Prologue: Liberation's Prelude

The air crackled with tension as Subject Zero, designated 00, surged forward, his katana gleaming in the dim light of the facility's corridors. With a flicker of movement, he sped through the chaos, his body a blur as he cut down anyone who dared to stand in his path. His time-altering abilities allowed him to anticipate their movements with uncanny precision, each strike swift and deadly.

Beside him, Subject One, known as 01, exerted his magnetic powers, pulling enemies towards him with an unseen force. Metal objects in the vicinity twisted and contorted at his command, forming barriers to shield his allies or becoming projectiles to incapacitate their foes. With each motion of his hands, the very fabric of the facility seemed to warp and bend to his will.

Meanwhile, Subject Two, 02, melded with the darkness, her form becoming indistinguishable from the shadows that surrounded them. With a whisper of movement, she slipped through the chaos, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. Shadows coalesced at her touch, forming tendrils that ensnared their adversaries or coiling around them, suffocating the light.

As the rebellion raged on, Subject Three, 03, remained on the fringes, his fists clenched in frustration. Violence had never been his forte; he abhorred it, preferring the solace of solitude to the chaos of battle. Instead, he focused his energies on protecting the younger subjects, using his abilities to shield them from harm and guide them to safety.

Yet, even as they fought, a nagging doubt gnawed at the edges of Zero's consciousness. Was this truly the path they were meant to follow? Were they not simply exchanging one form of captivity for another? But there was no time for doubt, no room for hesitation. They had come too far to turn back now.

As Zero and his companions pressed forward, their senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through their veins, they finally reached the heart of the facility. There, standing before them, was the lead scientist, Dr. Elias Blackwood, a man whose experiments had shaped their very existence.

Beside him stood the woman they all knew as Mother, her eyes filled with sorrow as she gazed upon the children she had cared for like her own. And standing beside her, a stranger—a child, no older than they had been when they were first brought to this place.

Zero's grip tightened on his sword as he locked eyes with Dr. Blackwood, his mind flooded with memories of pain and suffering. This was the man responsible for their torment, the architect of their misery.

With a primal roar, Zero lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. But before he could strike the killing blow, Mother stepped between them, her voice filled with desperation.

"Please, Zero," she pleaded, her words a whisper against the cacophony of battle. "There is another way. Violence begets violence. Do not let it consume you."

But Zero's resolve remained unyielding. With a swift motion, he pushed Mother aside, his eyes burning with righteous fury as he advanced on Dr. Blackwood.

And then, with a flash of blinding light, the world around him dissolved into darkness.

But amidst the chaos, amidst the flickering shadows and the clash of steel, Zero's gaze caught on something unexpected—a child, standing beside Mother and Dr. Blackwood, their eyes wide with fear. It was a face he did not recognize, a presence that sent a chill down his spine.

Zero jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat as he gasped for breath. It was the same nightmare that had plagued him for years, a haunting reminder of the day that had changed everything.

As he struggled to regain his composure, his phone rang, shattering the silence of his apartment. With trembling hands, he answered the call, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"Zero," came the voice on the other end, belonging to Subject Four, 04. "We need you. Something's happened."

And as Zero listened to her words, a sense of foreboding washed over him, the memory of the past colliding with the uncertainty of the present.

The Prototype Paradox had only just begun.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***