"Mutant?"
As the head of Section 12, Quinn had seen his fair share of the supernatural. Mutants were his usual adversaries, so upon seeing Valmont, he immediately categorized him as one.
Humanity's greatest fear stemmed from the unknown. After Quinn’s self-hypnosis, Valmont and his Shadowkhan no longer seemed invincible.
Though Valmont had not worn the mask for long, the darkness within him was far too evident. Moreover, lacking the integrity of a Sheriff Black from the original story, he had already begun to be swayed by the mask.
A cold gaze swept over Quinn and his team. Before Quinn could act, Valmont, with a simple wave of his hand, commanded, "Kill."
With that single word, the Night Spectors surrounding Valmont immediately sprang into action, attacking the intruders.
Facing the charging Shadowkhan, Quinn was forced into a defensive counterattack.
Conventional weapons proved largely ineffective against the Shadowkhan, and several of his own men were accidentally injured, leading to casualties that began to mount.
However, Quinn remained calm. Section 12, with its years of experience dealing with mutants, had recruited several powerful individuals to its cause after encountering all sorts of superhumans.
As the Shadowkhan, under Valmont's control, rampaged, a man engulfed in flames burst forth and plunged into the midst of the Shadowkhan. The intense heat emanating from his body incinerated the surrounding Shadowkhan ninjas.
Another took a more strategic approach, employing the principle of "capturing the ringleader first." She, Majac, was too intelligent to rush in and be outnumbered like the man in flames. She wisely went invisible at the start of the battle, silently flanking Valmont and, seizing an opportune moment, drew a dagger from her waist and thrust it towards Valmont's back.
Had Majac’s sneak attack succeeded, the Shadowkhan ninjas under Valmont's control would have collapsed on their own. But unfortunately, she failed.
The mask offered its wearer far more than just control over the Shadowkhan; it significantly enhanced the wearer's attributes.
Though unseen, Valmont's acute hearing and superhuman reflexes allowed him to capture Majac when she was still half a meter away.
Valmont showed no mercy, landing two swift punches that sent the frail Majac spitting blood before she was tossed like a rag doll into the Shadowkhan ranks.
Now holding the advantage, Valmont glanced at his watch and gave an order. All Shadowkhan immediately disengaged from their opponents and returned to his side.
"It's almost time. If you want to see the Dark Hand, come to the top floor of the building."
With that, he left the hall, escorted by the Shadowkhan.
Upon returning to his office, Valmont was immediately subdued by Clavius and Jade. Caitlin, armed with a magically charged katana, stepped forward and, before Valmont could resist, ripped the mask from his face.
Stripped of the mask, Valmont slumped to the ground as if his very essence had been drained.
"Shendu, what the hell did you make me wear?"
Valmont's agitation was understandable. Despite his impressive display of power controlling the Shadowkhan against Quinn and his soldiers, making him seem invincible.
Only Valmont, wearing the mask, knew the true peril.
Upon first donning it, he had felt boundless power. But as time wore on, the mask amplified the darkness within him, and General Shendu’s soul, using the mask as a conduit, relentlessly pushed him further into despair, driving him to the brink of madness.
Had Valmont not removed the mask in time, the ultimate consequence would have been complete possession by Shendu’s soul.
Even with its successful removal, significant side effects remained. The power gained from wearing the mask was essentially an extreme overdraw of the body’s inherent strength, akin to taking stimulants or narcotics.
While potentially granting immense exhilaration and incredible strength during its effect, the subsequent withdrawal could be equally devastating.
Considering the time, Bai Qi had the ninjas drag the defeated Valmont aside like a broken toy. He then instructed Clavius to place the final two talismans in their designated positions.
As the Monkey and Rooster talismans were reassembled, a system notification that had been silent for a long time chimed in Bai Qi’s ear.
Main Mission 1: Collect the Twelve Talismans [Completed]
Reward: Three random draws
Submit mission.
"Submit."
Upon receiving the system's prompt, Bai Qi did not hesitate.
The next moment, the stone statues began to crumble, and a massive, dark green dragon emerged, its immense draconic aura crushing everyone present, making it difficult to breathe.
"This... is the Master’s... true form!"
Everyone present was stunned as they gazed upon the colossal Shendu, who was clad only in a crude loincloth.
As Bai Qi broke the seal and was reborn, the darkness lurking in the shadows could no longer remain dormant.
The once clear blue sky instantly became overcast, and vast amounts of dark energy converged from all directions, forming a beam of pitch-black light, tinged with red, that pierced through the roof of the Dark Hand building and enveloped Bai Qi, continuously infusing him with power.
Millions of citizens in New York City peered out their windows, while the daring ventured onto the streets. Dozens of media outlets scrambled to report, and online shares surged like a rocket. This phenomenon, initially confined to New York City, spread globally within minutes via the internet.
Some even incited the crowds on the streets, proclaiming the end of days and calling it divine punishment for humanity, a harbinger of the apocalypse.
Bai Qi, the mastermind behind it all, could only marvel at the extraordinary favor the dark energy showed him, its "beloved son."
The already large Shendu, augmented by the dark energy, grew another two meters taller before stopping. His crimson dragon eyes blazed with a chilling light, and a single glance instilled terror.
Unlike other demons, as the sole existing demon on Earth and the only potential for a comeback, Mother Black Energy had placed all her bets on Bai Qi.
If the Shendu who escaped in the original story had only possessed one-tenth of his original power, then the current Bai Qi, bolstered by the dark energy, had recovered one-fifth of his original strength and regained some of Shendu's memories.
The power unleashed by the collection of the Twelve Talismans surged like an unstoppable torrent. Freed from his seals, Bai Qi unleashed the power within him with abandon. The past few months, whether hanging on a wall or inhabiting the body of an ordinary human child, had been incredibly frustrating. Now, finally free, Bai Qi couldn't help but vent.
Clavius and the others were relatively fortunate. As former supervillains, their strength already surpassed that of ordinary people, and with Bai Qi's modifications, they could barely stand upright. However, this left Valmont and the others in a dire state.
As ordinary humans, Valmont and his companions were like their throats were choked by fate, their faces pale and their breathing labored under the immense dragon's might.
Catching a glimpse of their condition, Bai Qi gradually reined in his draconic aura, pulled over a nearby office desk, and sat down.