Prologue:
Deep in the recesses of a hospital sat a patient writhing in pain. Deep agony raced through him as he felt torture akin to his nerves being ripped apart. Screams were torn out of his throat, echoing throughout the room.
Nearby, doctors looked at him in a panic, unable to help. Morphine was injected into him, but it couldn’t provide any relief.
An hour later, just as the man on the bed felt he was about to go insane, the room’s door burst open. In entered a young woman wearing a lab coat. The woman immediately ran to the patient’s side and grabbed his wrist. With a look of concentration on her face, her nails extended by an inch, turning into claws. With a smooth motion, she stabbed her fingernails into the man’s arm.
The man’s eyes went wide in horror and he began to flail. However, after a few moments his eyes grew heavy and he fell asleep. For the first time in days, he couldn’t feel any pain.
“What’s the situation?” the woman asked, glancing at the sleeping patient.
At her question, one of the nurses grabbed a clipboard hanging from the side of the patient’s bed and handed it over.
“Thomas Finch. 24 year old male. Attacked by villain “Torment”,” she read, skimming the chart.
The woman clicked her tongue, “Nerve magic, nasty stuff. Give him 5mg of Healing Lotus extract every six hours. As you’ve seen, normal medicines won’t have any effect.”
The nurse nodded in confirmation.
“Good work Doctor Sang,” one of the other physicians in the room praised.
“Thank you,” Lia Sang smiled wearily.
“When’s the last time you took a break?” a doctor asked.
“Too many patients, no time.” Sang said, shaking her head.
“You really should get some rest,” the doctor warned her, “You’ll be no use to anyone if you’re tired.”
Lia hesitated, but nodded her head reluctantly.
“I’ll go take a small break then.”
Under the caring gazes of the other medical staff, Lia Sang headed out of the room.
She walked down the long white hallways of the hospital, numerous thoughts on her mind.
“Villain crime has escalated lately,” she thought, furrowing her brows, “We’re getting patients in droves. Those heroes are sure incompetent.”
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She shook the thought away, “No use thinking like that. I’m sure the heroes are trying their best.”
After a few minutes, Lia arrived at the break room. She grabbed her lunchbox and headed towards the stairway. Eating on the roof always refreshed her.
After climbing the spiraling staircase, she arrived in front of a door. She opened it up and stepped through, placing a nearby wooden block to prevent it from shutting.
She walked forward and sat on the ground, staring up at the moon.
“I’m tired,” she groaned, stretching her arms. After sitting in silence for a moment she opened up her lunchbox, withdrawing the contents from within.
She slowly ate the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, not really tasting it. She only consumed it so she could regain some energy.
“I wish humans had never been born with superpowers.”
It was an unexplained phenomenon. No one was entirely sure why the past couple generations were ones of magic and fantasy. One thing was for certain though, Lia hated it.
She stared at her hands and frowned. After a few moments of thought, she withdrew an ID card from her coat pocket and read some of the information.
Name: Lia Catherine Sang
Occupation: Head Hospitalist
Power: Painkiller, Rank S
Threat Level: 1
She looked at the card and sighed, sadly shaking her head. When her parents realized her gift, they had immediately forced her to go to school as a doctor. After numerous, grueling years she had finally achieved her parent’s wishes.
“Unfair isn’t it?” a soft voice rang out.
“Who’s there?!” Lia jumped. She hadn’t seen anyone else on the roof when she got here.
The voice continued, “This era is one of freedom. Power users are able to achieve all of their dreams. But what about you? You’re living an unfulfilled life working at a job you hate.”
“You’re worth more than this. Your power has so much potential. You’re wasting your talent,” the voice echoed.
Lia shivered. The voice mirrored some of her deepest, most secret thoughts.
At that moment, a man appeared from the shadows. He was completely cloaked in darkness. Lia was unable to make out any of his features.
Lia immediately pulled out her ID card and pointed it towards him. The card hummed and vibrated, sending information to her mind.
Alias: Shade
Occupation: Super Villain
Power: Shadow Manipulation, Rank A
Threat Level: 120,572
The color drained from Lia’s face. A super villain!
She instantly turned around and looked at the door. She grew even more nervous when she realized it was closed.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
The man laughed.
“I want you to join me of course.”
“Y-y-you what?” asked Lia bewilderedly.
“I want you to become a villain,” the man reaffirmed, holding out a hand towards her.
“Why would I do that?”
“I already told you. You have great potential,” the man sighed.
Dozens of thoughts whirled through Lia’s head.
“You don’t want me,” she said defensively, “I’d make a terrible villain. The only think I’m good for is easing people’s pain.
“Don’t lie to me,” the man snapped, “We both know what your power is capable of. Remember what happened to your dad?”
Lia blanched. How did he know about her dad?
“I’ll make my offer once again. Join me,” the man continued.
Lia shook her head rapidly. There was no way she would become a villain.
“Looks like I’m going to have to do this the hard way,” the man said, his voice turning cold.
Instantly the shadows came to life, reaching tendrils of darkness towards her.
Lia screamed. She ran towards the door and attempted to yank it open. It was locked. She scanned her surroundings, looking for another exit.
Before she could make a move, the tendrils grabbed her. The quickly bound her, preventing her movements.
Shade slowly walked towards her.
“Welcome to villainy!” he said, a smile in his voice.