This was perhaps the worst ti to discover the weakness of Void.
From that brief attempt to block the bullet, Nicholas had already learned how terrifying the ability truly was.
An ability that ensured its user never missed a shot.
And because the ability had been activated from far beyond Void’s range of influence, Nicholas had no way to stop the bullets.
It felt as though ti itself had slowed.
The air twisted into spirals around the projectile as it tore forward, moving faster than sound.
In that split second, Nicholas made a decision.
The strange energy suppressing everyone’s abilities suddenly vanished.
In an instant, the space around them twisted violently, swallowing them whole.
The room disappeared.
The building disappeared.
And the next mont, they reappeared outside on the street.
"Supervisor Selena, are you safe?" Nicholas asked the mont his feet touched the tarred road.
"I’m fine," Selena replied, trying to steady her breathing. Even she had been caught off guard by the sudden attack.
She turned to look at Nicholas, but the mont her eyes landed on him, they widened in alarm.
"Watch out!"
Nicholas’s instincts exploded into action.
He didn’t turn.
He didn’t even bother looking back.
Almost as though he possessed a sixth sense, he imdiately released Hexi from his grip and threw his arm behind him.
The incoming fist collided with his palm.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted from the impact.
The ground beneath Nicholas’s feet cracked apart as the force traveled through his body. Dust burst into the air, and the surrounding street trembled under the collision.
Only then did Nicholas finally raise his eyes.
Standing before him was a figure ford entirely from shadow.
A figure that looked exactly like him.
’Is that... ?’ he thought, staring at the shadow that mirrored his appearance perfectly.
Behind it, Shadow stood with her small hands clenched tightly at her sides, her gaze fixed on Nicholas. The mont Void had been released, she had acted.
’Is that her ability?’
Nicholas didn’t have ti to dwell on it.
The shadow twisted sharply, its leg whipping through the air in a devastating kick aid straight at his head.
Nicholas imdiately released the fist and leaped backward.
The kick swept past his face by re inches.
He could afford to take a kick from soone else.
A kick from himself, however, was another matter entirely.
As Nicholas landed several ters away, the shadow didn’t pursue him. Instead, it turned and retreated toward Shadow, who stood staring at him with a fearful gaze.
She hurried over to Hexi, who had fallen onto his backside when Nicholas released him.
"Hexi, let’s leave. Sir Sniper helped us. We can’t face him. He can stop us from using our abilities," Shadow said, her eyes trembling with fear as she looked toward Nicholas.
’His shadow is strong... too strong...’ she thought, gritting her teeth.
Maintaining it was draining every ounce of energy she had.
"You’re right. We should leave," Hexi agreed as he pushed himself to his feet and dusted off his clothes. He walked over to Shadow, his expression unusually serious.
Nicholas was about to dash forward.
"If you try to stop us, all of you will die." Hexi’s voice cut through the night.
His eyes sharpened with genuine killing intent as he spoke.
Nicholas took a step forward.
And following his step, a sharp sound suddenly tore through the air.
BOOM!
The tarred road beside him exploded apart instantly.
"Shit!"
Bolt, who had been about to dash forward as well, dropped to one knee as the bullet ripped straight through his thigh. Blood imdiately began pooling from the wound.
’A warning.’
Nicholas glanced toward the towering buildings in the distance.
He could tell the sniper was still watching them.
The problem was that he had no idea where exactly the shooter was hiding.
And if he abandoned the others to pursue him, they would be left at the rcy of Hexi, Shadow, and the shadow clone that possessed his own abilities.
Selena’s expression darkened as she looked at the shattered road and Bolt’s bleeding leg.
’This is bad.’
’We don’t even know where he’s attacking from, and we’re completely at the rcy of the attackers.’
"I already asked him not to kill anyone anymore," Hexi said calmly. "But if you try to keep us here, he’ll kill all of you."
"Bold of you to bring up that offer," Nicholas replied coldly, his eyes locked onto the two children. "The both of you can die at any mont as well."
The words lodged themselves in Hexi’s throat.
His eyes widened slightly with terror as he stared at Nicholas.
’He’s strong.’
’When he grabbed my neck, it felt like he could’ve snapped it whenever he wanted.’
’He’s not joking.’
’If he says he can kill us, then he can.’
"But..." Hexi swallowed nervously.
"Even if you kill us, you’ll have to risk killing the others as well. I’m sure you don’t want that."
For the first ti since they had t him, his face was completely serious.
There was no laughter.
No madness.
No childish excitent.
Only caution.
For the first ti, Hexi felt he was speaking to soone he couldn’t joke with.
Nicholas glanced back at Selena and the others.
The fear written across their faces was impossible to miss.
Even Julie, who was usually overflowing with excitent and energy, now wore a pale expression.
It was understandable.
They had just watched two heroes die.
Another had been shot through the leg before anyone could react.
And even now, they remained exposed to an invisible sniper who could pull the trigger at any mont.
The livestream chat reflected the sa frustration.
[EventfulMars: Shit! This is ssed up. They really can’t do anything.]
[K_Marrero9737: They really ca prepared, didn’t they?]
[DarkSumo: To think these guys would actually pull sothing like this.]
The comnts continued pouring in, the observers all watching in frustration.
The air itself seed thick with tension.
Their enemies stood right in front of them.
Yet they couldn’t stop them.
Seeing that Nicholas still hadn’t moved or spoken, Shadow didn’t waste any more ti.
The shadow clone slowly dissolved into the ground, lting into a puddle of thick darkness.
Keeping their eyes fixed on Nicholas, Hexi and Shadow stepped into it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Every second felt agonizing.
As though Nicholas might suddenly make a move.
As though he might appear right in front of them before they could escape.
Neither of them relaxed for even a mont.
Only when their bodies had completely disappeared beneath the shadows did they finally let out a breath of relief.
The puddle vanished.
And the two were gone.
The instant they disappeared from sight, Nicholas vanished as well.
The space around him twisted.
A mont later, he appeared on a distant rooftop.
But he was already too late.
Jack was sinking into the shadows.
Only his upper body remained visible.
"Oh, so you figured out where I was." Jack chuckled.
"Oh well."
A lazy smile appeared beneath his mask.
"See you next ti, Phantom."
His head slowly disappeared beneath the shadows.
Then he was gone.
Silence returned to the rooftop.
"A hitman" Nicholas muttered, looking at the spot Jack had disappeared into.
He stood alone beneath the moonlight, its pale glow casting a long shadow across the concrete.
The night breeze swept past him.
Cold.
Silent.
Phantom had failed his first mission.
And that night...
Two heroes were recorded dead.
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