Elsewhere, Ron trailed the targets from a distance. The moment he spotted them, his foot slammed onto the accelerator. The engine roared as the men came to a halt in front of a sprawling, isolated farmhouse.
As the glare of the approaching headlights caught their attention, the men turned, but Ron was already gone. He teleported out of the driver's seat in a blur of motion. The driverless car, still screaming at top speed, hurtled toward the group. They dove clear at the last possible second, watching as the vehicle smashed through the farmhouse wall in a shower of brick and glass.
Before the men could even regain their footing, Ron appeared behind the leader. He delivered a single, devastating punch that drove the man into the earth. The ground shattered into a crater, and a geyser of crimson erupted like a fountain, staining Ron's white shirt.
The others rushed him, but the world went black before they could even blink. They collapsed into the mud, unconscious. Ron stood over them for a moment, the silence of the night broken only by the sound of falling rain hitting the blood-slicked grass. Without a word, he turned and headed into the house.
The Bottom Layer of the Universe
Deep in the subconscious of the cosmos, Mr. Gonzalez sat in heavy silence.
Gravo entered, carrying a tray of tea. He paused when he noticed a stranger seated across from his father. The man wore a long, heavy hood, but his silhouette was unmistakable—tall, athletic, and radiating a quiet strength that mirrored Mr. Gonzalez's own presence. He leaned back in his chair, head resting casually on his fist.
"Gonzalez," the man spoke, his voice deep and echoing with effortless authority. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," Mr. Gonzalez replied. "Just the way the wind is blowing these days."
"Tell me."
"Well, for years, figures like Black Heart and Rio stayed in the shadows. They were quiet. But ever since Ron woke up... they've been stirred into a frenzy."
The man nodded slowly. "Once a person loses themselves, it's hard to find the way back."
Mr. Gonzalez looked at him, surprised by the sentiment. The man took a deep breath and continued, "The people you mentioned—and the ones yet to crawl out of the dark—they don't see a man. They see a weapon to be claimed for their own benefit."
Mr. Gonzalez managed a small smile. "Don't tell me the great Xander is feeling pity."
Xander smirked, his eyes sharp under the hood. "I'm pitying the circumstances. The man deserves peace."
Mr. Gonzalez nodded as Gravo stepped forward, handing Xander a cup. Xander drained the tea in one smooth, disciplined motion.
"Xander, you should head back," Mr. Gonzalez said. "You should visit your Heronics worldline.
Xander stood, nodding. "Call if the tides turn."
Earth
Ron stepped into the overgrown garden. Near the corner, he stopped before a weathered stone. He sat beside it, his shadow long against the grass.
So, this is where Locki's wife rests, Ron thought.
He began to dig behind the marker. Within minutes, his fingers brushed against a small, reinforced box. On the lid, a name was etched: Scar's Lifeline.
He flipped it open to find a single envelope. Just as Ron turned to leave, a figure blocked his path. The left side of the man's face and torso were fused with a strange, shimmering material. Ron recognized him instantly.
Edward. And that metal... what is it?
Edward smiled, a cold, mechanical expression. "You thought a simple explosion could kill me?"
Ron's own lips curled into a smirk. "And you and your punks thought I couldn't sustain my powers."
Edward's smile vanished into a frown. "So, you can. An error in our intelligence, then." A holographic display projected from his cybernetic left eye. He tapped a few commands into the air before the screen flickered out.
Ron watched, unimpressed.
"Do you even know my abil—" Edward started, but Ron didn't let him finish.
Ron's fist collided with Edward's mouth mid-sentence. The force sent Edward reeling, but Ron didn't let go; he gripped Edward's face, ignited his flight, and slammed him downward with enough velocity to bury him eleven kilometers into the earth's crust.
Below the surface, Edward's cybernetic eye flared. A high-intensity laser beam sliced through the dark. Ron teleported instantly, appearing a safe distance away. Edward stabilized himself and rocketed back to the surface, searching frantically for his opponent.
He blinked, and suddenly a fist was there—encased in shimmering purple armor, inches from his nose.
BOOM.
The shockwave rattled the very air. Edward fell like a stone, but his new enhancements kicked in. He stabilized mid-air and lunged back at Ron, catching him off guard. Edward buried a punch into Ron's stomach, sending him crashing through a nearby building.
Edward touched down, breathing heavily. I've always prided myself on my endurance, he thought, and after the boost Foster gave me, I thought I was untouchable. But that punch... that actually hurt.
He looked at his arm, the light reflecting off the dull grey surface. Thanks to this body. Bist Metal—five hundred times more durable than tungsten.
He saw Ron emerging from the wreckage, looking more annoyed than hurt.
I have to be careful, Edward realized, his heart under the metallic body started racing. This guy really is a monster.