I held Gabriel close to my body as he clutched tightly onto me. My back hovered by the corner of the building. I peeked around, seeing a surprisingly empty street. Not a soul in sight, just a normal road other than two destroyed cars.

Speaking of which, why are there two destroyed cars? An explosion would've caused more damage than just destructing two cars. I feel like something else is going on...

Upon seeing the coast was clear I dashed across the road, seeking refuge into an alleyway. I worked my way through quickly, slowly getting closer to Siren's house.

I glanced out of the alleyway to another road. Multiple dead bodies lay across the sidewalk, crimson blood soaking the stone beneath them.

That's not the work of an explosion.

Another blast sounded off somewhere in the distance as the sirens continued to wail. More smoke drifted into the air. This is utterly insane.

"Gabriel, close your eyes." I whispered.

"...Okay." He softly responded, shutting his eyes tight.

He's already gone through so much, I don't want to add witnessing multiple random dead bodies on a sidewalk to his bad experiences.

Keeping one hand on Gabriel's back to support him, I pulled out my knife with my dominant hand. Whatever the hell this is, it's more than just explosions. I need to be armed just in case.

But ideally, I'd rather not fight. I have a very vulnerable and weak twelve year old clinging to my front right now. Fighting puts him in a much more dangerous position than he should ever be in.

I gripped the knife tightly. Just in case.

I ran across the street, ducking into another alleyway. I followed the route to another street, pausing as I saw someone walking down it.

Decked out in black armor and with a rifle in his hands was one of Stromford's soldiers. One of my clones. He seemed to be patrolling the streets, uncaringly passing by any dead bodies that rotted on the ground.

"With the help of his group he has hacked into our AVMF and taken them over." Stromford boldly lied through the screen.

What is this bullshit? The "robots" that are supposed to "help the heroes", my ass. But why use them? Framing me would be easy with the explosions, but wouldn't using them just lose trust from the public?

I narrowed my eyes at the soldier, slowly backing up and pressing myself behind a large trash can. I held Gabriel even closer to me, gripping my knife so tight my knuckles went white.

I pushed myself into the shadows of the alleyway, trying to make myself as small as possible. I waited for the soldier to pass, listening as his footsteps slowly faded in volume.

Once I couldn't hear his footsteps anymore I peeked out of the alleyway, making sure he still wasn't there. Luckily the road was once more empty of any living people, allowing me to quickly run across to duck into another alleyway.

Now we should be about a third of the way. Another explosion sounded in the distance, making Gabriel flinch in my hold. I held him tight, hoping to make him feel as safe as possible.

What are they doing, fucking destroying the city?!

I rushed down the alleyway, hurtling around the corner to see one of Stromford's soldiers standing at the entrance. I don't know if he was waiting or passing by, but after a delayed second he brought up his gun.

It wasn't quick enough.

I stabbed my knife straight through the weaker armor of the neck, piercing deep into the flesh of the soldier. With a gargled sound I yanked the bloody knife out and continued running.

I'm sorry, my clone. I can't be your miracle.

My highest priority is keeping this twelve year old safe.

"My" brother.

My feet pounded against the pavement, my heart thumping through my ears. Gabriel held on tightly, fingers digging into my skin as another muted explosion happened somewhere in the distance.

I ran past dead bodies in puddles of blood. Broken buildings from fights. Explosions in the distance. Blood dripped from my knife, the crimson liquid splattering against the ground.

And then I heard footsteps behind me.

I glanced back for a second, seeing an AVMF soldier running towards me. I quickened my pace while charging up my legs, causing the two of them to start glowing white.

Just a little further!

I rounded the corner, quickly turning around and changing my momentum. The soldier ran into view only to receive a charged kick to the stomach, sending them flying into the wall.

They sat for a moment, before starting to get back up. I ran towards them, kicking them across the face with my second intensified leg. Their head jerked to the side as they slumped over, knocked out.

I took a deep breath, lightly rubbing Gabriel's back as I took a moment to catch my breath. I stood there, regaining my stamina, when suddenly a portal opened in front of me.

And out stepped two more of those damn soldiers.

Fuck!

I was about to move when I suddenly heard a familiar voice yell "Jason!" from above. Stellar slammed down in front of me, punching one of the soldiers away. They flew through the air, rolling across the street and crashing through the window of a shop.

The other soldier pointed their gun at Stellar's head only for her to grab the barrel and crush it in her grasp. She then swung a kick upwards, launching the soldier into the air. She flew up, grabbed the soldier by the leg, and chucked him into the distance.

And then she calmly floated down as if she hadn't just thrown a guy across the city.

"Are you two okay?" Stellar asked.

"Stellar...?" Gabriel gasped, opening his eyes and looking at her.

"Hey Gabriel." She greeted with a smile.

"We're fine." I chuckled. "Perfect timing."

"Sorry I wasn't here sooner." Stellar replied. "I was fighting against a majority of these suckers with some of the other heroes. Then Aurelia called."

"Think you could escort us back to the house?" I asked. "The streets are far too dangerous-"

"How interesting." A voice spoke from above. One that sent chills down my spine. My body involuntarily tensed, my muscles seizing. I didn't even need to turn to know who that was. "I didn't know you had a relationship with the famed Stellar, my best creation."

I looked up, seeing a man dressed in black pants, a black shirt, and a lab coat standing on the rooftop above us. He stood on the edge, looking down with vicious grin on his face.

"Vincent." I hissed.

"So this is the bastard." Stellar cracked her knuckles.

Vincent just grinned in response, before suddenly vanishing. He reappeared right behind Stellar, a knife in his hand which he swung towards her neck.

She quickly swung her hand up, catching his wrist and keeping the knife away. She tightened her grip on his arm, only for it to seemingly do nothing to him.

He vanished again as I quickly spun around. As I expected he was behind me with a slice towards Gabriel. I jumped back as Stellar rocketed forwards. But instead of teleporting out of the way, he simply caught her hand with little effort.

What?

Stellar's eyes widened as she received a punch to the gut which sent her sliding backwards.

"And if I'm not wrong, then that must be the powerless brother of the hero Miracle." A dangerous glint shone in his eyes.

He teleported again, reappearing to my side with his knife aimed straight for Gabriel. I threw my arm forwards, grinding my teeth together in pain as the knife sunk into my upper arm.

He ripped the knife out as I bit my cheek to keep my scream in. He laughed as he backed up with his knife soaked in blood.

And then Stellar's fist slammed into his face with extreme power. Her brow was furrowed in anger and her teeth were grit. You could feel the strength as a small shockwave came from her attack.

And yet, Vincent wasn't a body without a head. His face hadn't become paste on the ground. Instead he had simply been thrown off balance. With a shrug he cracked his neck, looking back at the both of us with a grin.

Utterly unaffected by a Stellar that wasn't holding back.

"What have you done?" I spat.

"Isn't it incredible?!" He laughed.

And then he started to float. Stellar and I watched as he flew into the air, tapping into a power he shouldn't have access to.

Teleportation. Super strength. Super durability. And now flight.

"The first step was studying double S-Genomes." He monologued as I shoved Gabriel into Stellar's arms. "The second was how to forcefully awaken an S-Genome. Then third was how Stellar's blood would affect your awakening."

"What?" Stellar glanced at me, in response to both the Gabriel now in her arms and the words that Vincent was spouting.

"I need you to take Gabriel, grab Siren, and get them both somewhere safe." I stated.

"But-" Stellar's eyes rapidly moved from Vincent to me.

"Now!" I ordered.

Stellar spent a second looking into my eyes before her face became determined. Gabriel's eyes widened as she suddenly flew away, leaving only Vincent and I.

"It didn't take much longer for my genius self to figure out how to complete my ultimate goal." Vincent laughed. "How to evolve into the ultimate being! How to surpass the constraints of the S-Genome!"

I started charging up my fists, both of the limbs starting to glow a dim white.

And then, suddenly Vincent had teleported in front of me. A punch was sent straight into my stomach. One that was held back, enough to send me flying across the street but not enough to turn me into a donut.

But I think he definitely broke a rib or two.

"Foolish move, Miracle's spawn." Vincent grinned. "Stellar might've stood a chance, unlike you."

I stood up, ignoring the groaning pain from the inside of my chest.

"But you would've gone relentlessly after Gabriel." I snarked, squeezing the handle of my knife as my hands glowed brighter. "So let's just agree to disagree."

Vincent simply chuckled in response, confirming what I already knew. "I can take care of them later. For now, it's time to eliminate my final loose end."

"I called you my greatest creation..." He spoke, walking forwards. "...but I suppose it's more accurate to say former greatest creation now-"

As soon as he got close I threw my knife forwards. He teleported as I expected, appearing behind me. I swung my intensified fist straight towards his face, only for it to be easily caught.

"And here I thought you were smarter than this." He clicked his tongue, snapping my wrist in one easy move.

I bit my tongue as my hand went limp. He gripped my shirt by the front, pulling me close. I stabbed his eye with my other intensified hand, getting a finger straight into his eye.

He hissed in pain, throwing me across the ground and into the side of a car. My head slammed against the door, blood starting to trickle down my forehead.

Vincent glared at me with his good eye as he held his injured eye, blood trickling down from his fingers.

"Always a pain in my fucking side." He cursed, before his frown twisted into a grin. "This is going to be fun. I'm going to make this hurt."

I shakily stood up on my feet, quickly racking my brain for something I could do. My main priority was keeping Gabriel safe and keeping my promise to Miracle. Done.

Now I'm in a horrible situation. His eyes are weak, my best bet is to get his other one. But he's going to be even more guarded now.

"There's no use in praying for a miracle." Vincent chuckled. "For I am the opposite of that. I am your Tragedy."

He teleported in front of me with an uppercut into my stomach. All the air suddenly left my lungs at once, and then I was being pulled by my hair.

I was chucked through the air as Vincent flew after me, grabbing my body and slamming me into the ground face first. Pain flooded my body as he dragged my face across the ground as he flew.

My face was burning in pain I couldn't even hope to describe. My vision went dark I couldn't tell if it was because I passed out or because my eyes were damaged. But considering the ridiculous pain that was flooding my body I figured it was the latter.

Eventually he stopped dragging me across the ground, dropping me to the floor. At this point the pain still stung but probably not as much as it should have since my face was just used against the road like a block of cheese against a shredder.

"I'm surprised you're still conscious. And moving." Vincent commented as I felt at the ground, trying to push myself up. "With that ugly face you're practically a zombie."

I tried to say something but nothing would come out except gargled sounds. A kick was sent into my stomach, and then a punch was sent into my chest.

Or u guess I should say, through my chest.

Hey, guess I really did become a donut...

I weakly grasped at his arm.

Even I knew there was nothing I could now. Even I knew that sending Stellar away with Gabriel would lead to this. But now, I have more to care about than just revenge.

I had a promise to fulfill. And people to protect.

But until then, I'll keep fighting until my last breath.

And I'll see you in hell, Vincent.

"You're still moving?" He hummed. "If it wasn't for Stromford's fear of you then I probably would've studied you more. But he desperately wants you gone."

"If you can still survive without your heart..." I felt his hand grip my head. "...then I'll just have to get rid of that brain of yours as well. And maybe I'll separate all of your body parts for extra measure. Or just completely erase you from existence-"

And then, everything went silent.

I don't know how long I was subjected to this emptiness. No sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell. Just a void. Complete and utter darkness.

It was both for an eternity and for a second.

And then I was in a void of white.

Just full white all around. I looked down at myself, examining my arms and hands and body. Well, I seem to be intact. I'm even wearing the clothes I had on before all of that.

"Huh." I spoke to myself. "That's it, I guess."

I sighed, staring into the white void around me. I hope that the others are safe. I don't know what they're doing right now. Probably trying to figure out how to murder Vandercourt and Stromford.

I wonder if they know I'm dead yet. If so, then they won't stop until Vandercourt is dead. Even if it kills all of them.

But I'd rather they stay alive.

I'd rather wish that I could've protected them more. But instead, maybe all of my actions dragged them to their deaths. Maybe I just made everything worse.

It's too hard to say. Now I'm just wallowing in self pity from that utter loss to Vincent. Simply put, I got my ass beat.

"So..." I spoke to myself. "...is this heaven? Hell? Am I finally past the fourth wall?"

"Not quite any of those, Jason." A familiar voice spoke from behind me. A voice all too similar to my own.

I whirled around, finally seeing something else inside of this white void. Or to be more specific, someone else. Someone who looked exactly like me.

Except his eyes were emerald green.

"Miracle...?" I whispered.

"Hey, it's been a while." He smiled. "Thanks for fulfilling my wish."

"I-I can't believe it. It's you." I took a step forwards. "I'm not dreaming, right?"

"Nope." He replied, extending his arms.

I ran forwards, wrapping my arms tight around him in a hug. I could feel him. He's here, his arms wrapped behind my back, hugging me. He's here.

"I'm so sorry!" I cried into his shoulder. "About everything, I...I'm so..."

"Stop." Miracle spoke. He ended the hug, placing his hands on my shoulders. "I'm proud."

"...what?" My voice broke.

"I'm proud of you, brother." He smiled with a shining radiance. "I've been watching over you all this time. Over my two brothers. And I couldn't be prouder."

"But-" I was cut off as he shushed me.

"I may not agree with every action you've taken." He chuckled. "But I'm proud of the man you've become since the first time we met in that cell. And it's thanks to you that Gabriel is awake as well."

"Really, I couldn't be prouder." He laughed.

"Miracle..." Tears flowed freely down my eyes. "...I missed you."

"I know." He smiled, a tear rolling down his cheek. "But I'll always be with you. With you, Gabriel, and Mom."

"Your story isn't over yet." Miracle smirked. "There's people you need to return to. And an ass that you need to kick."

"Will I see you again?" I whispered.

"Of course." He grinned. "One day. But not today."

I could feel an invisible force pulling at my consciousness.

"Hey, brother." He smiled. "Could I ask for one final thing?"

"Of course!" I yelled, feeling myself slipping away.

"Both you and Gabriel..." He spoke. "...live the greatest life, okay?"

"Okay." I smiled as I felt myself get pulled away.

The last thing I saw was Miracle's green eyes stared at me with pride.

And then, I was back in darkness.

"Jason! JASON!" A voice desperately screamed, my ear twitching from the sound.

Wait, I can hear?

"Too loud..." I groaned.

"Oh my god! You're alive! You're alive!" Stellar's relieved voice came in. I could feel her cradling my body.

"Don't worry..." I chuckled. "...I only got my ass beat, that's all."

"I don't know how you're alive." Stellar admitted. "I...I really thought you were gone."

I could hear her voice breaking, her body shaking. She clutched onto me for dear life, and I'm so glad that I wouldn't have to see her mourn.

I guess I can thank Vincent for one thing. This power.

"Give me some time, and I'll regenerate back anew." I smirked. "For as long as I bleed, I shall return."

"Stop trying to be cool." Stellar sniffled.

I let out a low chuckle. I could feel my body repairing itself, reconstructing itself from whatever state I had been left in. Quite the weird feeling actually.

"Sarah." I grinned. "Is everyone together? I have a plan."

"We are." Stellar replied, holding me up. I could feel the wind rustle through my hair as we started to fly. "They're all ready."

"Good." I laughed. "It's time to end this game for good."