**Chapter 15** The Shadow of 8193

 The morning started like any other. Dylan barged into Exalibar's room, his fiery red hair sticking up in every direction. "Wake up, Exalibar! We've got to get ready for school, you know."

Exalibar groaned, burying his face in his pillow. "Do we have to…?"

Dylan crossed his arms, his tone exasperated. "Yes, we have to. It's school. We don't really have an option, you know."

Exalibar sighed, sitting up and running a hand through his grey hair. "Why did I even agree to this?"

Dylan smirked. "Beats me. Why would anyone willingly subject themselves to going to school? Worse one who already knows most of the things we learn"

Exalibar chuckled, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Guess it can't be helped. Let me go take a shower. I'll catch up with you there."

Dylan nodded, heading for the door. "Alright, but don't be late."

At school, the morning was uneventful. The boys met up with the girls, and they all headed to their lessons. During lunch, they sat together in their usual spot, the cafeteria buzzing with chatter. Exalibar sat with Chloe, their hands intertwined under the table. Aisha was with Jack—a surprising couple, but one that seemed to work. Dylan, ever the charmer, was with Rachel, the girl whose probability manipulation made her a force to be reckoned with.

As they laughed and joked, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by screams erupting from the gym. Everyone froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. Without hesitation, the group rushed over, their hearts pounding.

The scene in the gym was horrifying. Two girls lay lifeless on the floor, their blood pooling beneath them. Standing over them was a man clad entirely in black, his face obscured by a mask. He held another girl by the throat, her body limp in his grasp. The man's voice boomed through the gym, cold and menacing.

"8192! I know you're here. Reveal yourself, and no one else has to die!"

The students exchanged confused glances. Who was 8192? And why was this man willing to kill for him? Exalibar's stomach churned. He knew exactly who the man was talking about. He stepped forward, but Aisha grabbed his arm, her green eyes wide with fear.

"Don't," she whispered. "It might be a trap from the doctor."

Exalibar hesitated, his blue eyes flickering with conflict. "What if more people die?"

Aisha shook her head. "He wouldn't go that far, would he?"

Chloe's voice was firm. "He would."

Before they could say more, the man's voice cut through the tension. "Time's up. You had your chance!"

In a flash, the man lunged at another student, his fist piercing her chest with brutal efficiency. The gym erupted into chaos. A boy with ice powers retaliated, screaming, "Die!" as he unleashed a blast of frost. The man backhanded him into a wall, killing him instantly.

Exalibar couldn't hold back any longer. He charged at the man, his movements a blur. He landed three rapid hits to the man's ribs, followed by a spin kick that was blocked. Undeterred, Exalibar unleashed a roundhouse kick, then a triple spin kick—the first to raise his opponent's guard, the second to break it, and the third to strike his neck. The man flew backward, only to be blasted toward Exalibar by a photon blast from Chloe. Exalibar delivered a final kick, sending the man crashing into the wall and destroying it completely. The debris settled, revealing the man's face. The students gasped. Standing before them was Exalibar—or someone who looked exactly like him. But this version had jet-black hair and red eyes, his expression cold and calculating.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself," the man said, his voice dripping with malice. "I am Sky or as you would know 8193."

Aisha turned to Exalibar, her voice trembling. "Aren't you 8192? Wouldn't that mean he came after you?"

Exalibar's mind raced. "The doctor cloned me?"

Sky smirked. "Nonsense, brother. He didn't clone you."

Exalibar's eyes narrowed. "Brother? What is it with all this new family?"

Sky's smirk widened. "You tell me."

Exalibar's fists clenched. "Lies! This has the doctor written all over it. I'm ending this here and now!"

Exalibar charged at Sky, but his opponent was ready. A fist to the face stopped Exalibar in his tracks, but he didn't flinch. He retaliated with a strike to Sky's throat, but it had no effect. Sky grabbed Exalibar, faceplanted him into the ground, and dragged him across the gym. He lifted Exalibar and unleashed a flurry of punches before throwing him into the statue at the school's entrance.

Dylan stepped forward, his hands glowing with fire. "Incineration Cannon!" The blast caught Sky off guard, sending him flying. Aisha followed up, conjuring a tungsten cube to pin him down.

"You know," Sky said, his voice cold, "unlike my brother over there, I don't restrain myself. I can lift far more than a ton and a half."

Sky laughed, lifting the cube effortlessly and hurling it at Aisha. She turned it into sand, but Sky was already behind her, knocking her to the ground. He turned to Dylan, who was hovering in the air, but Jack intervened, pulling Sky down with a powerful grip.

"Fist of Damnation!" Jack roared, concentrating all his strength into a single punch. The blow decapitated Sky, his body flying across the gym.

The group breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived. In less than ten seconds, Sky's body reassembled itself, his head reattaching as if nothing had happened. He stood, his red eyes glowing with fury.

"Come now," he sneered. "Did you really think that would work? You can't even beat my brother. Did you really think you could take me on? And 'Fist of Damnation'? Really, Jack? What are we, in elementary school? Let me show you a real attack."

Dylan stepped forward, his hands glowing with heat. "Turning sand into glass—Vitrification!"

**To Be Continued…**