Threat Within!
The Razor Riddler stood stoic, relishing the feeling of Edward's life in his hands. With this prized possession, he knew he had the potential to not only expand his influence but conquer the world as well. All who dared challenge him would find their superpowers nullified, stripped of the very essence that made them extraordinary.
Edward, once a beacon of limitless promise, had now been reduced to a mere instrument, a pawn in the hands of this malevolent man. The extent he was willing to go was evident as he harnessed the powers of unsuspecting superheroes, manipulating their gifts without their consent or even their knowledge. This eerie demonstration was a chilling testament to the looming threat he posed.
Yet, Edward's precarious state could not be ignored, for if he remained in this state for too long, his body risked succumbing to shock, a dire outcome they must avoid at all costs. Keeping Edward alive was imperative, as they heavily relied on his abilities to further their agendas.
Thanatos had fully regained his strength, something that should never have been allowed to happen, given that he was already formidable even with his powers halved. In a meditative pose, his eyes closed as he hummed in the ancient tongue of Greek, performing a ritual that would solidify his might.
Upon completing the ritual, his eyes burst open, revealing a sinister grin on his face, just then the Razor Riddler entered his view.
"Thanatos, here's your payment," The Razor Riddler said. Without exchanging money, the enigmatic figure handed Thanatos an envelope filled with information that seemed to hold significant value for the mutant. Clearly pleased with the transaction, Thanatos accepted the offering.
However, the Razor Riddler had another task for him, a request that instantly made Thanatos suspicious. Though the man had yet to voice it, the shrewd supervillain already knew what was coming.
"No loose ends," he muttered under his breath, signifying that he understood the unspoken demand. This could only mean one thing.
-
Damon made the tough decision to leave Fred in the care of the rest of the crew while he ventured alone to the hospital to uncover the truth behind the recent events. He knew better than to risk a situation where he might have to defend Fred while dealing with potential threats. The gravity of the situation escalated when he learned that Thanatos had arrived, and this revelation changed everything. It was clear that this was no ordinary case that could be left to his comrades, as Thanatos was a force out of their league.
Despite being ranked at B at half strength, Thanatos elevated to a daunting A when at full power. The mere thought of confronting him sent shivers down Damon's spine. Even in their previous encounter, where Damon was already exhausted, Thanatos proved to be a formidable opponent. He had cunningly crippled Damon's teleportation ability as he knew how troublesome it was, leaving him at a significant disadvantage before the battle even began.
Now inside the hospital, Damon discovered that Edward had indeed vanished. However, a gnawing feeling told him that someone must have caught wind of his plan to safeguard the boy. This coincidence seemed too improbable to be coincidental.
"I hope he is alright…" Damon's worried thoughts echoed in his mind. Alessia had been tirelessly using her abilities to locate him, but so far, luck had not been on their side. It was a similar situation to when she tried to find Fred previously. This unsettling pattern led Alessia to question the true extent of her powers. Perhaps, someone with a direct counter to her abilities existed, but the enemy was far superior.
Recalling Thanatos' unsettling tale about a God and the dire consequences of looking into this deity's eye, Damon couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine. At first, he dismissed it as mere gibberish, but the inexplicable surge in crimes in Greece pointed to the contrary. If there truly was a God who punished all wrongdoings, as Thanatos had claimed, then it was clear that this entity had been pulled down from whatever throne he sat on.
Under these circumstances, Damon realized that if the God was as potent as Thanatos described, then the trick Thanatos had used to fool him would have been futile. There was no way that "God' wouldn't have seen through it.
Was that why he left Greece and came to America? Damon pondered, considering the possibility that Thanatos might have been forced to flee. With calmness retuning, his thoughts were finally clear and rational.
The pressing issue at hand was Edward's disappearance. Fortunately, Gen Z's recent connections with the FBI proved beneficial, granting the superhero group access to the CCTV footage. However, Damon's instincts proved correct. The CCTV files were corrupted, providing no insight into the events of the previous night. This only solidified his fears that Edward had been abducted by no other than the man that they were after.
"This isn't looking good," Damon confessed, fully aware that their chances of joining Percepta, the superhero program, were dwindling. As much as he hated to admit it, the Razor Riddler seemed like a foe they couldn't defeat, and the prospect of defeating him appeared increasingly grim.
He was an ordinary individual, yet his brilliance surpassed that of even the most formidable superhumans. Damon found himself speculating whether Percepta was aware of this man's direct involvement in their current predicament, or if they simply aimed to dismantle one of his drug routes to weaken him. If they could eliminate this man, their mission would be significantly easier, given the high status and power wielded by their current target.
Despite the urgency and the uniqueness of Edward's abilities, Damon recognized that he couldn't jeopardize the entire group's position for the sake of one person. Sacrificing three lives to save one, no matter how exceptional that individual's powers were, simply didn't make sense. The burden of responsibility weighed heavily on Damon's shoulders, knowing that he had to make a tough decision and soon.
In a moment of solemn resolve, Damon concluded that if he couldn't rescue Edward, he would be left with no choice but to end his life. The thought was grim and unsettling, but he understood that it might be the only way to prevent the misuse of Edward's extraordinary abilities and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
-
"Fred, are you sure you're okay?" Alessia's concern was evident as she posed the question, and Fred responded with a gleeful nod, something they hadn't witnessed in a long while. "Never been better, Alessia!" Fred's upbeat demeanor was a refreshing change, considering the recent hardships they had faced.
Samuel couldn't help but express his relief, wrapping his arm around Fred in a show of camaraderie. Having his teammate back in good spirits was a welcome sight, as the constant losses they endured had taken a toll on everyone's morale.
"Welcome back, friend!" Samuel greeted him warmly, a genuine smile gracing his face.
"Hahaha! I never left Samuel! Wait! I got something for you both!" Fred exclaimed as he rummaged through his pocket but he suddenly stopped as he looked up.
"You both have to close your eyes first or it will ruin the surprise," Fred said and they complied. Alessia and Samuel were giddy about what Fred had gotten them but out came a butcher's knife.
"Keep your eyes closed! No peeking!" Fred said reiterated as a sinister grin creased his face.