Chapter 24

Victor!" Logan pounced, driving one claw into Victor's chest and pinning him to the ground. As Victor's claws gripped Logan's head, Logan slammed his forehead against Victor's.

"Bang!"

A dull thud echoed as Victor's head recoiled, his vision blurring, and blood gushed out.

With a snarl, Logan kicked him away, sending Victor crashing into the floor-to-ceiling glass of the laboratory.

Crash!

The glass fragments scattered like colourful fireflies darting in panic under the morning sunlight.

As Victor staggered to his feet, Logan rushed again, stabbing his claws into Victor's chest. Amid the shower of glass fragments, the two of them tumbled directly from the second floor.

Boom!

Logan pinned Victor to the ground, his face like a bloodthirsty beast. He slowly retracted his claws, no blood visible on them, and pressed them against Victor's neck.

"Why did you kill her? Why?"

Logan roared, his voice raw with anguish.

Victor stared up at him, his tense body relaxing as a faint smile spread across his face.

"Yes, that's it… that look… Kill me, Jimmy!"

Logan hesitated, glaring at Victor.

"Logan, let him go." Stryker stood on the second floor, looking down at the scene with an indifferent yet slightly amused expression.

Victor was still too valuable to lose like this.

Logan glanced up and sneered. "Have you completely lost your mind?"

Victor smirked and looked past Logan.

A figure stepped forward from the shadows.

Logan's eyes narrowed in disbelief as he saw who that person was. His lips trembled.

"Kara? What's going on!?"

At this time Stryker stated the cold truth without a trace of emotion.

Kara, Logan's lover, whom he had cherished, was not who she seemed.

All this time, Logan believed that the gentle, beautiful Kara was his wife. But as Stryker revealed everything, Logan realised he had never truly known her.

Kara was a mutant, code-named Silver Fox, with the ability to control people's thoughts and actions by touch.

From faking her own death to Logan's quest for vengeance, it was all a ploy—a scheme to make Logan voluntarily undergo the adamantium bonding process.

Kara, Victor, and Stryker had crafted this elaborate ruse, and Logan had been their pawn, manipulated like a puppet on a string.

As Stryker finished speaking, Logan's initial fury gave way to a strange, chilling calm.

Turning to face Kara, who remained silent, Logan asked coldly, "So, did I fall in love with you because of your ability?"

Kara, thinking of her imprisoned sister, trembled, her eyes downcast.

Seeing her expression, pain flashed through Logan's heart, as though it was being slowly torn apart.

Logan's thoughts were in disarray, and his body swayed.

Suddenly, Victor seized his arm, his sharp claws digging into Logan's forearm, nearly crushing the bone.

"Ah!" The sharp pain jolted Logan back to reality.

"Logan!" Kara cried out, stepping forward instinctively.

Stryker immediately took a step back, his hand subtly pointing a hidden gun at Kara.

Kara froze and pleaded, "I did everything you asked! Please, let my sister go!"

Stryker's lips curled into a chilling, fanatical smile. "No, your sister's mutation is unique. She's still too valuable to let go. For now, just enjoy the show."

Kara's heart sank as if she had been cast into an icy abyss.

Victor stood up, laughing wildly as he watched Logan writhe in pain.

"Jimmy, my brother, do you really think monsters like us can ever have a happy ending?"

"Victor!" Logan bellowed, slashing at Victor with his claws.

Victor retaliated, flinging Logan across the room.

Blood poured from Logan's arm, five sharp claw marks tearing his forearm's flesh into strips.

But in the blink of an eye, his wounds healed completely.

Gritting his teeth, Logan glared at Victor. "Don't push me!"

Victor grinned, baring his fangs, and crouched like a large cat preparing to strike.

Meanwhile…

"Such pitiful screams! Wasn't that your friend? Do you think he's dead by now?" The figure cloaked in shadows sneered at Mike, his voice dripping with malice.

Mike, unfazed, sidestepped the dark tendrils lunging at him, moving fluidly as the sword-whip formed by Senbonzakura's tiny blades lashed out at his foe.

The black shadow wrapped around the figure like an impenetrable shield.

Screech, screech, screech!

The sound of the blades slicing through the fragmented black mask was grating.

"Interesting ability," the shadowy figure mused. "How about it, fancy joining us?"

The tiny blades floated like scattered petals, returning to Mike and circling around him.

"Your mouth must be getting dry. I've got some nice hot créme here." Mike quipped, his expression serious as he scrutinised his opponent.

"Créme?" the figure asked, momentarily thrown off.

Mike smirked and gestured down and said "Wanna check? It's still warm."

[A/N: Okay…..kind of weird but okay, lol.]

A mental battle of wits? Two could play.

With a flick, Mike discreetly summoned another card into his left hand, hidden in his pocket.

The shadowy figure's face darkened as the black mass surrounding him morphed into sharp tendrils that lashed out at Mike like bullets.

Mike's heartbeat quickened as everything in his vision slowed down. He calmly evaded the attacks while the scattered blade fragments filled the air, creating a deadly space between them.

The shadow's eyes narrowed as he pulled his dark aura back, preparing to wrap himself in it and slip away. 

But the blade fragments darted toward him, leaving him no choice but to stay and defend.

His enemy's power was versatile. He could use his shadow to attack, defend, and even hide within the darkness to move swiftly, but he couldn't attack, defend, and move simultaneously.

For now, forced to defend against Senbon zakura, he was stuck in his 'turtle shell,' unable to strike back.

But who was this guy?

Mike couldn't recall him from the original storyline.

"Better finish this quickly." With a quiet mutter, Mike clenched his fists, causing the blades to compress. The shrill sound of metal grinding against the black shield filled the air.

"Quick! Fire!"

Suddenly, a group of soldiers stormed onto the site, guns trained on Mike.

Mike's expression shifted as the blades surged toward the soldiers.

The shadow's eyes gleamed.

'A perfect opportunity!'

Mike was proving to be more troublesome than anticipated. This wasn't his job.

'Time to retreat, we should wake up Weapon XI, and let it deal with him. It's a good chance to test its strength too.' As these thoughts raced through his mind, the shadow's protective barrier rapidly began to shrink.

But just then, a glint of light flashed.

The shadow froze, his body wracked with pain as blood spurted from a deep wound.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the blade lodged in his chest.

At that moment, Mike's low growl reached his ears.

"Shoot him dead, Shinso!"

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Thank you all for reading, you all make it worthwhile.

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You can read more chapters of both my fics on p@treon.com/adam001