One Step

Our gazes locked, sharp and dangerous. I gripped the vape tighter, preparing to exhale. Eve dropped into a fighting stance. The air around us grew thick with tension, crackling with a palpable killing intent.

"Tell us everything you know, Will!" I shouted, my voice low and threatening.

"You don't need to shout," he replied coolly, his indifference making my blood run cold. "I can hear you just fine."

I took a quick puff, summoning Puffy. It surged forward like lightning, its sword slicing through the air, aimed directly at Will's neck. But the next moment left everyone stunned.

Without even standing, still seated in his chair, Will raised a hand and pinched the sword mid-air, stopping it cold. The force of the contact rippled outward—food flew in all directions, plates shattered, and the wall behind Will was cleaved, a deep, straight line etched into the surface.

He sighed, almost disappointed. "Is this how you treat someone who offers you dinner?"

"No one asked for it," I snapped, ordering Puffy to pull back. It struggled, but the sword was stuck in Will's grip, and there was no getting it out. I dismissed it, letting Puffy retreat.

"Kids these days don't know how to be grateful," he muttered, shaking his head.

"Enough with the talk," I pressed. "Now tell us what you know about the device, who sent Scarecrow, and what you want with it."

"And if I don't?" Will half-closed his eyes, a taunting smile playing on his lips.

"We'll do it ourselves," I said, my voice steady. "Yin Hee can crack the truth you're hiding."

Will's gaze shifted to Yin Hee, revealing a slight opening. Eve, seizing the opportunity, grabbed a shard of a broken plate and lunged at him. Will dodged, effortlessly shifting left, just as the chair beneath him splintered and broke. He crashed to the floor, the suddenness catching him off guard.

Surprised and momentarily disoriented, Will's mind seemed to go blank. Eve wasted no time, spinning around to deliver a powerful kick. He collided with the wall, leaving a deep crater in its wake. I didn't hesitate—I took another puff, forming a swarm of swords and sending them all hurtling toward him.

The room erupted in chaos as the blades struck. For a moment, everything was a blur of dust and destruction. The noise died down, and we waited, tense and silent, for any sign of a response.

As the dust settled, no movement came from Will. Was he dead? Unconscious? No—it couldn't be. Not with him. Not so easily.

I steeled myself, heightening my senses. It wasn't over.

"What's your suggestion?" I asked, turning to Eve as I took another puff.

"Nothing. Just attack," she replied, focused.

I nodded, my resolve hardening. I moved into the thickening dust, my body cloaked in a veil of smoke, ready to shift into any form necessary.

I sent Puffy to strike Will's last known position. The impact was deafening, the dust growing heavier, shrouding everything in a thick haze. To others, it might be a disadvantage, but to me, the particles only enhanced my senses. I blended into the mist, searching for Will.

In my smoke form, my vision was enhanced, yet still, the haze was nearly impenetrable. But I could sense his energy—a flicker of red flame, intense and alive, indicating a force that wouldn't be easily extinguished.

For a split second, doubt crept in. Could I really defeat him? But no. This was no time for hesitation. Eve's words echoed in my mind, steadying me. Her words, like a prophecy, rarely missed.

I threw my doubts aside and focused. I located Will through the smoke, then ordered Puffy to attack from a blind spot. He was ready. With a swift movement, Will deflected the strike, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the air. Sparks flew as the clash sent shockwaves through the dust.

The dust cleared, and Will's grin widened.

"Just give up," he said, voice dripping with mockery. "You won't defeat me, and even if you somehow did, Synth would deliver the most comforting punishment."

"But not if they don't know what happened." I smirked, conjuring more smoke and forming dozens of blades, each with thin wires wrapped around their handles.

"You must be a fool if you think I didn't prepare for this," Will sneered, swiping his hand through the air as though orchestrating the inevitable.

"Don't worry about the cameras," I said, nodding toward Calvin. Behind him stood the mecha, silent and imposing. Its blue glow flickered, systematically disabling cameras and negating abilities in the area.

Will's confident expression faltered as he sensed the shift in power. His internal flame—his energy—was flickering, as though it was being slowly extinguished.

"This is getting interesting!" Will's grin grew wider, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

I straightened my arms, sending the blades shooting toward him at lightning speed. The wind howled as they sliced through the air, a storm of sharp edges closing in on their target.