After following Luca for quite some time, he led them away from the prison area and toward a hidden underground base far from any patrol routes or clone activity. The hideout was stocked with food, supplies, and basic equipment, clearly prepared in advance for survival.
Luca walked over to a table filled with weapons and picked up a pair of brass knuckles before handing them to Anthony. "Here, take this. You will do more damage," he said.
"Thanks, buddy," Anthony replied as he slipped them on.
Luca then grabbed a small energy-boosting device shaped like a watch and tossed it to Adrian. "Put it on. You will get less exhausted and can use your abilities more often."
"Oh, damn, thanks," Adrian said as he secured it around his wrist.
"No worries. You both should get some rest. Tomorrow I will explain the plan, and we attack," Luca said before heading to his room.
The next morning, Adrian and Anthony sat in chairs facing a board covered with maps, images, and notes.
Luca pointed at the board with a stick. "Lucius's base is divided into three sections: the outer section, the middle section, and the inner section. We attack the outer section first and slowly make our way inward. There will be thousands of clones, so it is better if we sneak in. If we must fight, then we fight."
"It sounds risky, but I am in," Adrian said, impressed by the structure of the plan.
Anthony nodded in agreement.
After eating, the three of them made their way toward the base, which stood tall like a modernized fortress resembling a futuristic castle.
They carefully approached and found a weak spot in the structure.
Anthony struck the wall with controlled force, breaking through it without creating too much noise and allowing them to enter the outer section.
The outer section was an open area packed with thousands of clones standing guard.
The three crouched low and used plants and structures as cover, moving only when patrols shifted positions.
Just as they were nearing the entrance to the middle section, a few clones spotted them.
One Kenji clone and two Zavier clones immediately attacked.
The Kenji clone lunged at Luca with a swift slash aimed at his neck, but Luca sidestepped the blade and countered with his own strike. The clash of steel echoed briefly as Kenji blocked the attack with precision. The clone then teleported behind Luca and swung in a wide arc, forcing Luca to barely block while sliding backward from the impact.
Luca activated his skill, Heavenly Flash, moving at extreme speed and closing the distance instantly. His blade cut cleanly through the air, and before the Kenji clone could react, Luca severed its head. The clone collapsed to the ground, defeated.
Meanwhile, Adrian exchanged rapid blows with one of the Zavier clones, dodging sharp strikes while countering with precise punches. The clone attempted to overwhelm him with speed, but Adrian used short bursts of movement enhanced by the energy device to maintain balance. After a final well-timed strike, the Zavier clone fell to the ground.
Anthony stepped in against the remaining Zavier clone and unleashed a devastating HULK PUNCH straight to its torso. The impact sent shockwaves through the area as the clone was obliterated instantly, unable to withstand the raw power behind the blow.
With the immediate threats eliminated, Anthony destroyed another wall, allowing them to enter the middle section with only minor injuries.
The middle section was completely different from the outer area.
It was an enclosed maze filled with countless narrow paths and dim lighting that barely illuminated the corridors.
There were no clones visible anywhere.
The sudden silence and darkness unsettled them, but they continued forward cautiously.
They chose a path and began navigating the maze, taking turns that seemed logical at first.
However, after several attempts and countless twists, they realized they were going in circles.
Hours passed as they tried different routes without making progress.
Exhausted and frustrated, they finally decided to take a short break.
"What is even this section?!" Adrian said, his legs aching from the constant movement.
"I did not know the middle section was a maze. It is all my fault. I apologize," Luca said.
"It is not your fault. Nobody could have expected this," Adrian replied.
Before they could continue speaking, a single figure appeared in front of them.
It was Ren's clone.
The atmosphere shifted instantly as an overwhelming pressure filled the room, crushing the air itself and making it difficult to breathe.
"Ren's clone?! We have to run—" Adrian began to say before being launched violently through multiple walls by a single movement of his finger.
Adrian slammed into the debris and coughed up blood as pain surged through his body.
Anthony and Luca were lifted off the ground by an invisible force and hurled into the ceiling, then smashed into the floor and walls in rapid succession. The clone moved effortlessly, overwhelming them with pure power while showing no signs of strain. It was clear the clone was not even taking them seriously.
"Are you sure this is only five percent of the original user's power?!" Adrian shouted while struggling to stand.
"Yes, I am sure," Luca replied, though doubt flickered across his face.
"It is indeed five percent of Ren's power. He never used his full strength against us because it would hurt his pride. I could tell when fighting him," Anthony said firmly.
"Okay, and how do we defeat this Ren guy?!" Luca asked as the pressure in the room intensified again.
Adrian wiped the blood from his mouth and steadied himself.
"I have a plan," he said.