Alex’s brow furrowed, skepticism etched into his expression. "Caleb, it’s not just about you finding someone who killed a mutant rat on the internet. Let’s cut to it—what’s your meta-nature?"


    Caleb visibly hesitated, his posture stiffening just a little, his cheeks flushing faintly as if he didn’t often talk about it. "It’s nothing special," he muttered, waving his hand dismissively. "I can… sense leaks."


    I tilted my head. "Leaks?"


    He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "It started off vague, you know, like an intuition. But lately, I’ve been honing it—focused it specifically on technology. So you could say I’ve leveled it up."


    Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Explain."


    Caleb exhaled, finally straightening up a bit as he elaborated. "I can detect anything slipping through the cracks—data breaches, power fluctuations, even faulty code in a system. If something’s bleeding information, I can feel it. I guess you could say I’m like a living diagnostic tool."


    I clicked my tongue, considering his words.


    It wasn’t a flashy meta-nature like super strength or flight, but it was leagues better than, say, the ability to toast a sandwich with your bare hands. With billions of humans on Earth, powers ranged from godlike to downright trivial. Caleb’s ability might not be the most exciting, but it was practical—and already more useful than what ninety percent of the population could boast.


    "Honestly, it’s underrated," I admitted, meeting Caleb’s eyes. His meta-nature was fascinating.


    His lips twitched slightly, like he wanted to brush off the compliment but wasn’t used to hearing one.


    "But," I continued, my tone firm but not unkind, "it’s still not enough if we’re dealing with something like another demon rat horde. Your skills are invaluable for what we’re doing right now, but out there? In the field? It’s a whole different game. Your meta-nature is about precision and insight, not fighting. And frankly, all your weapons in the closet won’t keep you alive if things go south."


    Caleb’s shoulders slumped slightly, and for a moment, I caught a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.


    I wasn’t trying to crush him—I was just being honest.


    Still, after a second, he nodded, as if he’d already known this was coming.


    "I get it," he said, his voice subdued but steady. "You’re not wrong."


    Alex studied him for a beat before sighing. "Look, man, it’s not that we don’t trust your abilities. It’s just that we know what happens to people who overestimate themselves in a fight. And we don’t want you to end up as another cautionary tale."


    Caleb let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Wow, thanks. Really feeling the love here."


    I smiled. "Good. That means you’re listening."


    Caleb looked between us, his lips pressing into a thin line. For a moment, it seemed like he might argue, but then he sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Alright, I hear you. I’ll stay back.”


    The tension eased slightly, and I nodded in appreciation. “Good. We need you here anyway. Someone has to keep an eye on the data, track the movements, and alert us if anything changes. That’s just as important as being on the front lines.”


    Caleb let out a dry laugh, his shoulders relaxing. “Guess I’ll play the guy in the chair then,” he said, gesturing to the monitors surrounding him. “You guys can be the heroes.”


    “We’re not heroes,” Alex corrected, his tone light but meaningful. “We’re just doing what we can. And so are you.”


    Caleb smirked, his usual confidence returning. “Fair enough. Just don’t get yourselves killed out there.”


    “Not planning to,” I said, standing up and stretching. “But if we don’t check in, feel free to raise hell.”


    Caleb grinned, his fingers already flying across the keyboard. “Oh, you can count on that.”


    Alex, Ethan, and I exchanged glances, letting out a collective sigh of relief. With Caleb safely persuaded, we headed toward the exit. I glanced back at the house one last time, hoping that everything would be alright with him.


    Hopefully, he doesn’t try something stupid. I had a feel that with Caleb, you could never be too sure.


    As we stood outside, waiting for our ride, I turned to Alex. "What do you think?"


    Alex glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "About what?"


    "About heading to the warehouse."


    A slow, knowing grin spread across his face. "I’m with you. Just tell me when, and I’ll be there."


    I nodded, satisfied with his response. "We should call the others," I added after a moment. "If we’re going to do this, they’ll definitely want in. I don’t think anyone wants to miss a chance like this."


    Alex exhaled sharply, already reaching for his phone. "You’re probably right." His eyes lit up as he scrolled through his contacts, dialing numbers without hesitation.


    I shifted my gaze to Ethan, who stood a few steps away, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets. His posture was relaxed, but there was something distant about his expression, something weighed down.


    "What about you?" I asked. "Do you want to come with us?"


    Ethan hesitated, his jaw shifting slightly as he chewed on his thoughts. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, deliberate. "Sorry, but… I’m really not interested. It’s just not my thing. Sorry again."


    He meant it. It wasn’t a dismissal, not an excuse—it was the kind of honesty that didn’t need to be justified. After all, he had decided to help us so far was already a blessing and there was no reason for him to force himself for our cause.


    “Fair enough,” I said casually. “Better to stay out if you’re not feeling it.”


    Ethan’s lips quirked up, "Just… watch your backs, alright?"


    Alex, still on the phone, glanced over and smirked. "Please. You think we’d do anything but that?"


    Ethan rolled his eyes but didn’t argue.


    After two minutes, Alex and I climbed into the car as it pulled up, leaving Ethan standing on the quiet street behind us. He didn’t say anything as we left, just gave a small nod before turning away, disappearing into the shadows of the city.


    As the car rolled forward, streetlights flickered past in a steady rhythm. The silence between Alex and me was comfortable, both of us lost in thought until he finally spoke.


    "I messaged everyone. Where should I tell them to gather?"


    I exhaled, gaze drifting to the window as I thought. "The abandoned warehouse is on the outskirts of the South District." The words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Just saying it made the whole situation feel more real. "It’s hard to believe things like this are happening just around the corner."


    "I live in the South District," Alex pointed out.


    “Same."


    A moment of silence.


    Then, Alex leaned back in his seat, voice thoughtful. "I read in the newspaper that the North District has the least crime out of all."


    I smirked, glancing at him. "Well, you know who runs that place."


    Alex huffed a quiet laugh. "Yeah, I do."


    He didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t push. Some things didn’t need to be said.


    Instead, I shifted back to the task at hand. "Tell them to meet us at Depot24. I’ve got some stuff there that could come in handy." I turned slightly in my seat, eyeing him. "Do you have a weapon or something you carry?"


    "Yeah, at home," Alex replied, already anticipating where I was going with this.


    "Good. Make sure to tell everyone not to forget theirs." My tone was serious. "You can swing by your place to grab it after dropping me off at the lockers."


    Alex nodded, fingers flying over his phone screen as he sent the details. The blue glow of the device illuminated his face, casting faint shadows under his eyes.


    After twenty minutes, the car slowed to a stop near Depot24.


    I stepped out first, the winter air immediately biting through my jacket. The cold made everything sharper—the scent of damp concrete, the faint flicker of a broken streetlight nearby, the distant noise of a train passing on the tracks.


    Alex stayed in the car, watching as I adjusted my bag.


    "I''ll grab what we need from inside," I said, glancing back at him. "Swing by your place, grab your stuff, and meet me back here."


    Depot24 was a massive storage warehouse. They had branches scattered across every continent—and even beyond Earth—so I could say, it was more than just a storage facility. It was a global corporation, and for good reason. Its storage lockers weren''t ordinary, each unit existed in a pocket dimension. They were the work of a meta-powered superhero whose abilities dealt with manipulating space. This unique design allowed customers to access their belongings from anywhere in the world, as long as they had their unit credentials.


    Unit 2187. My home away from home. My little secret.


    The location wasn''t crowded, so my number was called quickly. An associate led me to the unit, navigating the maze of corridors with practiced ease. She didn''t ask questions—they never did here. That was part of the appeal. I nodded my thanks as they left, leaving me alone in front of the storage unit.


    I pressed my finger to the scanner nearby, wincing slightly as a needle pricked my skin, drawing a small drop of blood. The lock operated by matching DNA—a security measure that was, frankly, over the top, but necessary given the nature of what people stored here. I didn’t need to guess what some people stored here: experimental meta-tech, banned artifacts, even a few cryo-pods. My stuff probably wasn''t even close to the most dangerous items in storage.


    The scanner beeped, and a green light pulsed. Access granted.


    As the door slid open with a soft hiss, I was greeted by the sight of my stash: racks of guns and blasters, pieces of advanced equipment from my illegal lab, and the suit Jade and I had designed together. It was a collection I couldn’t afford to keep at home—not with Aunt Grace around. This warehouse had become the perfect hiding spot for everything too dangerous or suspicious to leave lying around.


    This wasn’t my first dive into chaos this cycle.


    And I doubted it would be the last.


    As I zipped up the bag, my phone buzzed against my hip.


    A message from Jade.


    Jade: Where are you? (-"-)


    Me: Busy.


    A few seconds later—


    Jade: I miss you. <3, (Ｔ▽Ｔ)


    I paused, taking a deep breath. I felt the same—I wanted to see her, to hug her, to feel her heartbeat against mine.


    Me: Miss you too. (っ- ? – ?)


    Jade: Did you find any clues?


    Me: Yeah!


    I recounted the play of events that had played after I left.


    Jade: Wish I could be there. It sounds fun! T^T


    Me: You should rest! I’ll be home soon.


    Jade: ?(????)?


    Jade: Are you going alone? :-S


    Me: Others are coming, don’t worry.


    “...”


    For a moment, there was nothing. No immediate reply, no rapid-fire texts, just a lingering silence that made me wonder if she had fallen asleep or busy with something.


    Then—


    Jade: You know, I convinced Callisto to meet us tomorrow in person. He’ll show us his work tomorrow. (^o^)丿 ≧◇≦


    Me: :|, (-"-), (°◇°),


    I was speechless. Somehow, she’d managed to convince him to reveal his secret project—a feat that was, by all accounts, completely insane. That man was crazy and had serious problems, and I was pretty sure in my head, I didn’t want to have any relationship with him. I had experienced first hand, when two crazy people join forces, it’s rarely a recipe for anything good. And that’s exactly why I was worried.


    (●__●)Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    But what was done, was done. I could only silently lament my fate. There was no way I could turn around now and tell Jade I wasn’t meeting him. That bridge had already been crossed, and I had no choice but to follow through.


    Jade: I made your favorite cookies.


    Me: The chocolate chip ones?


    My mouth actually watered at the thought.


    Jade: And something else...


    I paused mid-typing. Something else?


    Me: ...What something else?


    Jade: But it''s a surpriseeeee! (∩▂∩)


    Yeah, no thanks! (??﹏?)


    Her last surprise had been a burnt, salty cake that had the density of a brick. And I, being a good boyfriend and a complete fool, had chewed through it like it was perfectly edible—before promptly visiting a dentist the next day.


    But these were just the fears in my head. The things I couldn’t type out loud unless I wanted to break her heart and get guilt-tripped for the next month.


    So instead—


    Me: Can’t wait! (⌒?⌒)


    My inner self immediately screamed at the blatant lie I had just committed to.


    By the time Alex returned, I was leaning against the warehouse entrance, duffel bag slung over my shoulder, still texting Jade while keeping an eye on the empty lot. My gaze swept the area, my senses tuned for any unwanted company.


    Me: Alex is her, Later! ε=ε=


    Jade: Be safe! (ノ_<。)


    Jade: I love you infinity plus one! ?(????)


    Me: Love you more. Infinity plus two. ?


    Jade: NO! I love you more!


    I could practically hear the dramatic stomp of her foot through the screen.


    I chuckled to myself, shaking my head.


    Me: Okiee! ＿|￣|○


    "What’s with the dopey look?"


    I looked up at Alex, unable to hide my smile. "Nothing."


    He snorted. "Yeah, sure. Tell your girlfriend to stop distracting you before you become a complete fool."


    I rolled my eyes. "She’s not distracting me."


    "Right. And I don’t have a criminal record."


    I shot him a look.


    Then, out of nowhere—


    "I still can’t believe you actually pulled Jade somehow." He questioned, more to himself.


    I blinked. "What?"


    "I mean, I just—how? How did you manage that?" He waved a hand vaguely, as if trying to physically grasp the thought. "Like, I know you’re not bad looking or anything," he continued, "but dude. She’s just—she’s unreal. Both her talent and looks are onn other level. And you???"


    I snorted, shaking my head. "You’re making it sound like I won the lottery."


    Alex shot me a look. "That’s exactly what happened!" He gestured dramatically. "I mean, we’re all just normal. And then there’s Jade— In just her first week at the academy, she bullied each and every one of us thoroughly. I think, she wasn’t even trying to be mean, she was just—"He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair—"She came off so cold and cruel. She had that whole ‘unapproachable, ice-queen, don’t-even-think-about-talking-to-me’ aura going on."


    "She’s not cruel and cold," I muttered, trying to defend her. "She’s one of the sweetest people I know."


    Alex blinked at me, his face a mix of bewilderment and mild betrayal.


    "Sweet?" He repeated, like I had just told him water wasn’t wet. "Jade?"


    I crossed my arms, doubling down. "Yeah."


    Alex side-eyed me. "That’s the most disgustingly romantic thing I’ve heard all day."


    "Tell that to literally everyone who’s ever had a crush on her and got obliterated before they could even shoot their shot."


    I grinned. "Jealous?"


    "Not even remotely. I just think the universe glitched when it paired you two up." He shook his head, "You’re too far gone," he muttered. Then, his expression turned mockingly serious. "Don’t come to me complaining later if she leaves you for someone better."


    I rolled my eyes. "Yeah? And who’s better than me?"


    Alex didn’t even hesitate. "Literally anyone."


    I burst out laughing, shaking my head. "You’re an asshole."


    I was about to fire back another sarcastic remark when, my phone buzzed again.


    Jade: I forgot to tell you. ,,,^..^,,,~


    Jade: I have something special for you, when you come home tonight. :p


    Me: .?oO( ... )


    Suspicious.


    Highly suspicious.


    The last time she said that, she made me join her for karaoke night. Just us, in the living room. Sounds innocent, right? Until she turned it into a full-blown performance, complete with duet choreography that ended with me tripping over the couch and pulling her down with me. She recorded that too. The time before that? She had somehow convinced me to dress as her favorite comic character. Complete with wig, makeup, and an outfit that was entirely too tight in certain areas and too revealing. The photographic evidence still haunted me.


    Me: Whatever it is, I''m not wearing any weird clothes this time.


    Her response came almost instantly.


    Jade: No promises!


    Me: Bye!


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    I groaned, already bracing myself for whatever fate awaited me later. Jade’s surprises were always a gamble—but, I had to admit, I didn’t exactly hate them. In some ways, I even look forward to them. Even when they left me red-faced and questioning my life choices, they always had a way of sticking with me in the best way. Moreover, they made Jade very happy, so the small sacrifice of my ego and pride was worth every laugh it earned.


    Before I could get lost in my thoughts further, Alex’s voice pulled me back to reality.


    "Got everything?" he asked, leaning against the car.


    "Yeah," I said plainly, adjusting my bag on my shoulder.


    Alex glanced around the empty lot. "No one else is here yet?"


    "Not yet." My eyes swept the surroundings, ever watchful. The air was cold and quiet, but I knew it wouldn’t stay that way for long.


    All we could do now was wait. Five minutes later, headlights flickered in the distance. One by one, cars began pulling up, their engines humming low in the otherwise still night. Soon, a familiar group stepped out, forming a small circle near the warehouse entrance.


    Lore. Henry. Gina. Vinico.


    Our little squad—a mix of talent, confidence, and, honestly, questionable decision-making skills.


    At least Henry had brought his car, meaning we would have to cram into a single vehicle like last time. We piled in, shifting and squeezing into the cramped space as Henry pulled out of the lot.


    The South District was massive, sprawling across miles of industrial zones and forgotten backstreets. The drive would take at least an hour, leaving plenty of time for pre-mission bickering.


    It didn’t take long.


    "I can’t believe it’s actually happening," Gina squealed, practically bouncing in her seat. "We’re finally going on a mission together—like a real superhero team!"


    I rolled my eyes, leaning my head against the cool window.


    Why were all my friends crazy in one way or another?


    Was it bad luck? A cosmic joke?


    I stared up at the sky, half-expecting some divine answer.


    Nope. Nothing.


    It wasn’t luck. It had to be something else entirely.


    "Curb your enthusiasm," Lore cut in, her voice as even and calm as ever. Out of the six of us, she was the most grounded—which wasn’t saying much. "We don’t even know what we’re walking into."


    "So what?" Vinico shot back, leaning forward in his seat. "We’re from Beyonder Academy. Each of us has a meta nature strong enough to cause chaos wherever we go. If I can’t even win a small fight, I might as well pack up, go home, and get a boring desk job."


    I shook my head. Arrogance ran deep in this group.


    Vinico, especially. They were all confident, maybe too confident for their own good.


    Lore sighed, rubbing her temple before turning to me. "Are you sure the villains have people captured in that building?"


    I shrugged. "No. About a thirty percent chance they’re there. There’s also a decent chance the warehouse is just some random villain’s lair."


    The car fell silent for a second.


    Then—


    "So we’re going in blind," Henry said flatly, cutting straight to the point.


    "Pretty much," Alex replied, entirely too casual.


    Gina, still buzzing with excitement, grinned. "Sounds like fun."


    "Let’s get there first," I said, trying to rein things in before they got too carried away. "If it turns out to be something serious, we’ll step in. If it’s just a random villain’s hideout, we back out. It’s not smart to go barging into enemy territory without thinking it through. Our safety comes first."


    Vinico made a dismissive noise, leaning back against the seat. "C’mon, we’re not exactly helpless. What’s the worst that could happen?"


    I gave him a pointed look. "Would you like a list?"


    Lore nodded, backing me up immediately. "He''s right. We have no idea what we''re dealing with. This isn''t one of those Academy simulations where we can reset if something goes wrong."


    "Exactly," I said, locking eyes with Vinico until he finally exhaled and rolled his eyes.


    "Fine, fine," he muttered. "I get it. Be careful, don’t die. Whatever."


    Gina, who had been eerily quiet, suddenly grinned. "I vote we at least get into one fight tonight. What’s the point of all this tension if we don’t get to punch something?"


    Henry groaned from the driver’s seat. "You people are unbelievable."


    "Hey, it’s called team bonding," Gina shot back.


    Alex smirked but stayed quiet, his fingers tapping idly on his knee as he watched the exchange. He wasn’t usually one for long speeches, but I could tell he was on my side about this—watchful, waiting, ready to step in if things got too reckless.


    I sighed, shifting slightly in my seat. "Listen, I get it. You’re all itching for action. But we’re not just here to flex our powers. If people are actually trapped, we’re getting them out first. That’s the mission."


    Vinico huffed. "And then we punch the villains?"


    "Then," I relented, "you can punch the villains."


    Sometimes I wondered if his simplistic approach to problems was a blessing or a curse. The way he saw it, most problems could be solved with a well-placed punch. Unfortunately, he was often right. Gina fist-pumped the air, looking way too pleased. Her enthusiasm for violence should have been concerning, but I''d learned to appreciate her eagerness. At least someone was looking forward to what was coming. Lore shook her head but didn''t argue, which I took as a small victory.


    From the moment I decided to head to the warehouse earlier in the day, I had been constantly checking the Likeness of everything and everyone around me. The world seemed painted in shades of red, a glaring warning I couldn’t ignore. And as the hours passed and we drew closer to the warehouse, the red deepened, swirling with orange like a brewing storm. It wasn’t just an abstract sense anymore—I could almost see it, a chaotic storm hovering over the area.


    Just above the warehouse, hundreds of illusory pigeons scattered in erratic bursts, flapping blindly in every direction before vanishing into the horizon.


    Henry parked the car a few kilometers away from the warehouse, his usual steady hands gripping the wheel a bit too tightly.


    The area was eerily quiet, a flat expanse of dried grass stretching out in all directions. There wasn''t much here except a scattering of old buildings, likely homes to a few generational farmers. Rusting machinery stood idle in nearby fields, and a handful of cows grazed lazily, oblivious to the tension in the air. Or maybe they were just better at hiding their fear. To anyone else, it might have seemed unremarkable. The Likeness showed me what none could see—the wrongness that permeated everything. The land carried an unnerving stillness, like something horrible had gone wrong. There was a chill in the air—not the kind you''d expect from the weather, but something sharper, heavier. It hung over everything, making my skin crawl. This wasn’t just some abandoned warehouse—this was neutral ground for criminals, the kind of place where even the cops wouldn’t show up unless they had an army backing them. And random shadows flickering in distant only added to my unease. This mission wasn’t going to be simple—it was dangerous, maybe even reckless.


    We sat for a moment, staring out at the warehouse in the distance.


    After a moment of consideration, I turned to Vinico.


    "Vinico, split and get a closer look," I said firmly.


    The words had barely left my mouth when all eyes snapped toward him.


    Vinico froze, visibly startled by the sudden attention. His posture went rigid, his expression flickering between disbelief and annoyance.


    Suddenly, a couple dark figures loomed in the distance, tucked into shadows and alleyways, their movements subtle but unmistakable. They had already spotted us.


    I had no doubt weapons were trained on us, fingers resting on triggers, just waiting for the smallest excuse to turn this into a bloodbath.


    These people weren’t just dangerous—they were a reflection of humanity at its worst.


    Pitiful in one sense. Monstrous in another.


    Some were so far gone that even the police didn’t have records of their crimes. Killers, traffickers, zealots. Rumors whispered that some were the kind of people who would cut out a man’s heart and eat it while the body was still warm.


    I forced that thought aside. Focus.


    Vinico, still processing his new assignment, finally broke the silence.


    "Wait—why me?" he stammered, his shock written all over his face.


    I sighed. "Because you’re the best at recon. You can send a clone in first and stay back."


    "Oh, so now you care about strategy," Vinico muttered under his breath.


    "Didn’t you want to be a hero?" Gina teased, smirking at him. "Why are you complaining now?"


    Henry, who had been quiet up until now, grinned. "Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you."


    Vinico snapped his head toward him, glaring. "''Right behind me,'' my ass. Stop messing with my head."


    Henry laughed, but Vinico wasn’t amused.


    His eyes flicked to Lore, his last hope for an easy way out. "Why can’t you just blow them up from here?"


    Lore barely looked up, her voice calm as ever. "Too far. I don’t have a visual on all of them."


    Vinico groaned, dragging a hand down his face before reluctantly splitting into two identical copies. As Vinico’s copy moved to pull the car door, Lore’s hand shot up, fingers snapping in a sudden halt.


    "Hold on," she said.


    “Invisible,” Lore whispered.


    And just like that—Vinico’s copy vanished.


    It didn’t fade gradually. It didn’t blur like a mirage. It just—disappeared.


    Completely.


    The collective gasp that followed was instantaneous. Henry took an actual step back, eyes wide. Gina let out an audible "what the hell?", her expression split between shock and excitement. Even Alex, who rarely showed surprise, furrowed his brows.


    And then there was Vinico—the real one.


    Standing completely frozen, mouth agape, his brain visibly short-circuiting as he processed what had just happened.


    “Well, you should be safer now,” Lore said casually, as if this was no big deal.


    But before any of us could fully appreciate what had just happened, Vinico’s panicked voice broke the moment—


    "Wait, wait, wait—NO. I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING FROM MY COPY!"


    His voice pitched up, laced with frustration and rising panic. "The feedback is all white! It’s like staring into a damn lightbulb!"


    The amazement hanging in the air instantly dissolved, replaced by a collective realization that hit all of us at once. Another reminder that powers were never as simple as they seemed on the surface.


    Henry was the first to put it into actual words, his scientific mind already dissecting the problem.


    "The light''s passing straight through his retina," he said, his frown deepening as he pieced it together. "If nothing''s hitting the retina, no image can form. Makes sense." Leave it to Henry to make even power failures sound like a physics lecture.


    A beat of silence.


    Then—


    "Ohhh," Gina muttered, realization dawning. "Yeah, that would be a problem."


    We all nodded slowly, the novelty of the moment completely overshadowed by the practical nightmare it had just created.


    Lore let out a resigned sigh, shaking her head.


    "Well, that sucks," she muttered. Her expression resigned. “I don’t know what else I can do,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration as she flicked her hand to turn Vinico’s copy visible again. The moment the effect lifted, Vinico’s duplicate let out a relieved sigh, its expression mirroring the unease of the original standing a few feet away.


    Suddenly, Lore’s meta nature wasn’t as invincible as it seemed.


    Vinico didn’t seem fazed at all. With a casual gesture, he dissolved the first copy. Its form shimmered briefly before breaking apart into a faint haze and vanishing entirely. Without missing a beat, he created another duplicate beside him. The new copy stepped forward smoothly, as though it had always been there. I watched him work, and the thought crossed my mind: how many copies could he create before pushing his meta nature to its limit? The number had to be in the thousands. I’d seen him replicate like a swarm of bacteria during the guest house competition for rooms, spawning hundreds of duplicates in less than a second, and he’d done it effortlessly.


    He was, in every sense, a one-man army.


    Honestly, I reckoned Vinico alone could overwhelm every villain in the area through sheer numbers, his copies flooding the battlefield until there was nowhere left for anyone to hide.