Moving deeper into the facility, Max descended into one of the lower levels, where the core of Hydra's operations was kept. The place buzzed with advanced security systems, encrypted servers, and heavily encoded databases. But none of that mattered to Max. His mist flowed effortlessly through the cracks, deactivating alarms, bypassing barriers, and disabling firewalls as though they were nothing more than minor inconveniences.
Finding a central computer terminal, Max sat down, his fingers dancing across the keyboard as he accessed Hydra's encrypted financial accounts. As he hacked into their systems, Hydra's vast network of off-shore accounts, hidden vaults, and slush funds became visible, each one ripe for the taking. Max's grin widened as he worked, transferring the funds with practiced ease to accounts only he controlled.
"Best way to get rich—steal from villains," Max mumbled gleefully to himself, watching the numbers on the screen climb higher as Hydra's stolen wealth poured into his own accounts.
Millions flowed in, all the funds Hydra had stashed away for their illicit operations. To them, it was money gained through corruption, weapons deals, and illegal activities. To Max, it was a well-deserved reward for toppling their empire.
As the last transfer completed, Max leaned back in his chair, satisfied. Hydra had hoarded wealth to maintain their power, but now that power belonged to him.
With one last glance at the screen, Max shut down the terminal.
After siphoning Hydra's wealth, Max shifted his attention to his next objective.
"Time to create a Death Guardian for Lumia," he muttered to himself.
The Death Guardian was a skill Lumia had unlocked when she reached the peak of her Death Disciple class. She could have created the Guardian earlier—an immensely powerful undead creature capable of continuous growth—but Max had stopped her. He had foreseen opportunities for using the skill in the future, and now, that time had come.
Max glanced around before pulling out a Rune Stone from his inventory. Rune Stones were enchanted objects capable of storing magic or skills, allowing anyone to activate them. He had previously asked Lumia to store her Guardian Creation skill in this particular stone, and now, Max was ready to use it after perfecting his own method.
With a flick of his wrist, Max tossed the Rune Stone high into the air, channeling mana into it. The stone, etched with intricate runes, began to glow faintly as it shattered into a fine powder, which slowly descended and formed a shimmering circle on the ground.
Max observed calmly as the magic circle took shape, crafted from a rare material called Uru metal. He had infused the circle with the final ingredient—the lifeless body of a female Winter Soldier, one of Hydra's creations. Unlike Yulia, this woman had been a psychotic killer, and Max had executed her without hesitation, making her the perfect vessel for the Guardian.
As the magic circle hummed with power, the entire facility seemed to respond. All the dead bodies scattered throughout began to disintegrate, their essence rising as dark vapor, which swirled toward the center of the circle. The Uru metal, levitating in the air, absorbed the vapor and resonated with the Guardian creation magic.
Uru was a uniquely tough metal, unmatched in its ability to conduct magic. Max had chosen it specifically for this ritual, knowing it would enhance the Guardian's strength.
He stood back, watching as the process neared completion. The body of the former Winter Soldier, now encased in swirling energy, slowly began to transform. The Death Guardian was about to be born, a force that would serve them in the battles to come.
Max waited patiently, a satisfied grin on his face, as the Guardian creation skill worked its dark magic.
The air around the facility grew heavier, crackling with the energy of the ritual. The Uru metal continued to levitate, glowing brighter as it merged with the swirling essence of the dead, forming a dark, spectral cloud around the lifeless body at the center of the circle. Max watched as the process unfolded with precise efficiency, his grin widening.
The body of the Winter Soldier twitched, slowly rising off the ground, its form becoming enveloped in the dark energy. Her eyes snapped open, glowing with an eerie crimson light. Tendrils of shadow wrapped around her, binding the essence of the countless dead into her new form. The Uru metal was being absorbed into her body, strengthening her frame, transforming her into something far beyond what she had once been—a vessel for a Death Guardian.
The magic circle beneath her pulsed, sending shockwaves through the ground as the transformation reached its peak. The woman's skin took on a more ashen hue, and her once-human features became more refined, almost ethereal, as the Guardian magic reshaped her. Black armor, born from the Uru metal, formed over her body, fusing with her new undead essence. The armor gleamed with an unnatural sheen, almost like liquid darkness, making her an imposing figure.
The Death Guardian stood before Max—taller, stronger, and infused with immense power. Her aura radiated malice and authority, a direct extension of Lumia's mastery over death. She was no longer the psychotic killer she once was but something far more dangerous—a being capable of growth, evolution, and destruction.
Max took a moment to admire his work. The Guardian was formidable, her presence a reminder of the power Lumia had unlocked. The creation was complete, and with it, Max now had a powerful ally at his disposal.
"You'll do nicely," Max said with a smirk, his eyes gleaming. He extended his hand toward the Guardian, who instantly knelt before him in recognition of her master's will.
Lumia's Death Guardian was now currently bound to Max's command. She would serve them in the battles to come, a relentless force of destruction born from the remnants of Hydra's failed experiment.
Max turned away, satisfied. The Hydra facility had given him much—money, power, and a new weapon to wield.
On the way back, Max checked the Death Guardian status screen..
****
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