It was night when Black Guard reached the Council's black fortress. Mira hummed in his earpiece through her comms. The air was thin as he slipped through the gates onto the desolate grounds. The cold sliced across his face like a blade. He raised a fist and knocked on the iron door.

The door opened with a creak. A man in a dark cloak stepped out. His voice was cold and distant. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I am Black Guard. I seek an audience with the Council."

His eyes widened. "On what grounds?"

"Senator Risham Forge."

The cloaked figure removed his hood, revealing crimson eyes. "You may enter."

Inside, Black Guard noticed a group of men in dark robes, their faces shrouded in cloaks, blending in shadow and light.

"What do you seek?" Malek asked, the tall one out of the group.

"Information on Senator Risham Forge."

"Risham Forge is part of the Council.

"We are an ancient society. Before metahumans ever breathed, we were the hand that steadied the scales between chaos and order."

"Wait-ancient?" Black Guard said, eyes bulging.

"We are not divine gods. Our lifespans are infinite. I sense you walked between life and death."

"What is Risham, really?"

"Risham Forge-Destroyer, Conqueror, Executioner," the robed figure said as torchlight danced across his face. "He is the embodiment of our will."

"Risham is causing trouble in my city by murdering metahumans, is that your will too?"

A second Council member hissed, "He is an outsider who knows nothing of our ways."

"Silence, Dilak," Malek said, his crimson eyes boring into Dilak.

The torches sputtered as wind howled through the chamber. A figure materialized from the shadows.

"Risham Forge can be brought to heel."

Black Guard's mind reeled, his brows furrowed. "How?"

"Only the Blood of the Chosen can defeat him."

Black Guard gritted his teeth. "Blood of the Chosen?"

"Only another member of the Council can defeat Risham born of blood. Project Black Swan holds the key."

Mira pulsed urgently. Neural signatures off the charts. Recommend immediate extraction. His jaw clenched-this was bigger than Delta City.

The room rumbled. Some of the torches blew out. Risham burst from the ground. "Brothers, it's been a while."

Fear hollowed Black Guard's eyes.

The remaining Council members recoiled, their crimson eyes flickering in the torchlight.

Malek's crimson eyes narrowed. "Risham."

"Malek, you look well. Time hasn't changed you," Risham said, his gold ring glowing on his finger.

Malek's hands clenched. "You perverted our ways. Experimenting with metahuman blood. To what end? We represent balance, not rule."

"Everyone has their hobbies," Risham said with a smirk. "I'm simply expanding resources."

Malek's fists ignited green, energy crackling. "Your experiment ends."

"What? You think you can stop me?" Risham's feet planted.

Malek turned to Black Guard. "Leave now!"

Black Guard's heart pounded as he bolted out of the room, bursting through the door.

Outside, cold air filled his lungs. Behind him, the fortress roared with power a nightmare beyond understanding.

He didn't need Mira to tell him this was far beyond his mission.

"Regroup at the safehouse," Mira said.

                         ***

"What have you done?" Risham's eyes narrowed.

"The prophecy was foretold. The Blood of the Chosen will rise," Malek said, charging Risham with a solid punch combo drawing blood from his lips.

Risham slammed Malek down and punched-jaw shattering with a sickening crack. Malek's crimson eyes remained unbroken as his mandible lingered.

"You finally got a backbone," Risham said with a cold smirk. His gold ring flickered.

Malek thrust his palms forward. Green energy exploded, hurling Risham into the wall. His jaw snapped back in place. Dust billowed as rocks cracked. Through his smile, Risham watched bone and flesh regenerate. His gold ring burned brighter.

Malek stood up as his voice trembled with fury. "Your arrogance will be your undoing."

Risham cracked his knuckles. "There are things worse than death."

He dodged and countered Malek's moves with brutal precision. "You lack conviction."

Malek roared, green energy coiling around his fists like serpents. Risham laughed, weaving through the blasts.

"You can't beat us all. We outnumber you," Malek said.

"I don't have to," Risham said.

As Malek fell, Dilak stabbed him in the back with a gold blade laced with black blood.

Risham stood over Malek's crumpled form. He pried the black ring from the fallen man's finger and slid it onto his own. Metal met flesh. Green light flared across his hands as both rings pulsed in unison. Ancient power surged through him, syncing with his heartbeat. Centuries of conquest fused with his ambition, and his vision sharpened as the world bent to his will.

"Take him to the cell."

The other Councillors dragged Malek's body away.

"What do we do with the mortal?" Dilak asked. "We still need the neural link for the gloves."

"Patience, we will find Malcolm."

"Yes, sire," Dilak said.

The storm outside faded to silence. Smoke curled through firelit memories as Risham remembered the moment he met Zoe at an anti-metahuman protest rally in downtown Delta City.

An aggressive metahuman with flaming powers attacked a group that screamed in horror. Risham stepped in and shielded the group, protecting Zoe. Flames licked the air as Zoe's wide eyes met his. A light smile tugged at Risham's lips.

He smiled-small, sincere, human.

The memory of firelight and screams still lingered as his phone buzzed.

Dust streaked Risham's hand as he lifted the phone. Green energy faded under boot. "Hey, Zoe."

"When are you coming home?"

"Soon. Just wrapping things up. Everything all right?"

"Yeah, I just miss you."

Risham smiled. "I miss you too."

"How is our son?"

"He's fine, he just got back from school."

"Good, I'll be home in an hour."

"Okay, love you."

The line clicked dead.

"Sire, I will leave," Dilak said.

The cost of power was great. Risham's legacy mattered more than mercy. Metahumans were trouble-Persona most of all. Threats had to be removed-no matter who they once were.