The figure moved like a shadow, closing the distance between them in an instant. Jack barely had time to react before a precise strike aimed at his chest forced him to dodge, the sheer speed of the attack sending a sharp gust of air past his face.
Rhea fired her weapon—a short burst of plasma rounds illuminated the collapsing corridor. The figure moved fluidly, twisting their body in an unnatural way to evade each shot. Then, in a flash, they were upon her.
Jack lunged forward, instinctively reaching out with his new gravitational abilities. He didn't think—he just acted. A sudden force swept through the air, pulling the masked enemy backward. For a brief moment, they were weightless.
Then, just as quickly, the figure twisted mid-air, flipping themselves back onto the ground with ease. They landed gracefully, their glowing suit pulsing with energy.
They can counteract gravity, too? Jack realized.
His heart pounded. This wasn't just some elite soldier—this was someone with abilities like his.
"You're learning fast," the figure remarked, their voice smooth, emotionless. "But not fast enough."
Before Jack could respond, they attacked again.
A surge of force struck him like a sledgehammer, sending him crashing into a nearby wall. Dust and debris rained down around him. His head spun, but he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay conscious.
Rhea was still fighting, ducking behind cover and firing precise shots. But their enemy was relentless, closing in with terrifying speed.
Jack struggled to his feet. He could feel the gravitational field shifting around them, reacting to his presence. He had to use it. Control it.
With a deep breath, he focused.
He pushed.
The air around them shuddered. The entire room tilted for a fraction of a second, gravity bending unnaturally. The figure stumbled, their balance momentarily disrupted.
Jack didn't hesitate. He launched himself forward, using the very force he had manipulated to propel himself faster than ever before. His fist connected with the figure's torso, sending them flying backward.
For the first time, their composure broke. They skidded across the debris-covered floor, catching themselves at the last moment.
Jack exhaled sharply, his body still thrumming with energy. He was finally starting to understand.
The figure slowly rose to their feet, brushing off the impact. Their glowing suit flickered slightly, then stabilized.
They let out a slow breath. "Interesting."
Jack clenched his fists. "You're going to tell me who you are."
The figure tilted their head, as if considering the request. Then, they simply said:
"You are not ready."
A sharp pulse of energy burst from their body. Jack barely had time to react before the force sent both him and Rhea sprawling.
By the time he recovered, the figure was gone.
Silence filled the ruined corridor. The only sound was Jack's own ragged breathing.
Rhea sat up, wincing. "Okay," she muttered, "that was new."
Jack pushed himself to his feet, his mind still racing. "They weren't just any Hesta operative."
"No kidding," Rhea said dryly.
Jack's fingers curled. They had abilities like mine.
The implications hit him hard.
If Hesta had others like him—if they could control gravity the way he could—then he wasn't just fighting an organization.
He was fighting something much bigger.
And he wasn't ready. Not yet.
But he would be.
He had to be.