Crucially, Hawk had become interested in the project itself... or rather, in the core "products" of the project.
He didn't inform John Lane or Andy of his specific operational plan, merely saying he was going to "take care of Bates Capital's loose ends."
72 hours ago...
Hawk's operation was swift and devastating.
Leveraging the superior physicality provided by Comprehensive Enhancement, the high mobility of Flight, the near-immunity to base defensive weaponry—and the ability to empower himself—granted by Energy Absorption, and the power of his Heat Ray, which sliced through alloy doors like a hot knife through butter.
Hawk unleashed a precise "natural disaster" inside the base. His goal was the core testing zone.
And then, he met her.
Goo Ja-yoon.
The first-generation Witch.
Combat Rating: T0.
She emerged from the ruptured liquid of her cultivation tank and the flashing red alarm lights, like a newly quenched, malevolent blade drawn from its sheath. Her eyes were vacant and cold, yet her movements possessed an inhuman fluidity and lethal beauty. There were no words, only the eruption of pure, long-suppressed killing instinct.
A telekinetic shockwave strong enough to tear apart a tank. The air condensed into invisible blades at her fingertips.
It was a tough fight!
Hawk swore this was absolutely the strongest opponent he had ever encountered, period. She was dozens of times stronger than the four members of the Tow Squad who had appeared in New York combined. It was absurd!
Hawk found himself in a fierce struggle. His Energy Absorption field endured immense pressure, and his Heat Ray was deflected again and again by her unnervingly flexible maneuvers and powerful psionic shield. Her level of strength, speed, psionic ability, and combat instinct were terrifying.
To end the fight quickly, Hawk was forced to use his two reserved Skill Cards.
[Heat Ray Lv1 → Lv2]
[Energy Absorption Lv1 → Lv2]
Vwoom!
Hawk instantly flared, unleashing an energy pulse burst that covered a good portion of the core area, forcibly shattering Goo Ja-yoon's relentless attack rhythm. The instant she was momentarily rigid from the energy shock, Hawk closed the distance.
His punches moved so fast they left afterimages, slamming heavily into Goo Ja-yoon's crossed forearms. The sheer force cracked the alloy floor beneath her feet. This was immediately followed by a barrage of close-quarters combat. Goo Ja-yoon's vaunted speed and telekinesis were outmaneuvered under the complete suppression of Hawk's mastery of pre-cognition, power, speed, and energy defense.
"Bang!" A cunningly angled side-kick, bursting with absorbed energy, sent Goo Ja-yoon flying backward to smash against a heavy alloy wall, leaving a human-shaped indentation.
She slid down, landing on one knee, violently gasping for breath, a mouthful of blood spitting out. For the first time, intense emotions—shock, unwillingness, and a hint of… confusion?—flickered in her vacant eyes.
Hawk stood over her, looking down. His breathing was slightly ragged, but his gaze remained cold and sharp. He extended his hand, dangerous energy crackling on his palm. "You can keep going, until I shatter you completely, or…"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating force. "Come with me. Leave this cage. Leave the people who treat you like a tool. I need power, but I won't use you as a consumable. You can… choose to be yourself."
Goo Ja-yoon looked up, her blood-stained face looking particularly fragile in the flashing red alarm light. Her empty eyes fixed on Hawk, seemingly trying to discern the truth in his words, weighing the cost of further resistance. The forced obedience protocols implanted within her body fiercely clashed with her yearning for freedom.
After a moment of silence, her tense body slowly relaxed, the ferocity in her eyes gradually fading, replaced only by deep exhaustion and a faint… curiosity about the unknown?
She asked a question:
"Can I... go clubbing... and drink fake alcohol?"
Hawk nearly lost his composure, his mouth twitching. He wanted to ask, 'Why not real alcohol? We can afford it!' But he finally just nodded. Fake alcohol usually gives a quicker buzz, and Goo Ja-yoon likely had a high metabolism and couldn't get drunk on real liquor, so she wanted to try the fake stuff...
Goo Ja-yoon didn't say anything, she just lowered her eyelids, which was tacit acceptance of Hawk's proposal.
Finding the second-generation Witch, Shin Si-ah, was much easier. She looked a year or two younger than Goo Ja-yoon and was confined in a more "comfortable," yet more heavily guarded, observation room, like a delicate doll.
Hawk, having read the source material, knew that this second-generation Witch was an even more terrifying entity than the first. She possessed not only a physical body and close-combat abilities comparable to the first generation's, but also greatly enhanced telekinetic powers.
At the moment, her eyes were clear but filled with deep fear, like a startled fawn. Hawk didn't show any force. He used his Calm Mind with a gentle touch, along with a simple promise:
"Don't be afraid. The outside world is big. There's sunshine, ice cream, and freedom. Do you want to come see it with me?"
The young girl's defenses crumbled before pure kindness. She timidly nodded and proactively took the hand Hawk offered.
Hawk violently removed the miniature trackers implanted in their bodies, then, using the disguised identities and cargo ship routes prepared by Andy, he quietly brought the two girls, who possessed astonishing power, back to the United States… The entire process was like a flawless magic trick.
When the private jet landed at the secret airfield on the outskirts of New York, John Lane and Andy were already waiting in the hangar. John merely raised an eyebrow when he saw the two girls trailing behind Hawk—one icy, the other timid—then he strode forward and hugged Hawk tightly. "Glad you're back safe."
His gaze swept over Goo Ja-yoon and Shin Si-ah with scrutiny but no malice. "And these two are…?"
"Goo Ja-yoon and Shin Si-ah," Hawk introduced. "They need a fresh start." He didn't elaborate on the details.
Andy offered a sophisticated smile. Her eyes scanned the residual restraint marks on Goo Ja-yoon's wrists and Shin Si-ah's clear but anxious eyes. She said calmly, "Welcome to New York, ladies."