The ground trembled beneath the heels of Von's boots as he sprinted across the destroyed lab floor, flames and sparks swirling about him like a battlefield in shambles. He barely had time to respond before one of the zombie-like corpses crashed into the wall beside him, steam rising off its flesh from another electrocution.
Von's eyes snapped to the containment pods—one of which remained closed.
Von (panting):
"Justin…"
He ran towards the pod, dodging a flash of stray electricity that scorched a path across the tiles. His hands trembled as he reached the control panel, breathing harshly and choking, staring wildly around the room. He didn't understand everything that was happening, but he understood they had to leave. Now.
He struck the emergency release.
PSSSHHHHH!
The pod hissed apart, steam billowing out and water flowing out. Justin's limp body thudded into Von's arms.
Von (whispering):
"Come on, bro… I got you…"
He slung Justin's arm around his neck, holding him close. Turning to leave, the floor shuddered again. The lights above flashed crazily—then went out entirely, leaving the laboratory in strobing blackness.
Somewhere else in the lab…
The masked figure stood tall at the center of the storm—bodies mangled and groaning all around him. Of the dozen awakened demons, there were only five remaining, closing in on him like wolves, shaking and growling mutely.
Their eyes glowed with increasing intensity with each step forward.
But the man's mind was diverted—not at them—but at the torn figure twisting at his feet.
With a sudden motion, he gripped Dr. Rhane by the collar and hoisted him up with one hand. His other hand spun the trident's shaft, the prongs humming with barely contained voltage, and placed it firmly against Rhane's trembling neck.
Mysterious Man (calmly):
"Stop… or I'll kill this man—your precious vessel collector."
The five remaining vessels froze mid-step. Their expressions didn't change. They didn't scream or beg. Instead, their glowing eyes simply stared.
And then one of them—a bulky, tall man with the veins bulging with liquid fire—advanced. His mouth did not move, and yet there was a demon resonance in the room, deep and rich, as if a group of dozens of voices sang through him in concert.
Possessed Vessel:
"Doctor… you are no longer needed. You have served your purpose."
Dr. Rhane (gasping):
"W-what…? Master… No! No! I did this for you! I did everything for—"
Mysterious Man (shaking his head):
"Predictable. A man like you would never be a god. You're no messiah. Just another demon."
One of the last vessels snuck up behind, quiet and fast, a white flash of clawed hand and fingers.
But before it could strike, the masked man whirled, catching the creature at the wrist as it swung.
KRKZZZZZZHHHHHH!
A scorching stream of electricity coursed through the attacker. Their body twitched furiously, eyes gone white, rolling back into the top of their skull as smoke poured from their lips and nostrils. The vessel hit the ground motionless, skin darkened and cracked like shattered pottery.
The hooded figure didn't blink.
Mysterious Man:
"You never learn."
The remaining vessels stumbled—but only for an instant.
They launched an attack.
Lightning crackled again. The masked attacker fought with surgical precision, striking nerve clusters, redirecting power, and electroshocking with clinical accuracy. All the while, he maintained the doctor at arm's length, defending him from fatal harm—but without compassion.
Dr. Rhane (spitting blood):
"Why…? Why are you saving me?!"
Mysterious Man (modestly):
"Because you're the key… to finding him."
He leapt over a ground spear from one vessel and discharged a wide circle of electricity, slaying two more attackers. Sparks flashed across the lab ceiling, falling like lightning.
A final vessel remained—its flesh looking like liquid wax, regrowing with each intake of breath.
It charged.
But the masked figure pivoted on a dime and raised his hand—trident not required.
"Be gone, demon."
The vessel was struck with a solid bolt of lightning, its chest exploding in shock force. It doubled over, motionless, clouds of smoke boiling out of its abandoned torso.
Silence reasserted itself.
Sparks fizzed from burst pipes. The containment pods spat and hissed. The lab reeked of ozone, blood, and the charred scent of war.
The masked man was still, his breathing labored behind his helmet. His arms were leaden at his sides. His gaze took in the room—not for threat—but for the weight of what he'd just done.
Mysterious Man (whispering):
"Forgive me… This isn't what I desired. But I won't let his darkness spread…"
The camera would pan around him—a lone stormbringer, standing in a war zone of broken minds and ravaged souls.