Inside the Sewer Network — Beneath the City
The ninja dropped through the metal hatch and landed silently on the damp concrete floor.
The stench of mold and stagnant water filled the air.
Echoes of dripping water reverberated through the long tunnel.
Then he heard it.
Distant footsteps…
The sound of running carried along the curved walls.
Globber.
He didn't hesitate.
The ninja slid into the nearest shadow, his body dissolving into it as though he were part of it,
then moved through the darkness at silent speed—crossing distances in unseen leaps.
Suddenly—
The running stopped.
Complete silence.
Seconds later, the ninja emerged from a nearby shadow—
Globber stood in the center of the tunnel.
Calm.
A faint smile on his face.
Globber (calmly):
"So… you really did follow me."
Ninja (cautiously):
"Is this a trap?"
Globber tilted his head slightly, smiling.
Globber:
"Mm… I simply wanted to finish our fight somewhere out of sight."
Ninja:
"So you changed the battlefield."
Globber:
"That was my plan from the beginning…
But I had another reason for escaping the way I did."
The ninja narrowed his eyes.
Ninja:
"What do you mean?"
Globber's hand was behind his back.
Holding a small device.
He pressed it.
In the next instant—
The entire tunnel ignited with light.
Powerful lamps lining the walls and ceiling flared on, illuminating every corner, every curve, every shadow.
The darkness shrank—nearly vanishing.
The ninja glanced around calmly.
Ninja:
"Why do this?
Do you think lighting the place will stop me from finding shadows?
Don't forget… your shadow still exists."
Globber's smile widened.
Globber:
"And that allows me to predict where you'll appear.
I noticed you don't cross more than two hundred meters between shadows.
While you were chasing me… I was measuring."
He stepped forward slowly.
Globber:
"When we came down here, you were running—focused entirely on me.
You didn't notice the lighting devices I placed along the way."
A brief silence.
The ninja looked at the mounted lamps.
Then spoke with faint admiration.
Ninja:
"You're interesting…
For someone to detect flaws in my abilities… that's impressive.
But I can simply go back, destroy your devices…
Restore the darkness.
And then… it'll be your end."
Globber's expression didn't change.
Globber:
"I considered that.
Which is why I don't intend to prolong this fight."
He drew his strange weapon and aimed it steadily.
His voice sharpened.
Globber:
"I'll end this now."
The ninja lifted his chin slightly.
Ninja:
"You think you can face me alone?"
The moment he finished speaking—
He felt it.
Presence… multiplying around him.
Synchronized footsteps.
He turned quickly.
From the edges of the tunnel and behind the concrete pillars—
Seven figures dressed entirely in black stepped forward.
Helmets concealed their faces.
Advanced weapons in their hands.
Perfectly aligned.
Identical movement.
Identical stance.
Even identical posture.
The realization struck instantly.
Seven more Globbers.
The original stepped forward, weapon raised.
Globber (coldly):
"And now…
It's eight against one."
Silence filled the brightly lit tunnel.
The air felt heavier.
But the ninja's eyes—
Held no fear.
They burned with lethal excitement.
The Assault
The seven copies fired at once.
Laser beams streaked through the tunnel, reflecting off the damp walls.
But the ninja moved at the same instant.
A sideways leap—
A low slide—
Then he vanished into his shadow.
The shots tore through empty space.
In a fraction of a second—
He emerged from behind one of the clones.
A swift stab to the neck.
A sharp twist—neck broken.
He pivoted toward another—
A blade driven into the spine.
He moved like a black storm among them.
Three fell.
Then a fourth.
He paused briefly, looking at Globber.
Ninja (coldly):
"It seems your men aren't that strong—"
Before he could finish—
One clone leapt onto him from behind.
An arm locked around his neck—
A perfect Rear Naked Choke.
The forearm compressed both carotid arteries, grip sealed tight behind his head.
The ninja's body tensed.
He struck backward with his elbow.
Drove his knee back—
Then froze.
In front of him—
One of the clones he was certain he had killed…
Was standing.
Weapon aimed.
The trigger pulled.
A laser beam fired.
No time to think.
He twisted suddenly—
The beam struck his left shoulder, piercing through and hitting the clone restraining him.
Both fell.
The ninja rolled away, clutching his shoulder, teeth clenched in pain.
Then—
He froze.
The clone that had been shot rose again.
Slowly.
As if nothing had happened.
Ninja (shocked):
"What's wrong with them…?
Are they aliens too?
I'm certain I broke their necks…"
He lifted his head slowly.
"It seems I have no choice."
Release of Energy
He stood upright.
Closed his eyes.
Took a deep, long breath.
Everything inside him stilled.
The clones advanced and opened fire again.
But this time—
The ninja moved with terrifying calm.
Eyes closed.
He avoided the beams with precise shifts, calculated steps—
As though the air itself whispered danger to him.
Globber watched with interest.
Globber (low voice):
"He's enhanced his senses…
This is what they call releasing inner energy.
Ki."
Light vapor began rising from the ninja's body.
The air trembled around him.
The clones paused—
And in the next second—
He surged forward.
Disappearing from sight.
Reappearing among them like a black flash.
A palm strike knocked one weapon away.
A spinning kick sent two flying.
An elbow shattered another's chest.
Weapons scattered.
The fight became hand-to-hand.
But in his Ki state—
They were no match.
One by one, they fell.
Until one helmet struck the ground and came loose.
The ninja stepped back.
Looked at the exposed head—
And froze.
No eyes.
No nose.
No mouth.
Just a smooth, distorted surface.
Ninja (disgusted):
"What are these things?!"
The original Globber stepped forward—or so it seemed.
Globber calmly:
"Copies I made of myself.
I was in a hurry… I didn't finish the details."
Ninja:
"That's disgusting."
He looked at him directly.
"And now… it's your turn."
The Strangulation
He launched forward at incredible speed.
Their fists collided.
They exchanged blows rapidly—
But in Ki state—
The ninja was faster.
A side kick knocked Globber's weapon away.
Precise strikes to the abdomen and ribs.
Then a powerful thrust—
Sending Globber several meters back into the wall.
He tried to rise—
But the ninja vanished.
In the next instant—
He emerged from Globber's own shadow.
A short chain wrapped around his neck.
Pulled tight.
Knee pressed into his back.
The choke tightened.
Ninja (steady voice):
"This is your end."
Pressure increased.
Globber's resistance weakened.
His arms slackened.
He collapsed.
The ninja released him, breathing heavily.
Ninja:
"Lucky for you…
I was ordered to bring you in alive."
He sat briefly, regulating his breath.
Gradually easing his Ki flow.
The vapor faded.
His body grew heavy.
Suddenly—
A sting on his neck.
Then another.
Then a third.
He raised his hand slowly—
Insects.
Several circling him.
His reactions were slower now—energy depleted.
He looked ahead—
And froze.
The Globber he had just subdued—
Was rising.
Slowly.
As if he had never been choked.
Ninja (stunned):
"Didn't you lose consciousness…?"
In the next instant—
Laser shots struck his legs and arm.
A sharp cry of pain.
He staggered, falling to his knees.
Globber approached.
A sly smile on his face.
Globber:
"You would have won…
If you had faced my real body."
The ninja's eyes widened.
"So… you're a clone too?"
Globber chuckled softly.
Globber:
"That's right.
The entire time… you were fighting only a copy of me."
More insects swarmed him.
Repeated stings.
Globber:
"You said you had resistance to toxins…
But with this sedative…
You'll lose consciousness for days at this dosage."
The ninja's vision faded.
Sounds grew distant.
Then—
Darkness.
Moments later, the clones bound him tightly with metal chains.
They ensured he was secured.
Then withdrew—
Leaving him unconscious in the illuminated tunnel.
At the Edge of the Forest — Near the Abandoned Warehouse
Night hung thick between the trees.
The moon half-veiled by clouds.
Wind moved through the pine branches like a whisper.
At a distance from the decaying warehouse—
The real Globber stood in the shadows behind a thick tree trunk.
His eyes fixed on the scene.
Headlights pierced the darkness.
The Numbers team had arrived.
They moved with speed and discipline—
Weapons ready. Tactical formation precise.
They breached the warehouse within seconds.
No hesitation.
A clean operation.
Inside—
Number 5 was freed quickly.
Escorted under heavy protection.
Placed in the back seat of an armored vehicle.
The door shut.
The convoy moved in formation,
Driving down the dirt road through the trees.
From afar—
Globber didn't move.
Didn't attempt to stop them.
Showed no reaction.
He simply watched.
His cold inner voice echoed:
Do you think you can distract me with a battle…
So you can rescue your hostage?
Everything… is proceeding according to plan.
The vehicle drove farther away,
Its rear lights fading between the trees.
But—
Beneath the metal chassis of one car—
A tiny insect clung firmly.
Its micro-lenses flickered faintly.
Tracking.
Recording.
Transmitting.
Globber smiled slightly as he observed through its vision.
Then whispered:
"Now…
I will find my ship."
He lifted his gaze toward the dark sky.
This was never a chase.
Nor revenge.
It was retrieval.
And with every move his enemies made—
He was getting closer to his true objective.