The air inside the Phantom HQ training facility was thick with tension—and the stench of sweat, gunpowder, and testosterone.
Derek stood in the middle of the room, shirt half torn, knuckles bloodied. Not from his own wounds, but from the three men groaning on the floor around him.
"So this is the test," he muttered, cracking his neck. "I thought you guys wanted me to join, not make your crew sign up for a funeral service."
From the viewing deck above, Shinji watched with his arms crossed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Beside him, Hollist slammed his palm against the railing.
"You're telling me you made this psycho fight three of our guys barehanded? He just put Marco in a coma—with a damn headbutt!"
Shinji didn't even flinch. "We need someone unbreakable. A living monster," he said, eyes still on Derek. "You can't train a monster with push-ups and paperwork."
He turned and started toward the exit. "And looks like we just found one." His voice echoed as the door shut behind him.
Down below, Derek crouched beside one of the downed men, studying the terrified look in his eyes. "You've got soft hands," he said casually. "Better take up crochet next time."
Then he looked up at the camera and flashed a grin. "So… when do I get my cool gear and one of those juicy deadly missions?"
Up on the deck, Hollist exhaled through his nose, lighting a cigarette as he walked toward the microphone. "Just get outta there and head to the gear room." He pressed the red button that unlocked the door.
Outside the training hall, Derek strolled into the corridor like he owned the place."Well, well, well," he said, spreading his arms. "Look who passed the board exam."
The crew all turned toward him. Hollist's jaw tightened. Riles looked unimpressed. Shinji gave a small, knowing smirk. Fred bowed slightly.
"Well done, Mr. Derek," Shinji said, clapping twice. "Fred—show him his gear."
Fred nodded, walked over to a lever, and pulled it down. A metallic door slid open with a loud screech.
As the doorway revealed the room beyond, Shinji stepped inside and gestured grandly. "This," he said, "is the gear I've been working on for two years."
Hollist blinked, disbelief flickering across his face. "Wait—you made this? And he's the one who gets it?" He jabbed a thumb toward Derek. "I've been here five years, and all I got was a revolver and a heat sensor."
Shinji folded his arms. He knew this would sting."This gear only fits someone who doesn't fear death," he said evenly.
Derek chuckled and looked at Hollist with a smirk that could start a war.Hollist snapped—grabbing Derek by the collar and lifting him up.
"Don't you dare smirk at me," he hissed. "You don't know a damn thing about me."
"Beginner's luck," Derek replied, grinning.
Hollist's fist tightened, ready to swing, but Shinji's voice cut through the room."That's enough!"
Hollist shoved Derek down, his glare burning with resentment.
Memories flashed behind his eyes—New York's highway massacre, 1,756 lives gone, including his mother and little sister. The reason he'd joined The Phantom in the first place.Five years of grueling training, all to avenge them—and yet, when it mattered, he couldn't kill. Couldn't even pull the trigger.
Right. I couldn't even kill a drug addict. I can't hurt a damn fly.
His eyes darted to Derek—standing there, relaxed, smirking, like death was just a joke to him.Of course they'd pick him. He looks like the kind of guy who sleeps with chaos.
To Hollist, that gear represented everything he'd worked for—respect, redemption, recognition. But now, it all felt meaningless. Like watching a wall he'd built for years get smashed to dust.
"Hollist," Shinji said carefully. "I know you're disappointed, but… it just doesn't fit you."
Hollist bit his lip, swallowing the frustration clawing up his throat."It's fine," he muttered. "I can't kill, anyway. Guess it makes sense."
"There are times standards don't meet your—"
"I need some air," Hollist interrupted, already turning toward the door.
He walked out without looking back.Fred closed his eyes in silence. Derek watched the metal door shut.And Shinji stood there, staring after Hollist, a faint flicker of regret crossing his face.
After Hollist leaves the gear room, the atmosphere turned heavy. Shinji stared at the closed metal door for a moment; Fred was cleaning the coffee cups, pretending not to notice the tension.
"Someone's got anger issues, you sure he won't shoot me in my sleep?" Said Derek, smirking.
Shinji doesn't answer. Instead, he looked at Fred, arms crossed, "Prepare the live combat simulation."
"...But sir, we haven't used that after the incident." Fred paused from cleaning the cups for a moment. "Remember when Hollist was the one who failed the test himself, our simulation projected hostages that looked like his family. He shot one of his teammates that time."
"I know, but we really need a monster right now. I know Derek's a little bit of a sociopath... but I know he can help Hollist to avenge his family." Shinji responded his voice low.
Derek walks up to them, "I really can't wait right now," He interjected.
Shinji's gaze drifted to Derek then back to Fred. He nodded his head telling Fred to start the simulation.
Fred, bowed his head before putting the cup and cloth down. "Mister Derek please proceed wearing the gear."
"Sweet — what do you call this thing again?" Derek asked looking at the gear.
Shinji smugged as he placed his hand on the gear creating a faint clank sound, "A prototype exo-suit designed by me. Made from lightweight nano-titanium with adaptive plating. Responds to the wearer's heartbeat — the faster it beats, the stronger it gets," He said sounding proud.
"Cool," Derek replied his eyes observing the gear.
Meanwhile
Somewhere inside the huge mansion Shinji owns. Hollist, was lying down his bed staring at the ceiling; his mind racing and his fist clenching.
He closed his eyes — then suddenly.
A flash of memory burned through the dark—
A house engulfed in flames. A broken family portrait shattered on the floor. Smoke choking the air.
"Sweetie, stay here with your brother," his mother said, voice trembling.
"M-Mom, I'm scared," his little sister whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Gunfire and explosions thundered outside. Screams filled the hallways.
"Mom… please just hide with us," young Hollist begged, his voice breaking.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy and slow, right outside the door.
His mother dragged a chair across the floor and wedged its back under the doorknob.
The footsteps grew louder.
Closer.
Then—BANG!
The door rattled.
His mother flinched, pressing her back against it.
"Don't make a sound," she whispered, voice shaking as she turned toward her kids.
"Whatever happens, stay down, okay?"
The second bang shattered the chair. The door swung open, smoke and shadows rushing in. Three masked men in tactical gear stepped through, rifles raised.
"Targets confirmed," one of them said coldly.
"Run!" his mother screamed, pushing Hollist and his sister behind the bed. She grabbed a kitchen knife from the dresser, swinging wildly—desperate, trembling.
A gunshot cut through the air.
She fell.
"MOM!" Hollist cried out, his voice cracking as he crawled to her. His little sister froze, her small hands trembling.
The men started firing again, spraying bullets through the smoke. Hollist dove over his sister, covering her with his own body.
"Please… don't move… stay quiet…" he whispered, choking on tears and gunpowder.
Then, another deafening blast—
The window shattered.
The roof caved in from an explosion outside.
Heat swallowed the room.
When Hollist opened his eyes, everything was red. The men were gone. The air was thick with smoke.
He pushed himself up, coughing hard. His sister lay beside him—motionless.
"No… no, no, no…" he muttered, pulling her into his arms. Her small hand slipped from his.
His mother's body was only a few feet away, her hair burned, her face half-lit by the fire.
Hollist screamed until his throat bled, hugging them both as the fire crawled closer.
Moments later, the wall collapsed—
And a man in a dark coat appeared through the smoke. Shinji.
"Child, I'm gonna tell you something — this will give you enough strength in the future to avenge your parents."
Shinji kneeled down, leveling Hollist's gaze, "You're a brave boy."
He covered his mouth with a cloth, grabbed Hollist by the arm, and pulled him out of the burning house.
Hollist kicked, screamed, begged to go back, but Shinji didn't let go.
By the time they reached the outside, everything was gone—his family, his home, his world.
That night, the boy died inside, a soldier was born.
"Hollist," Riles called him outside his room.
"Riles," Hollist relied.
"Shinji wants to talk to you, he's waiting for you in the gear room."
He slowly got up from the bed, clutching his head. "Hm, tell him I'll be there in a sec."
Back at the door gear room; Shinji and Fred was left alone. The place is filled with quietness, punctuated by the sound of holograms buzzing noise.
"Are you sure about this, Sir?" Fred asked while he cleans the cups.
Shinji narrowed his eyes as he crack his middle finger using his thumb.
"Yes, Fred…" He muttered, "I know Derek would help him avenge his parents."
"Not to be so rude, Sir," Fred scoffed mid-cleaning, "Why are you more concerned about Hollist's experience during 'The 2007 New York Incident'? Don't you want to avenge your brother's death during '2004 Tokyo Blackout'?"
"There's nothing I can tell you about that." Shinji replied his voice became stern.
"Apologies, Sir."
The metal door slowly opens; Hollist, entered the gear room. His eyes looked tired, hairs messy, and voice raspy. "You summoned me for what?"
"We have to make an agreement, Hollist," Shinji spoke in a stern voice as he took a few steps to walk closer to him, "I can give you X18's new gear."
"X18?" Hollist pondered for a bit until he realized. "You're Artificial Intelligence robot who can't communicate properly?"
"Never underestimate him, I don't have time to program his communicating skills so… I'm letting you use it," Shinji responded
"Okay? Uhm — what's the agreement?" Hollist asked.
"You and Derek will be partners," Shinji concluded.
"THAT GUY!'" He exclaimed.
Hollist couldn't believe what he's hearing, "That man I almost punched in the face —"
"Hollist!" Shinji walked closer with furrowed eyebrows, "I believe… I believe he can help you avenge your parents."
"You want revenge right? Now's your chance," he added.
Meanwhile.
Riles entered Derek's room; as soon as he entered, a strong pungent odor went inside his nose as if he was being punched in the nose.
It was Derek's feet resting on the table beside his bed.
"What the hell is that!?" Riles asked, yelling.
"So sorry about that, I'd make sure I'll clean my socks next time," Derek replied.
"Well give it to me and I'll clean it tomorrow," He said, pinching his nose, "Speaking of socks, Shinji, made an agreement with Hollist and you."
Derek's gaze shifted to Riles as he trims his toenail. "Hm?"
"You two will become partners whether you like it or not."
"Either," He stood up from his bed and walked toward Riles, "That's not a problem at all, I can keep up with Mister Envy."
Derek placed his pair of dirty socks on Riles shoulder before picking up the towel from the hanger beside the door.
"I'd make sure Hollist has a good partner," He smirked then walked outside his room.
Riles just stood there pinching his nose; he tried to move his fingers away from his nose, as soon as he smelled the socks on his shoulder, he gagged.
Back at the gear room.
"Make a choice, Hollist," Shinji reached out his hand to give Hollist the code to X18's room.
Hollist bit his lips before taking the paper from Shinji's hand, "Whatever," he took it and proceeds to go to X18's gear upstairs.
"Yeah, one more thing…"
Hollist paused.
"Tomorrow's your mission."
He nodded then walked away.