The hovercar roared down the empty highway, neon lights bleeding into streaks as Brian guided it one-handed. His other hand spun the sleek black coin that had just appeared in his palm — the System's token for world travel.
Aria sat rigid in the passenger seat, still glowing faintly from their Fusion Mode. She kept glancing at him. "That thing's not just a toy, is it?"
Brian twirled the coin once more. "Nope. More like a passport."
Her brows arched. "Passport to where?"
He flicked it into the air. It dissolved into gold dust, which immediately coiled into a swirling sigil on the dashboard. The System's voice purred through his skull:
> [World Shift Available – Secret Operative Angels Universe Safehouse Secured]
[Warning: Hunter Elite Aura Mark Detected – Pursuit Likely]
Brian smirked. "Home sweet home."
Aria frowned. "That's not my home."
"You'll like it," he said. "It's got better coffee."
The air in front of them shimmered. Reality folded inward like a paper crane, exposing a tunnel of starlight. The hoverboard vibrated, repulsors whining.
Aria gripped the seat. "What the hell is that?"
"Multiverse Flex King hoverboard," Brian said, pushing the throttle. "hold me tight."
The hoverboard sewers shot into the tunnel. Colors bent. Stars streaked past them. Aria's breath caught as the vehicle disintegrated into pure light, dragging them through the System's corridor.
For a heartbeat, Brian saw glimpses of other worlds rushing by — castles under twin suns, a neon Tokyo crawling with cyberninjas, a frozen wasteland with titans dueling. Then the tunnel spat them out.
Concrete. Fluorescent lights. The smell of espresso and gun oil.
They were back.
The hovercar screeched to a halt in an underground garage lined with sleek bikes, surveillance screens, and weapons racks. The ECLIPSE agency's Charlie's Angels safehouse.
Aria blinked, disoriented. "Where are we?"
Brian hopped out of the car, stretching. "Headquarters. My favorite lovely Angels live here."
She gave him a flat look. "Your… Angels?"
Before he could answer, a door slammed open across the garage.
Three women walked in like a slow-motion music video — heels clicking, hair perfect, eyes sharp. Natalie, Dylan, and Alex. The actual Angels. Their gazes locked on Brian.
Natalie folded her arms, blonde hair gleaming under the lights. "Well, well. If it isn't our mystery man."
Dylan tilted her head, smirking. "Didn't think we'd see you again after Rio."
Alex's eyes flicked to Aria. "And who's this?"
Aria straightened, automatically sliding into a fighting stance. "Classified."
Brian raised a hand, grin wide. "Ladies, relax. We're all friends here."
Natalie's gaze sharpened. "Friends don't vanish off the grid with stolen intel and then show up glowing with a stranger."
Brian's smirk only deepened. "You missed me."
The System flickered in his vision.
> [Bond Progress: Natalie Cook 38%]
[Bond Progress: Dylan Sanders 33%]
[Bond Progress: Alex Munday 29%]
Brian's grin turned wolfish. "And I missed you too that I thought of you at night."
Dylan crossed her arms, but the corner of her mouth twitched. " Same old Brian."
Aria glanced between them, eyebrows raised. "You've met before."
"Rio," Brian said casually. "Long story."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "We've heard rumors about you since then. Black sites. Impossible escapes. And now you show up with… powers."
Brian spread his arms, shadows curling faintly at his fingertips. "Guess I've been working on myself."
Natalie's voice was cool. "What do you want, Brian?"
He stepped closer, lowering his tone. "Help."
All three Angels exchanged looks.
The System chimed softly.
> [New Bond Event Triggered – "Return of the Angels"]
[New Skill Path: Team Enhancement – Gift Power]
Brian's eyes glowed faintly. "And maybe… I can help you too."
He reached out a hand toward Natalie. Shadows flickered from his palm, forming a small, harmless sphere of dark energy. "Wanna try?"
She hesitated, then, curiosity winning, placed her hand over his. The sphere dissolved into her skin. For a moment, black filigree crawled up her arm like a tattoo, then vanished. Her eyes widened. "What was that?"
Brian smirked. "Temporary upgrade. Shadow Reflex Boost. You'll move like me for an hour."
Dylan's brows shot up. "You can do that?"
"New trick," Brian said. "StarkTech plus System magic. Call it a gift for old friends."
Natalie flexed her fingers, stunned by the speed at which they moved. "This is insane."
Aria folded her arms. "You're really just handing out powers?"
Brian shrugged. "I'm a generous guy."
The System whispered another message only he could see.
> [Warning: Hunter Elite Aura Breaching Dimensional Barrier]
Brian's smirk faded a hair. "But we've got bigger problems."
He turned, eyes scanning the safehouse. "We're being followed."
Alex stiffened. "Followed by who?"
Brian's tone was flat. "Something that doesn't care about bullets."
Dylan's smirk vanished. "You brought trouble here?"
"I brought myself," Brian said. "Trouble just likes to follow me I am too cool."
A low tremor shook the floor. Coffee cups rattled on the counter.
Aria's hand went to her dagger. "fuc.. It's here."
Brian's System pulsed red.
> [Hunter Elite Arrival Imminent – 90 Seconds]
He exhaled. "Guess we're skipping the reunion drinks."
Natalie snapped into commander mode. "Angels, positions. Brian, if you've got any more magic tricks, now's the time."
Brian grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Ladies, you're gonna love this."
He called up the System.
> [Activate Team Enhancement: Shadow Halo – 3 Targets]
Three dark halos appeared over the Angels' heads, dissolving into their bodies. For a heartbeat, their eyes glowed faintly — Natalie's gold, Dylan's silver, Alex's blue.
They gasped as power flooded their limbs.
Brian smirked. "Congratulations. You're honorary Shadows for the night."
The tremor became a quake. The lights flickered. Then the far wall simply imploded, debris scattering across the garage.
The Hunter Elite stepped through the hole, wings scraping the ceiling, halberd humming with void energy. Its single glowing eye locked onto Brian.
"Return. The. System now human."
Natalie whispered, "holy Moly."
Dylan muttered, "That's no fuck..ng man."
Alex's voice was tight. "Brian…"
He cracked his knuckles, stepping forward, shadows curling higher. "Don't worry. This one's on me."
The System's timer appeared in his vision.
> [Team Enhancement Duration: 3:00]
He grinned, flexing. "Plenty of time."
The Hunter roared and charged. Brian met it head-on, shadows flaring like wings behind him.
The Angels moved too and Natalie flipping over a workbench, Dylan rolling under the Hunter's swing, Alex unloading a clip into its armor. They were faster, sharper, stronger — his upgrade working perfectly.
Brian ducked a halberd strike and countered with a shadow-repulsor blast, slamming the Hunter back. "See?" he called over his shoulder. "Teamworks the best!"
Natalie vaulted off his shoulder, landing on the Hunter's back and driving a shadow-empowered kick into its wing joint. The creature hissed, stumbling.
Dylan hurled a chair with ridiculous strength, smashing it across the Hunter's helm. "This is insane!"
Alex's bullets glowed black, punching deeper than they should. "What did you do to us?"
Brian laughed. "Made you fuck..ng awesome!"
The Hunter recovered, sweeping its halberd in a deadly arc. Brian caught it on a shield of solid shadow, boots skidding across the floor. "We've got about two minutes to finish this," he gritted.
The System chimed.
> [Critical Strike Opportunity Detected – Hunter Elite Core Exposed]
Brian's eyes narrowed. "Ladies, aim for the glowing spot on its chest. Classic weak point."
Natalie launched herself off a car hood, striking the core with a shadow-laced punch. Dylan followed with a kick. Alex fired point-blank. The Hunter shrieked, cracks spiderwebbing across its armor.
Brian channeled everything into one last blow. "Flex King Finale!"
He slammed his palm against the Hunter's chest. Shadow and light exploded outward in a shockwave that rattled the entire safehouse. The Hunter screamed, wings folding inward as it imploded into a vortex of void energy.
Silence.
Dust drifted down. The Angels lowered their weapons, panting.
Natalie stared at her hands. "Did… did we kill it?"
The System flashed.
> [Hunter Elite Status: Banished – Aura Mark Persisting]
[Warning: Mark Will Attract More Hunters Across Universes]
Brian's grin returned, though his eyes were serious. "We bought time. Nothing more."
Aria exhaled, shoulders slumping. "That was insane."
Dylan wiped her brow. "You think?"
Alex's gaze stayed on Brian. "What exactly are you?"
He smirked. "The guy who just saved your world. Again."
Natalie stepped closer, studying him. "And what now?"
Brian's System flickered one last message.
> [New World Access Granted – Multiverse Nexus Unlocked]
He chuckled softly. "Now? We get ready for round two."
Outside, the night wind howled through the gaping hole in the wall. In the distance, thunder rolled — or maybe something else moving between worlds.
[TO BE CONTINUED…]