Jace's body cut through the night air.
The wind roared past his ears, city lights stretching beneath him like a vast ocean of neon and shadows. He was falling from the fourth floor—rational thought told him this was a death sentence.
Yet, he wasn't afraid.
Time slowed.
Height: 14.2 meters.
Descent speed: 9.8 m/s².
Landing probability: 73%. Adjust foot positioning.
His body twisted midair.
Instinct took over.
At the last moment, he angled his legs toward the hood of a parked car.
CRASH!
The metal beneath him crumpled inward, absorbing most of the impact. He rolled off instantly, his body barely registering the force.
This should be impossible.
He landed in a crouch, his breathing steady. His legs should've snapped like twigs. But instead, they felt… strong.
Providence's voice echoed in his head. "Keep moving. Law enforcement is en route. ETA: Two minutes."
Jace's thoughts were racing, but his body was already in motion. Faster. Smoother. More precise than ever before.
His fingers tightened around the Desert Eagle in his grip.
The gun felt natural in his hand. Like he'd spent years training with it.
And then—
Footsteps.
He spun around, vision sharpening. Two men. Tactical gear. Silenced SMGs.
They weren't cops.
[Combat Probability Calculated: 2 vs. 1. Reaction time required: 0.3 seconds.]
Jace didn't hesitate.
His body moved on instinct.
Bang!
One shot. Right through the first man's throat. He dropped without a sound.
The second enemy raised his weapon—
Too slow.
Jace sidestepped, gun already lining up the next shot.
Bang.
A clean headshot. The man crumpled to the ground.
The entire fight had lasted less than three seconds.
Jace exhaled.
His hands weren't shaking. His breathing was steady.
He had just killed two men… effortlessly.
And it didn't feel wrong.
What the hell is happening to me?
The distant wail of sirens jolted him back to reality.
He needed to move.
[Analyzing escape routes.]
Option 1: Blend into the crowd (Risk: 45%).
Option 2: Hijack a vehicle (Risk: 38%).
Option 3: Rooftop route via fire escape (Risk: 21%).
The third option was best.
Jace sprinted toward a nearby alley, movements flawless. He leaped onto a dumpster, vaulting onto the fire escape in one motion.
His fingers caught the railing, pulling himself up effortlessly.
A normal person would be out of breath. Jace wasn't.
Within seconds, he was on the roof.
The city stretched before him, a concrete jungle bathed in moonlight.
Jace knelt behind a rooftop vent, trying to piece together what was happening.
His father's ring was gone.
He had woken up with inhuman skills.
And now, armed professionals had just tried to eliminate him.
"Start talking," Jace muttered.
Providence responded immediately. "Your father was the creator of this system. Upon his death, it was locked until you turned twenty. It has now fully merged with you."
Jace's fists clenched. His father left him this?
His dad had been a tech mogul. A businessman.
Not… whatever this was.
"Why was I attacked?"
"Because you now control Providence."
Jace narrowed his eyes. "And what the hell is the Infinity Ledger?"
A pause. Then—
"The enemy."
That wasn't enough. "Who are they?"
"Unknown. But they know who you are. And they will not stop."
Jace exhaled sharply. He looked down at his hands. They were steady. Even after everything that had just happened, he wasn't shaking.
This wasn't normal.
"What exactly did my father create?"
"A power that surpasses all others."
Before Jace could demand more—
A red warning flashed in his vision.
> [ALERT: Three additional enemy units detected nearby. Approaching rooftop. ETA: 20 seconds.]
Jace gritted his teeth.
No time to process.
No time to rest.
The fight wasn't over.
---
Jace moved to the edge of the rooftop, scanning his surroundings.
Three options.
1. Jump to the next building (Success rate: 82%).
2. Ambush them before they reach the roof (Risk: 50%).
3. Climb down and escape into the streets (Risk: 34%).
He chose the first.
Jace backed up, took a breath—then sprinted forward.
He launched himself off the rooftop.
Wind whipped past his face. The world seemed to slow.
> Distance: 4.5 meters… 3 meters… 2.1 meters…
His foot hit the ledge—perfect landing.
Not even a stumble.
Behind him, the three operatives reached the rooftop.
Too late.
Jace crouched behind a ventilation unit, watching as they scanned the area.
One of them barked into a radio. "Target lost. He's faster than expected."
Jace's fingers tightened around his gun.
He could kill them.
Easily.
But something told him not to.
These weren't street thugs. They were part of something bigger.
And he needed answers.
His escape wasn't over yet.
---
Jace descended the opposite side of the building, scaling down like a trained assassin.
As soon as his feet hit the pavement, his mind calculated his next move.
Ditch the gun. Lose the suspicion. Blend into the crowd.
The city was alive.
Cars. People. The hum of streetlights.
Jace headed toward a clothing store, stepping inside casually. His heart was steady, but he knew he had limited time.
He moved straight to the racks, eyes scanning.
Something neutral. Nothing flashy.
He grabbed a dark gray jacket, a simple, everyday design. Nothing that screamed "fugitive."
At the register, the cashier barely looked at him, popping gum as she rang him up. No suspicion. Good.
Jace swiped a card. Not his usual one. A burner.
The second he stepped outside, he pulled the jacket on, flipping up the collar.
His reflection caught his eye in a nearby window.
He paused.
His eyes… were glowing.
A faint, electric blue.
Providence's voice whispered.
"Your awakening is far from over, Jace Halloran."
He turned away.
Tonight was just the beginning.