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Chapter 36 - "The Price of Failure"

Inside the basketball court.

Simon carried Kaz forward, struggling.

"Damn… he's heavy!"

He looked up—

His sister Hana was surrounded.

Nine men.

She lashed out with elastic punches while they fired at her with guns and swung batons.

Simon dropped Kaz on the floor.

"I'll be back."

He vanished—like a flash.

"Hang on, sis… your big brother's coming."

Simon moved.

A blur.

He snatched four of them in an instant—the ones shooting at her—

Dragged them across the floor—

And slammed them together in a corner, tying them up.

At the same time—

She dropped three more with her

rubber punches.

"Take this!"

Two left.

One raised his gun and fired—

Before the bullet hit—

Simon flashed in, grabbed her, and rolled aside.

The shot hit his shoulder.

"Ah—damn it! Not again… every mission, I take a bullet…" he groaned in pain.

Her eyes burned.

Her arm stretched across the ground like a snake—

Wrapped around the first man's leg—

Slammed him down.

The second tried to shoot—

Click.

Out of ammo.

He turned to run—

Too late.

Her arm coiled around him too.

She lifted both men into the air, upside down, as they screamed.

"No one touches my brother!" she snapped, furious.

She hurled them—

Straight through a glass window.

The glass shattered.

Both men were thrown outside.

---

Outside—

Boris was fighting Victor's special forces.

Gunfire sparked against his metallic skin.

More enemies closed in.

Shock batons struck him from all sides.

For a moment—

Boris staggered.

---

Inside a cargo truck—

The twins woke up.

"Where are we?" Mick muttered.

"Those bastards hit us with tranquilizer darts…" Mickkel said.

"Let's teach them a lesson."Mick.

They stepped out—

And joined Boris in the fight.

Victor's men were tossed around like toys.

Their weapons weren't enough.

Boris blinked in shock.

"What?!"

Mickkel rolled into them like a ball—

Their bodies twisted horribly on impact.

"Retreat! Retreat!" the remaining soldiers shouted.

They tried to flee—

But suddenly—

Swarms of hornets attacked them.

It was Samado.

He stepped out from a nearby vehicle—the one they planned to transport him in—still shaking off the sedatives.

"Take this, you bitches!"

The twins laughed—deep, vicious laughter.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Boris broke into a wide grin.

"Awesome, guys! We're gonna be an unstoppable team—woooow!"

Mick turned, raising an eyebrow.

"…Huh? Who are you?"

"I'm Boris. Me and my friends came to rescue you."

"Oh… that's very kind of you. Thanks for the help," Mickkel said.

---

At that moment—

Samir was already walking away through the streets.

"Hey! Wait! Where are you going?! We didn't even get your name!" Boris called.

No response.

Samir disappeared.

Boris turned—

The twins were leaving too.

"Wait! Not you guys too! …We have a safe place to stay!"

"What did you say?" Mick stopped, turning back.

"We have a mutant village… a community for people like us. We protect each other. This city isn't safe for you."Boris.

Mickkel stepped in, his tone cold.

"Who said we're staying in this city? Thanks again… but we'll take care of ourselves."

He turned to his brother.

"Let's go. Hurry. I hear sirens."

Boris stood there, watching them leave—the ground trembling under their heavy steps.

"You didn't even tell me your names!"

Mick shouted from afar:

"Mick and Mickkel !"

They disappeared.

Police sirens and helicopters closed in.

Boris looked toward the sound.

"…They're late. What are they doing inside?"

---

Inside—

Ethan had taken down the last four of Victor's men who stayed behind to stall them.

He slammed one with a high-pressure water chain—dropping him instantly.

Simon entered, carrying Kaz.

His sister Hana followed.

"Wow… didn't know water could hit that hard," Simon joked.

"Where are the others?!" Hana asked.

"I don't know. Boris is probably outside. I thought you were with Khaled," Ethan said.

"He went after Victor… we don't know if he caught him," Hana replied.

Ethan noticed Kaz.

"Who's that?" he asked.

Simon struggled under the weight.

"This guy? …A rogue mutant. I barely stopped him. He was roasting people alive in the crowd."

Ethan nodded.

"Yeah… I remember. Victor's remaining forces escaped through that exit. They took some mutants with them."

He dashed forward.

"Let's go!"

Hana followed.

Simon lagged behind, carrying Kaz.

"Hey—help me! I can't run with him!"

---

They burst through the emergency exit—

And froze.

Police everywhere.

Helicopters overhead.

Simon arrived late, still carrying Kaz.

"You left me with him!"

Ethan and Hana stood there—

Staring.

Simon frowned.

"What?"

He turned—

The main entrance.

Boris was on the ground.

Standing over him—

Two 103 robots.

Humanoid.

Black bodies.

Red glowing lines pulsing—combat mode active.

A single red lens in the center of their heads scanned everything.

Helicopter lights flooded the area.

Police surrounded the place.

"…Oh no," Simon whispered.

"Where's Khaled?!" Ethan asked, tense.

---

Suddenly—

Connor burst in from another entrance.

Charging on all fours.

A monstrous amphibian form—

Blue scales.

Saw-like teeth.

Adamantium claws.

He rushed the machines.

Behind him—

Khaled.

"Connor! Wait!!"

The robots locked onto him.

Analysis: Age: 22–25

Gender: Male

Condition: Radiation-exposed

Ability: Amphibious beast

Mental state: Feral, non-negotiable

Conclusion: Head unarmored

Connor leapt—

High into the air—

But—

They fired tranquilizer darts straight at his head.

He dropped.

Right beside Boris.

At their feet.

Simon, Ethan and Hana stood frozen.

Then—

Khaled stepped forward.

A glowing, radiation-charged Doom axe in his hands.

"Damn… we're in real trouble. A solo attack won't work on these things. Where are the others?"

"Khaled!" Simon shouted, hopeful.

Khaled turned.

"Huh?!"

"Thank God you're here!"khaled.

They rushed to him.

"Where did those machines come from?" Ethan asked.

"Almy told me about a prototype… built by Japan and the U.S. I think this is it."khaled.

"All this… just for us? Wow… they must really love us," Simon joked nervously.

"Did you catch Victor?!" Hana asked.

"…No. He escaped."khaled.

"What?! How?!" Hana snapped.

"Great. Mission failed—and we're screwed," Ethan said.

Khaled cut them off sharply.

"Stop!"

"Focus. We deal with the robots. Then we get out."

---

A rapid-response unit rushed in—

Grabbed Boris and Connor—

Carried them toward a large transport vehicle.

The robots advanced.

"Surrender immediately. Hands behind your heads. Get on the ground."

Khaled spoke fast.

"Here's the plan."

---

Simon vanished—

A blur.

The robots tracked him—

Barely.

He appeared at a distance.

Locked.

Analysis: Age: 20–21

Gender: Male

Condition: Radiation-exposed

Ability: Extreme speed

Mental state: Tense

Conclusion: Slow him down or exhaust him

He moved again.

The robots sprayed a sticky substance across the ground.

Simon dodged—flashing in and out.

Gunfire rained around him.

Then—

A blast.

One robot was struck by Khaled's axe—

A spiraling yellow energy wave.

It exploded into pieces.

The second robot scanned—

Unknown destructive radiation detected.

It turned—

Khaled was already in the air.

Axe glowing.

He brought it down—

CRASH.

The robot shattered into metal fragments.

---

At the same time—

Ethan and Hana attacked the response unit.

Ethan formed a water wall—blocking bullets.

Hana stretched her arms—

Snatched Boris and Connor—

Yanked them free.

"Simon! Now! Distract them—I'll get the bus!" Khaled shouted.

He ran.

Simon flashed toward the police line.

---

Kaz woke up.

Confused.

"Where am I…?"

He saw the chaos—

Mutants fighting security.

He stepped back.

"…Yeah. I'm out."

He ran.

---

Simon disarmed officers at high speed.

Ethn formed a water dome around them—shielding everyone.

Bullets and helicopter fire hit the barrier.

Then—

One helicopter suddenly peeled away.

Ethan noticed.

"Simon—get in!"

He opened a gap.

Simon slipped inside, breathing hard.

"Need… a second…"

He dropped the guns.

"Careful. Your speed burns you out fast," Hana warned.

"Think Khaled's plan will work?"simon.

"Yes. Do your part—then rest."Hana.

Ethan looked up.

"Did you see that helicopter leave?"

"…Yeah. Feels like something's off," Simon said.

"Maybe they're chasing other mutants," Hana replied.

---

Then—

Khaled arrived—

Driving their armored team bus straight through.

Rear doors open.

The water barrier dropped.

"Now!" Ethan shouted.

Hana stretched—

Pulled herself into the bus—

Ethan grabbed her from the right, holding Connor, still unconscious—

On the left, Simon held Boris—

They were all pulled inside—

All five slammed onto the floor.

Doors shut.

"Wow… you pulled all of us in!" Simon said.

"What, you thought your sister was weak?" Hana smirked.

Khaled smashed through police cars—

Sending one spinning.

"Almy! Can you hear me?!"

"Yes! What happened? You disappeared!"Almy.

"We ditched comms for the element of surprise."khaled.

"…Thank God. I was worried."Almy.

"We're all okay."khaled.

"Did you get Victor?"Almy.

"…No."khaled.

"What?!"almy.

The chase began.

"Long story."Khaled looked into the side mirror and replied to Almy.

Police cars.

Sirens.

Helicopter overhead.

"Things are getting worse," Ethan muttered.

Almy heard his voice through the speaker. "Ethan?! …Are you okay?" she asked softly, worried.

"We're in trouble," Ethan said.

"We're being chased now. Send me coordinates of our location," Khaled said to Almy.

While he swerved the bus through a turn, the number increased.

Six black rapid-response vehicles joined the pursuit.

Inside the bus, Simon helped Boris sit down.

Boris winced in pain: "Those damn machines… I'm surprised they stopped me that easily."

"Not just you, they took Connor down just as easily," Simon replied.

Hana added: "It looks like they're analyzing our abilities with those lenses before attacking."

Connor was still unconscious in front of them.

At the front, Almy sent a coordinate map that appeared on the device screen.

Khaled looked at the map and muttered: "Great… we're lost in the capital."

"You're deep inside the capital of Novari. I've sent you an exit route… head south, you'll pass through Zevar City before reaching the forest regions," Almy said.

"And how long will that take?!" Khaled asked.

"You have about 25 kilometers to get out of the capital, and 15 kilometers to cross Zevar," Almy replied.

Ethan, sitting in front of Khaled, said with frustration and fear: "We're done for."

"We'll get out," Khaled said calmly.

He slammed the brakes—

Spun the bus—

Tires screamed—

Smoke filled the air—

The bus nearly tipped over.

"OH MY GOD!" Ethan shouted.

Inside—

Bodies slammed around.( Boris , Simon and Hana ) .

Connor's limp body flew across the floor.

Four response vehicles cut in front of the bus and hit the brakes too late.

The bus faced oncoming police cars.

"Alright… let's do this."

Khaled floored it.

Two black vehicles tried to block him—

He smashed through them—

Metal shattered.

Cars flipped aside.

Police swerved to avoid him.

One crashed into a shop—exploding debris everywhere.

"Did we lose them?" Ethan asked.

"…Not yet."

Khaled looked up.

"We need to take down that helicopter."

"Can't you lose it?"Ethan.

"…I've got an idea."khaled.

He shouted back.

"Guys! I need help!"

At the back, Simon and Hana held onto the right side of the bus, while Boris on the left held Connor, who was still unconscious.

"Next time, warn us before you pull that stunt!" Simon yelled.

Boris smirked.

"Man, you almost woke Connor from his nap."

Khaled's voice turned sharp.

"Focus. That helicopter's tracking us."

"How do we stop it?" Simon asked.

"Hana you can throw Boris at it. Hurry, open the roof."khaled.

"Ok, let's do that," Hana said.

Boris and Simon opened the metal roof from both sides.

"Ready?" Hana asked.

"Yeah. Let's go."Boris.

He touched the metal—

His skin hardened—turning into solid steel.

Hana stretched her arms—

Locked onto the bus edges—

Pulled back—

Like a slingshot.

And launched him—

A metal projectile.

He spun through the air—And she held onto him.

The helicopter pilot shouted:

"Object incoming!"

They swerved—

Boris missed—

But—

Hana snapped her arm back—

Yanked him—

He smashed into the tail rotor.

The helicopter lost control—

Spinning wildly—

Alarms blaring—

It crashed into a building—

Blowing out an entire floor.

Debris rained down Onto the pedestrians in the street.

Hana pulled Boris back into the bus.

---

"Nice work! Guys" Khaled said.

"We made it," Ethan smiled, watching the wreck in the mirror.

In the back—

Hana grabbed her shoulder.

"…Ow. That hurt."

Simon laughed.

"You just threw a whole tractor in the sky."

Everyone laughed.

---

The bus left the capital—

Entered Zefar's streets.

They avoided main roads.

They were avoiding main roads because of police cars here and there.

"Not far now," Khaled said. "We hit the forest road soon."

"Good," Ethan said.

Then paused.

"…Wait. Something's off."

"What?" Khaled asked.

"At first, there were two helicopters. When you went to get the bus and we stayed to distract the police, one of them left before you returned."Ethan.

Khaled went quiet.

"…Yeah. That is strange."

"By the way… how did Victor escape?" Ethan asked.

Silence.

Then—

"I was the reason he escaped."khaeld .

"What?!"Ethan.

Khaled's eyes went cold.

"I almost had him. Then I saw Connor… completely out of control. He slaughtered Victor man. Heads on the ground. Bodies everywhere. It was…"

Ethan had no words.

"…Wow."

"He would've killed Victor the same way. I had to stop him.

Victor took advantage of that moment and escaped.

Connor is a danger… even to innocents."khaled.

---

A roadside sign passed by:

"Leaving Zefar."

The sun was setting.

The bus sped down a long forest road—

Disappearing into the distance.

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