It was the next morning. Kenneth walked alongside the rest of the floor five inmates, moving in a sluggish but orderly line towards the morning assembly. The routine was as dull and repetitive as ever, yet his mind was elsewhere. His eyes flickered toward a hallway branching off from the main path. Without hesitation, he broke off from the group, turning the corner and heading towards the overseer's office.

  His steps were quick but measured. He knew he didn’t have much time before the overseer left for the assembly. By the time he arrived, he saw the overseer just outside his office, with his door sliding shut behind him. The man noticed him immediately, his sharp gaze narrowing.

  Kenneth didn’t falter. He walked up with purpose, keeping his voice steady. "I need to talk to you. It’s important."

  The overseer exhaled, already looking disinterested. "I don’t have time for this. Get to the assembly."

  Kenneth stepped forward, blocking his path slightly. "You need to hear this. It’s something the warden should know." His voice was firm, leaving little room for dismissal.

  The overseer studied him for a few seconds, his expression unreadable. Then, after a long pause, he sighed. "Because you followed orders during the competition, I’ll give you a moment. Inside."

  Kenneth followed him as the overseer stepped back into his office, closing the door behind them.

  A moment later, Kenneth’s findings were quickly explained to the overseer. The overseer sat behind his desk, his fingers laced together, his expression unreadable. Deep in thought.

  Finally, after what felt like minutes of silence, the overseer lifted his gaze. His voice was calm but edged with seriousness. "Are you a hundred percent sure?"

  Kenneth met his eyes without hesitation. "I am."

  Another beat of silence stretched between them. Then, the overseer reached to his side, pressing a button on a device embedded in his desk. A soft beep sounded before he spoke into it.

  "Get me in contact with the warden."

  ***

  Owen let out a long yawn, not bothering to cover his mouth as he stood in the assembly hall, hands stuffed in his pockets. The dull drone of Overseer Jones' voice filled the massive space, his speech dragging on like it always did.

  Nearby, Isaac, Grace, and Will stood, all of them looking just as bored as Owen felt.

  After what felt like an eternity, Owen leaned slightly toward Grace, keeping his voice low. "How does he manage to talk for this long every single day?"

  Grace shrugged. "No idea. I don’t think even he knows."

  Owen sighed, shifting his weight onto one foot as Jones continued to ramble.

  An officer strode onto the stage, moving straight toward Overseer Jones. The overseer paused mid-sentence, his gaze shifting to the approaching figure. The officer leaned in, whispering something into Jones’ ear.

  Jones listened, his expression unreadable, before he straightened and let his eyes scan the sea of inmates. When his gaze settled on Owen’s group—specifically on Isaac—Owen felt a prickle of unease. His eyes narrowed.

  The officer gave a quick nod and then walked off the stage. A moment later, murmurs rippled through the crowd as several officers began pushing their way forward, weaving through the mass of inmates with clear intent. And they were coming straight for them.

  Owen clicked his tongue. "They must’ve found out somehow."

  Isaac’s eyes widened in alarm, but before he could speak, Owen grabbed his shoulder, voice firm. "It looks like we’ll need to do it now. Unlock the cuffs."

  Gritting his teeth, Isaac nodded. "May, take over the entire network."

  A cacophony of beeps rang out across the hall as every inhibitor cuff on every inmate flickered and then deactivated.

  Owen moved first. He lifted both hands, and a surge of essence erupted from him. The approaching officers were yanked into the air as if invisible strings had seized them, then violently smashed together, knocking them out as they fell back to the ground in a pile.

  As the inmates were still in shock, Owen shifted his attention to the stage.

  Without hesitation, he bent his knees and launched himself high into the air, soaring above the crowd like a bullet. His eyes locked onto Overseer Jones, who barely had time to register what was happening before Owen shot down like a missile.

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  The impact of Owen’s dropkick sent Jones hurtling across the stage, his body smashing into the back wall with a resounding crack. The overseer slumped, unmoving.

  Hovering midair, Owen turned his gaze to the remaining officers in the hall. Raising both hands, he then brought them down in a swift motion. Instantly, every officer still standing was yanked down and slammed into the ground, incapacitating them.

  Then, his voice—enhanced and commanding—boomed across the hall.

  "It’s your lucky day."

  Hundreds of stunned eyes locked onto him.

  "Because right now, we’re breaking out of here."

  For a moment, hesitation flickered among the inmates. Then, as realization dawned, resolve hardened in their expressions.

  "You all just need to get to the landing deck," Owen continued. "The droids will guide the way to it."

  With that, he shot forward towards the back doors, where Isaac, Grace, and Will were already waiting. As the doors slid open, Owen glanced back one last time.

  He saw it—the determination spread across each of them.

  Owen smirked.

  Then, all at once, they ran.

  ***

  Albert stormed through the facility halls, his long coat billowing behind him as officers rushed to keep pace. His voice was sharp, echoing through the corridors.

  "Lock down the entire facility! I want every sector sealed now!"

  The officers scrambled to follow his command, fingers tapping rapidly on their tablets, trying to regain control. But before Albert could take another step forward, a sudden red light bathed the ceiling in an ominous glow.

  A loud mechanical clang echoed through the halls as a thick metal wall slammed down in front of him, cutting off his path.

  Albert clenched his jaw, his glowing purple eyes narrowing. "Why is the gate closed?" he demanded.

  A nearby officer, frantically swiping on his tablet, gulped. "Sir—the system—it's been completely taken over! I—I can’t access anything!"

  Silence hung for a fraction of a second. Then a cold, deadly look settled on Albert’s face.

  A sharp breath filled his lungs as essence surged through his body, igniting like a storm beneath his skin. His muscles tensed as he pulled back a fist, power crackling in his veins.

  Then the entire hallway shook as Albert's punch obliterated the metal wall. A massive, gaping hole now stood where the barrier had been, torn apart like paper. Smoke and sparks hissed from the shattered edges.

  Stepping through the hole, Albert's voice was dangerously quiet.

  "I don't care anymore," His glowing purple gaze burned with fury. "All I want to do now is to tear Owen’s head off from his damn body."

  ***

  Owen sprinted forward, leading the charge as dozens of floor one inmates thundered up the massive stairway toward the cafeteria. The pounding of feet echoed against the steel walls, and the adrenaline in the air was thick.

  "We need to get through to floor five once we reach the cafeteria." Isaac said between breaths, keeping pace beside Owen.

  "How are the lower floors holding up?" Grace asked, glancing at Isaac.

  Isaac shook his head. "I haven’t handed out any Omnibands yet, so they won’t know what’s happening right now."

  They reached the top of the stairs, bursting into the wide-open cafeteria.

  Owen turned his head slightly. "Grace, head to the floor five assembly hall. Get Jason and Hannah to inform the lower floors about the escape."

  Grace gave a firm nod. "Got it."

  They kept running, their shoes slamming against the tile floor as they approached the cafeteria’s far end. Just as the massive doors slid open, six officers stood on the other side, their eyes widening in alarm.

  Before they could react, Grace threw out her hands, summoning six chains. They shot forward like whips, wrapping tightly around the officers. With a fierce tug, she slammed them into the walls on either side, knocking them out instantly.

  The group didn’t slow. The doors slid fully open, revealing a large junction where multiple paths branched off.

  Isaac pointed straight ahead. "Grace! That path leads to the floor five assembly hall."

  Grace smirked. "See you later." Without hesitation, she sprinted forward down the corridor.

  Isaac then pointed to the right. "That way—there’s a stairwell that’ll take us up to floor six!"

  Owen and the rest of the inmates turned, following Isaac’s lead. At the far end of the long, dimly lit hallway, the next set of stairs waited.

  As they reached the stairs, they charged up it. As they climbed higher, the air grew tense with anticipation. Finally, they reached the top. A long corridor stretched out before them, ending with a set of closed metal doors.

  Isaac rushed ahead and placed his hand on the panel. With a soft hiss, the doors slid open, revealing a wide passageway with glass walls on either side. The sight beyond the glass were other parts of the facility.

  As they stepped through, their feet pounding against the smooth floor, Owen suddenly felt something. A presence. A shift in energy.

  He turned his head to the right.

  A separate building stood further away, its large windows faintly glowing with an eerie green light.

  Owen skidded to a sudden stop, his shoes screeching against the floor. The inmates around him nearly crashed into each other, turning to look back in confusion.

  Isaac and Will both stopped as well. Isaac narrowed his eyes. "Owen, what’s wrong?"

  Owen didn’t respond right away. His gaze remained locked on the other building as the green energy began pulsing more violently, swirling against the glass like a storm.

  Then, he grinned.

  "Don’t look back," Owen said smoothly. "Just keep running."

  Isaac hesitated, but seeing the look in Owen’s eyes, he nodded. "Just don’t take too long."

  With that, he and Will turned and ran ahead, leading the others down the corridor.

  Owen remained where he was, watching as the green essence finally shattered the windows of the distant building.

  A devilish grin spread across his face.

  He hadn’t expected they’d run right past the office of the sub-warden.

  "Guess I should say hello." Owen muttered.

  He bent his knees, tightening his thighs, and then smashed through the glass. Glass shards scattered through the air as he soared across the gap between buildings.

  On the other side, standing amidst the shattered remains of his office window, was a visibly furious Mayers. His sharp eyes gleamed with power, and in his right hand, he gripped an ornate cane.

  Owen’s grin widened as he kept soaring, his voice carrying across the gap.

  "I’ve never tried beating up an old man before! You’ll be the first Mayers!"