"You're saying someone secretly used a ray gun to shoot Thunderfire?" Nathan asked, his voice even.
"Yes, boss," replied Electro-Man quickly over the comms. "And after that, Thunderfire started acting... differently."
Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Differently how?"
Electro-Man hesitated a moment, trying to find the right words. "Well... he's always been arrogant, that's nothing new. But this time, it's worse. He's become excessively irritable and critical, almost unstable."
"How so?"
"Just now, Mr. Fantastic suggested running a few routine scans on Thunderfire to monitor his flame output," Electro-Man explained. "Thunderfire **exploded with rage—**started yelling about how testing was pointless and stormed off. He even got into a shouting match with the Thing and Invisible Woman."
Nathan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So this ray gun… it's not just an attack. It seems to affect emotional regulation, increasing aggression and impulsiveness."
"Exactly," said Electro-Man. "Something's definitely off."
"Good work. Keep monitoring him. Let me know immediately if anything else happens."
"Understood, boss."
---
On the other end of the line, Electro-Man ended the call and stepped out of his room. His mother was lounging on the balcony, soaking up the sun while listening to an old radio, humming along to classic tunes.
Their home was cozy and well-furnished. Since joining Nathan's operations, Electro-Man had started living a far more stable and comfortable life.
"You know, this house your boss gave us—it's wonderful," his mother said, smiling warmly. "You've done well for yourself, son."
Electro-Man scratched the back of his head bashfully. "Yeah, the boss is... something else."
"You don't need to worry about me anymore," she added. "Start thinking about yourself. Find a good girl, get married, have some children. That's what'll make me happiest."
Electro-Man gave a helpless smile. "Mom... I'll go back inside now. Still got work to do."
He retreated into his room and walked straight to a power outlet. In a flash of sparks, his body dissolved into electricity, shooting through the wiring system to continue his surveillance across town.
---
Back in the lab, Nathan ended the call and turned back to his equipment. The previous strength-testing device had been shattered in a single punch during his last session. Now, he needed a new way to measure his upgraded power.
He'd just finished reinforcing the new device. It was calibrated to measure up to 70 tons of force—a substantial upgrade.
"Let's see where I stand now," Nathan murmured and threw a punch.
The air cracked. A deep boom echoed through the chamber. The machine trembled from the impact. Its sensors lit up.
10 tons... 24... 49... 55... and finally, 61 tons.
A slow smile crossed Nathan's face. "So the last replication of that steel-bodied soldier gave me a serious boost. From 24.5 to 61 tons... nearly triple the power."
"But this is only the beginning," he reminded himself. "My potential ceiling is 130 tons. I've only tapped into a portion."
As the readings stabilized, he turned his attention to the restrained Black Sky.
Still unconscious, she lay bound in reinforced alloy restraints.
"Time to find out what you're really made of," Nathan whispered.
---
With practiced hands, Nathan ran his tools over Black Sky's body, taking samples and scanning her internal energy levels. Soon, his instruments began detecting an unusual energy signature coursing through her cells.
"This power... it's not of human origin," Nathan muttered. "It's enhancing her body on a cellular level. No human could possess this naturally."
Each of her cells shimmered with a strange, violet-black hue under magnification. They had mutated—fundamentally changed—by this foreign force.
Yet... there was no visible presence of a second lifeform. No demon could be seen.
"Could it be that the demon doesn't reside inside her... or is beyond detection?" he pondered.
Just then, Black Sky stirred.
Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, they were normal—until the whites of her eyes vanished entirely, replaced by jet black orbs.
A chilling voice echoed from her lips.
"You're brave, human, to imprison my vessel. By chaining her, you've chained me."
Nathan's expression didn't change. "So you're the demon… Beast."
"I am," the voice replied. "You intrigue me. You don't fear me... and now you're trying to study me?"
"I want to understand what happens when a human is possessed by a demon," Nathan replied coolly. "Especially an 'original demon,' as you call yourself."
As he spoke, Nathan activated another scan. The energy inside Black Sky surged momentarily, especially around the brain.
"So that's it…" Nathan realized. "You use this energy to control her speech, maybe her actions. But still, no physical trace of you... Interesting."
The demon chuckled. "You're fascinating. Most would flee or bow in terror. But you? You want to dissect me."
"You've seen the strength I gave her, haven't you?" Beast continued. "I can give it to you, too. You could become something far greater."
Nathan raised a brow. "And what kind of power is it, exactly?"
"Demonic power. My power. It enhances everything—strength, speed, resilience. The stronger your body, the greater the enhancement."
Nathan replied, "Tempting. But I'm not foolish enough to accept possession."
Beast paused, then tried a different tactic. "You could kill gods. The gods of Asgard, the Celestials, even the Almighty City. I could give you that power."
Nathan shook his head. "Demons lie. In the Marvel universe, that's your entire brand."
Beast's eyes narrowed. "I am not some lesser demon from the Hell Dimension or Dark Realm."
"No?" Nathan asked. "Then why can't I sense your power? Why are you trapped in a mortal body, and not ruling a realm like Mephisto or Dormammu?"
The demon hissed.
"You are clever, I'll give you that," Beast growled. "I may be weaker now, but one day I will surpass them all. And you could help me do it. I would make you my Walker on Earth, my champion."
Nathan ignored the offer. "If I extract this power and inject it into someone else... would it also enhance them?"
Beast snarled, "Yes—but it would drive them mad. Without my will to control it, demonic power corrodes the mind. They would become bloodthirsty monsters."
Nathan was unfazed. "Is there a way to isolate the benefits and eliminate the side effects?"
"No!" Beast snapped. "It's a dark power—designed to corrupt. You can't purify it."
Nathan didn't respond. He returned to his computer, typing furiously.
"You're not even listening to me!" the demon raged. "You dare ignore a being like me?"
"You're just data to me now," Nathan muttered.
The demon howled in fury. "If I weren't bound—if this body were fully merged—I'd break free and rip your mind apart!"
But the restraints held.
"You won't trap me forever, Nathan. One day, I'll turn the tables. I'll imprison you. I'll make you the host."
Nathan said nothing.
Instead, he focused on the swirling demonic energy within Black Sky's cells. He believed energy could always be redirected, always manipulated.
"If I can't extract you physically," he said quietly, "then I'll extract the energy."
---
Nathan began assembling a superconductive magnetic array, designed to isolate and guide the strange energy without triggering backlash.
"Magnetic field intensity... H equals N times I over L," he mumbled, calculating coil turns and current ratios. "If I stabilize the field at high temperature... yes..."
He worked with unmatched speed. Blueprints came to life in real time on his holographic displays. Soon, the entire magnetic containment rig was built.
The moment of truth.
Nathan activated the system.
The lab lights flickered. A low hum built in the core of the machine as a magnetic field bloomed inside Black Sky's body.
The energy began to shift—being pulled subtly toward the containment field.
And then—success.
The dark energy began to move. It was being guided. Controlled.
Nathan's eyes lit up.
"Got you."
From within the vessel, the Beast screamed in rage.
"This is impossible! What are you doing? You dare… bind my essence?!"
Nathan smiled.
"Looks like I just redefined demonology."
---
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