Imitation Game

Kraut quickly jumped aside. The nanites combined, forming a futuristic-looking pistol. He grabbed the gun and fired several shots at Michael.

DADADADADADADA...

The soldiers followed Kraut's lead, shooting at Michael. Initially mocking the low intelligence of the soldiers behind him, Michael then manipulated the direction of the air flow, causing it to gather around him, capturing the bullets in the process.

Finally, Michael opened his hands wide, and the gathered air suddenly burst outward, propelling the bullets towards the soldiers. Bullets hit various parts of the soldiers' bodies – chests, heads, arms, and legs. Some died instantly, while others had to use their other hand to cover the injured areas, rendering them unable to hold their guns steadily. In any case, no one was fit to continue the fight.

"Enough," Kraut raised one hand in front of his eyes, signaling everyone around Michael to cease fire. "Mr. Michael, as a future man, let me give you a prophecy. You will be the hero of this tower, remembered by all children, but not now."

"As one of the children who have heard your stories, I really don't want to harm you. So, I have one last question for you," Kraut asked expressionlessly, with only a sharpening of his gaze. "Do you really not want to step aside?"

"No," Michael replied.

"Very well." Kraut sighed, and the screen on his nanosuit's wristwatch began to glow. In a low, nearly inaudible voice, Kraut said something, and then the screen emitted a red light.

Seemingly to clarify the situation for Michael, Kraut's lips curled upwards. Subsequently, Michael felt the air around him condensing towards Kraut, a development that shocked him. After the air around Kraut burst open, Michael understood what had happened.

This guy's armor can mimic his abilities!

"Your ability's password has been discovered by the scientists of our generation! And I input that password, becoming another you!" Kraut declared. "I can give you my limbs, even my heart, brain, and life, but don't expect me to hand over the future and victory to you!"

Kraut stomped on the ground, creating a hole in the rockery. Countless stones, liberated from the control of gravity, levitated around his legs. Then, Kraut pushed his hands upward, and the stones shot towards Michael like arrows released from a bow.

"The worst thing in my life is an impostor." Michael shook his head, lifting his hand. The friction between the stones and the surrounding air increased, causing them to catch fire and turn into ashes without any residue.

"Great hero, you've gone too far in your words. I am just another you."

"Is that so? Then let me defeat myself."

The two clashed, their speeds continually increasing, pulling up the imitation grass and leaving a scar on the ground as if cut by a knife. Then, they collided, reflexively using their arms to block each other's impact. Instead of being knocked away by the opponent's force, they were pushed forward by the airflow generated when they collided.

Seizing the moment when Michael was unprepared, Kraut clenched his fist and swung it towards Michael, enhancing the strength and speed of his punch. Michael quickly dodged, only to find himself vulnerable to Kraut's maneuver. Taking advantage of the opening created when Michael evaded his fist, Kraut extended his leg towards Michael's, exerting force that lifted Michael's foot off the ground, causing him to lose balance and fall.

"You're too arrogant! You impostor!" Michael rolled to the side, punching the ground. The force transmitted to the ground intensified, sending shockwaves rippling through the surroundings. In an instant, everyone lost their balance, except for the slowly rising No.1, Michael Jackman.

"You have no idea how high the upper limit of this ability is. Do I need to tell you?" Michael turned to Kraut, walking towards him with a genteel pace.

Kraut, despite not fearing the man in front of him, took a step back, understanding that the man might bring some kind of danger to him.

But then, he found himself unable to move. Looking up, he saw Michael's tiger claw directed at him. His smile turned grotesque, as if he were the grim reaper about to dominate his fate.

"Get back where you came from! You scoundrel!" Michael's tiger claw suddenly retracted, turning into a fist. Kraut immediately felt compressed, as if he were being squeezed out of existence.

***

"How was it? Did you complete the mission?" Kraut first heard this voic

e.

He looked around... Wasn't this the room he was supposed to teleport to before going back in time?

"What's wrong?" The words came from the guy in the white robe, manipulating the device.

Could it be?

Michael didn't...send him back to the future, did he?

***

"Don't blame me. I promised that kid I wouldn't kill anymore." Michael looked at the spot where Kraut had been standing, then left the scene in a nonchalant manner.