CHAPTER 112: CONCEALING ABILITIES

There were limited details available about the Dark System Online, but one thing Theo had begun to notice stood out, its Purge Quests only triggered when UMS survivors were nearby.

’It seems like the Dark System was designed specifically for dealing with survivors... especially UMS,’ he thought, brows furrowed as he trailed behind the group.

And just like that, the dark interface had appeared again, glowing with temptation.

This time, however, Theo hesitated for an entirely different reason. Unlike before, where the targets were thieves, or the ones who kidnapped Aries... These survivors were just ordinary people. Scared, injured... but still human. Still innocent.

He looked ahead. Some of the UMS survivors were limping. One woman clutched a bloodied arm, another carried a crying child. There was no bloodlust in their eyes. No twitching limbs.

No signs of mutation. Just people trying to live...

[Reject Quest? YES]

His finger hovered near the prompt. Behind him, he sensed movement. Ben walked past, casting him a sidelong glance filled with suspicion. It was like the guy could feel something was off but as usual, he said nothing and kept walking.

Theo exhaled quietly... and tapped NO.

[System Notification: PURGE MISSION DECLINED]

The dark interface dissolved. He closed his eyes for a second, feeling the pressure in his chest finally ease. But there was no peace in the relief.

If anything, it felt like this was only the beginning.

"More of this is coming," Theo whispered to himself.

Lexa, walking several steps ahead and checking over her squad, glanced back. "Did you say

something?"

Theo shook his head, voice even. "Nothing."

But his eyes lingered on the distant skyline where storm clouds curled and thunder rumbled beyond the shattered remains of the university campus.

He was beginning to understand. This wasn’t just a battle for survival. Not just a war against the Meteorborn. It was something deeper. Something more personal.

A war between systems. A war for control of who he would become.

And the line between power and corruption... was getting thinner by the day.

*****

AMSO Headquarters - Decontamination Bay

Before the sun sets, the transport doors hissed open as Theo and the rest of the squad stepped into AMSO’s reinforced decontamination zone. The fluorescent lights above buzzed softly. Steam and sterile mist hissed through vents, washing over their suits as automated systems cleansed them of any lingering contaminants from Lacan State University.

Theo quietly stepped forward. His uniform was scorched in places, his boots caked in dried blood. Despite it all, his face remained unreadable.

Behind him, Ben stumbled in, scowling. His fingers were twitchy, eyes darting between Theo and Commander Rico, who was waiting with his arms crossed just beyond the decon doors.

Ben immediately made a beeline for the commander, voice lowered but urgent.

"You need to report him," Ben whispered, jerking his thumb toward Theo. "He disobeyed direct orders and left our formation. If he didn’t pull that stupid solo act, you’d have had better control of the mission."

Rico raised a brow. "He saved civilians. Stabilized Wings. I’ve seen the after-action footage."

Ben leaned in. "So what? He’s reckless. That kind of behavior spreads. What if everyone just ran off and played hero?" His voice dropped to a near hiss.

"Come on, Rico. You want to keep your position? My father still backs AMSO financially. You and I both know promotions don’t just come from the battlefield. They come from influence. Loyalty."

Rico’s jaw tightened. "I gave you command support today, Ben. You’re not the one giving me orders."

"But my father can pull your funding," Ben said with a smug smile. "You’ve always known that. Just keep backing me like always. File the report. I’ll handle the rest."

Rico looked away, expression unreadable.

Ben turned and strolled toward the barracks with the others, jaw clenched, his fists balled at his sides. The air around him buzzed with tension, but no one dared say a word.

There was no way he would let that damn Theo off the hook. That smug face, calm, unreadable, as if none of this affected him, it grated on Ben’s nerves more than any insult could.

He used to be nothing.

Theo was his punching bag, his personal source of amusement back in school. That fat, awkward nerd who flinched at every word. Who looked like he didn’t belong in the same room, let alone the same team.

And now?

Now he had the gall to act like he was some kind of hero?

Ben’s lip curled.

"So what if he’s stronger?" he muttered under his breath. "He’s still just trash. A nobody who got lucky."

A poor kid with a fancy power that didn’t change the truth. Theo didn’t belong here. Not with the elites. Not above him. Ben’s boots hit the corridor floor harder with every step. His thoughts twisted with frustration.

He’d make sure everyone remembered who Theo really was. No amount of flashy powers or saved missions could erase the past. He was going to put him back in his place.

No matter what it took.

****

An Hour Later

Commander Rico Reyes stood stiffly before a panel of AMSO senior officers at the briefing room. Holographic screens hovered mid-air, cycling through footage of the university raid, the smoldering gymnasium, Meteorborn corpses, and Theo slicing through Infectees like a storm.

Hayden sat at the head of the table, flanked by two other Supreme Commanders. His cold, analytical gaze settled on Rico.

"Proceed with your complaint," Hayden said.

Rico cleared his throat. "Class 4 Operative Theodore Luther deviated from our squad’s assigned path without authorization. He left formation and ignored protocol-"

"To do what?" Hayden interrupted, tapping a screen.

Rico hesitated.

"Saved sixteen civilians from a MHusk ambush. Took down an MAqua solo. Stabilized Delta Team before any of our squads arrived," Hayden said flatly. "You call that a violation?"

"It’s not about success," Rico replied, his tone strained. "It’s about structure. If Class 4s start ignoring orders just because they think they’re strong enough-"

"But he is strong enough," Marlon said softly from the corner, arms folded. She was standing instead of sitting, eyes sharp behind her glasses.

Rico’s face darkened.

Hayden’s fingers tapped the table again. "You know what I see, Commander Reyes? A recruit with initiative, real combat instinct and potential. But what I don’t see is strong leadership from you."

Rico stiffened.

"Ben’s father might be one of our backers," Hayden continued, "but AMSO doesn’t run on politics alone. It runs on performance. And so far, I see more leadership from Luther than I do from you."

The room went quiet. Even Marlon looked surprised.

Hayden finally leaned back in his seat. "No formal punishment. But if this happens again, Rico... I’ll consider a reassignment."

Rico nodded stiffly and left the room, jaw locked.

"Did you grow to like him now?" Marlon asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone as he glanced at Hayden.

Hayden scoffed lightly. "I wouldn’t go that far. I still don’t like him." He leaned back in his chair. "But I like Arlan Harrow even less. That man had the nerve to use his connections to interfere with AMSO operations. He crossed a line."

Arlan Harrow was the one who recommended Rico Reyes to be promoted as a Commander.

"Still," Ira Voss cut in with a casual shrug, "Arlan is one of AMSO’s major sponsors."

Hayden’s eyes narrowed. "Sponsorship doesn’t give him the right to twist protocol for personal gain."

Marlon smirked slightly. "Then I guess Theo’s timing was... convenient."

"Convenient or not," Hayden muttered, "he’s shaken the table. And I’m still not sure if that’s a good thing." His gaze darkened.

"That kid acts on his own, goes off-mission, doesn’t follow orders. That’s not the kind of example we need in a squad built on unity and discipline."

He scoffed, tapping a finger against the armrest. "If it were up to me, I’d personally knock some sense into him."

Hayden stood with his arms folded, staring at the tactical screen replaying Theo’s most recent mission.

"That kid..." Hayden muttered under his breath.

Across the table sat Marlon Pitt, and to his left, Ira Voss, Supreme Commander of Intelligence and Surveillance. Both watched in silence as the footage showed Theo dashing forward in electric flashes, dropping multiple Meteorborn and infectees without pause.

Hayden finally spoke louder. "You saw it, right? Don’t tell me I’m the only one who caught it."

Marlon raised an eyebrow. "Caught what, exactly?"

Hayden tapped a screen on the table, bringing up Theo’s recruitment file. "This... his official record. According to Theodore Luther’s AMSO registration, his only listed power is Electric Manipulation."

"And?" Ira asked with a shrug.

"And?" Hayden repeated, scoffing. "Did either of you see just electricity in that fight? Because I saw shadow movement. I saw brute-force impacts that shattered concrete. I saw something that moved like a Class 2 or even borderline Class 1. That boy is not showing everything."

Marlon leaned forward, his tone even. "We both know registrants don’t always list everything upfront. Some don’t even know the full extent of their abilities until they’re in the field."

Hayden’s voice was low. "That’s not the case here. He knew. You don’t use powers that refined by accident."

Ira Voss chimed in, eyes narrowed slightly. "You think he’s deliberately concealing abilities?"