The silver-haired man watched Ethan for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Linh will help you get ready."
Linh tilted her head toward the hallway. "Follow me."
Ethan walked beside her as they moved deeper into the facility. The corridors grew darker, lit only by neon blue lines running along the walls. Finally, they arrived at a sleek, futuristic armory. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls—rifles, blades, gadgets Ethan couldn't even name.
Linh turned to him, arms crossed. "Which are your weapons of choice?"
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Dual katanas."
Linh raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Most agents preferred firearms. "How about guns?"
Ethan shrugged. "Not my favorite, but do I need them for this mission?"
Linh smirked. "Not really."
She walked over to a storage unit and pressed a button. The wall shifted, revealing a high-tech suit hanging in a containment chamber. It was a deep purple mixed with black, designed to blend perfectly into the shadows.
"Put it on," she said. "I'll explain how it works after."
Ethan grabbed the suit and changed. The moment he zipped it up, he felt the material adjusting to his body, almost like a second skin. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers.
"Wow… this is awesome."
Linh smirked. "Good. Now—"
"Wait." Ethan frowned. "Where are my swords?"
Without a word, Linh walked over to a machine at the center of the room. She tapped a few controls, and a glowing blueprint appeared. Moments later, the machine whirred to life. A sleek katana materialized right before Ethan's eyes.
Ethan's jaw dropped. "Whoa…"
Linh picked up the sword and handed it to him. "Just one."
Ethan blinked. "One? But—"
"You don't need two," she said simply.
Ethan sighed but took the sword. The moment he held it, he understood. The weight was perfect, the balance flawless. As he gave it a test swing, he could hear the air slicing apart.
"Alright," Linh said. "Are you ready?"
Ethan nodded. "Yeah."
She led him to a circular platform. "Step in."
Ethan hesitated. "You're not coming?"
Linh shook her head. "No."
Before he could protest, she pressed a button.
In an instant, the floor vanished beneath him.
Ethan was falling.
"WHAT THE HELL, LINH?!" He plummeted through the night sky, the city below rushing toward him at an alarming speed.
Linh's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Stay focused. Your suit will keep you alive."
"HOW?"
"Swing your arm forward. Your wrist will shoot out a cable. When it latches onto a building, the tension will reduce the impact, and your gloves and boots will let you stick to any surface."
Ethan barely had time to process before the ground came dangerously close.
"Shit—"
He swung his arm.
The cable shot out.
A second later, it latched onto a skyscraper, and his body jerked mid-air. The force absorbed his fall, and he was suddenly gliding. He reached the building, pressed his hand against the surface—and stuck.
His breathing was heavy. His heart pounded. But he was alive.
Linh's voice came through again. "Now… let's get to work."