Yassin stared at the end of the mall, at the thing that was looking toward him with cold eyes. He stood observing it in calm silence for several seconds as it was shrouded in darkness. The red rays of the setting sun filtered through the glass dome above them, illuminating the place slightly—but not enough for them to recognize each other's faces.

Suddenly, after a long silence, the unknown figure advanced toward Yassin with extreme quietness. Yassin retreated, sensing danger.

"Who are you?" he said in a low tone.

The stranger approached calmly, then, without warning, began to fire. Yassin activated his power—his body turning into air particles—and the bullets passed through him harmlessly. The stranger's face remained blank, devoid of emotion.

Yassin fled, darting into one of the nearby shops. Bullets tore through the air, shattering glass, display cases, and merchandise. The store was reduced to ruin as he cowered in a corner. Then came the unmistakable sound of a weapon being reloaded, followed by approaching footsteps.

He bolted from the shop, veering left, desperate to put distance between himself and his attacker. Suddenly, the stranger fired at the glass dome above him. The ceiling shattered, raining down shards. Yassin dove into another store to the right, avoiding the deadly glass storm.

Then, silence.

"I can't use my full power yet," Yassin muttered to himself. "My body's tired and hasn't digested the food. I have to avoid him and only use my ability when necessary… but why is he attacking me?"

Just then, he saw a projectile incoming—heading straight for his shelter. The blast tore through the shop, but Yassin had already activated his ability, phasing away from harm. He fled once again, sprinting left, his legs growing weaker by the second.

Eventually, the gunfire stopped. Yassin slowed, gasping for air, every muscle aching. His power had drained him, and his heartbeat pounded in his chest like a war drum. He didn't understand the strange tightness he felt, the heaviness in his heart.

Everything had changed so suddenly.

He had come so close to death—several times now.

Pushing himself forward, he sprinted through the ornate, circular corridor, peering into each empty shop for any sign of movement. But the area was deserted.

His heart finally began to calm.

For the first time since the attack began, he looked back. No sign of pursuit. After another minute of running, he spotted an exit door on his right labeled Exit Gate 15. He dashed toward it without hesitation, lungs burning, stomach aching, but he didn't stop.

Night had fallen.

The sun was gone, replaced by the moon's serene glow. The city looked ethereal under its silver light.

The darkness made him uneasy—he needed to see to escape—but perhaps it could also help him vanish. He took a moment to breathe, scanning the area with sharpened senses. The road ahead was clear, leading to a field of destroyed buildings that might offer cover.

He took one step forward.

Boom!

An explosion erupted in the wall beside him, throwing dust and debris into the air. From within the smoke, the figure emerged. The same one that had hunted him—unrelenting, emotionless.

It raised its hand and aimed again.

"Damn it, what is that thing?" Yassin shouted, stunned. "It doesn't look like us at all!"

The creature was no human.

Its glowing red eyes pierced the night, and its body gleamed with chrome metal, silver-toned and eerily beautiful. Above its forehead glowed a mysterious gem—celestial blue—encased in glass. A similar gem pulsed on its chest.

Yassin realized they were its power sources. Its heart. Its mind.

Its face mimicked humanity, but there was no life behind it. Its head was shaven, its limbs and torso a blend of silver alloy and transparent casing that exposed rivers of blue energy flowing within.

Now wasn't the time to observe.

The robot raised its arm. Its fingers opened into five glowing muzzles.

It was going to fire.

Yassin didn't wait.

He activated his ability and dashed back into the mall. Gunfire erupted behind him, ripping apart the quiet night.

Bullets passed through his phased form, tearing apart the walls, shops, and everything else in their path. He dodged reflexively, even though the bullets couldn't hurt him—not yet. He had five seconds.

He reached the mall entrance and dove inside just as his power faded. He hit the ground hard but bounced back to his feet. He had no time to rest.

He sprinted deeper into the circular corridor, the shape of the mall working in his favor.

His chest tightened. He hadn't rested long enough, and the repeated strain of using his ability was too much. Still, he had to keep going.

He glanced behind him.

Nothing.

The robot was nowhere to be seen. That worried him even more.

It was plotting something. Waiting.

He turned his gaze forward—

Clang!

He collided headfirst into something solid and metallic. He crashed to the ground, pain surging through his face. His hand shot to his nose—it throbbed with sharp pain, likely broken had he not been genetically modified.

Groaning, he looked up over his shoulder to see what he'd run into.

Not another machine.

A human.

Yassin blinked in astonishment. His mind reeled with disbelief. But his instincts screamed danger.

This wasn't flesh. He hadn't collided with a body—but metal.

He began crawling backward, eyes wide with terror, like a worm scrambling from a bird's descending beak.

Then he said, in a cold, detached tone:

"Do you want to kill me, you metal thing?"

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