The sound of romantic music echoed through the metallic walls of the underground laboratory, the volume loud enough to make the screens vibrate slightly. It was a syrupy, sugary melody that contrasted completely with the advanced technological environment.
Shine was lying on the black synthetic leather sofa, sleeping deeply. The furniture was clearly one of Kel's creations - ergonomic, with integrated heating and massage systems, and small LED lights that pulsed softly on the sides. Her strange hair was spread across the backrest, and she breathed calmly, apparently exhausted from some recent mission.
Kel was sitting in one of the ergonomic chairs, fighting sleep. His head bobbed forward every few seconds before he forced himself awake again. On the screen in front of him, black and white images showed prison corridors - security cameras capturing patrolling guards, locked cells, and the monotonous routine of a maximum-security penitentiary.
In the lower right corner of the screen, a digital button caught attention. It was completely black, except for a bright red star in the center. The mouse cursor occasionally hovered near it when Kel checked other functions, but always moved away quickly, as if the boy purposely avoided touching it.
Blood Night was in the center of the laboratory, dancing alone to the rhythm of the music. His movements were exaggerated and theatrical, as if he were performing for an invisible audience. He held a broom as if it were his dance partner, spinning it and dipping it dramatically.
His outfit had changed since the previous month. He now wore a completely black uniform, elegant and well-fitted, with a red star embroidered on his chest and another identical one on his back. The fabric seemed to be made of the same technical material Kel used in his equipment - resistant but flexible.
"MLP brought me back with new chapters," his voice-over began as he executed a particularly elaborate spin with the broom. "You know what that means? They recognize me as the best hero ever seen in the entire history of the multiverse."
He dipped the broom backward, as if he were in a classic romantic movie.
"My popularity is infinite. The people adore me, all of them. I think it's obvious - they owe me this for saving all of them."
Kel yawned loudly, a sound that momentarily cut through the music. He shook his head vigorously, trying to stay awake, and turned his attention back to the computer. His hands flew over the keyboard, checking different camera feeds and updating security systems.
Blood Night stopped dancing abruptly. Something had caught his attention. He placed the broom carefully against a workbench and walked slowly to where Kel was working. His eyes fixed completely on the screen, more specifically on the black button with the red star.
"Interesting," he murmured softly, leaning over Kel's shoulder.
The boy didn't notice the approach. His head had begun to droop again, and this time sleep won. Kel fell asleep in the chair, his breathing becoming regular and deep.
Blood Night watched the boy sleep for a few seconds, then returned all his attention to the screen. The button seemed to pulse slightly, though this could be just a reflection of the laboratory lights.
"It's slightly like my outfit," he said to himself, comparing the red star on the screen with the one decorating his chest.
His hand moved slowly toward the mouse. The visual coincidence intrigued him. Why would Kel have a button with the same symbol he had chosen for his new uniform? There must be a connection, a deeper meaning.
He positioned the cursor over the button, hesitating only momentarily.
"WARNING," ARIA's synthetic voice suddenly echoed through the speakers. "Please, stay away."
Blood Night frowned, looking around as if searching for the artificial intelligence's cameras.
"What? Stay away from this?"
His hand was already clicking before he even finished the sentence. For him, warnings were just suggestions, and suggestions from an AI were particularly irrelevant.
The effect was immediate and dramatic.
Red lights began flashing throughout the computer interface. The image of the prison on the security cameras multiplied into dozens of smaller screens, each showing a different sector of the penitentiary. An emergency sound began to echo - not just from the computer, but apparently from systems inside the prison itself.
Blood Night remained completely still, like a statue. His eyes widened slightly as he observed the consequences of his action, but his expression remained neutral, as if he had no idea how that had happened.
The growing noise woke both Shine and Kel instantly.
Shine jumped off the sofa as if she had received an electric shock, her hair in all directions and her eyes still foggy from sleep.
"What's that noise?"
Kel opened his eyes, processed the situation for a fraction of a second, and then looked directly at Blood Night. The realization of what had happened hit the boy like a punch to the stomach.
With an explosive movement, Kel slammed his palm on the table so hard that several pens jumped and rolled to the floor. It was the first time anyone had seen Kel truly furious. His face was red, his hands trembled slightly, and there was an intensity in his eyes that had never appeared before.
"What did you do, you idiot?"
The words came out like a roar. Kel rarely raised his voice, much less shouted. Blood Night blinked a few times, genuinely surprised by the reaction.
Shine approached quickly, still trying to understand what was happening. She looked at the flashing screen, then at Blood Night, then at Kel.
"What's happening here?"
"It's just a button like me," A00 said with a casual shrug. "What's the problem?"
Kel typed furiously on the keyboard, his hands flying over the keys as he tried to access more cameras and understand the extent of what had happened.
"ARIA, open videos from the main cameras!"
The artificial intelligence obeyed immediately. The main screen expanded, showing live feed from various prison corridors. What they saw made everyone's stomach turn.
Cell doors were opening automatically, one after another, in a systematic sequence that ran through the entire penitentiary. Prisoners emerged cautiously from their cells, initially confused, then progressively more confident as they realized they were truly free.
It wasn't just a few cells. It was all the prison doors.
Hundreds of criminals - from car thieves to serial killers - began moving through the corridors. Some ran immediately toward the exits. Others grouped together, forming improvised alliances. Guards appeared occasionally on the screens, clearly overwhelmed and desperately trying to coordinate some kind of response.
"What the hell is this?" Shine asked, her voice loaded with incredulity.
Blood Night observed the screens with casual interest, as if he were watching a particularly entertaining TV show.
"These guys are pretty messy."
Kel turned in his chair to face him directly, his eyes shining with pure fury.
"Do you see what you just did?"
His voice was hoarse from shouting so much, but there was a deadly seriousness in his tone that made even Blood Night pay attention.
**[M.L.P - Multiverse: Forbidden Legacy]**