Adam, Beebo, and Kath stood close together, their backs against each other, surrounded by the energy-charged gorillas. The atmosphere was thick with tension tense, every breath from the trio accompanied by a readiness for the next attack.
The gorillas struck first. Four of them lunged forward w toward the three.
Adam raised his fire-ignited hand, unleashing a blazing arc of flames that scorched the vegetation before him and forced a massive gorilla to retreat, roaring in pain. However, another gorilla approached swiftly, attempting to claw at him. He narrowly dodged backward and retaliated with a small fireball aimed at its face. The explosion sent it flying back several meters.
Beebo leaped into action, taking on one of the gorillas with his signature strength. Using his massive arms, he deflected its rapid blows, then shoved it forcefully into a nearby tree. The impact echoed loudly as the gorilla collided with the rock wall. Another gorilla tried to ambush him from behind, but Beebo crouched suddenly and delivered a powerful kick to its abdomen with his legs, sending it stumbling backward.
Kath leaped gracefully onto the back of a massive gorilla, landing with precision and gripping its head with one hand crackling with electricity. He discharged a powerful shock, causing the gorilla to convulse violently and roar in agony before collapsing to its knees, completely disoriented. Another gorilla lunged at him from the side, but Kath agilely jumped away, delivering a swift, powerful kick to its stomach. The force sent it stumbling back, stunned by the impact.
The gorillas momentarily retreated, regrouping for a stronger push. Some began picking up rocks and hurling them, while others charged directly.
Adam dodged backward as a large boulder sailed past him, landing with a heavy thud. Reacting quickly, he unleashed three consecutive fireballs. The first hit the ground, creating a flaming barrier that slowed the advancing gorillas. The second struck one directly on the shoulder, sending it crashing to its knees in pain. The third was deftly dodged by an advancing gorilla, which continued its charge toward him undeterred. Adam extended his hand, channeling all his energy into a concentrated burst of flames. The explosive attack hit the gorilla squarely, hurling it backward in a fiery arc.
Bibo lunged at a gorilla wielding a tree trunk like a massive club. He dodged its rapid, heavy swings with agility, then grabbed the trunk with his powerful hands, using his immense strength to wrest it from the gorilla's grip and shove it back forcefully. The gorilla stumbled several steps before regaining its footing, glaring at Bibo with renewed aggression.
Meanwhile, Kath found himself cornered by two gorillas. The first swiped at him with its claws, but he ducked just in time, delivering a charged electric strike to its abdomen. The second gorilla seized the opportunity to attack from the side, but Kath spun swiftly and landed a lightning-infused punch directly to its jaw. The impact sent it reeling, sparks crackling from the contact point.
The gorillas began coordinating their efforts, forming small groups to close in on the trio. Their movements grew more strategic, making it harder to isolate them.
Adam reacted quickly, launching a series of small fireballs at an approaching group of gorillas. The flaming projectiles forced them to slow their advance. Then, gathering his energy, Adam unleashed a concentrated beam of fire, cutting through their ranks with devastating precision. The fiery blast scorched nearby trees and briefly illuminated the battlefield, forcing the gorillas to retreat momentarily to regroup.
Bibo darted between the gorillas with incredible speed, delivering a massive punch to one's stomach, and sending it crashing to the ground. Without losing momentum, he grabbed another by its arm and hurled it through the air into a cluster of its companions, scattering them like bowling pins.
Kath leaped onto the back of a towering gorilla, wrapping his arms tightly around its neck. A surge of electricity coursed through his body and into the creature, causing it to drop to its knees with a pained groan. With agile precision, Kath vaulted off, landing in front of another gorilla. Without hesitation, he drove an electrified fist into its chest, sending it stumbling backward, its fur singed.
The remaining gorillas began a cautious retreat, their strange, glowing eyes still fixed on the trio with an unsettling intensity.
Adam, his body radiating heat, cupped his hands together as flames spiraled between them. "Get behind me!" he shouted.
With a powerful cry, he unleashed a wide, roaring stream of fire that scorched the ground and obliterated any obstacles in its path. The blazing attack forced the gorillas to retreat completely, vanishing into the deeper shadows of the forest.
The trio stood amidst the chaos, panting heavily. Smoke and ash swirled in the air around them, the aftermath of the intense battle evident in the charred earth and fallen foliage. Adam released his transformation, his fiery features fading as he looked around. "Was that enough?" he asked, his voice weary but resolute.
Kath smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "If it wasn't," he replied dryly, "I'll need a nap before round two."
Suddenly, the gorillas retreated in an almost unnatural manner, as if commanded by an unseen force. Silence enveloped the area, broken only by the faint rustling of their massive bodies disappearing into the dense shadows of the forest.
Out of nowhere, a figure emerged from between the trees with an eerie calmness. The three stood frozen in disbelief, their eyes widening in shock as they tried to comprehend what they were seeing.
Before them stood a young man with an unmistakable presence. His jet-black hair gleamed under the faint light, and he wore a simple white T-shirt under an open blue jacket paired with dark black pants. But what struck them like a lightning bolt was his uncanny resemblance to Adam. It was as if they were staring at a perfect duplicate of him, down to the smallest detail.
Adam stared at the young man in utter disbelief, raising a trembling hand to point at him. "Impossible?!"
The doppelgänger gazed back at Adam with cold, expressionless eyes marked by the strange, glowing symbol. His face betrayed no emotion, like a reflection devoid of life.
Adam stepped forward cautiously, his movements slow and deliberate, trying to make sense of the surreal figure standing before him. The resemblance was undeniable, yet something about the stranger's aura felt profoundly different, almost otherworldly.
From behind, Kath muttered in a low, wary voice, trying to grasp the situation: "Another human?"
Bibo, staring in disbelief at the two identical figures, raised an eyebrow and blurted out the most logical question he could think of: "Are you... brothers?!"
Adam paused, his thoughts colliding chaotically in his mind. The idea of another human existing in this world was an overwhelming shock, yet it brought with it an inexplicable sense of joy—a sense that he was no longer alone.
With a hesitant voice, as if the words were struggling to emerge, Adam whispered, "Another human...?" Slowly, as if attempting to break the invisible wall between them, he stepped closer, his eyes locked on his doppelgänger's face, searching desperately for any sign of identity or recognition.
Adam: "Do... do you know me?"
Adam stepped closer, his voice growing more eager but remaining cautious.
Adam: "Hey... can you hear me? My name is Adam. And you... who are you?"
Finally, Adam reached his doppelgänger, standing face to face. His eyes were brimming with questions and a whirlwind of emotions, while the look-alike stared back with the same unyielding coldness he had shown from the start. The moment hung heavy in silence as if time itself had frozen.
The doppelgänger slowly raised his hand, his fingers extending toward Adam's face. The tension in the air thickened, as though the entire world was holding its breath.
Adam: "What... are you doing?!"
As soon as the doppelgänger's hand touched Adam's face, glowing red lines began to snake across Adam's skin, as if emanating from some deep, hidden core. The lines spiraled across his face, crackling with red electric sparks that danced and pulsed over his body.
Adam screamed in agony, his voice tearing through the air: "Aaaaah! What is this?!"
Kath and Beebo shouted in alarm, their instincts kicking in before they could even process what was happening.
Kath: "Let him go!"
Kath darted forward with incredible speed, grabbing Adam's arm and yanking him away from the doppelgänger's grasp. At the same time, Beebo roared furiously and charged at the doppelgänger, his massive fists swinging with unrelenting force.
Beebo unleashed a colossal punch directly into the doppelgänger's chest. The impact was so intense it sent shockwaves rippling through the air around them.
Beebo stumbled back slightly, staring at the doppelgänger, who remained completely unmoved—like a statue carved from unyielding stone. The punch had seemingly had no effect at all.
Beebo stared in disbelief, his fists clenched as he muttered, "What in the world...?"
Meanwhile, Kath held Adam steady, trying to help him recover as faint remnants of red lines still glimmered on his face. Sparks of electricity crackled faintly around Adam's body, but their intensity was slowly diminishing.
Kath: "Adam, are you okay? Say something!"
Adam took deep, shaky breaths, his hand pressed to his face as the glow subsided. "I... I don't know. When he touched me, it was like something inside me was forcibly awakened—like he was trying to take control."
The doppelgänger shifted its gaze from Beebo back to Adam. Its movements were slow and deliberate, its eyes empty of emotion, like a predator stalking its prey. The tension in the air was suffocating as it stepped forward, undeterred by the failed attack.
Suddenly, Adam's system screen materialized in front of him, glowing with an ominous red light. A message in bold, fiery letters scrolled across the interface:
"Access attempt detected. Override failed."
Adam read the words, his heart overripening. He clenched his fists, his voice shaky yet determined. "What... is this thing?"
The doppelgänger of Adam stood motionless as his body began to glow with strange black lines, resembling veins pulsating with some mysterious force. The faint metallic sound that accompanied these changes was like the echo of metal being shaped and hammered with care.
Within seconds, this enigmatic energy gathered around him, enveloping him completely in black and gold metallic armor, as if the suit had materialized from nothing. The top of his head was fully covered, with a reflective black glass faceplate that appeared like a window to another world. Golden lines intricately adorned the helmet, adding to its intimidating aura.
The chest and abdomen were shielded with a matte black material that seemed to absorb light, reinforced with golden lines across the stomach and shoulders for extra protection.
His hands were covered in gauntlets designed to match the size of a gorilla's fist, with a slight bulge at the back of the wrists. Four meticulously crafted openings were visible on the back of the gauntlets as if they were equipped to launch small rockets or discharge deadly energy.
The black and gold suit wasn't just a visual spectacle; it emanated an aura of absolute power, sending waves of dread through the three standing before him. The doppelgänger leaned forward slightly, moving his hand slowly, causing the golden lines on the suit to flare, as if responding to his will.
Kath screamed, "What is that?!"
Beebo gritted his teeth in anger, "No matter how you look, we'll deal with you!"
The trio—Adam, Kath, and Beebo—stood resolutely, facing the doppelgänger, who remained firmly planted in place, encased in his majestic black and gold armor.