BOOOOM.
A shockwave tears through the industrial zone, splitting steel pillars and blowing dust into a swirling storm.
Gray and Blaze stumble.
Hyung stops dead.Null's eyes sharpen instantly.
Hyung:"…Gono."
Null:"That wasn't an enemy."He looks toward the explosion."That was personal."
They sprint.
CUT BACK — GONO VS GIO
The smoke clears.
Gono and Gio stand opposite each other, arms crossed from the impact.
Gio's bandaged arms crackle with red-black energy.Gono's knuckles drip blood.
Gio grins:
"You blocked me. Why? I thought big bro only needed two hits."
Gono wipes his mouth.
"…You're not a 'fight,' Gio. You're my brother."
Gio's smile cracks.
"Then die like family always does."
He rushes again—faster, sharper, almost teleport-like.
Gono barely slips aside, but Gio's heel catches him in the ribs.
CRACK.
Gono flies into a container wall.
He coughs blood.
Gono:"…Strong. They really changed you."
Gio:"They fixed me."
FLASHBACK — YEARS AGO
A tiny room in a broken orphanage.
Young Gono (age 12) sits on the floor, bruised.Young Gio (age 7) hides behind him.
Thugs break in.
Thug:"Where's the kid who stole our food?!"
Gono steps in front of Gio.
"You don't touch him."
The thug laughs.
"You? A skinny rat?"
He reaches.
Gono grabs a pipe and hits him once.
The thug drops instantly.
Gio looks up at him like he's a superhero.
Gio:"Big bro… you saved me!"
Gono ruffles his hair.
"Always. No matter what."
The flashback fades.
BACK TO FIGHT
Gono clenches his fist.
"…I promised to protect you."
Gio's expression turns cold.
"You failed."
He extends his hands.
Black strings of energy burst out, snapping around Gono's limbs like electric barbed wire.
Gono grits his teeth.
"Tch—so that's their trick."
Gio pulls.
Gono is yanked forward—like prey.
Gio's knee slams into Gono's face.Blood sprays.
Gono stumbles but stays standing.
Gio blinks.
"You didn't fall."
Gono spits blood and smiles.
"I don't fall for family."
GONO USES HIS TRUE HIT
For the first time ever…
Gono pulls his arm back.
Gio's eyes widen.
"…That stance— That's not your two-hit rule."
Gono nods once.
"This is your hit. The one I've been saving."
He launches forward.
His fist glows with raw physical force — no power, no ability, just pure brutal strength.
"BROTHER BREAKER."
His punch lands clean on Gio's chest.
BBBBBOOOOOOOOMMM.
Air bends.Energy shatters.Gio is sent flying across the yard, skidding through metal crates, tearing through a wall.
Smoke rises.
Gono drops to one knee, breathing hard.
"…Damn. That hurt me too."
GIO GETS BACK UP
Broken ribs.Blood everywhere.Body glitching.
But Gio stands.
Barely.
He wipes his nose.
"…You hit harder than before."
Gono lowers his head.
"Because I didn't want to."
Gio shakes violently, power spiraling out of control.
"You should have killed me, Gono."
His eyes turn fully red.
"They told me…if I ever see you…I have to kill you or they kill me."
Gono's heart drops.
"…They put a kill chip in you."
Gio nods, trembling.
"And I don't want to die."
Tears mix with blood.
"So I'm sorry, big bro."
He charges with desperation, madness, and fear.
NULL & HYUNG ARRIVE
Hyung leaps down first, landing between them.
Hyung yells:"ENOUGH!"
He blocks Gio's punch with one hand — the ground cracks.
Gio tries to break past, but Hyung is immovable.
Hyung (to Gono):"You okay?"
Gono wipes his mouth."…No. But deal with him softly."
Null walks forward quietly.Golden-black eyes lock onto Gio.
Gio flinches.
Something in Null's presence makes his red energy flicker.
Null:"That mark… I've seen it before."
Gio stares, shaking.
"You… who are you?"
Null doesn't answer.
CUT TO NULL'S PAST (SHORT)
Years ago.A dark room filled with screens.Test subjects screaming behind glass.
Young Null (Goo Gun Null) strapped down.Electrodes in his arms.Men in lab coats whispering.
Scientist 1:"This kid can copy anything."
Scientist 2:"He's perfect for Project Reset."
Scientist 1:"Erase his name."
Scientist 2:"Erase his past."
Null's eyes open — golden-black for the first time.
The memory burns out.
BACK TO PRESENT
Null looks at Gio's glowing circuits.
"…They tried to make him like me," Null mutters.
Hyung grips Gio's wrist gently but firmly.
"Kid… listen to me. We're not your enemy."
Gio screams in pain — the chip activating.
"It hurts! STOP—! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
Gono stands up weakly.
"Gio… I'll save you. I swear."
Gio claws at his head, collapsing.
Null kneels and places a hand on Gio's neck.
"I can disable the chip."
Everyone freezes.
Gono:"Can you really?"
Null:"For a moment. But it will attract someone stronger."
Gono:"I don't care. Save him."
Null nods.
A spark of black-gold energy enters Gio's skin.
Gio gasps—Then goes limp…
Breathing normally.
Alive.
ENDING MOMENT
Gono drops beside him, voice trembling.
"…Little bro. Don't leave me again."
Null stands.
Hyung looks at him.
"What now?"
Null stares into the night.
"They'll come for the boy."
Hyung:"And for us."
Null:"Let them."
The wind blows.Somewhere far in the dark, someone is watching.
And smiling.
END CHAPTER 20