As the sun dipped below the horizon, a dark shroud enveloped the city, casting long shadows across the streets. In the dim glow of the streetlights, Carlos, also known as Overdrive, crouched behind a dumpster at the edge of a deserted alley.

  The signal he had been tracking for the whole day pulsed faintly before him, guiding him toward an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. With a determined glimmer in his eyes, he knew this was the moment he had prepared for.

  With the soft hum of city life slipping away, Carlos focused his mind, tapping into the super speed that coursed through him like electricity. In an effortless blur, he darted across the street, his movements barely a whisper against the night air.

  As he approached the warehouse, he took a moment to survey his surroundings. The flickering light from the warehouse windows offered a glimpse of movement inside, and he noticed two guards patrolling the entrances. Their casual chatter mingled with the occasional clank of machinery within, but Carlos remained undeterred.

  Using his enhanced speed and agility, Carlos expertly scaled the side of the building, his fingers finding small crevices in the brickwork. As he reached the roof, he crouched low, watching the guards from his high vantage point. He felt the thrill of adrenaline, knowing he needed to time his entrance perfectly. With a deep breath, he shifted into motion again, racing across the rooftop to a section where the roof sagged slightly. He stopped just above a window, peering down through the glass.

  Inside, the warehouse was surprisingly organized, tables lined with futuristic devices that pulsed softly with energy. A small group of men and women in lab coats hovered over a holographic display, their faces taut with concentration. Carlos's resolve hardened. These were the people that had come to work for Cybosis. Though it's a little odd since he usually works alone.

  After observing for a moment, Carlos dropped silently through the opened window, landing with catlike grace. He immediately melded into the shadows, his steady heartbeat the only sound in his ears. With each passing second, he scanned the room, ensuring he wouldn't draw the attention of the guards. He flicked on the body cam attached to his collar, activating the recording function while keeping his breath steady.

  Just as he settled into a hiding spot behind a large crate, the creaking of the warehouse's main doors broke the tense atmosphere. Carlos peered around his hiding place to see who was entering. The door swung open, revealing a tall figure clad in a long, dark trench coat —none other than Dr. Cybosis, the notorious genius madman who took Voltaris and stunned him earlier. Though he doesn't seem to be wearing his armor from before.

  Dr. Cybosis stepped inside with an air of authority, his sharp features illuminated by the harsh fluorescent light as he surveyed the room. “All right, everyone,” his deep voice sliced through the silence, “we have little time, remember, we have to look presentable for our new benefactors.”

  “Is it one of the Forerunners again sir?” said one of his people. This being a normal looking man dressed in standard clothing you expect from a lab assistant.

  “Oh right, uh, sorry I forgot to mention it to you Aikor but no it's actually someone quite new” Cybosis mentioned.

  The crew of people then went to work and got the environment tidy enough to look presentable, meanwhile Carlos was still hiding behind a bunch of crates then a few minutes later, a group of cars drove into the compound and out of them emerged several women and men with the leader amongst them seeming to be a very tall (around 6:3) pale skinned woman with purple eyes wearing a lovely blue and white dress as well as sunglasses.

  Cybosis nods to her and says enthusiastically. “Ah Verdict. Welcome my friend, come in, come in, we have a lot to talk about today”.

  Verdict smiled as she shifted into a more grey skinned form with her tattoos exposed but still wearing her original clothes. She walks in while replying back to him, her eyes seemed to be intrigued but hollow at the same time strangely.

  “Nice to see you are as energetic as ever, Eraqus.I assume it isn't just because of Voltaris capture”

  As she walked in, the other men and women who worked for Dr Cybosis were surprised at both her appearance and height but Verdict people had no reaction and were watching stoically but one of them became suspicious for some reason and began looking around a bit but stopped and ignored it.

  ‘What the hell? Verdict?! But I thought she was gone,’ Overdrive thought to himself. He remembered the tattooed woman was a simple thief that robbed jewelry stores and made grand heists using her superpowers. Why would she be working with Dr Cybosis? And what the hell could she offer to him?

  Verdict looks over the rows of technology arranged on the tables with a casual but pleasant look, almost as if she was shopping rather than purchasing weapons and tech of mass destruction.

  “This is all impressive but what about the gateway I requested from you”

  She said with a bored time as if she was just trying to be polite.

  Dr Cybosis, sighs in annoyance and gestures to the coworkers removing the covers and revealing a cyclical object with a bunch of complex wiring and metal on it. Meanwhile Overdrive was still watching from behind the crates though didn't notice other goons looking around where he was close by.

  “The gateway is still a bit rusty but it is near completion”

  He activates it, leading it to open a small blue energy portal and then closes it again.

  “If I can perfect the formula using the crystal relic you gave me as a basis we could have an actual teleporter on our hands! Granted it would just be limited to a few locations on the planet but still would be useful for both of endeavors" Cybosis mentioned with a look of enthusiasm.

  Verdict smiles, thinking of how easier this would make things for her operations if it's perfected. ‘With these, I won't have to just rely on my portals to the astral realm anymore but have potential escape hatches to other sides of the globe, now if only…’

  Suddenly they hear a ruckus going on behind them, startling them both, they turn around to see Overdrive, cornered by a gang of their goons, in the other end of the warehouse. With hypersonic-like reflexes, he dispatched most of his attackers with rapid-fire punches, but one of the thugs managed to hit him in a constricting black energy fist construct, dazing him for a bit.

  Cybosis stood frozen, disbelief morphing quickly into rage as he recognized the familiar figure. "YOU?!" he bellowed, fury radiating from him.

  Overdrive flashed a cheeky grin despite the surge of panic spinning in his chest. "Hey, doc," he quipped, trying to mask his fear with bravado.

  The anger in Cybosis reached a boiling point. "What are you idiots standing around for?! GET HIM!" he shouted, his voice echoing with authority.

  Verdict, calmly assessing the situation, instructed, “Guards, capture him now.”

  With that command, a guard lunged forward, unleashing a powerful bolt of electricity aimed squarely at Overdrive. Sensing the danger, Overdrive pivoted, sprinting toward the front exit, only to be met by an imposing force field that materialized, sealing off his escape.

  ‘Shit! I should’ve called Insectoid for backup! There’s no way I can take on both of them, especially not with all these guards!’ Panic raced through his mind, fueling his instincts.

  With a quick glance, he noted Cybosis and Verdict preparing to unleash a barrage of attacks, weapons aimed and powers charged. As he narrowly dodged a fireball that signed the air beside him, he deflected energy blasts with agile movements, leaping over incoming strikes while quickly drawing a few words on the ground with a paintbrush which erected an earthen shield to absorb a hail of bullets.

  Amid the chaos, Overdrive scanned for an exit, but Cybosis advanced, firing an array of sophisticated weaponry that lit up the room with flashes of energy. Meanwhile, Verdict remained unnervingly composed, watching as a tattoo, specifically one of a falcon, slithered off her skin and sprang to life, pursuing him with sinister intent.

  With reflexes honed by the many close encounters in his past few months as a hero, Overdrive ducked just in time, stunning the animated tattoo with a swift punch charged with electricity. He seized the moment and dashed toward Cybosis and Verdict, channeling his speed to unleash a powerful blast of wind. An explosive tornado formed around him, sending debris spiraling as he attempted to buy himself precious seconds.

  In the eye of the storm, he hoped fervently that luck would still be on his side.

  “YES!” he exclaimed, leaping through the shimmering portal just as Aikor, one of Cybosis's men, fired his plasma rifle in an attempt to hit him. The shot, however, struck the portal's green crystal instead, resulting in a brief but violent explosion.

  “AAAARRGGHH!” The anguished cries echoed throughout the room as chaos erupted. Fortunately, several Asha barriers flared to life just in time, shielding the onlookers from harm.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  As the thick fog from the explosion began to clear, drones buzzed about, assessing the damage. Meanwhile, the remaining workers scrambled to gather the debris from the shattered remnants of machinery. Surprisingly, some devices lay intact, but others were left in ruins—most notably…

  “The Escape Portal is gone?!!?” Cybosis roared, his eyes ablaze with fury.

  One of his subordinates trembled, dreading the inevitable wrath. “Y-yes, sir. I… I’m sorry. The crystal and the device were completely destroyed in the explosion. We only have scraps left.”

  To the man's relief, Cybosis chose not to direct his ire at him, instead venting frustration by firing a laser at a random piece of debris. “Dammit!” he shouted.

  In the midst of the turmoil, Verdict remained unfazed. “Well, it seems I no longer have a reason to stay,” she said coolly. “Don't worry, Eraqus; we can discuss potential trade deals in the future.”

  She turned on her heel and exited the warehouse, slipping into a sleek car as her entourage followed suit. Once inside, the driver looked back at her, concern etched on his face. “Sorry for the loss, ma'am.”

  “Don’t fret, Eddie,” Verdict replied dismissively, her gaze shifting to a scrap in her hand. “I may have lost that device, but I’ve gained a potentially fascinating new addition to my collection.”

  She opened her palm, revealing a piece of Overdrive's costume, stained with hair and blood.

  The driver’s eyes widened. “So, we’re getting another new player soon, ma’am?”

  Verdict smiled, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. “Indeed, Eddie. Indeed.”

  Later that day, Eddie drove Verdict to the airport, where she boarded a flight to a nearby city-state called Fernvale. Compared to Astea, Fernvale was more serious and quiet but also laid back in some ways.

  In her human form, Verdict strolled through the quiet streets, careful to avoid drawing attention despite her height. She made her way into a grocery store, greeted the clerk with a friendly nod, and headed to the back of the store, specifically toward the restroom.

  Once there, she knocked three times on the wall. A secret door slid open, revealing a hidden entrance.

  Verdict grinned as she stepped inside, transforming into her grey skinned tattooed form with her own unique costume, instantly transported into a vast underground facility guarded by robotic sentinels and a few human staff members.

  ‘Honestly, partnering with the Enclave has been more beneficial than I expected. Having them fund an entire facility for me is a real game-changer,’ she thought, a humor-filled smile on her face.

  Just then, a man approached her. He stood about 5'10" compared to Verdict 6’3, with red hair and green eyes, dressed in a lab coat, gloves, and shoes inscribed with intricate glyphs. This was Professor Barton Draxum, her second-in-command and one of the major heads of the current project she's running .

  He nodded and offered a slight bow. “Welcome back, Miss Verdict. I trust your journey home was uneventful?”

  Verdict replied, her tone surprisingly warm, “No trouble at all, my loyal doctor. But we need to get the lab ready. It’s time to create a new clone.”

  After Draxum strode away, barking orders towards others for the lab to be prepped, Verdict surveyed the facility. She could see teams of various clones honing their powers, some engaged in intense workouts, and others collaborating on their latest projects or assignments given either by her or the other personnel. With a faint smirk, she made her way to the lab, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

  Once inside, she greeted the personnel with a warm smile. “Let’s see what we’re working with,” she mused, fishing out the bloodstained cloth she had retrieved from Overdrive.

  “Can I get a piece of clay?” she asked one of the lab techs, who quickly obliged her. With a nod of thanks, she headed into the protected white room, her mind racing with possibilities. She carefully mixed the clay with the cloth and set it on the floor.

  “Create,” she commanded, excitement bubbling just below the surface.

  Stepping back, she joined the observing team behind the glass, her eyes glued to the scene unfolding before her.

  At first, nothing stirred—but then, moments later, an unexpected reaction began. The clay started to absorb the bloodied fabric, morphing and shifting as though it were alive. Limbs elongated, curves forming as arms and legs took shape. Eyes sparked into existence, and before them materialized a lean but muscular young man: skin the color of rich mahogany, wavy black hair framing his face, and striking green eyes gleaming with intensity. The butterfly tattoo on his neck stood out against the simple white jumpsuit he wore though he seemed rather normal at most just fit looking. For the moment though he was still unconscious and just started showing some signs of waking up. One of the personnel quickly entered and wrapped a bracelet on his neck with specific runes and glyphs in it and then left. Unknown to either of them though, a blue white ring just appeared on his middle finger without either of them noticing from seemingly nowhere.

  Now this was simply the true potential of one of the Verdict's Sacred Treasures, Parallel Genesis she calls it, for it has the extraordinary ability to manipulate DNA. By collecting genetic material from various heroes and combining it with clay or mud, she can create a perfect genetic clone of the original counterpart.

  But that’s not all. Each clone is tied to an advanced supernatural system she calls the Mainframe, a gaming-like interface that allows her to enhance their abilities by having them complete various tasks given to them by the Mainframe system itself. By leveling up, these clones can unlock unique powers specifically designed to counteract the abilities of their original DNA donors even if those abilities aren't biological in nature, pushing them toward their ultimate stages of power...if they can achieve it that is.

  “He’s… rather normal looking,” one of the technicians murmured, a bit of disappointment creeping into their voice.

  “I don't know, he seems rather good to look at, if you ask me” another technician mentioned, her voice having a flirtatious tone as she looked at his body.

  Verdict lips curled into a smile as she reminisced on the fact that the hero who stopped her before in the past when she was a simple thief was all along a simple college aged brat. But that was irrelevant to her now, she checked her wrist and tapped on it revealing a hologram of the Clone and she picked out a name for him.

  “Eryx seems like a fitting name. Don't you agree ladies and gents?” Verdict stated as she was still checking her screen.

  Draxum nodded saying indeed ma'am and verdict seemed to have her mood drop as the screen showed eryx hasn't been fully connected with her S.T mainframe yet. It was strange but not unusual, so she decided to leave that for later.

  “I have a few meetings I have to go and attend. They involve our particular partners in this operation, keep your eye on the subject and record any progress he might make.”

  She walked out of the room meanwhile the others continued to observe the clone who just seemingly awakened to his new surroundings and was panicking asking for help or at least an explanation to where he is.

  After she left, Draxum grabbed a microphone and said into it, “Alright stop your panicking and listen.”

  The clone froze, panic ebbing away as he focused on the figure behind the one-way mirror.

  “First, my name is Professor Draxum, second in command of the Guardian Creation Program Facility,” the professor announced, his voice crisp and authoritative. “This place is designed to make clones like yourself stronger for Miss Verdict and her benefactors. Yes, you may think you are the original Overdrive or whatever your secret identity is, but you’re not. You are a mere clone created by the Boss herself. Understand?” He awaited his response, his fingers fidgeting over a certain charm.

  “Wait, what?! What in Alma’s name do you mean I’m a fucking clone?!” Eryx voice trembled, eyes wide with disbelief. “You have the wrong guy, I—”

  Before he could finish, a strange energy surged through his body, igniting every nerve with a searing pain. He screamed, the sound echoing in the sterile room, his mind ablaze with confusion and terror. In his frantic movements, his eyes caught sight of the metallic collar snugly fastened around his neck, pulsing with a faint, eerie glow.

  “Enough!” Draxum's voice cut through the panic, firm and unwavering, the charm in his hand being active. He then pressed a button on a console, and the room was filled with a low hum.

  “Now that you’re settled, let me explain the situation. Any delusion you might have about not being a clone is incorrect—you are simply a copy of the original Overdrive. From now on, under Miss Verdict's orders, your new assigned name will be Eryx. You are to report to myself, Verdict, and authorized personnel for any matters deemed necessary. Finally, you will engage in activities that will unlock your potential powers. Do you understand?”

  Eryx remained silent for a moment, processing the weight of Draxum’s words. The pulsing collar sent another jolt through him, and he winced, realizing the professor was going to use it to keep him under his control. Gritting his teeth, he finally replied in a cold, subdued voice, “I understand, Professor Draxum.”

  Draxum smiled confidently on the other side of the glass, his expression hidden from Eryx. Clearing his throat, the professor continued, “For now, it has been deemed acceptable for you to return to your quarters and rest. You will be summoned later for further testing. You are dismissed.”

  With a nod from Draxum, a robotic guard stepped forward, ready to escort Eryx from the room and guide him to his assigned living quarters. As he walked, uncertainty and determination clashed within him, he didn't know how but he was definitely going to escape this hellhole.

  Eryx, accompanied by a robotic guard, finally arrived at the living quarters assigned to him by Draxum. The area unfolded before him, revealing a long stretch of white and gray buildings where clusters of fellow clones milled about, surprisingly relaxed. The rooms within this facility resembled comfortable apartments more than the austere accommodations one might expect, despite the underlying reality of their forced residence.

  The robotic guard approached the door and knocked on it rather loudly. A moment later, it swung open to reveal Jason, a tall man with blonde hair and striking blue eyes.

  “Greetings, Jason. This is your new roommate and companion, Eryx,” the robotic guard announced in a monotone voice. “He has been assigned to these quarters, and it is understood that he is to be welcomed here.”

  Jason nodded, a hint of curiosity in his expression. “Alright then. Nice to meet you, Eryx.”

  Eryx extended a wary hand and shook Jason’s with a nervous smile. “Nice to meet you too."

  As Eryx stepped inside, his gaze wandered around the room. It was surprisingly colorful, decorated with a collection of posters from obscure music bands and a few personal touches that made it feel lived-in. A TV sat in the corner, adding a touch of familiarity to the otherwise sterile environment. Despite the circumstances, there was a sense of individuality in the space, which both intrigued and comforted him.

  “So dude, what do you think of my crib?” Jason asked as he flopped down on the worn-out couch, a playful grin spreading across his face. “I know it’s not much, but it’s definitely better than living in a stinky cell!”

  Eryx raised an eyebrow, amused by Jason's choice of words. ‘Crib?’ he thought you would have a good with a smirk but decided not to comment. Instead, he replied, “It’s not bad, dude. I’m actually surprised they even let us have things down here instead of just locking us in tiny, dreary rooms.”

  Jason shifted slightly, his eyes still closed as he stretched out. “Well, think about it. Which approach is more effective? Constantly threatening your captives, or providing a little comfort to keep them from rebelling? It makes sense from a control standpoint.”

  “Fair point,” Eryx said as he settled into another couch across the room. He adjusted the cushions, trying to find the most comfortable position. The room had a makeshift quality, with mismatched furniture and flickering lights, yet it felt worlds away from the sterile confinement of their earlier cells.

  As Eryx arranged his belongings, a wave of introspection washed over him. He paused, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling. “Man, this is all so strange. I can remember almost everything my original self did—everything except those final moments before…” His thoughts trailed off, uncertainty gnawing at him. He felt different, somehow distanced from his original counterpart and now was uncertain where he is but he can think about that later. “Focus, Man,” he reminded himself. “You need to think of a way to escape. But how? Without my…uh I mean....I guess, Karlos Sacred Treasure, I’m flying blind. There’s no way an adept asha harnesser like me can manage this on my own. Without the Sacred Treasure, I'm basically no different than any other harnesser that took classes online. At least Verdict seemed to have given me my own Asha supply when she created me.”

  Hours passed in a haze, and eventually, he was called on by the same robotic guard from before to a different training area entirely to test to see if he had unlocked his system given powers. Eryx approached with a mix of nervousness and annoyance but ultimately complied. As he walked in and approached the training area he felt the anticipation of everyone in the back of the area, heavy in the air. Eryx took a deep breath and began to channel whatever power he could access, relying on the fragments of Asha harnessing training and practice embedded in his memory and began writing down some incantations or chants on a notebook given to him which all began to glow and then erupt into different effects, as expected with most Asha Techniques. Later on, he began conducting a series of exercises on the obstacle course in front of him using basic Asha reinforcement to assist him in clearing it.

  A group of onlookers surrounded him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Among them was Verdict, her eyes stoic and empty, but the irritation in her voice was unmistakable. “He should have fully connected to the Mainframe by now,” she remarked, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

  “Patience, Miss Verdict,” a younger woman named Taylor Baxter interjected smoothly. Her voice was calm and confident, offering a counterbalance to Verdict's sharpness. “We just have to give it a bit more time.”

  “No, this is not a matter of patience, Miss Baxter. I suspect he’s a defect—a glitch. Perhaps the best course of action would be to—”

  Before Verdict could finish her thought, an unexpected surge of energy erupted from Eryx's left hand, startling everyone in the lab. It flared brightly, releasing a bubble of pure blue green energy that crackled with potential. Without thinking, Eryx reached out raising his hand with the bubble still attached to it, creating new matter in the energy orb. Water manifested within, then it solidified into ice, and then morphed into rough stones.

  The room fell silent, disbelief etched on the faces of the onlookers. Verdict's expression shifted to one of concentration. She checked her readings on the Mainframe and frowned, noting that Eryx still hadn’t connected. Yet, the new power he displayed was undeniable and didn't seem to be any new Asha Technique either since he had not written anything yet either. So unless he somehow got a contract with an astral spirit, that means it can only be....

  With a sly smile breaking through her earlier annoyance, Verdict leaned in slightly. “A New Sacred Treasure? Hmm, this might turn out to be an interesting trade-off after all. You seem quite lucky there, kid.” she mused, her tone shifting to one of intrigue.

  Eryx, still caught in the flow of the power at his fingertips, felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps he wasn’t entirely powerless after all.