⌛ 71 Minutes After Integration
Ji-hoon's sneakers pounded against cracked asphalt as he fled through the alley. The System's augmented reality display burned in his vision:
```
[QUARANTINE ZONE ACTIVE]
» Hostiles: 17 Aberrations (400m radius)
» Safe Zone: Police Substation (650m NE)
» OMNI-CLONE STATUS: Ready (Soul Power: 28/100)
```
A scream echoed behind him—cut short by a wet crunch. He didn't look back.
Survival first. Questions later.
Ducking behind a wrecked delivery van, Ji-hoon activated:
```
[OMNI-CLONE PROTOCOL INITIATED]
» Soul Power: -30 → 0/100
» Stability: 71% (Minor Defects)
```
The clone materialized with:
- A missing left pinky finger
- A glitching right eye
Through their neural link, Ji-hoon issued commands:
[DIRECTIVES]
1. Scout safest route to substation
2. Engage only if necessary
3. Self-terminate at 50% damage
The clone nodded—
an emotionless marionette—
and slipped into the shadows.
Gunfire erupted ahead. Ji-hoon's vision doubled as the clone's sensory feed flooded his mind:
•Pain (Left shoulder graze)
•Muzzle flashes (Police-issue 9mm)
•A woman's shout: "Hold fire! It's not infected!"
The clone's distorted vision focused on:
OFFICER KANG
- Late 20s, police uniform in tatters
- Bleeding forearm, limping heavily
- System Tag:
[Last Defender - Law Enforcement Variant]
Her AR overlay flashed red:
```
[WANTED: LEE JI-HOON]
» Suspicion: Aberration Mimicry
» Orders: Terminate on Sight
```
The clone reacted instantly—grabbing a broken mirror to flash sunlight into her eyes.
"Scan me," it rasped.
Officer Kang's pistol stayed leveled as her System pinged:
```
[SCAN CONFIRMED]
» No infection detected
» Genetic match: LEE JI-HOON
» Anomaly: Omni-Clone Signature
```
Her combat stance faltered.
"What are you?"
The clone smiled Ji-hoon's own smile. "Disposable."
Then it dissolved into static.
When Ji-hoon arrived, Officer Kang's gun pressed against his forehead.
"Prove you're the original."
He showed her his bleeding palm—the same wound the clone had taken.
"We share damage. Convinced?"
Her System suddenly screamed:
```
[CRITICAL THREAT DETECTED]
» Designation: The Butcher (Stage 2 Aberration)
» Confirmed Kills: 11 System Users
» ETA: 90 seconds
```
Officer Kang's professionalism cracked. "Run. Now."
As they fled, Ji-hoon's Soul Power ticked upward:
```
[SOUL POWER: 14 → 18/100]
» Regen Rate: 1.1/min (Fatigue Penalty)
```
Enough for one desperate play.
Officer Kang tossed him a spare magazine. "Any experience with guns?"
"Just video games," he admitted.
Her retort died as the ground trembled.
Ji-hoon's System blared:
```
[OMNI-CLONE OVERRIDE]
» Survival Estimates:
□ Divert with Clone: 9%
□ Hide: 2%
□ Fight: 0.4%
» New Directive: RUN
```
Officer Kang racked her slide.
"Then we make our own odds."
Ji-hoon's fingers hovered over the clone command.
Time to gamble.
---