I am the creator of New Life on the Earth Chapter 314: Series Continue From Here: The Price of Power

Adam’s attention was locked on the holographic screen. His mind was trying to process the clone’s fragnted mories.

The revelation about Lily and her plan was still settling in when his focus was violently broken.

He turned his head just in ti to see the fake Tayo inside the containnt field trying to use her abilities on her unconscious partner.

His entire focus shifted in an instant. He ran.

Ignoring the confused shouts of his team, Adam sprinted toward the transparent sphere where the fake Tayo was now pressing her hands against the barrier.

A faint flicker of energy sparked at her fingertips. She was trying to bypass the containnt field’s suppression system.

Adam knew he did not have ti. As he reached the glowing prison, Adam did not hesitate at all. "System," he commanded in a low voice.

A translucent blue window materialized before his eyes. Its light cast a glow on Adam’s face.

[System Link Active. Would you like to acquire a skill from one of your creations?]

Beneath the query, a list of nas appeared.

Sona

Tayo

Zero

Ninja

Phantom

Adam’s finger jabbed at the last na on the list.

[Creation: Phantom selected. Displaying available skills.]

The list was instantly replaced by a new one detailing Phantom’s abilities. The very first skill listed was exactly what he needed. He selected it without a second thought.

[Skill: Energy Manipulation selected. Beginning skill transfer to Host.]

A new ssage flashed imdiately, stark and urgent.

[Warning: High-tier skill integration in progress. Host may experience severe physiological stress.]

[Acquisition complete. You have gained the skill: Energy Manipulation.]

The entire process took less than three seconds. It was followed by a searing heat that erupted from the core of his being and spread through his veins like liquid fire.

He had never felt such an intense and overwhelming sensation before. It was a raw untad power flooding his system threatening to consu him.

But there was no ti to process it.

Before Adam could even speak the na of his new skill the situation inside the sphere escalated.

The fake Tayo, having failed to use her powers, abandoned the attempt.

In a swift and incredibly cruel motion she lunged forward. She grabbed the unconscious fake Sona by the neck with both hands and squeezed hard.

The fake Sona’s limp body jolted. Even though she was unconscious her body reacted to the suffocation. It twitched violently as her air supply was cut off.

Adam ignored the fire consuming him from within. He thrust his hand forward toward the containnt sphere. "Energy Manipulation," he spoke his voice low and strained.

A transparent azure-colored energy shot from his palm. It ford a beam that lanced through the air and struck the containnt field.

Phantom, who was standing behind the real Sona, saw the familiar hue of her own power emanating from Adam. Her eyes widened. "Master Adam no!" she scread but her warning was lost in the chaos.

The mont Adam’s energy touched the transparent barrier there was no gentle disruption. It was a catastrophic failure. The containnt sphere did not dissolve it exploded.

With a deafening crack, the field shattered into a million points of light. It unleashed a concussive shockwave that blasted outward through the main hall.

The force was imnse. The fake Sona and Tayo were violently thrown from the epicenter of the blast. Their bodies ragdolled through the air until they slamd hard against the far tal wall of the base.

The shockwave did not stop there. The real Sona Tayo and Zero who were standing nearby were knocked off their feet. They were sent stumbling backward as the sheer strength of the unleashed energy overwheld them.

They could not hold their ground against the raw power Adam had just commanded.

For a mont the chaos offered a slight reprieve. Lying crumpled against the wall, the fake Sona gasped for air. Her throat was free. The fake Tayo pushed herself up.

Her head was ringing from the impact. She flexed her fingers and felt it instantly—the suppression field was gone. Her powers were her own again.

She looked over at the fake Sona who was now staring back at her. Her eyes were wide with a fear that had not been there before. The clone had not expected her own partner to try and kill her.

The fake Tayo did not stop. She raised her hand, palm facing her counterpart. Energy began to gather at her fingertips. A familiar deadly orange glow. Her Burning Touch skill activated not as a simple touch but as a focused beam of destructive light.

A blinding flash erupted from her hand. The beam shot across the short distance and pierced directly through the fake Sona’s chest.

In the split second that followed the fatal attack as the light of her skill faded and the body of her forr partner began to slump to the floor the fake Tayo vanished.

She teleported away without a sound. Behind her she left only the lingering sll of ozone and the silent dying body of her victim.

A strange silence fell over the entire hall. Adam fell to his knees. The pain from the high-tier skill was still racing through his body. Every breath was a struggle.

His eyes were fixed on the spot where the fake Tayo had stood just monts before. Then his gaze shifted to the lifeless body of the fake Sona near the wall.

He saw the result of his own plan. He had acquired a power to stop a threat but its price was another life.

Zero was the first to get up. He shook his head and surveyed the area. His eyes landed on Adam who was kneeling on the floor. He ran toward Adam. " Lord Adam, are you okay?" he asked his voice filled with concern.

Sona and Tayo also stumbled to their feet. Their ears were still ringing from the sound of the explosion. They looked at Adam then at the dead clone. Sona’s analytical eyes were fixed on Adam’s hand where faint azure lines of energy were still dancing.

"That’s Phantom’s power," Sona said softly as if talking to herself. "He acquired Phantom’s skill."

Tayo looked at Adam a mix of anger and confusion on her face. "Lord Adam ,what did you do? You broke the containnt field. She escaped."

Adam gave no reply. He was just trying to breathe. Every part of his body was screaming. Beyond the pain he felt sothing else—the feeling of his own power. It was like an addiction.

A dangerous addiction. He had made a decision paid a price and now the consequences were in front of him. One clone was dead another was free and he himself did not know what he had unleashed within himself.

The silence of the hall was as heavy as the new truth—power has a price and Adam had just paid his first installnt.