The air pulsed with raw energy.
Ryo and 002 stood facing each other, identical in form, but worlds apart in purpose.
Two prototypes. Two experiments.
Only one would leave this room alive.
The Final Test
002 smirked, rolling his shoulders.
> "Come on, 001. Show me why they kept you around."
Ryo didn't answer.
He launched forward.
Their fists collided mid-air, a shockwave blasting through the prison block, sending dust and debris flying.
The impact cracked the floor beneath them.
And then—they disappeared.
Blurs of Motion
They moved faster than human eyes could track.
A blur of strikes and counters.
002 **attacked high—**Ryo weaved low.
002 **faked left—**Ryo read the movement and punished him with a brutal elbow.
CRACK.
002 staggered.
For the first time, his smirk was gone.
> "Tch. You really are adapting."
> "Too bad it won't save you."
The Turning Point
Ryo saw it coming.
The slight shift in 002's stance.
The way his cybernetic core pulsed.
> [WARNING: ENERGY OUTPUT SPIKING.]
002's entire body flickered—
And then he was behind Ryo.
A fist slammed into his spine.
Ryo crashed through a reinforced wall, landing in the next chamber.
Pain exploded through his back.
But his body was already adjusting.
> [INTERNAL DAMAGE MITIGATED: 73%.]
He forced himself up—just in time to see 002 walking through the smoke.
A slow, calculated stride.
> "You feel that, brother? That's the difference between us."
> "You keep adapting. But I was built perfect."
Ryo's Breaking Point
Ryo spat blood, eyes burning.
002 was right.
He was stronger.
Faster.
More precise.
But he was wrong about one thing.
> Ryo wasn't just adapting.
> He was evolving.
The system pinged.
> [NEW THRESHOLD REACHED.]
[UNLOCKING IRONBORN LIMITER RELEASE.]
Ryo exhaled sharply.
He could feel it.
Something inside him was unshackling.
His muscles hummed with new energy.
His vision sharpened.
His mind slowed the world down.
> "Now we're talking."
Kill Mode Engaged
002 saw it.
The shift.
His eyes narrowed.
> "What did you just do?"
Ryo grinned.
And then—he moved.
Faster than ever before.
002 barely had time to raise his guard before Ryo was on him.
A brutal knee to the ribs—
CRACK.
002 stumbled.
Ryo didn't stop.
A right hook to the jaw.
A left to the gut.
A final strike straight to his core.
002 gasped, blood flying from his lips.
Ryo grabbed his collar.
Pulled him close.
> "They should've thrown you away too."
Then he drove his fist through 002's chest.
The End of Project 002
002's body twitched.
His red eyes flickered.
For the first time—true shock.
> "N…No way…"
Blood dripped from Ryo's knuckles.
002 choked. Shuddered.
Then collapsed.
And just like that—
The better prototype was dead.
No Time to Rest
Serra lowered her gun, exhaling. "Holy shit."
But Ryo wasn't listening.
Because the system pinged again.
> [WARNING: HELLION RESPONSE FORCE INBOUND.]
The fight wasn't over.
Not yet.