Chapter 1: Choose Your Side
New York, Midtown School of Science and Technology, graduating class.
The windows in the back row were tightly shut, but the books on the window-side desk rustled as if by an unseen breeze, revealing the name "Ricardo M. Luo" on the title page.
"Ox Talisman, levitation." Arthur controlled the book pages to turn at a steady pace. He often played these small games when bored in class, passing the time while training his control over the Talisman's power.
The girl at the next desk looked curiously at Arthur's textbook, whose pages were turning at a steady speed, yet she felt no wind.
Seeing the girl next to him push up her glasses, Arthurfound it amusing and decided to tease her.
The book closed, stopping. Arthur took out a pen, skillfully twirled it twice, signaling to the girl with glasses. Suddenly, he closed his hand, then quickly opened it again.
The girl pushed up her glasses in surprise again, thinking she had imagined it… the pen had vanished into thin air!
Arthur flipped his palm again, and the pen reappeared in his hand, twirling.
The girl's jaw dropped. She whispered across the aisle, "What a magic trick!"
Arthur smiled slightly. The Snake Talisman possessed the power of invisibility; he had merely applied its power to the pen.
Arthur knew this girl, and not just from the day he transferred to this class… She was the girl with glasses from the Marvel movie The Amazing Spider-Man. Although she only had a few scenes, her looks left an impression on the audience, and many fan-made edits by content creators also made Arthur remember her.
Arthur was very excited when he first entered the Marvel Universe. This excitement peaked after he activated his "golden finger," the Twelve Talismans… But gradually, the excitement subsided, even giving way to a hint of worry.
Because Arthur discovered that the power of his Twelve Talismans was too weak. For example, the Ox Talismanonly increased his strength by about two hundred kilograms, and with the Rabbit Talisman, his 100-meter sprint speed could only reach about 5 seconds. The Dragon Talisman's explosive fire power couldn't even blast through a one-centimeter-thick steel plate… In an ordinary Universe, these powers would be enough, but this was the Marvel Universe, where the plot included a snap that could wipe out half the Universe's population. In this context, the Talismans' power seemed somewhat inadequate.
Just as Arthur couldn't help but complain again, a glowing blue 3D interface suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Arthur stared blankly at the bolded lines of text… [Choose your identity: A Superhero who symbolizes light and justice, protects humanity, and maintains World peace; A villainous demon who symbolizes darkness and evil, destroys everything, and brings misfortune and fear.]
Arthur was still in shock when the interface flickered.
[Choose your item: Hero's Cape / demon mask.]
After regaining his composure, Arthur couldn't hide his excitement. It seemed his true golden finger had arrived!
He didn't hesitate and immediately chose the villain faction, acquiring the demon mask.
This was almost a no-brainer. A person wanting to do good deeds would have many considerations, while doing bad deeds had no restrictions whatsoever. A bad person doing a good deed could elicit public sympathy, while a good person doing one bad deed would be scorned by public opinion.
Just like in Marvel movies, the Avengers organization, which saved the World, was constrained by the United Nations and even led to a civil war.
A civilian dared to point a gun at a kind and righteous Superhero, but he lacked the courage when facing ruthless bandits and thugs… Arthur caressed the demon mask he had acquired in his desk drawer. It had a metallic texture but was as light as gauze, with an uneven surface.
At the same time, the demon mask's functional information was transmitted: Wearing the mask can change one's attire and physique, and refine one's temperament and voice.
Oh! What a perfect artifact for murder, robbery, and essential travel!
Arthur used the Snake Talisman to make the demon maskinvisible before putting it into his backpack, finally feeling at ease. He continued to observe the glowing blue interface before him, which displayed several lines of descriptive text:
[
"Welcome to the evil faction!"
"Unlock storylines with major characters in the Marvel Universe, with a chance to enhance your Talisman power. Activated Talismans can be upgraded with villain points, making you even stronger!"
"Gain villain points by causing people to experience negative emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, frustration, and regret. villain points are the currency of the devil; they can buy many things, such as making you the most outstanding pianist, the wealthiest person… or, losing your life!"
"Try to make Superheroes experience negative emotions, and there will be unexpected rewards…"
"So, are you ready? Mr. Demon, descended upon the Marvel Universe!"]
Arthur couldn't help but run a hand through his hair. Marvel, get ready to meet your greatest villain!
"Mr. arthur!" The teacher below the blackboard practically roared. Not only was he flirting with pretty girls in class, but he also ignored the teacher's questions? Who said all Asian students were excellent and well-behaved? This transfer student's first class performance was terrible!
"Here!" Arthur instinctively stood up, which caused a burst of laughter from the class. Some mischievous students mimicked his action of standing up to answer, and the noise was so loud that even the teacher couldn't quiet it.
In New York, students could answer questions while sitting. Under everyone's gaze, Arthur sat down and awkwardly made a gesture of pushing up glasses, but he pushed at empty air… "So, can you answer my question?" the teacher said. "Or do you need me to repeat it?"
Even if you repeat it ten times, I wouldn't know… Although Arthur's mind wasn't on the lesson, he overheard the teacher's question. It was a very complex formula, and the Twelve Talismans didn't increase intelligence… "Sorry, please repeat it, teacher." Arthur seemed very sincere.
"It's a decay rate algorithm."
"Sorry, teacher, I don't know the answer."
"…"
The teacher frowned. He was indeed very polite and seemed well-behaved… This attitude gave her no reason to get angry.
"Alright, different schools have different curricula, which is understandable. Does anyone want to help the new student Arthuranswer this question?" The teacher decided to let Arthur off the hook.
Someone in the middle of the classroom raised her hand. She stood up before giving the answer.
Arthur looked over at the sound. Golden hair fluttered. He couldn't see her face, but the girl's appearance rose in his mind.
Gwen Stacy.
Arthur narrowed his eyes, looking at the back of the blonde girl. His old phone wallpaper used to be Emma Stone.
The bell rang; it was lunchtime… The midday sun was fragmented by the leaves, scattering haphazardly on the communal dining tables.
"So how did you do that magic trick just now? Was it amazing Eastern magic?" The girl with glasses was very curious. After a brief introduction, Arthur learned her name, Hanna.
"There is no magic in the East. We call it immortal arts and spellcraft, and a lesser form is called Daoist arts," Arthursaid with a serious expression.
Hanna's jaw dropped: "Unbelievable! Do your schools over there teach all that?"
"That's nothing. Students over there ride giant pandas or elephants to school, and some can even control corpses!"
As Arthur rambled, he swallowed half a sandwich in one bite, then subtly glanced at Gwen, who was sitting at a table to his front left, reading a book.
"That girl is really pretty."
"She's a rich honor student. Don't even think about it, you won't get her!" Hanna seemed very familiar, "Control corpses? Did I hear that right?"
"That's not the point. The point is, why do you think I can't get her?"
"I bet a month's worth of sandwiches!" Hanna said decisively.
"Who eats a month's worth of sandwiches?" Arthur had a look of disgust.
A crowd gathered in one part of the campus, with more curious onlookers joining, and noisy chatter emanated from it.
"What's happening?" Arthur was a little curious.
Hanna watched for a moment: "It's Fletcher! That jerk is bullying someone again!"
"Campus bullying? Is this Fletcher a school bully?" Arthursuddenly felt eager.
"You could say that. He often bullies weak boys, like Tom, Jim, Peter…" Hanna spread her hands helplessly.
"I like school bullies!" Arthur threw his disposable lunchbox into the trash. He flexed his wrists. "Fletcher, right? He'll be my lucky star!"
Chapter 2: Villain Value +10, +10, +10...
The crowd gathered, men and women laughing and watching the campus bullying unfolding at the central dining table.
"Eat the rest of your food, Gordon, hurry up!" Fletcherscoffed loudly, "It's not good to waste food, let alone free mashed potatoes with pork hock!"
Arthur squeezed into the circle with his arms crossed and saw this scene:
The tall Fletcher was holding the scrawny Gordon upside down, looking as if Fletcher was about to shove Gordon's face into the dinner plate!
Suddenly, a mechanical system sound rang out: [villain points + 1, + 1, + 1...]
Arthur's expression shifted; he felt the fear of Gordon, who was being bullied, and a hint of hidden anger... It turned out that as long as people around him generated negative emotions, he could collect villain points, even if he wasn't the cause.
"NO, Fletcher, put him down!" someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.
He was wearing a gray jacket and jeans, with a camera hanging from his chest.
Peter Parker, who, if the plot proceeded normally, would soon become Spider-Man.
Arthur had no reaction upon seeing Peter; after all, they were in the same graduating class and had seen each other many times today.
The system had prompted that encountering a key character in the plot might unseal a talisman's power. Arthur believed that Spider-Man, as one of the absolute protagonists of the Marvel Universe, would definitely be able to unseal one of his talismans.
But seeing Peter, the system still had no reaction. Arthurguessed it was because he hadn't become Spider-Man yet; after all, the current Peter Parker was not yet the Superhero of Queens, just a student.
Arthur wasn't in a hurry, even though someone else had gotten to the fun first; he would always be a patient person.
"Hey, Parker!" The mockery on Fletcher's face didn't diminish; it seemed he didn't take the person who came to uphold justice seriously at all. "Come over here and take a picture of me and dear Gordon!"
"No, I won't take that kind of picture, put him down!" Petersaid with a serious face, "Don't eat that, Gordon."
"Take a picture!" Fletcher insisted, Gordon swaying precariously in his hands.
"Put him down, Eugene!" Peter shouted.
Fletcher's face changed; his full name was Fletcher Eugene Thompson.
Fletcher threw the trembling Gordon down. Gordoncrashed onto the dining table and then rolled onto the cracked cement floor, letting out a cry of pain.
"Gordon!" Peter was about to step forward when Fletcherblocked him. Fletcher punched Peter hard in the stomach.
Peter instantly fell to the ground, his face turning pale. His camera rolled away. He felt a sharp cramp in his stomach, so painful he couldn't speak... Fletcher was a member of the school basketball team, and Peter was no match for him in a one-on-one fight.
"Oh..." The onlookers erupted, students giggling and taunting Peter, who lay defeated on the ground.
"Get up, Peter!" Fletcher roared, "Get up like a man!"
Peter struggled to his feet, only to be kicked down again by Fletcher.
"Get up, Peter! Are you a sheep?" Fletcher cursed, "Where's your courage from just now?"
[villain points + 1, + 1, + 1...]
These negative emotions were collected from Peter, just like from Gordon before, and there was nothing special about them. It seemed that the current Peter had not yet been recognized as a Superhero by the system.
Arthur shook his head slightly; Peter, who hadn't been bitten by a mutated spider yet, was too weak. Finally, after Fletcher kicked Peter one more time, he decided it was time to have some fun.
"Stop." A voice full of laughter came from the crowd.
Fletcher was stunned, his face full of disbelief. This afternoon, someone had come to ruin his game three times! Were there so many busybodies now?
"That's right, I'm talking about you, the big guy who looks like a hippopotamus." Arthur held his forehead with one hand, his face showing a ghostly expression. "I didn't see wrong, did I? You're actually bullying a poor 'little spider' on campus! Your behavior is even worse than your looks!"
"Haha, did I hear that right, Fletcher? He said you look like a hippopotamus!" someone instigated.
"Arthur!" Hanna, who had followed him, tried to stop him from doing "stupid things," after all, magic couldn't be used for fighting.
[villain points + 10, + 10, + 10...]
Fletcher's anger was written all over his face; Arthur could see it without the system's prompt.
"You look like an inflated pufferfish right now; I want to use your face to polish my shoes." Arthur raised his hand, slightly bent and swaying, making a scrubbing motion.
That snarky gesture made Fletcher's anger explode.
"You are very brave, but even more foolish!"
Fletcher charged at Arthur, like a football player clutching the ball and rushing into the opponent's defense! He had already planned how to knock down this foul-mouthed transfer student with one punch!
Arthur's smile didn't fade. If anyone paid attention to his eyes, they would see the faint outline of a wild bull.
Arthur kicked Fletcher, who weighed over eighty kilograms, sending him flying. Fletcher crashed onto a dining table chair like a kite with a broken string.
"Ooh!" The crowd let out a collective gasp, everyone's jaws dropping.
Fletcher, who had fallen to the ground, curled his body as if enduring intense pain.
[villain points + 10, + 10, + 10...]
The villain points collected from Fletcher greatly increased! Arthur, while happy, also analyzed that it was likely because Fletcher's negative emotions were caused by him.
"Are you alright, Mr. Hippopotamus!" Arthur slowly walked forward, "How did you accidentally fall? Let me help you up!"
Arthur grabbed Fletcher's collar with one hand and slowly lifted him with force.
The onlookers could no longer laugh; that transfer student actually lifted the tall and strong Fletcher with one hand! Fletcher struggled powerlessly in his hand like a sheep.
"Look, everyone saw it, he accidentally fell, and I kindly helped him up!" Arthur smiled, "Right, Fletcher!"
Fletcher was choked speechless, even having difficulty breathing. He struggled vigorously, like a sheep in a tiger's mouth. Slowly, he saw Arthur's smile and inexplicably felt fear.
Arthur put him down, but it wasn't over yet.
"Eat this food, Fletcher, set a good example for classmate Gordon!"
Arthur pressed Fletcher's face into the dinner plate. Fletcher struggled violently, but in the face of the bull's strength, everything was futile.
[villain points + 50, + 50, + 50...]
There was a deathly silence around the central dining table; no one made a sound. The school bully Fletcheractually had his head pressed into a dinner plate... "Hey, that's not right, buddy!" someone spoke up, surprisingly it was Peter, who had just gotten up from the ground, "Thank you very much for helping me, but can you let him go? He's already suffering enough..."
Arthur's smile didn't fade. As expected of a future Superhero, Peter's sense of justice already existed in his heart, just like Gordon, who had just been bullied, was now watching the show from the crowd.
"No, no, no, you seem to be mistaken, classmate Peter!" Arthur said, while firmly holding Fletcher's head down. "I'm not here to help you or uphold some ridiculous justice. I just want to play with someone. Maybe tomorrow, the one whose head I press into mashed potatoes will be classmate Gordon from just now... Of course, it could also be you, or any classmate present!"
The onlookers looked at the smile on Arthur's face, and slowly they stopped laughing... Peter was also speechless.
Chapter 3 Gwen Stacy
"Fletcher, I heard you're the school bully, always picking on weaker students," Arthur said. "I also like bullying, but I prefer bullying the school bully... Hahahahaha! Does mashed potato taste good?"
[villain points +50, +50, +50...]
This sound was particularly pleasant to Arthur's ears.
"And you guys!" Arthur's finger moved across the crowd, pointing at everyone.
"You are all truly terrible! You don't dare to speak up and help when you see a classmate being bullied, and some of you even mock and find amusement in it. Is it that funny? Think of poor Gordon and Peter, and now Fletcher's nostrils are full of mashed potato. I'm sure he'll never want to eat mashed potato again! But no one dared to help him! How utterly cold-hearted!" Arthur said loudly, "Of course, lovely Hanna is an exception."
[villain points +20, +20, +20...]
This time, the villain points increased significantly; Arthur's approach of verbally attacking everyone was very effective!
"F*ck, shut your stinking mouth, yellow-skinned monkey!" A tall Black classmate, who was also a key player on the school's male basketball team and nearly two meters tall, charged at Arthur.
Arthur pushed the miserable Fletcher aside, pulled out a dinner plate, turned to dodge the Black classmate's charge, and casually slapped out with the plate in his hand.
"Duang!" The Black classmate was about to get tinnitus, and the remaining mashed potato was slapped onto his head!
"Duang!" Arthur slapped again, "Racist?"
"Duang!" Arthur got excited and started singing "Sunny Rainbow Little White Horse."
"Duang!" Arthur pinched his nose with his other hand, "You're truly a mobile air pollution machine!"
"Duang!"
..."Hey, Mr. arthur, I have something to tell you!"
Arthur watched as the blonde Gwen hurried over, clutching books. He lifted the Black classmate with one hand and casually picked up a tissue from the table to wipe the mashed potato from his face.
"How can you be so careless! Be more careful when you walk next time, don't fall again." Arthur said with a face full of concern, then whispered, "If you know what's good for you, get lost quickly. You don't want me to shove your head into a toilet bowl next time, do you?"
The Black classmate scrambled away, this transfer student was simply a devil!
"Hey, so why are you all still standing around?" Arthurshouted at the crowd, "Is it fun to watch a poor classmate who fell into mashed potato?"
The crowd quickly dispersed, knowing better. No one wanted to provoke Arthur now.
Gwen walked up to Arthur. She glanced at the name written in her notebook, Ricardo M. Luo.
"Am I pronouncing this correctly? Mr. arthur, or Ricardo?"
"Just call me Arthur, it's nice to meet you."
Seeing the gentle smile on Arthur's face, Gwen even doubted if the recent violence was his doing!
"My name is..."
"Gwen Stacy." Arthur interjected, "I know."
"Why were you asking them about my name?"
"Emm... I just asked them who the prettiest girl in this school was, and they told me this name, Gwen Stacy." Arthur said with a serious expression.
"Thanks... Well, that's not the point!" Gwen's face flushed, "So what were you doing just now? I think I saw something bad."
"Nothing bad happened, everything was great!" Arthursaid with certainty, "Just now, two classmates fell into mashed potato, and I kindly helped them up!"
"Fell into mashed potato... and two people?" Gwen sighed, "Alright, those aren't the point either. You just transferred to Midtown Tech, and I need to tell you some school rules. Bullying classmates here will result in a guardian meeting, with minor offenses leading to community service, and serious ones to expulsion."
"Excellent rules!" Arthur nodded, "Bullies who pick on classmates should be punished like that! I totally agree, after all, I'm not that kind of person. I was just being helpful earlier... So, you were looking for me? Is there something you need to tell me?"
"Oh! Yes, there is something to tell you. You've been assigned to my study group by the teacher," Gwen almost forgot about it due to Arthur's constant interruptions, "Our study plan will start after school this afternoon, right here in the classroom. I'm on duty today, so we can use the classroom and then I'll clean up."
"OK," Arthur said, "No problem, I love to study!"
Gwen fell silent. If she hadn't been holding Arthur's report card, which she'd copied from the teacher, she might have believed him... The warm sun shone diagonally into the classroom. Gwen's group's study plan began at three o'clock.
Arthur also met a familiar face in the study group, Fletcher. The mashed potato on his face had been wiped clean, but there were still some scrapes, making him look a bit disheveled.
[villain points +10, +10, +10...]
Fletcher glared fiercely at Arthur, but presumably due to the setting or the power imbalance, he didn't make a move.
Arthur, making himself at home, sat next to Fletcher. "So happy to see you, how was your afternoon, Fletcher? Did you go to the school hospital? Uh... I mean, that fall you took at lunch might have given you a mild concussion. I suggest you go see the school nurse, my friend."
Seeing Gwen's surprised expression, Arthur said, "A friend I just met at lunch!"
He nudged Fletcher with his shoulder, "Right, Fletcher?"
"Hiss!" Fletcher flinched; there was a bruise from lunch where Arthur nudged him... Fletcher nodded in humiliation, recalling the scene at lunch when Arthur had lifted him with one hand... [villain points +10, +10, +10...]
"Alright, I'm happy you two can be friends," Gwen said helplessly, "Now we need to start studying."
...The main task of the study group was to complete homework. After Arthur finished his, he took out his phone to play, waiting for Gwen to check the other members' assignments first.
He read a tweet from the New York Daily News.
"Recently, a mysterious man in black has appeared in Queens. He fights criminals and protects the public. Many citizens reported that he rescued them when they were harassed by drug addicts and thugs. Last night, he even busted a gang's drug deal! The public calls him a Superhero. Let's hear what the police have to say about him..."
"Are you interested in these news stories? Do you want to be a Superhero? Is that why you helped Gordon and Peterat lunch?"
Gwen came and sat in front of him, picking up his homework. The rest of the study group had already left, and the school's noise was blocked by the doors and windows, making the classroom somewhat quiet.
Arthur turned off his phone, "No, no, no, I never thought about helping anyone."
"I'm not interested in this Superhero either." He held up his phone as a gesture, saying with a hint of deeper meaning, "Even if he was righteous yesterday, who knows if he'll turn into an evil criminal tonight?"
"Justice and evil are always opposed. I believe this Mr. Man in Black will uphold his justice!" Gwen said, looking at Arthur's homework.
"Then I can only disappoint you," Arthur thought to himself.
That man in black, the rookie hero, was actually Arthurhimself. He did all this just to try and find a way to enhance the power of the talismans.
Now he had found a method, but it was not a righteous path.
"Your homework is very well done, Arthur," Gwenreturned his homework to him. "You can go now. I wish you a pleasant afternoon, and remember to be extra careful when you come to school tomorrow morning. Fletcherwon't let this go."
"Tomorrow is the weekend, but after hearing what you said, I'm already looking forward to next Monday. I imagine it will be very interesting." Arthur started packing his bag.
"Do you need help?" Arthur asked, looking at the blackboard and the messy desks and chairs.
"I'm on duty alone, I can handle it," Gwen refused with a smile, "See you next week."
"It should be'see you tomorrow,'" Arthur smiled and walked straight out of the classroom.
Gwen watched Arthur's retreating figure and felt a bit strange. Tomorrow was Saturday, and she was going to intern at Osborn Group. How could she possibly see him?
Chapter 4 Robbers
Downtown New York City, Park Hyatt Hotel.
Harry Winston Jewelry had booked the entire floor, and after the ball, several treasures would be brought in for auction.
Most people came here merely for socializing and networking; those who received invitations were among the wealthiest and most powerful in all of New York.
Of course, some also came for the invaluable jewels, as Harry Winston is the number one luxury jewelry brand, and owning a Harry Winston jewel means associating with legends.
Crystal chandeliers, inherited from the 19th century, emitted a soft glow, and the marble floor was polished so brightly it reflected the graceful steps of the waitstaff.
On the stage, piece after piece of jewelry shone brilliantly; these rare materials, meticulously crafted by top artisans, became even more precious, with the total starting bid for fewer than ten exhibits exceeding fifty million U.S. dollars.
Guests clinked glasses, their conversations, besides appreciating the jewelry, mostly revolved around terms like stocks, funds, shares, and biotechnology.
Few lingered over the food on either side of the room, even though these delicacies were personally prepared by the hotel's executive chef, and most ingredients were air-freighted from other countries and regions.
"Sold for 4.9 million U.S. dollars!" The auctioneer's gavel fell heavily, "This 'Tear of Aphrodite' belongs to Mr. Morgan; may he be blessed by the god of love!"
A faint round of applause sounded from below the stage. The next three jewels had starting bids above 5 million U.S. dollars; those were the main events of the evening.
Just as the atmosphere was about to reach its peak, a muffled gunshot suddenly exploded. The auctioneer, who had just been holding the gavel, collapsed with several bullet holes in his chest, crimson blood gushing out.
Ladies' panicked screams rose and fell, and the distinguished guests scrambled, clutching their heads; no one could maintain their composure any longer.
Suppressed gunshots swept through the hall again, and instantly several unlucky individuals were shot and fell to the ground, fear engulfing all the guests.
"Everyone, don't move, squat down and cover your heads with your hands!" A man wearing a black balaclava shouted from the stage, "Whoever moves, I'll shoot his head off!"
The man wearing a skull mask collected the three unsold jewels from the stage, then he went down to find the previous buyers; the jewels purchased on-site were delivered to the guests immediately.
The first buyer hesitated for a moment, and the skull-masked man raised his Glock pistol and pulled the trigger. The hesitant buyer collapsed amidst his female companion's screams.
He shot the woman in the off-the-shoulder dress again, "Sorry, you're too loud!"
The guests found next became more compliant, even Mr. Morgan unhesitatingly handed over the 'Tear of Aphrodite,' valued at 4.9 million U.S. dollars.
"The signal in the venue has been blocked. Of course, for your safety, it's best not to try to secretly call the police... unless you want to meet Jesus."
The man in the black balaclava said, raising his Uzi submachine gun and firing a burst. A man in a brown suit fell, his cell phone rolling into a pool of blood. He had been squatting in the crowd, secretly making a call, and was still discovered.
The skull-masked man quickly collected all the treasures. He put the jewels into a black bag, slung it over his shoulder, looked at his watch, and whispered, "According to the plan, we still have 7 minutes and 42 seconds."
"Alright, now, honored guests, please hand over all your valuables. Don't try to sneak anything past us. If you think these worldly possessions are more important than life..." The man wearing the black balaclava said, "Isn't that right, Mr. Morgan? I really like the Patek Philippe on your left hand. Mr. William's gold pen on his chest is also dazzling, and Ms. Jenny, your sapphire necklace is very beautiful!"
Under the organization of the other armed men in black, the guests orderly formed four queues, sequentially dropping their valuables into the black bag.
"Are you serious, sir? You only have an old, broken Rolex on you?" The skull-masked man raised his gun again, "I'm truly sorry, but you'll have to hand over something else... I'm talking about your life!"
The man's face flushed red, and before he could speak, he was shot and killed, his face filled with terror. The man in black swiftly dragged his still-breathing body aside, continuing to loot the guests.
The skull-masked man looked at the last boy in the queue. The boy was probably so scared he kept his head down, so much so that his face couldn't even be seen. He seemed like a rich young master attending such a party for the first time; his somewhat slender figure couldn't quite fill out the high-end suit.
"Don't be afraid, summon your manly courage, and whatever you do, don't wet your pants, that would be terrible! I don't like killing people, unless you spoil my good mood..." The skull-masked man said with a smile, encouragingly, "Now, hand over your treasure!"
The boy "fearfully" nodded. He extended his hand and opened it, and a candy wrapper fell into the black bag.
The skull-masked man was stunned. He suspected there was something wrong with his eyes and couldn't believe it! But he pulled the candy wrapper out of the black bag; it was from a chocolate, and still a bit sticky.
"I believe you've made a mistake, haven't you?" The skull-masked man smiled and raised his gun, "But you'll have to apologize with your life!"
Suddenly, at the moment the gun was pointed at him, all the "fear" on the boy's body vanished. He raised his head, and the skull-masked man was stunned again.
The boy's face also wore a mask, a hundred times more terrifying and a hundred times more majestic than his skull mask... It was a demon mask. No, it didn't look like a mask; it was more like a demon's face had been truly flayed and worn on his own face, which would explain its lifelike appearance!
Even through the demon mask, he could see the boy smiling at him, captivating and chilling... Instantly, gunshots erupted. The Uzi submachine gun spat Fire. It was the man wearing the black balaclava; as the leader, he was calmer and more decisive. He emptied the magazine in an instant!
The gunshots ceased, but fear entered the heart of every robber... The imagined scene of the boy falling in a pool of blood didn't happen; the boy had vanished into thin air! That wasn't a boy, but a demon. Such power, beyond science, must belong to a demon!
"Damn it!"
"Come out!"
The robbers turned and scanned every corner of the room, trying to find the boy with the demon mask.
Arthur adjusted his tie, deactivating the Snake Talisman's power of invisibility.
"Gentlemen, are you looking for me?"
The skull-masked man quickly turned around. He saw an open palm, with the silhouette of a Dragon imprinted on its center, golden light surging within its Between the lines.
"Boom!" A pillar of Fire erupted from Arthur's palm, instantly engulfing the man wearing the skull mask.
"Dragon Talisman: Explosive Fire!"
"Your mask is really ugly!" Arthur said, displeased.
Before the other robbers could raise their guns, he had already become invisible and moved again. His speed was extremely fast; the robbers' movements seemed sluggish to him, like slow-moving koalas. Of course, these robbers were not as cute as koalas.
"Rabbit Talisman: Super Speed!"
Gunshots crisscrossed, everyone emptied their magazines, but a bizarre scene unfolded again: the boy wearing the demon mask had vanished again! Only a corpse with a completely melted head lay on the floor. Staring at the headless dead body, an unknown fear spread in their hearts.
"villain points +100, +100, +100..." Arthur was delighted to hear this wonderful sound; under the threat of death, the robbers' emotional fluctuations were even more valuable.
"Pointing your gun at others isn't a good habit." Arthurcame before a robber in black, "I bet your gun has no bullets!"
"Fu*k!" The robber in black decisively raised his gun and fired!
Suddenly, an immense force came from the gun handle; he couldn't even hold the gun! Instantly, the muzzle pointed at him, and the trigger was inexplicably pulled, as if he had shot himself!
A gunshot rang out, and the robber in black fell to the ground, his White brains splattered everywhere.
"I'm so sorry, I lost the bet!"
Arthur sighed and became invisible again.
Watching this horrifying scene in the hall, everyone's foreheads were drenched in cold sweat, whether robbers or innocent guests. That demon didn't seem to be here to uphold justice... more like to spread fear and wreak destruction. Was he enjoying the pleasure of tormenting these robbers?
"Watches, necklaces, watches, more watches! Is this Mr. William's gold pen? It's so tacky! But melting it into a gold ingot should fetch some money."
A voice came from behind. The robbers in black numbly turned around. They saw, in a corner of the stage, the person wearing the demon mask sifting through a black bag. These unsatisfactory ornaments were casually tossed out, making crisp sounds as they hit the floor.
No one fired any more shots. They exchanged glances, then their gaze fell on the robber wearing the black balaclava. The demon in the corner seemed not to notice them. Taking advantage of the situation to retreat now would be a good option.
The man in the black balaclava's face was unpredictable. He waved his hand, signaling. A dozen robbers in black raised their guns and began to retreat—their guns were aimed at the guests!
"Are you leaving already? How boring!" Arthur suddenly spoke, his voice chilling. All the robbers stopped in their tracks.
"How about we play a game? Red Light, Green Light! Anyone still moving when I turn around will be sentenced to death! Of course, those who reach the door will be safe..." The demon mask turned and smiled, "And the guests squatting on the ground, don't move either, be careful not to get caught in the crossfire."
Arthur heard the sound of villain points skyrocketing...
Chapter 5 Demon
The robbery in the city center immediately drew the full attention of the Police. The Police surrounded the Park Hyatt Hotel, controlling all entrances, exits, and the underground parking lot. However, to avoid provoking the robbers and to ensure the safety of the VIPs, they did not attempt to force their way into the 28th floor, which was controlled by the robbers.
The Police officers on site were at a loss. This jewelry robbery had escalated into a hostage situation, and the hostages were all tycoons famous in New York. Even in New York, a case this complex and impactful was extremely rare.
It wasn't until Director George Stacy of the New York CityPolice Department arrived at the scene that the Police's work slowly began to unfold in an orderly manner.
"Can the identities of the robbers be confirmed?" Chief George asked the Police officers on site while putting on a bulletproof vest.
Half an hour earlier, he had been at home, enjoying dinner with his wife and children, but this major case forced him to cut short his leave and rush to the scene.
"Sorry, Director, the robbers are very smart. They've shut down all surveillance systems and curtains, and they've also blocked signals. We know nothing about the robbers." A Police officer handed over a document. "But the list of hostages has been confirmed. The hotel provided the guest list for tonight's banquet."
Chief George took the document. He looked at the familiar names on it and felt a headache. These major taxpayers also had political allies. If any of these wealthy individuals were harmed, the Police would face significant trouble, even if they apprehended the criminals.
"Prepare for an on-site announcement!"
A tense and solemn atmosphere spread, and every Policeofficer felt a heavy heart. They repeatedly checked their weapons and equipment.
The Park Hyatt Hotel is located in the city center, and the Police's actions were captured by various media outlets. Outside the cordon, reporters and paparazzi were still lined up with their cameras. Tomorrow's headlines were already confirmed, and many media outlets were already trying to obtain first-hand hot news.
"...You are surrounded! Put down your weapons, and we will guarantee your safety!"
The Police officers repeated themselves patiently, again and again, but strangely, the robbers gave no response.
Chief George felt that things were getting worse. The robbers actually refused to communicate or negotiate with the Police. They were emboldened by holding important hostages, as the Police, despite surrounding the hotel, dared not act rashly.
Suddenly, an urgent voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Guests from the 28th floor are coming out, all of them! The criminals might be mixed in... Also, their mental state seems very poor!"
Immediately, all Police officers tensed up. They drew their guns, disengaged the safeties, and hid their bodies behind riot shields.
"Step back!" Chief George yelled at the media who wanted to crowd closer. Under his command, the cordon was moved back again.
The Police officers, holding riot shields, formed a human wall to block the hotel's entrance. The distinguished guests, disheveled, pushed and shoved, their shouts echoing. Flashbulbs flickered as reporters captured images of the wealthy and famous gesticulating wildly through the glass.
"Demon! It's a demon! Let me out!"
"What right do you have to restrict my freedom! I'm going to file a complaint against you!"
But the Police officers completely ignored their shouts, simply raising their pistols and shields and telling them to "calm down, step back, hands on head, and squat down"... "Director, you are holding law-abiding citizens, they are not criminals!" a reporter questioned Chief George.
"But criminals might be mixed in, looking for an opportunity to escape!" Chief George explained as patiently as possible in front of the cameras.
"Then your foolish actions will only further provoke the criminals!" the reporter persisted, "Your job is to protect the public's safety, not to put them in danger!"
Chief George felt a headache. "They will be safe. They can leave after their identities are verified and a simple statement is taken!"
After speaking, he immediately walked into the hotel.
The Police's work was quick because the hotel not only had a guest list, but many of these guests were public figures with a certain level of fame, such as wealthy businessmen and Hollywood actresses. Slowly, guests began to leave the hotel after their identities were verified, and they were immediately surrounded by the media.
"What, a demon rescued you? He killed all the criminals?"
"No, a demon held us and those criminals hostage. He is a hundred times more terrifying than the criminals!"
..."His face is as ugly as a Beast, he can breathe Fire, he is invulnerable to blades and bullets, and his methods of torturing and killing those criminals were cruel and bloody!"
"Sounds a lot like the Devil Satan..."
"No, that's not the Devil!" The guest remembered the terrifying game the demon played with the robbers. When he turned around, a robber who failed to stop was pierced through the body by a pillar of Fire. If everyone remained completely still, the demon would make the robbers choose one of their companions to be condemned to death... "The Devil is orderly, that was a demon, chaotic and evil, representing destruction and Carnage!"
Such conversations rose and fell. It seemed that the guests who had narrowly escaped death were all a bit mentally unstable, but so what? No reporter would think there was a problem; the more explosive the interview content, the more excited they would be!
...Chief George took the elevator to the 28th floor. The floor's electrical system was damaged and still undergoing repairs. Emergency lights illuminated the dark room, and powerful flashlight beams flickered. Several Police officers were inside investigating and collecting evidence, their surprised discussions rising and falling.
Chief George entered the room, frowning at the chaotic luxury suite. Drinks and food were spilled everywhere, which would surely affect the Police's evidence collection... Suddenly, he froze. His flashlight slowly moved back until it landed on a corpse.
It was a headless corpse. From the wound, the victim's head did not appear to have been severed... it looked more like it had melted off.
Then there was another corpse, lying on the ground, with a basketball-sized hole in its back where bones and flesh had melted and then congealed.
Chief George's face twitched. No wonder those guests were so terrified that they were a bit mentally unstable. Anyone who witnessed such a horrifying and bloody scene firsthand would surely be scarred for life, right?
"Click!"
Suddenly, all the lights in the luxury suite came on. The tassels on the crystal chandelier trembled, and the lights shone blindingly.
A moment later, Chief George's eyes adjusted to the light, and he saw all the Police officers had stopped their work, staring blankly in the same direction. He immediately turned around.
On the wall of the stage, there was a smiling face with an "M" on top and a "V" on the bottom. That blood-red smile was eerie and terrifying... He looked down at the corpses on the ground again.
"I will catch you, I promise," George Stacy muttered to himself... In Queens, inside a detached Villa, Arthur sat in front of a mirror. On the table beside him lay the removed demon mask.
He hadn't turned on the lights; only moonlight and streetlights filtered in through the French windows. It was late at night, and silence enveloped the surroundings.
Arthur looked at his face in the mirror, then at the demon mask beside him. His gaze shifted several times before losing focus, his eyes vacant.
Arthur reflected on tonight. He had stopped at the Park Hyatt Hotel in the city center to punish those heinous robbers. He had also passed through the dark alleys of Brooklyn, hanging a drug addict who was mugging passersby upside down from a streetlight... Of course, a demon isn't always righteous.
When passing through Manhattan's financial district, while waiting at a red light, Arthur found the slicked-back hair of a 911 owner irritating. He stopped the car and shoved the suited owner into a roadside trash can, leaving only the blonde woman in the passenger seat disheveled in the wind... Wandering the streets and alleys of New York, this city of sin, with the demon mask on, brought Arthur a different feeling; he was free, wild, and unrestrained... But all that exhilaration vanished without a trace once the mask was removed.
Suddenly, Arthur felt that he had changed, just tonight, ever since he put on the demon mask.
But Arthur didn't know if this was good or bad... After all, putting on a mask, wasn't it also taking off a mask?
Arthur picked up the demon mask from the table and covered half of his face. He smiled, and the demon mask in the mirror seemed to smile back at him... The system showed that the villain points he gained on the first day was 8011. It seemed he had a talent for being a villain.