Sherwood City had become the epicenter of a new kind of war. It wasn't an invasion from the stars anymore; it was an invasion from within. Every day, the news reported a new "Awakening." A baker in France who could turn to stone; a student in Tokyo who could hear thoughts.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mUtm5KGvQ
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But with power came chaos.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWVglhqz1x
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In the heart of the city, a UMA with the ability to generate kinetic shockwaves had leveled a city block while trying to "help" stop a bank robbery. The public’s gratitude for the V-Team was curdling into fear of the unknown.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx72FTIlZPu
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The West Corp Directive91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxJz7p2sdD
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"We aren't just a tech company anymore, Victoria," Garder West said, his silhouette framed by a massive holographic map of "Containment Sites." "We are the global wardens. The government has authorized the UMA Detention Initiative (UDI). Any anomaly that cannot control their output is to be brought here for 'stabilization.'"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPFe3J86if
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He pointed to a deep-subterranean level of West Corp—Level 9. It was a high-tech fortress designed to dampen Meta-energies.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfszxFk68AG
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVBD1XgtFy
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"If a child has a live grenade in their hand, you take the grenade away," West replied coldly. "Elizabeth is already in the field. Avan and Leon are at the harbor. There’s a Class-3 Pyro-UMA at the docks. Go."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssudXNhskk
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The Hunt at the Docks91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkpxLPRLNP
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The "Pyro" was a nineteen-year-old named Marcus. He wasn't a villain; he was terrified. His skin was glowing like a charcoal ember, and every time he breathed, the shipping containers around him melted.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWvnESSYgQ
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"Stay back!" Marcus screamed as I landed in my purple-and-green armor. "I don't want to hurt anyone! It just... it won't stop burning!"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhGORfjgpJ
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"Marcus, listen to me," I said, my visor retracting to show him my face. "I'm Victoria. I've been where you are. We can help you."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWBuffvw5C
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvoURZCvwo
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Suddenly, a streak of green light whistled through the air. An arrow made of solid shadow-matter struck the ground at Marcus’s feet, erupting into a localized "Cold-Zone."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB02g3au8J
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Elizabeth (Nightshadow) dropped from the crane above. "He’s a Class-3, Vega. Protocol says we contain him immediately. Don't let him talk his way into burning the city down."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ5zuJCQy8
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnSghQPDHn
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4kmQ9qXmp
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Leon rose from the water, his face grim. He used his powers to create a cooling mist, but his eyes weren't on the boy—they were on the West Corp "Recovery Team" that had just arrived in armored vans. They carried Dampener Collars—heavy metal rings that suppressed the nervous system.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMPVBx7qWJ
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The Betrayal of Trust91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTYhbfd5vN
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We watched as the Recovery Team forced the collar onto Marcus. The glow in his eyes died instantly, replaced by a look of hollow agony. They loaded him into the back of the van like cargo.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkdaBYq4ZW
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"Is this what we are now?" Avan asked, his blue sparks dimming. "The Meta-Police? We’re UMAs too, you know. What happens when West decides we are too dangerous to be outside?"91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bqI4rVa2x
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxHXeIfIBI
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWt2BRTOUO
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The Detention Center: Level 991Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzYfWqIZT5
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Later that night, I used the Watch to bypass the security sensors and snuck into Level 9. The hallway was lined with cells. I saw Marcus sitting on a cot, staring at his hands. He looked small. He looked human.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvg08e4Vcp
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I saw others. A girl who could phase through walls, now trapped in a room vibrating at a frequency she couldn't match. A man who could see the future, crying because he knew he would never leave this room.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hilve0zvP
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"West Corp isn't helping them," I whispered into my comms to the rest of the V-Team. "They’re studying them. They’re trying to find a way to replicate the UMA gene for their own 'Secret Service' soldiers."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIIv8K23q7
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"I found the files, Victoria," Avan’s voice came through, shaking. "I hacked the main server. West is calling it Project: Chimera. He wants to combine our DNA with the DNA of the captured UMAs to create a 'Perfect Guardian' for Dementra's return."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbDliiPP4J
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The Line in the Sand91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0A3JU4R1E
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ4U5wkk3k
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"V-Team," I said. "We have a choice. We can keep following West's orders and wait until it’s our turn for the collars... or we can turn this 'Detention Center' into a school."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ofNJhuHl
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"A school?" Leon asked.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3Unistiw9
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"If they learn to control their powers, they aren't 'dangerous' anymore. If we teach them to be heroes, West can't justify the cages. We start tonight. We don't break them out—we break the system."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmepaka5NVI
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As I spoke, the shadow of Garder West appeared at the end of the hall. He wasn't alone. He was flanked by a new squad of soldiers wearing Anti-Meta Power Suits based on the technology they had salvaged from the Invasion.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKKmTBPyJO
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"I hoped you wouldn't come down here, Victoria," West said, his voice echoing in the sterile hallway. "You’re a hero. Don't make me treat you like an Anomaly."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlse9TIprhc
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4xWQIIp5D
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1234 copyright protection87ＰＥＮＡＮＡr71FZqXA4J 尼91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zJZsJZFzH