The lights flickered, casting long, jagged shadows down the sterile halls of the Hellion black-site.
Ryo and Serra stood tense, surrounded by rows of reinforced cells—each one filled with failed experiments.
The air felt wrong.
Something was here.
Watching them.
Then—
The system pinged.
> [WARNING: HIGH-THREAT ENTITY DETECTED.]
[SUBJECT DESIGNATION: PROJECT 002.]
Ryo's chest tightened.
Project 002.
That meant—
> "Ohhh, rookie. You're not an only child, are you?"
The Lockdown Begins
A cold, mechanical voice crackled through the prison's intercom.
> "Containment breach detected. All security personnel, engage Protocol Blackout."
> "Lethal force authorized."
Sirens wailed. The blast doors at the far end of the hall slammed shut.
They were locked in.
Serra checked the control panel. "They just cut power to the main door. We're trapped."
Ryo wasn't listening.
Because something was moving inside the prison.
Not the guards.
Something worse.
The Other Prototype
A door at the far end of the hall slid open.
Steam hissed out, revealing a dark cell beyond.
And then—a figure stepped forward.
Tall. Broad-shouldered.
Stripped to the waist, skin laced with glowing red cybernetic lines.
A metal collar was bolted to his throat. Restraint cuffs hung loose from his wrists.
And when he raised his head—
Ryo saw his own face.
A mirror image.
Except this version of him had cold, dead eyes.
The Forgotten Brother
The man tilted his head. Studying him.
Then—he smiled.
> "So, you're 001?"
His voice was hoarse, unused.
Ryo stared. His mind raced, but the system had no answers.
> [ERROR: NO DATA ON PROJECT 002.]
Serra's hand tightened on her pistol.
> "Who the hell is this?"
The man chuckled, flexing his cybernetic fingers.
> "I'm what they made after you failed."
His eyes flashed red.
> "I'm the one they didn't throw away."
Fight or Die
Then he moved.
No hesitation. No warning.
One second he was across the hall—
The next, he was right in front of Ryo.
A fist slammed into Ryo's chest.
BOOM.
Ryo flew back, crashing into the cell doors.
Pain flared.
> [WARNING: SEVERE IMPACT. DAMAGE COMPENSATION: 62%.]
Ryo gritted his teeth.
This wasn't just another experiment.
This was his replacement.
And now—
Only one of them was walking out of here alive.