented "This life force doesn't feel real"
"Jon!" Jin's voice tore through the battlefield, raw with anguish as he watched his mentor fall. His heart raced, the pain and disbelief crashing over him like a tidal wave. Memories of Jon's guidance, his steady presence, and his unwavering support flashed through his mind in an instant.
"No…" Jin whispered, his voice trembling. But as he looked at Jon's lifeless form, the whisper turned into a roar. "NO!"
His body trembled, his fists clenching so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. Anger, frustration, and raw, unfiltered rage surged through him, consuming every rational thought. His vision blurred, the world around him fading as his focus narrowed on CP0.
All he wanted now was destruction.
Broken stepped back, his hands raised slightly as he surveyed the aftermath of his actions. His smile was wide, almost playful, as he watched Jin's reaction. The fire in Jin's eyes, the way his body seemed to crackle with suppressed energy—it was everything Broken had hoped for.
"Interesting," Broken mused aloud, tilting his head. "So this is what it looks like. The potential the Council fears. The reason they want you so badly."
His words dripped with fascination, as though he were observing a rare and dangerous beast in its natural habitat. "I want to see more," he said, his voice soft but eager. "Show me, Jin. Show me why they're so afraid of you."
CP0, standing nearby, turned his cold gaze to Broken. "I didn't need your interference," he said, his tone sharp and clipped. "I had it under control."
Broken shrugged, his grin unyielding. "Maybe you did. But this way, we get to see what happens next. And I'm quite curious about him."
CP0 didn't respond, his focus shifting back to Jin, whose body began to tremble with an overwhelming surge of energy. The air around him grew heavy, charged with a dangerous power that was building to an explosive.
Jin's head hung low, his fists still clenched as the pressure in the air intensified. The rage inside him swirled violently, feeding something dark and primal within. A faint, black smoke began to seep from his skin, curling upward like tendrils of shadow. His breathing grew heavier, his body shaking as the power threatened to consume him.
"You" Jin growled, his voice low and guttural. His head snapped up, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light as he fixed his gaze on his opponent. "You'll pay for this."
The ground beneath him cracked and splintered as the energy within him began to break free. Even Broken, who had been so eager to provoke this reaction, took a small step back, his grin faltering slightly.
CP0's stance shifted, his body tensing as he prepared for whatever was coming. "So," he said coldly, "this is the power they're after ."
The battlefield was silent for a moment, the tension hanging heavy in the air. And then, with a deafening roar, Jin appeared in a dark room.