The stillness of the night was shattered as the Reavers descended upon the clearing. Clad in reinforced exo-suits, each Reaver was a blend of man and machine, weapons of destruction integrated directly into their bodies. Their leader, Pierce, strode forward with the cold assurance of a predator.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be," Pierce's voice was like gravel, each word heavy with intent. "You're coming with us, Jade. Resist, and we'll take your friends apart piece by piece."
Logan stepped forward, his claws gleaming in the dim moonlight, his face set in a grimace. "You're welcome to try, but I'm betting on the kid."
Deadpool, his signature grin never fading, cracked his knuckles and twirled his katanas in an almost lazy fashion. "Ooh, a threat! How original. Honestly, Pierce, you've got to spice up your lines. Maybe throw in some glitter next time?"
Jade, now standing tall, his eyes glowing a silvery hue, surveyed the incoming threat. "Come at me," he said with quiet determination. "I'm not going anywhere."
Pierce narrowed his eyes. "So be it. Reavers, execute!"
In an instant, the battlefield erupted into chaos. Jade moved like a blur, his body a symphony of borrowed powers, instincts honed from his training with Logan and Deadpool. His claws, infused with Logan's animalistic ferocity, sliced through the air, cutting down Reaver after Reaver. Sparks flew as steel met flesh and bone, but Jade moved with precision, each strike calculated and lethal.
The first Reaver to engage him raised a plasma gun, but Jade was already on him, deflecting the shot with a burst of energy he had absorbed from a previous encounter. The blast bounced off harmlessly, hitting another Reaver and sending him crashing to the ground. Jade didn't stop. He pushed forward, dodging, weaving, his body flowing with a dangerous fluidity.
Deadpool was in his element. Katanas flashing, he sliced through the enemies with ease, making snarky comments between each strike. "Heads up! And no, I don't mean the bullet kind."
He tossed a grenade into the middle of a group, the explosion sending them flying, their bodies crumpling in midair. "Phew. That was satisfying. Like a piñata filled with 'I told you so'."
Logan was all business. His claws slashed with brutal efficiency, and each move was a lesson in raw aggression. He tore through the Reavers' armor like tissue paper, his rage palpable. "Get in my way," he growled, "and you won't walk away."
But despite their combined efforts, the Reavers were relentless, and their numbers didn't seem to dwindle fast enough. Jade could feel the weight of the battle pressing on him, the strain of sustaining so many powers starting to take its toll.
Just as it seemed the tide might turn in favor of the Reavers, a sudden shift in the air drew their attention. A dark figure appeared on the edge of the clearing, their silhouette barely visible against the night. There was something unnerving about their presence, a chilling force that seemed to bend the atmosphere around them.
With a flick of their hand, the entire battle froze.
Jade, Deadpool, Logan, and the Reavers were held in place by an invisible grip. Their limbs were frozen mid-motion, but their minds were alert, aware of the sudden danger.
"Who—?" Logan growled, his eyes narrowing. "What's this?"
The figure stepped forward, their form coalescing from the shadows, revealing an almost ethereal being, tall and cloaked in darkness. Their face was obscured by the shadows, but their crimson eyes gleamed with cold, malevolent intelligence.
"Enough," the figure said, their voice carrying a weight that seemed to echo in the minds of all present. "This battle is beneath me. But it is... intriguing."
Pierce's mechanical limbs whirred as he struggled against the unseen force. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice strained.
The figure turned toward him, their eyes flashing. "You do not matter. I have no interest in you, Pierce."
With a single gesture, Pierce was thrown aside like a ragdoll, crashing into a nearby tree, his body crumpling on impact.
The figure's eyes shifted toward Jade, locking onto him with a piercing intensity. "You... You are the one I've been watching. The one who can carry the burden of power without breaking." Their voice was softer now, laced with an unsettling curiosity. "But how long will it last?"
Jade's claws twitched as he regained control of his body. "Who the hell are you?"
The figure tilted their head, almost amused. "Names are fleeting. But you may call me Umbriel."
"Umbriel?" Deadpool echoed, looking at the figure with equal parts confusion and intrigue. "Okay, that's... creepy. And I thought I was the weird one."
Umbriel ignored him, their gaze focused solely on Jade. "Power like yours is a gift and a curse. You can mimic abilities, steal strength... but every power comes with its own price."
Jade gritted his teeth. "I'm not scared of you."
Umbriel's smile was cold, almost knowing. "You should be. But fear is not what you'll need to survive. It's control."
With a snap of their fingers, the Reavers were vanished into the ether, their forms dissolving into shadows. The battlefield fell into an eerie silence, the only sound the soft rustling of the wind through the trees.
"Leave now, and you will live," Umbriel said, turning away from Jade and the others. "Stay, and I will show you just how fragile your existence truly is."
Before anyone could react, Umbriel dissolved into the shadows, leaving nothing behind but a lingering chill in the air.
***
The Reavers were gone. The threat had seemingly vanished as quickly as it had arrived. Logan stood, his claws still extended, his gaze locked on the spot where Umbriel had been.
"That wasn't an ordinary mutant," Logan muttered, his voice low with unease.
Deadpool shrugged, sheathing his katanas. "No kidding, genius. I'm just happy I'm still in one piece. But seriously, shadow powers? Who does that?"
Jade remained silent, his mind racing. The weight of Umbriel's words hung in the air. Power is a gift and a curse. You can mimic abilities, steal strength... but every power comes with its own price.
Logan's voice brought him back to the moment. "Jade, you alright?"
Jade nodded, though his mind was far from at ease. "I don't know what just happened. But I know one thing for sure."
Deadpool raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Jade's eyes hardened, his silvery glow deepening. "I'm not done yet. And neither is whatever the hell Umbriel is."
Logan gave him a nod of approval. "We'll deal with it. Together."
As the trio stood in the clearing, the tension in the air was palpable. The battle had ended, but a new threat had emerged from the shadows. One that would test their strength, resolve, and willingness to sacrifice everything to survive.
And they would have to face it.