Sentinel walked down the corridor. It was the same path he had taken many times to visit Taken in his special prison cell within the Cybertown Palace.
However, something was wrong; several guards lay scattered on the floor, soaked in blood. Sentinel reached the gate where Taken was imprisoned.
He pushed the gate, and it creaked open slowly. Behind the gate, Taken was visible, sitting slumped against the wall of his cell, his head tilted to the side.
"Long time no see!" Sentinel remarked, taking a step closer to the cell. "Guess what? Today is a very special day! I'm going to set you free today."
"But... I have a condition," Sentinel added. He began wiping his sword with a dry cloth to clean the bloodstains off the blade. "...You must answer a few of my questions."
Sentinel stepped inside the bars and stood over the slumped figure of Taken. "...Why do you want Nexus Diggito, or... Maximus, to die?" Sentinel asked.
Taken remained silent.
"Why did you create Scourge and Voidecay if your goal was to make them subordinates, yet you didn't control them?"
Taken still said nothing.
"...You're still keeping many secrets. Tell me why! You can have my life if you're willing to explain it!" Sentinel declared.
Silence.
"...Say something, you bastard!" Sentinel growled, gripping the prison bars tightly. "It seems you still don't understand."
Sentinel opened the cell gate and stepped inside. "...What is this? Is my offer not interesting enough for you?" Again, there was no response.
Losing his patience, Sentinel grabbed Taken by the throat. "SPEAK, YOU BASTARD!" In a fit of rage, he threw Taken out of the cell, sending him tumbling across the floor. Taken tried to get up, slowly attempting to crawl, but his hands trembled from his weakened state.
Sentinel stepped closer.
THWACK!
As if unsatisfied, Sentinel kicked Taken again. Taken was sent flying further, eventually rolling down a flight of stairs. He tried with all his might to crawl again, even though his hands and breath were shaking.
It wasn't enough for Sentinel. He approached again.
THWACK!
Sentinel kicked Taken once more, beginning to show his true cruelty. He continued to kick Taken until they reached a long, ascending staircase. The torture didn't end there; he lashed a whip around Taken's neck, tightening the coil to drag him along.
"Uhhh!!"
Nearby, a concert was being held, drawing a massive crowd. A band was on stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Before we start the music today, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Lord Sentinel Prime. He organized this concert, and honestly, I've never stood on a stage this magnificent," the lead singer announced. "Lord Sentinel is coming here to deliver a speech before the concert begins. Please, welcome him to the stage!"
Sentinel stepped onto the massive concert stage. The crowd erupted into cheers, celebrating Sentinel Prime for organizing the event.
"...Thank you all for coming to enjoy our entertainment today! Today is a very special day because we are free to do whatever we want!!" Sentinel shouted to the cheering crowd.
"WOOHOO!!" the audience roared.
"The reason I organized this event... I want to tell my wife and child in the afterlife... I am happy here. I don't want them to see everyone grieving for them anymore. Therefore, alongside this concert, I have brought a special guest!" Sentinel proclaimed.
Sentinel revealed the "guest"—it was Taken. Taken was tied and hung upon a cross-shaped iron beam. Staff members placed him right in the middle of the audience.
"Wait... isn't that him?" some spectators whispered. "What is going to happen to him?" others asked.
Sentinel walked toward the edge of the stage. "Taken... the Angel of Death. The sinner who murdered all the Legendary Primes and left our leader, Nova Prime, deeply traumatized!" "He is the figure you've all heard of! Now, he is stripped of his power; his strength was taken by Nova Prime. Yet... he still lives, and... he is very difficult for me to kill!"
"He is responsible for all the grief and wounds we have suffered. The Almighty Primus has allowed him to live so that we could face this sinner—giving us the chance to vent all our anger and resentment!" "I have brought him before you all to see him in person right now!" Sentinel shouted.
The audience glared at Taken, cursing and arguing over him. Sentinel sat back, watching the crowd. "...Listen, Angel of Death. You are a failure that happened to be born into this world!" "I hope you enjoy the entertainment, Taken!"
"Alright!! Let the music begin!! Help me exterminate the demon!!" Sentinel yelled.
The concert lights began to swirl, and the band struck their instruments, playing a song themed around "soul cleansing." Below, the crowd grew ecstatic. They knocked over the pole holding Taken and dragged him down. They swarmed him, beating and stomping on him. Some spat on him; others poured alcohol over him.
"Burn him! Burn him! Burn him!"
While dancing to the rhythm, someone dropped a lighter onto Taken. Flames immediately engulfed his body. The crowd then pulled at his limbs from opposite directions like a macabre game of tug-of-war, trying to tear him apart. Their fury and resentment were fully unleashed upon him.
However, destroying his body proved incredibly difficult. Despite their efforts, they couldn't even remove the skull mask covering his face. From the side of the stage, Sentinel watched the mob take turns torturing Taken. To him, it was a beautiful and satisfying sight.
The crowd's actions became increasingly inhumane. They tried to saw Taken in half, but the saw blades broke against him. Some kicked him repeatedly in the groin, but it seemed to have no effect. Though Taken could be heard groaning in pain, his voice was fading. No one cared; it was too much fun venting their frustrations on this immortal being. They could do whatever they wanted to him.
"We shall see, Taken... how long can you last?" Sentinel whispered.
"STOP IT!!"
BOOM!!!
Suddenly, an explosion ripped through the crowd swarming Taken. A blast of blue cosmic energy sent everyone flying back.
Nova Prime had arrived to put an end to it. Though confined to a wheelchair, he was not about to sit idly by and watch this happen.
"The event is over! Everyone, go home!" Nova shouted. He stood his ground, stopping the mob that had gone far beyond the limit.
To be continued....