Shadows in the Sky

Jingwei stood in his office, the sprawling Free World city visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The hustle and bustle of the city thrummed below him—a seemingly peaceful day. Yet, Jingwei's instincts, honed through years of experience as the Sentinel Commander, told him something was wrong. He couldn't place it, but there was an uneasiness in the air.

Miles away, perched atop a towering building, Viper adjusted his sleek, black firearm. The weapon hummed softly, its advanced thermal tracking activated. Beside him, Shade stood silently, his venom daggers glinting ominously in the sunlight. Viper's golden visor scanned the city until it locked onto the heat signature of his target: Jingwei. A smirk curled on his lips as he muttered, "Got you."

Jingwei's eyes widened as a faint sense of danger flickered in his mind. The All-Seeing ability activated, his vision expanding as if time slowed to a crawl. He saw it—the incoming bullet, its trajectory clear in his enhanced sight, but it was too late already the bullet was seconds from finishing its work.

Bang!

The shot tore through the air, a blinding streak of energy-laced metal with infinite range. Jingwei reacted instantly. His body twisted with impossible speed, the bullet barely grazing past his torso. As the projectile continued its path, it collided with his office window, igniting an explosion that sent a deafening shockwave across the city.

Boom!

The towering building shook violently, glass and debris raining down. The destruction rippled outward, consuming several nearby buildings. Flames erupted as secondary explosions followed, engulfing the area in chaos.

Leaping through the chaos, Jingwei emerged from the inferno, his coat trailing behind him as he soared into the open sky. His heart pounded, but his focus remained unbroken. His All-Seeing ability guided his movements with precision as he evaded falling debris and swirling flames.

Hovering above the devastation, Jingwei's eyes narrowed. His enhanced sight traced the path of the bullet back to its origin, pinpointing Viper and Shade atop the distant building. The two figures were shrouded in faint smoke, their presence undeniable.

The city's bell tolled—a somber, urgent sound that signaled an invasion. Across the streets, civilians screamed and fled as Sentinels scrambled to restore order.

Jingwei's expression darkened. His voice was cold and resolute as he muttered, "You won't get away with this."

Viper smirked, watching Jingwei lock onto them. "He's quicker than I thought," he remarked, adjusting his firearm. "But let's see how long he can keep up."

Shade, ever silent, unsheathed his venom daggers, their tips dripping with a greenish liquid that sizzled upon contact with the air. He turned to Viper and nodded, his eyes sharp and calculating.

Jingwei wasted no time. With a blur of motion, he flew directly toward the pair, his body cutting through the smoke and flames like a missile. His determination burned brighter than the fires below, and his gaze never wavered from his targets.

The battle was just beginning.