The Tek-Bok headquarters towered over the city like a second sun made of steel and glass.
Inside, the group was given a "tour."
But nothing in Tek-Bok was ever just a tour.
Rows of scientists worked behind reinforced barriers.
Massive containment vats pulsed with unknown energy.
At the center of the facility—
a prototype humanoid frame stood suspended.
ULTI – The Ultimate Robot System
A machine designed not to fight wars…
but to end them instantly.
A scientist smiled nervously.
"…System rebooting is in final calibration."
Ralph tilted his head.
"…Ooooh. Look, a vat."
Rey didn't answer.
His sniper rifle was already raised.
A single shot fired.
The bullet struck the white exoskeleton module hovering behind him—
It shattered instantly.
Not deflected.
Not blocked.
Just erased from impact logic.
"Lion's Barrage," Rey muttered.
A second volley followed immediately.
But the facility reacted.
Chains dropped from the ceiling.
The entire bridge structure shifted.
And slammed downward—
crushing the central walkway into the vat below.
Ralph stepped forward.
His presence alone cracked the steel floor.
With one motion—
he shattered Jhonathan's outer armor layer.
Not killing him.
Just breaking the protective structure apart.
Across the hall—
Menchie moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Indra, Mark, and Jessabelle were defeated before they could even coordinate.
"…What just happened?" Mark gasped.
Menchie didn't respond.
He was already gone.
The vat below began to dissolve the bridge.
A corrosive ooze spread upward.
Jhonathan slowly stood.
His expression unchanged.
"…I've never used this," he said quietly.
Phase 2: Mastery.
Time stopped.
Everything froze.
Water droplets.
Falling debris.
Even breath itself.
Jhonathan drew a sword.
Calm.
Precise.
One step forward—
He struck Menchie.
Instant knockout trajectory formed.
But—
a voice cut through frozen time.
"Arrivederci."
Ralph had moved.
Not breaking time.
But cutting the pause itself.
The frozen world shattered like glass.
Jhonathan's eyes widened for a fraction—
Then darkness.
Elsewhere
Jhonathan woke up.
Not on the battlefield.
Not in the facility.
But in someone's hands.
Warm light.
Soft mechanical movement.
A controlled medical chamber.
A girl leaned over him.
Tears already forming.
"…Jhonathan…"
He blinked.
"…Nica?"
Silence.
She smiled weakly.
"…You still remember."
A pause.
"I missed you."
Jhonathan slowly sat up.
His expression softened for the first time in a while.
"…You became a hero now, huh."
Outside the chamber—
Tek-Bok alarms continued to blare.
ULTI's system was still rebooting.
And somewhere in the facility—
something else began to wake up.