Chapter 4: Hyde's Shadow
Jericho's streets were shrouded in fog, their neon signs flickering like dying stars, the air thick with rain, wet asphalt, and a metallic tang of unease that prickled Adam Stiels' skin. He moved through the town with Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair, their footsteps muffled on slick cobblestones, their torchlight cutting through the mist, illuminating boarded-up shops and twisted alleys. His purple-striped uniform was damp, his dark hair falling into his eyes, his Copy System HUD glowing with a new notification: [System: 0 Ultimate Skill Cards. Active Skills: Ultimate Illusion Creation, Ultimate Immortal Body, Ultimate Super Speed (New).]New power-up, new stakes—time to speedrun this boss fight like the Flash, he thought, his lopsided grin a beacon in the fog, his heart racing like a war drum in a climactic battle. The runed scroll had pointed them to a Hyde attack, and Adam's goal was to track it, his crush on Wednesday a spark he masked with sarcasm.
Wednesday's voice sliced through the fog, sharp and precise, her black braids swaying, her dark eyes scanning the shadows, her crossbow ready. "The Hyde's tied to the faction, Stiels. Track it, or we're dead," she said, her monotone cold, her black dress stark against the mist. Adam nodded, his confidence a spark. "This Hyde's got more edge than Thanos in Endgame," he said, his voice laced with bravado, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. He focused: [System: Ultimate Illusion Creation Activated.] Illusions traced Tyler Galpin's path, his Hyde form lurking in an alley, its massive silhouette hulking, its claws glinting in the dim light, its red eyes glowing with menace. The air crackled with tension, the fog swirling like a living thing.
A rogue outcast ambushed them, their speed blinding, but Adam touched their arm, his System flaring: [System: Ultimate Super Speed Copied.] He blurred through the fray, dodging Tyler's Hyde claws, the air whistling as a claw grazed his shoulder, pain flaring sharp and hot, blood beading on his skin. His Ultimate Immortal Body kicked in, the wound healing in seconds, leaving a faint scar that throbbed briefly before fading. He grabbed Enid, her pink sweater bright in the gloom, her werewolf form half-transformed, her claws bared. Using his Super Speed, he pulled her from danger, her blue eyes flashing yellow with gratitude. "You're my hero, Adam! Like, superhero-level cool!" she said, her voice bright, her tail flicking with pride, her confidence soaring under his nod. Their bond deepened in an extended training scene later, Enid practicing her werewolf strikes in Jericho's outskirts, Adam coaching her with quips, their laughter echoing through the fog.
Wednesday's crossbow twanged, her bolt grazing Tyler's Hyde form, forcing it to retreat, its roar echoing through the alleys. Her dark eyes met Adam's, a spark of approval in her gaze, a milestone in their Season 1 arc that felt like unlocking a rare achievement. "Your speed is almost impressive, Stiels," she said, her monotone softening, a hint of chemistry crackling. Score one for the sidekick, and a Wednesday nod? That's epic loot, he thought, his grin masking the flutter in his chest. To lighten the mood, Adam pranked Sheriff Galpin at the station, conjuring an illusion of his police badge morphing into a comical sheriff star, its edges cartoonish, sparking chaos as deputies scrambled, Galpin's face flushing red. "What the hell—?" he muttered, his mustache twitching, students outside laughing, their voices echoing like a sitcom soundtrack.
The team regrouped in a diner, its neon sign buzzing, the air thick with coffee and grease, their voices blending as they analyzed the Hyde's movements—Wednesday's deductions sharp, Enid's senses keen, Adam's illusions mapping Tyler's path. The foggy streets lingered in Adam's mind, their menace a constant weight. In his dorm, moonlight spilled through a cracked window, casting raven-like shadows that twisted like omens of the fight to come. The Hyde's threat gnawed at him, his memories glitchy, like a corrupted save file in a game he couldn't pause. Boss fight's next, and I'm low on continues. He checked the HUD: [System: 0 Ultimate Skill Cards. Active Skills: Ultimate Illusion Creation, Ultimate Immortal Body, Ultimate Super Speed.] "Round two's loading," he murmured, sleep claiming him, the night fading, the Hyde's shadow echoing in his dreams, whispering of a strategy session to come.