INT. KUJIMA'S HIDEOUT - NIGHT
The tension in the hideout was palpable. Maps and blueprints lay scattered across the table as Anahit, Elena, and the rest of the team huddled around, strategizing their next move. Kujima stood apart, his face etched with worry.
He mumbled under his breath, "Don't use the void." Anahit's sharp ears caught the words, and she looked at him questioningly. Kujima quickly masked his concern and addressed the group.
"We need to take our time and not rush in blindly," Kujima said, his voice firm. "If we go in like that, we die. Don't worry about Demian. He can't be killed just like that."
Anahit frowned. "How can you be so sure?"
Kujima's eyes darkened, and he thought to himself, Only he can kill himself. Aloud, he continued, "We need more people. We'll go to their hideouts and break out the Catalysts to create an army. We won't force them to come with us; we'll ask. Together, we can end this, no matter what."
INT. SECRET FACILITY - NIGHT
Demian woke with a start, his body feeling oddly light. Panic surged through him as he realized his legs and arms were missing. He thrashed in terror, only to witness in astonishment as his limbs regrew, perfectly formed, as good as new.
Moments later, the door swung open, and the scientists entered. They seemed unfazed by Demian's regrown limbs.
"What are you doing to me? What do you want?" Demian demanded.
The lead scientist, Dr. Harlow, approached him with a cold smile. "Catalysts are born with their powers, which typically manifest around the age of 17. However, when you discovered your powers at 18, you were different. At 17, a Catalyst's powers are not fully developed. But at 18, they are. When a Catalyst dies, their powers don't vanish; they're reborn in another. We don't know why or how, but your powers emerging at 18 was very bad for us because they were fully developed from the start."
"Why does that matter?" Demian asked, his voice trembling.
"Because we want to inherit your powers as one of ours and use them," Dr. Harlow explained.
Demian's eyes widened in shock and fear. "You can't kill me. That would ruin your purpose. You don't want to kill me, right?"
"When a Catalyst dies, within 12 months, a new baby is born and inherits those powers. We couldn't identify these babies before, but now we can, thanks to our new Catalyst detector. We can inherit a baby's powers without any problem," the scientist continued, his tone disturbingly calm.
"Are you insane?" Demian shouted.
"No, we are very logical, actually," Dr. Harlow replied.
"You call this logical? Killing me and then the newborn baby? That's logical to you?" Demian retorted.
"It is, for us," Dr. Harlow said, a chilling smile on his lips.
Before Demian could respond, they injected him with a sedative, and darkness consumed him once more.
EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS - NIGHT
Anahit, Elena, and the team moved swiftly, breaking into hideouts and liberating Catalysts left and right. They fought the mercenaries with precision, defeating them and recruiting the freed Catalysts to their cause.
Each new recruit added to their growing army, and their resolve to save Demian strengthened with every battle won. The hideout buzzed with the newfound energy and determination of their growing ranks.
INT. MYSTERIOUS ROOM - NIGHT
In a dimly lit room, an elderly woman sat, her hands hovering over a glowing orb. She appeared to be divining or foretelling something. In front of her, a figure sat, his face obscured but his aura menacing.
The elderly woman's lips curled into a horrible smile as she spoke softly, "You win."