Raven pulled the pin.
The grenade clattered to the floor, rolling toward the glass chambers filled with failed experiments.
X grabbed Kessler by the arm. "Move."
They sprinted toward the escape tunnel, boots splashing through the shallow water.
Behind them—an explosion tore through the lab.
The force ripped through the glass tanks, sending fragments flying. Fire bloomed, consuming years of twisted experiments.
The moment they reached the tunnel, gunfire rained down from above.
Echelon soldiers dropped in through the hatch, weapons blazing.
X dove behind a rusted metal console, Raven taking cover beside him.
Kessler was frozen in fear.
X shoved a pistol into his hands. "Shoot if you want to live."
The scientist's hands shook, but he nodded.
Then—Graves' voice rang out over the comms.
"I warned you, X."
Through the smoke, a new figure stepped forward.
Not just a soldier.
A hunter.
Echelon's Perfect Assassin
The man was tall, dressed in black tactical gear with a sleek visor covering his face.
But what made X's blood run cold was the way he moved.
Too fast. Too controlled.
Kessler's voice was a whisper. "They sent him."
X narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
Kessler swallowed. "Agent Z."
Before X could react, Z vanished.
Then—a blur.
Pain erupted in X's ribs as Z's fist slammed into him, sending him crashing into the ground.
Fast. Precise. Relentless.
X rolled just as a knife slashed through the air, missing his throat by inches.
Raven fired—three shots to the chest.
Z didn't even flinch. His armor absorbed the impact like it was nothing.
He moved like a ghost, closing the distance before she could react.
A brutal backhand sent her crashing into the debris.
Kessler tried to run—Z snapped his arm like a twig.
The scientist screamed.
X lunged.
He struck with brutal efficiency—elbows, knees, rapid-fire punches.
Z blocked every hit effortlessly.
Then—a counter.
Z's foot lashed out, catching X in the jaw. The world spun as he hit the ground.
X wiped blood from his lip. This was no ordinary agent.
This was his replacement.
Graves' voice came through the radio again. "I told you, X. You were just a prototype."
X pushed to his feet. Not today.
He grabbed a metal pipe from the wreckage, gripping it tightly.
Z tilted his head. Studying him.
Then—they charged at each other.