Jack looked at Michael with narrowed eyes, still processing what he'd just heard.
—"Reed," you said?
Michael blinked, slightly confused.
—Yeah? What about it?
Jack stared at him for a second, then let out a shaky laugh.
—Ah… now I get why your grandfather sounded familiar. Listen, kid… you and I aren't just previous and current users.
He paused, folding his arms.
—My name's Jack Reed. Your grandfather was my brother. —He looked him up and down.— What a surprise. Didn't know that old man was still alive.
Michael looked at him with a flat expression.
—Oh.
Jack froze.
—What do you mean "oh," you brat!? I just told you I might be your only living family, and all I get is an "oh"!?
Meanwhile, Edward, with a small notebook in hand, muttered as he wrote:
—Jack Reed and Michael Reed… got it.
Michael glared at him.
—Didn't you say we weren't supposed to tell him our names?
Jack turned toward him, offended.
—You're not the one to talk! And you—! —he pointed at Edward— Who the hell are you, exactly?
Edward looked up calmly.
—I already told you. Edward Johnson. But you can call me Ed.
Jack sighed.
—That doesn't answer the damn question.
Michael, curious, tilted his head.
—So… would that make you my uncle or something?
Jack looked resigned.
—Just call me Jack.
Edward smiled faintly.
—Well, to answer your question… I'm affiliated with the government.
Michael raised an eyebrow.
—Like… a desk job or something?
—A little higher than that —Ed replied with a playful tone.— And by the way, you two are a fascinating case. It's the first time I've ever seen two users sharing the same crystal. I've seen everything—summoners, shapeshifters, pyromaniacs—but this? This is new.
Jack cut him off impatiently.
—Get to the point.
Edward put away his notebook and looked at them seriously.
—I've got direct orders. I'll need you both to come with me. My boss wants to see you.
Jack crossed his arms, his shadow spreading faintly.
—And if we say no?
Edward smiled, a little awkwardly.
—Please… don't say no. I'm begging you.
Jack retreated into Michael's shadow, speaking directly into his mind:
> "I don't think we should trust this guy."
Michael thought, without moving his lips:
> "He doesn't seem like a bad person."
> "And how the hell would you know that?"
> "I don't know… I just get that feeling. Besides, I trust you—and I met you last night, didn't I?"
> "You're way too trusting, kid."
Edward watched them silently for a few seconds, then smiled.
—You're talking to your shadow, aren't you? —he said calmly.— I'll admit, you're right not to trust me. So let me be honest with you…
Suddenly, his right eye turned completely green, marked by two concentric circles crossed by a line.
—Oh, looks like I'm not the only one interested in you two —he murmured.
Then his right arm began to twist and reshape into an organic rifle, dark steam rising from it. His skin turned coal-black, surrounded by a dense aura.
—Mike —he said in a deeper tone—. I get that you don't trust me. But stay behind me.
Michael took a step back, startled.
—What's going on? And what were you gonna tell me before?
Edward aimed into the forest without looking away from his target.
—Just that if you come with me, we'll give you a decent paycheck… and proper training. —He gave a half-smile.— Tempting, right?
Jack emerged slightly from Michael's shadow, glaring suspiciously.
—And what do you get out of this?
—Me? Nothing —Ed replied, tightening his grip on the rifle.— But you'll be helping us fight someone who seems very interested in the two of you.
He leaned forward slightly, his green eye gleaming.
—And trust me, in this world, users are scarce. You can never have too many.
Michael frowned.
—Who are you aiming at? And who's your boss after?
Edward took a deep breath.
—Last night, you defeated one of that man's underlings. His name's Adam. Or at least… that's what we call him. And they—
BANG!
The black bullet tore through the air at impossible speed.
---
A few seconds earlier…
On a nearby cliff, a black-haired boy with dark circles under his eyes watched through binoculars. Next to him, a white-haired teen lazily played with a centipede the size of his forearm—it tried to sting him but couldn't pierce his skin.
—Be careful —murmured the black-haired one.
The other smiled.
—Relax, Chris. Even if you shot me, you couldn't really hurt me.
Then a black bullet zipped through the air and blew off the arm holding the insect.
The boy looked at the wound, more surprised than hurt.
—Oh…
Far away, Edward adjusted his scope.
—You shouldn't mess with animals. The next one's going through your head.
Christopher lowered the binoculars and looked coldly at him.
—I told you, Timothy.
Tim smiled, grabbed his severed arm, and reattached it—the wound sealed instantly, stitched by crimson threads sprouting from his skin.
A second bullet flew toward them, but the centipede suddenly morphed into a giant stuffed doll, hardened with black scales.
The bullet pierced through it, losing momentum before it could hit Tim.
Chris watched with disdain.
—You're disgusting.
Tim burst out laughing as the doll dissolved into vapor. In a blink, he vanished from his spot, reappearing as he sprinted toward Edward, leaving a dark trail behind.
The marksman fired a precise burst. The bullets whistled as Tim zigzagged, laughing like a maniac.
Michael stared, dumbfounded, while Edward reloaded with inhuman speed, keeping the pressure constant.
Tim leapt in front of Ed, reaching for his face, but the agent spun away just in time.
Michael reacted, firing a sphere of light that forced Tim to retreat.
Taking advantage, Edward morphed his other hand into a SIG Sauer P226 and shot Tim square in the chest.
The bullet tore through him cleanly, puncturing a lung.
Tim dropped to his knees, coughing blood… and laughing.
Dark threads poured from the wound, sewing the flesh back together in seconds.
Edward raised an eyebrow, unfazed.
—Huh… that's not healing chi. —He smirked.— What are you, a damn Care Bear?
He raised the rifle again calmly.
—You do realize how stupid it is to rush a marksman head-on, right? —he said in a nearly paternal tone.— You're just a kid. Fine, I'll take you with me… and your friend too.
Tim, panting but still grinning, lunged again—but slammed into a barrier of light.
Michael stood firm, summoning Shiro, his luminous creature.
—I don't know what kind of power you've got —Michael said— but you really seem obsessed with touching people.
Edward nodded, keeping his aim steady.
—He's right. This little demon turns anything he touches into a plush toy. Terrifyingly cute, isn't it?
Michael frowned.
—And how do you know that?
A shadowy serpent coiled around his neck—it was Jack, watching intently.
—That's vision chi, kid. And an advanced variant at that. Hard to master.
While they talked, Christopher appeared silently behind them. No one noticed until Edward spun around, startled.
—What the hell—? Are you some kind of ninja?
Chris ignored him completely.
—Pathetic, Timothy. You're too reckless.
Tim kept smiling on the ground, his body barely holding together.
Edward aimed at Chris.
—I don't want to kill kids. Surrender.
Chris didn't even blink.
—You… fear failure, don't you?
His right eye gleamed crimson—but nothing happened. He just kept walking calmly.
Edward frowned.
—What the hell does that mean? —he thought, analyzing—. I couldn't read his ability… what the hell does he do?
He fired—but the gun jammed. Surprised, he stayed calm and stepped back, grabbing Michael by the shoulder.
"Fear failure"? Can he manifest fears…?
—Hey, behind you! —shouted Michael.
Edward turned just in time to see Tim on the ground, grabbing his ankle. Within seconds, his leg went numb—turning into soft fabric.
—Shit! —he shouted, kicking him off, but his leg wouldn't respond properly.
Tim laughed hoarsely.
—Hahaha! Didn't even hurt, idiot. My body's got the properties of cotton. But with your leg like that… let's see how you run from Chris.
Beside Christopher, two monsters emerged—a massive ice giant and an enormous serpent.
Michael instinctively stepped back.
—Dammit, I hate snakes!
Edward aimed again, firing rapidly, but the giant absorbed the bullets and regenerated.
—Switch with me —he told Michael.
He morphed his arm into a Magnum and unloaded a barrage on the serpent. Michael focused, gathering three spheres of light and hurling them at the giant—melting it with three clean explosions.
—Did you get the serp—? —Michael began, turning.
But Edward was gone. In his place, on the ground, lay a small plush toy with a serious expression.
Tim struggled to his feet, laughing through his pain.
—Did he really think the effect would wear off? Please. One touch is all it takes. Now he's a cute little stuffed soldier.
Michael looked at him, equal parts angry and resigned.
—Turn him back. That guy offered me a job.
Jack partially emerged from the shadow, half amused.
—You actually considered it?
Michael shrugged.
—Government backup helps you too, doesn't it? And between him or these guys, who would you pick?
Tim stared, confused.
—Who the hell are you talking to...? Ah, whatever. Your buddy'll turn back in about an hour. But you're coming with us.
Michael sighed.
—An hour, huh? Got it. Then I just have to beat you and wait.
Christopher crossed his arms.
—Even if you say that, there are two of us. And you're just a rookie. What do you plan to do?
Michael gave a half-smile.
—Two against one, huh? Doesn't matter… I'll just have to give it my all.
Tim laughed.
—And what's your grand plan, hero?
Michael raised a finger solemnly.
—Oh, you'll see...
Dramatic pause.
—Strategic retreat!
He grabbed plush-Edward and jumped onto Shiro, who floated and shot up toward the helicopter.
Tim stood frozen, blinking.
—Did he just…?
Christopher watched him with a neutral expression.
—He's not stupid, at least.