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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFxRjCePSl
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But with power came chaos.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUgAr1Wq90
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPe0OOtvcd
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The West Corp Directive69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ot1TmXU6t
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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.'"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsqlgkeWSs
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONmGaNYgaB
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLmk5pXFGQ
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleVQaRpNa7
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The Hunt at the Docks69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIIYZgnGJ4
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHlFFT1s1W
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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!"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxX70gwFZl
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYPr6JTUWs
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrx4FwyLOK
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiA2JAecz1
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0o6PSysbJ
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ql939ua3W
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOOy24mGz2
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyk0Xoat3y
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The Betrayal of Trust69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT2bj14EVi
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9OXRDsL5p
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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?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOApEES8Ps
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV1m4rPYra
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFAOkvNjOf
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The Detention Center: Level 969Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDIrOaemrc
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoXVHcnfJ0
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsBi7mNmeM
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHwkwuVvsN
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIH8R7aMdH
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The Line in the Sand69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9lOXFZPoY
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR2N59lzPv
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HJT4G4OPm
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"A school?" Leon asked.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1FfvExOd0
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOwwusHJWP
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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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvCobmOGeJ
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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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0taD5OVbj
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCG2OneelY
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1234 copyright protection65ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7IyUp1Va8 尼69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGHBmj0SWI