Chapter 23: Striking Back in the Shadows
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Adam's mind raced, but there was no time to think. The figure before him—his enemy—was far too quick. As the strange energy surged through the air, Adam instinctively activated his Steal ability. He didn't know exactly what the figure was planning, but the only option was to steal whatever power they were about to unleash.
His hands moved in a blur, and in an instant, the world seemed to slow as his power latched onto something—something foreign and dangerous. The copying force. The same power he had come to rely on, only now, it was the enemy's. A tight knot of anxiety curled in his stomach. This was a test, one he wasn't sure he was ready for.
The figure's smirk faltered for the briefest of moments as Adam felt the energy shift. It was subtle but unmistakable. He had copied their power.
"Impossible!" the figure snarled.
Adam didn't hesitate. With his newfound ability, he let loose a surge of energy, mirroring the power that had been aimed at him only seconds ago. The attack hit the figure square in the chest, throwing them back against the wall with bone-shattering force. The shockwave echoed through the dark base, knocking loose debris from the ceiling.
But Adam wasn't fooled. This wasn't over—not by a long shot. The moment the figure recovered, they straightened up, a look of fury now etched on their face.
"You think you can beat me with my own power?" The figure's voice was cold, but now, it carried an edge of fear. "You're nothing. Just a pawn in a game that's bigger than you'll ever understand."
Adam's gaze hardened. He had no time to waste on their empty threats. He had a mission, and nothing—not even this seemingly invincible opponent—was going to stop him now.
But the Organization member wasn't done. With a sudden motion, the figure raised their hand, and the room trembled. The very walls seemed to shift, as if they were alive, closing in on him.
"Let's see how you handle this," the figure muttered under their breath.
Energy crackled in the air, and Adam could feel it—this was no ordinary attack. His instincts screamed at him to move, but the ground beneath him suddenly split, sending cracks racing across the floor, and the ceiling above began to bend and distort. The space around him was warping, becoming something alien, something that defied logic.
"You can copy abilities," the figure said, now standing tall, a cruel smile on their lips. "But I control the game itself. You're not as powerful as you think."
Adam gritted his teeth. He couldn't afford to let this person control the battlefield. If the environment itself was against him, his Steal ability wouldn't be enough to turn the tide. It was time to think smarter.
He turned to Sienna, who had been quiet this entire time, observing their surroundings. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with purpose.
"Don't let them manipulate the world," she called out to Adam. "We need to break their focus."
Adam nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. In this moment, the only way to turn the battle in their favor was to disrupt the enemy's control over the environment. If he couldn't escape the warping reality around them, then he would have to break it—physically.
He reached deep within, summoning the copying ability once again. This time, it wasn't another player's power he sought—it was the environment itself. His ability wasn't just limited to other people. It could also copy the game's mechanics, the laws that governed it.
As he tapped into the system's architecture, Adam felt a wave of cold understanding sweep over him. He knew exactly how the game world functioned. It wasn't real—it was code, and code could be altered.
A pulse of energy shot through the room as Adam released his power, altering the game world around them. The warping stopped. The cracks in the floor sealed themselves, and the air settled back into its natural state.
For a moment, there was silence.
"You think you've won?" the figure growled, their eyes burning with malice. "This is only the beginning. You have no idea what you've just set in motion."
Adam squared his shoulders. "I'm not here to win, not yet. But I'm sure as hell not going to lose either."
With that, he lunged forward, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. His Steal ability had evolved, and now, it wasn't just about grabbing items—it was about manipulating the very fabric of the game world itself.
The figure raised their hand to defend themselves, but Adam was faster. His fingers brushed against the enemy's chest, and in that moment, his ability flared. With a surge of power, he tore the mission card right from the figure's possession, adding it to his own inventory.
The figure's eyes widened. "No! That's mine!"
Adam didn't wait to explain. With a simple flick of his wrist, the Steal ability went to work again. This time, he didn't just steal an object—he stole knowledge. The Organization's plans, their very tactics, were now at his fingertips.
Sienna moved in, taking advantage of the distraction, striking the figure from behind with a precise blow to their pressure points. The figure crumpled to the floor, momentarily stunned.
"Get ready," Sienna said, glancing at Adam. "They won't go down that easily."
Adam nodded. He had the advantage now. But he knew better than to underestimate an opponent, especially one who could manipulate the very environment around them.
As the figure began to stir, Adam took a deep breath, prepared for whatever came next. He had stolen their power, but the real battle was only just beginning.
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End of Chapter 23.