Rain slammed against the ground like bullets.
The city had already emptied.
Only one battlefield remained.
Maxruell stood at the center.
Surrounded.
The armored soldiers didn't rush this time.
They adjusted.
Watched.
Learned.
Their leader stepped forward again.
Calm. Precise.
Controlled.
"Data collection at 78%."
A pause.
"Proceeding to elimination phase."
Maxruell exhaled slowly.
"…You really talk like machines."
No response.
They moved.
Faster than before.
One appeared behind him Maxruell reacted instantly Shadows blocked, But another came from above Then the side, Then below a perfect sequence.
Three hits landed.
Maxruell was forced back.
Again.
His feet slid across the wet ground.
Blood mixed with rain.
"…Tch."
Something was wrong.
They weren't just fast.
They were predicting him.
Miles away—
Juvy moved across the city rooftops.
Fast.
Silent.
Her movements were clean now.
Controlled.
No wasted energy.
No hesitation.
She stopped on a ledge.
Looking down.
The battlefield.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Max."
Back below Maxruell lunged forward.
Shadows condensed into blades.
He struck—
One soldier blocked.
Another countered instantly.
The third Went for his blind spot.
A direct hit.
Maxruell staggered.
The leader spoke again:
"Behavior pattern confirmed."
A pause.
"He adapts through aggression."
Maxruell wiped blood from his mouth.
Smirked slightly.
"…You figured that out already?"
The leader tilted its head slightly.
"We were designed to."
The armor shifted.
For the first time It opened slightly.
And inside—
A human eye.
Cold.
Empty.
Maxruell's expression changed.
"…You're not machines."
"No."
The voice didn't change.
Still emotionless.
"We are the New Generation."
Above Juvy's eyes narrowed.
She heard it.
"…New Generation…?"
Mara's voice came through her comms:
"You seeing this?!"
Juvy responded quietly:
"…Yeah."
Eli added:
"That's not normal tech."
Juvy's gaze sharpened.
"…No."
"That's something else."
Back on the battlefield Maxruell's shadows rose again.
"…So what are you then?"
The leader stepped closer.
"Humans… enhanced beyond limitation."
A pause.
"Built to surpass Significants."
Silence.
Then Maxruell laughed.
Low.
Dark.
"…That's the dumbest thing I've heard all day."
The leader didn't react.
"We expected resistance."
Maxruell's eyes flared red again.
"…Good."
Darkness exploded outward.
But this time—
Different.
Not wild.
Not reckless.
Focused.
Controlled rage.
He moved.
Faster than before.
One soldier tried to react—
Too slow.
Maxruell grabbed him—
And crushed the armor completely.
The first clean break.
The others paused.
Just for a second.
That was enough.
Maxruell vanished.
Reappearing behind another—
Striking—
Breaking—
Destroying.
Above Juvy watched.
Her expression tightened.
"…He's pushing too far."
Mara's voice:
"Are you stepping in?"
Juvy hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…No."
Her eyes hardened.
"…Not yet."
Back below—
The leader raised its hand.
"Phase two."
The remaining soldiers stopped.
Then—
Their armor shifted again.
Energy surged through their bodies.
Their speed increased.
Power rising rapidly.
Maxruell noticed instantly.
"…You're kidding me."
They moved again.
Faster.
Stronger.
This time—
Even he couldn't keep up fully.
A direct hit landed.
Then another.
Then three more.
Maxruell was sent crashing into a building.
The structure collapsed.
Dust filled the air.
Above Juvy clenched her fists.
"…That's enough."
Light flickered around her.
Inside the rubble Maxruell slowly stood.
Breathing heavier now.
His shadows flickered.
Unstable.
But his eyes…
Still burning.
"…Now this is getting interesting."
The leader stepped forward one final time.
"All limits removed."
A pause.
"Terminate."
The rain intensified.
The battlefield cracked.
Two forces rising.
About to collide again—
And this time—
Someone might not walk away.