The city changed first.
Not the lights.
Not the buildings.
But the space between them.
Ethan felt it the moment he stepped off the rooftop.
The air—
Too tight.
Too aware.
Like something invisible had drawn a net over Manhattan.
And he was standing right at the center of it.
"Too many…" he muttered.
His senses stretched outward—
Farther than before.
And what he felt—
Was wrong.
Not one presence.
Not ten.
Dozens.
Moving.
Closing in.
Different.
Some were fast—
Like predators.
Some were slow—
Heavy.
And some—
Didn't feel alive at all.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
If they were coming—
Then he wouldn't have to search.
The first attack came from above.
A sharp whistling sound—
Cutting through the air.
Ethan moved instinctively—
Side-step—
A metal spike slammed into the ground where he had been standing.
Concrete exploded.
Ethan looked up.
A figure stood on the edge of the building above.
Not human.
Armor.
Black.
Segmented.
Eyes hidden behind a smooth visor.
In his hand—
Another spike formed.
"…Tech user," Ethan murmured.
The second attack came instantly.
Three spikes—
Simultaneously.
Ethan moved—
Faster.
One grazed his arm—
Blood.
The other two—
Missed by inches.
"Target confirmed," the figure said.
Voice mechanical.
Cold.
"Engaging capture protocol."
Ethan smiled slightly.
"Try it."
Before the next strike—
Something else moved.
From the alley.
A blur.
Low.
Fast.
Too fast.
It slammed into Ethan—
Sending both of them crashing into a parked car.
Metal bent.
Glass shattered.
Ethan rolled—
Recovered—
And saw it.
Not human.
Half-shifted.
Bones visible beneath skin.
Eyes glowing amber.
"…Moonbound," Ethan said quietly.
The creature snarled.
"Mine."
It lunged.
Ethan met it head-on.
Claws against fists—
Impact.
The ground cracked beneath them.
The creature was strong—
But wild.
Uncontrolled.
Ethan slipped past—
Grabbed its arm—
Twisted—
CRACK.
The creature howled.
But didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
It didn't care about pain.
"Annoying," Ethan muttered.
Then—
He ended it.
Clean.
Fast.
The body dropped.
But the fight wasn't over.
A sound echoed behind him.
Click.
Ethan turned.
The armored figure—
Now closer.
Much closer.
"Secondary threat eliminated," it said.
"Proceeding with containment."
Ethan frowned.
"…Containment?"
Too late.
The ground beneath him—
Lit up.
Symbols.
Geometric.
Glowing blue.
A grid.
Ethan jumped—
Too slow.
The light surged upward—
Chains of energy—
Wrapped around his arms—
His legs—
Locked him in place.
"What is this—"
"Anti-variant restraint system," the figure replied calmly.
"Test subject secured."
Ethan struggled—
The chains tightened.
Drained.
Not physical.
Something deeper.
His strength—
Fading.
"…Not good," he muttered.
Then—
Something changed.
The armored figure paused.
"…Additional signals detected."
Ethan felt them too.
More.
Coming fast.
From every direction.
Three new figures appeared—
On rooftops.
In shadows.
Across the street.
Different styles.
Different presence.
But all—
Locked onto him.
"…You're popular," a voice said lightly.
Ethan froze.
That voice—
Familiar.
He turned.
She stood across the street.
Watching.
Arms crossed.
Relaxed.
"You're not helping?" Ethan called out.
She smiled faintly.
"I told you."
"Run."
The chains tightened.
More hunters closed in.
The armored figure raised his hand—
"Execution authorized."
Ethan's eyes shifted.
Silver deepened.
Something darker—
Rising again.
"…No," he said quietly.
The chains—
Cracked.
And the hunt—
Restarted.