Chapter 13: The Rescue That Isn’t

Alden barely had time to process the fact that his friends were here before the failed experiments lunged at him again.

The containment room shook as the last four subjects moved in perfect sync, their bodies glitching with unstable energy. Their forms flickered between solid and distorted, a chaotic mess of Overclock gone wrong.

Alden gritted his teeth. His own Overclock was still fluctuating, still unstable. The last fight had proven one thing—he could adapt to their broken abilities, but he wasn't fast enough yet.

He needed more time.

Too bad he wasn't going to get it.

The first subject blinked into existence behind him, a shockwave of unstable energy rippling around its arm. Alden twisted at the last second, but it was too close—

The impact slammed into his ribs.

His body blurred backward, crashing into the containment pod behind him. Pain flared across his back, but he forced himself to keep moving, rolling aside just as a second subject lunged forward, its arm stretching unnaturally.

Alden dove low, dodging at the last second—but the third one was already waiting.

A heavy kick caught him mid-dodge, sending him sprawling.

His mind raced.

Too fast. Too unpredictable.

His Overclock was adapting too slowly, struggling to keep up with their chaotic, glitching powers. If he kept taking hits like this—

I won't last.

Alden forced himself upright, breathing heavily. The failed subjects stood in front of him, their eyes hollow, unfocused.

They weren't fighting like normal opponents.

They were reacting like a hive mind.

Alden's chest tightened. That's not normal.

Then Specter's voice came over the intercom.

"Fascinating."

Alden glared up at the observation platform. "Yeah? Having fun watching me get wrecked?"

Specter ignored the remark. "You noticed it, didn't you? Their movements."

Alden wiped the blood from his lip, forcing himself to breathe through the pain. "Yeah, I noticed. They're not fighting individually."

Specter nodded slightly. "Because they aren't."

Alden's breath hitched.

"Their Overclocks have collapsed," Specter continued. "They no longer function as individuals. Their abilities are running on pure survival instinct—copying each other, syncing their attacks like an organic network."

Alden's fingers clenched into fists. "You mean they're like a hive mind?"

Specter nodded.

Alden cursed internally. That meant every time one of them learned something, the others did too. If he figured out how to counter one of them, it wouldn't matter—they'd all adjust immediately.

No weaknesses. No openings. No chance to win.

Alden exhaled sharply. "So how do I beat them?"

Specter's visor flickered. "You don't."

Alden's stomach dropped.

Before he could process that, the warning alarm blared again.

"ALERT: EXTERNAL FORCES HAVE BREACHED SECURITY LEVEL 2."

Alden snapped his gaze to the security feed.

The footage showed Iris and Felix tearing through the facility.

Felix barreled through armored guards like a human wrecking ball, his Titan's Might glowing around him as he sent bodies flying. Iris warped in and out of shadows, taking down enemies before they even realized she was there.

They were unstoppable.

And they were coming straight for him.

Alden's chest tightened.

They had come for him.

But they had no idea what they were walking into.

Specter turned back to him, voice unreadable. "Your friends are impressive. But they're making a mistake."

Alden tensed. "What are you talking about?"

Specter stepped forward, gesturing to the failed subjects. "They've adapted to you. But what happens when they adapt to them?"

Alden's blood ran cold.

Oh. Oh no.

He wasn't the only target anymore.

The failed experiments turned their heads simultaneously, as if sensing something.

Then—they moved.

They weren't coming for Alden anymore.

They were heading for the exit.

For Iris and Felix.

Alden's pulse spiked. "NO—"

He lunged forward, Overclock roaring to life, but he was too late.

The failed subjects vanished from the room in an instant.

Alden staggered, heart hammering. They were going after his friends.

Specter simply watched. "Let's see how well they adapt."

Alden's hands shook with adrenaline.

He had to stop them.

Had to warn Iris and Felix before it was too late.

Alden sprinted for the exit.

His Overclock surged, flickering violently, pushing him forward at inhuman speed.

But deep down, he knew.

He wasn't fast enough.