Demian was abruptly jolted awake, his head throbbing and his vision blurry. He tried to move, but his limbs felt heavy and restrained. As his vision cleared, he realized he was strapped to a cold, metal table in a sterile, brightly lit lab. The faint hum of machinery and the distant murmur of voices reached his ears.
Before he could fully grasp his surroundings, the door to the lab slid open, and a group of mercenaries entered, their faces expressionless. They moved with efficient precision, unstrapping Demian and dragging him to a different room, where even more advanced equipment awaited.
"Where am I?" Demian demanded, his voice hoarse.
One of the mercenaries, a woman with piercing green eyes, glanced at him briefly. "You're in a facility where we can understand what makes you tick," she said, her tone devoid of sympathy.
They strapped him to a new table, inserting needles and attaching electrodes to his skin. He winced as they poked and prodded, feeling like a specimen under a microscope. Finally, the lead scientist, a tall, gaunt man with glasses, entered the room. He regarded Demian with a mixture of curiosity and cold calculation.
"Ah, Demian," the scientist began, his voice smooth. "I'm Dr. Harlow. You're here because we need to understand the true nature of Catalysts, and you, my boy, are a very special case."
Dr. Harlow began his explanation, pacing as he spoke. "You see, every Catalyst has limitations. Take Anahit, for instance. Her kinetic energy manipulation—it's not truly hers. She borrows it, and thus, has limits. Every Catalyst we've encountered is the same. Their powers are finite, borrowed, bound by their bodies' capacity to withstand the strain."
Demian's mind raced as he listened. "But you, Demian," Dr. Harlow continued, "are different. Your power over the elements is limitless because you are bound to them. When your power clashed with Onyx's, it wasn't just a mere collision. It tore the very fabric of reality for a moment. That wasn't due to the clash itself but because of your power."
Dr. Harlow leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "You seem to think elemental power means only water, fire, earth, and wind. But you are wrong. You can harness every element: energy, acid, angelic forces, animalistic traits, arcane magic, ash, blood, bone, chaos, crystal, darkness, dreams, shadows, solar power... The list goes on. But the most important is creation—and its opposite, the void. Catalysts have one ability because their bodies can only withstand so much force. But you... you have hundreds, maybe thousands of abilities we have yet to discover."
Demian stared at him, speechless, as the weight of the revelation settled over him. Dr. Harlow straightened up and gave a thin smile. "I can see this news has shocked you. But don't get any ideas. You're heavily drugged. Any attempt to use your powers will only tear your body apart."
With that, Dr. Harlow turned and left the room. As the door closed, Demian's mind reeled. He questioned everything he knew about himself. Should he have figured this out sooner? Did Kujima know about his true potential? If Kujima had known, he wouldn't have been captured and wouldn't be putting others in danger now.
As he lay there, Demian overheard snippets of conversation from nearby scientists. They were discussing something about time. The word sent a chill down his spine. Before he could ponder further, fifteen scientists entered the room, one of them administering another drug. Demian felt his consciousness slipping away, the world fading into darkness.
INT. KUJIMA'S HIDEOUT - NIGHT
Back at Kujima's hideout, Anahit and the others were deep in discussion, planning their mission to rescue Demian. Maps and blueprints were spread out on the table, and tension hung heavy in the air.
"We need to move fast," Anahit said, her eyes flashing with determination. "They won't keep him alive for long if they think he's too dangerous."
Kujima nodded, his face grim. "Agreed. We need to hit them hard and precise. We can't afford any mistakes."
Elena looked around, her voice steady. "We're with you, Anahit. We'll get him out."
As they finalized their plan, Kujima stood apart from the group, worry etched on his face. He mumbled quietly to himself, "I hope Demian remembers his teachings... and doesn't use the void."