Dave stood outside the vast estate where Ryna, the manipulative and twisted superhuman, was hiding. This was where she ran her operation—an isolated mansion where she kept people under her hypnotic control, forcing them into lives of torment. The air around the mansion felt heavy, tainted with the energy of despair and fear. This was where innocent lives had been shattered, and Dave was determined to put an end to it.
"Bella," Dave said softly, his voice laced with determination, "what's the layout inside?"
Bella's voice hummed in his mind. "The estate is heavily fortified with both physical barriers and mental traps. But I've already disabled most of the security systems. As for Ryna, she's likely holed up in the central wing. Be cautious. Her power of Hypnosis has subdued countless people."
Dave's lips curled into a grim smile. "Her mind games won't work on me. I have Mind Control."
"Good to hear you're confident," Bella teased, her voice carrying a mischievous edge. "But try not to get too cocky, Dave."
With a quick nod, Dave teleported inside the mansion's grand entry hall, bypassing the guards stationed around the perimeter. The moment he appeared, he could sense the weight of the oppressive energy inside. Fear, confusion, and hopelessness clung to the air like a thick fog. The people trapped here weren't just physically imprisoned—they were mentally broken, chained by Ryna's relentless mind control.
Dave's eyes scanned the room, where several people stood motionless, their eyes glazed over, staring blankly at the walls. They were under Ryna's control, likely awaiting her next command. He approached one of them, a young woman with vacant eyes, her body rigid. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You're free now," Dave whispered, activating his own Mind Control ability. His power seeped into her mind, shattering the chains Ryna had placed there.
The woman blinked, confusion washing over her face. "Wh-what... where am I?" she muttered, her voice shaky.
Dave smiled softly. "You're safe now. I'm here to get you out."
With a series of quick teleports, Dave moved from one captive to the next, using his Mind Control to release them from Ryna's grip. One by one, their eyes cleared, and their bodies relaxed as they were freed from the torment that had held them captive for so long.
"Head for the front gate," Dave instructed the group. "Bella will guide you out."
"Got it, Dave! I'll take good care of them," Bella chimed in, her usual playful tone momentarily softened as she helped the freed captives navigate to safety.
With the innocent people on their way out, Dave turned his attention to the heart of the mansion—the central wing where Ryna awaited. Teleporting through the halls, he moved swiftly, his body charged with energy and purpose. He could sense Ryna's presence growing stronger as he neared, the intensity of her power sending ripples through the air.
Finally, he reached a large, ornate door at the end of the hall. Without hesitation, Dave kicked it open and stepped inside.
Ryna stood in the center of the room, her eyes glowing with an eerie light, her aura thick with power. She was tall and slender, her raven-black hair flowing around her as if it had a life of its own. Her lips curved into a cruel smile as she saw Dave.
"So, you're the one who's been causing all this trouble," Ryna purred, her voice dripping with malice. "You must be quite foolish to come here alone."
Dave didn't respond immediately. He simply watched her, analyzing her movements, sensing the waves of mental energy she was sending out in an attempt to subdue him. But it didn't work. His own Mind Control ability acted as a shield, blocking her attempts to manipulate his thoughts.
Ryna's smile faltered as she realized her power wasn't affecting him. "What... what are you?" she hissed, her eyes narrowing.
"Someone you can't control," Dave replied calmly, stepping forward.
Ryna's frustration grew, and she lashed out, sending a powerful pulse of hypnotic energy toward him, hoping to overwhelm his defenses. But Dave was ready. He teleported behind her in an instant, dodging the attack with ease.
"Your tricks won't work on me," Dave said, delivering a swift kick to her side that sent her crashing into the wall. The impact shook the room, and Ryna struggled to get back on her feet, rage flashing in her eyes.
"You think you're so clever, don't you?" Ryna spat, summoning all of her strength. "You think you can just waltz in here and destroy everything I've built?"
Dave's expression hardened. "What you've built is a nightmare. It ends today."
Ryna shrieked in fury, launching a barrage of hypnotic energy at him, but Dave was already gone, teleporting above her and slamming his fist down onto her back. The force of the blow sent her sprawling to the ground, gasping for air.
"You took innocent people and used them for your twisted games," Dave growled, standing over her. "You tortured them, broke their minds, and for what? Power? Wealth?"
Ryna glared up at him, her body trembling with pain and rage. "You don't understand... power is everything in this world."
"Not anymore," Dave said coldly.
With one final, decisive move, Dave teleported behind Ryna and delivered a powerful punch infused with teleportation energy. The force of the blow shattered her spine, sending her body crumpling to the floor, lifeless.
The room fell silent, the oppressive energy dissipating as Ryna's life force faded away. Dave stood there for a moment, his breathing heavy, his fists still clenched. The weight of what he had done settled over him, but there was no regret. Ryna had been beyond redemption, and the people she had enslaved deserved their freedom.
"Bella," Dave said softly, breaking the silence, "it's done. Get everyone out of here."
"On it, boss," Bella replied cheerfully, her usual playful tone returning. "And hey, nice work in there! You're really getting the hang of this whole 'hero' thing."
Dave allowed himself a small smile. "Thanks, Bella. But I'm not done yet. There's still one more left."
He turned and walked out of the mansion, his mind already focused on the next and final target. The operation was falling apart, but there was still one more person who needed to be dealt with.
Stryke was next, and Dave wouldn't stop until every last piece of Keldren's empire was reduced to ashes.