With the spoils of the vault secured, Matthew now had the one thing that had eluded him for years—power. $750,000 in hundreds(16.5lbs of cash), a stash of weapons, a vial of mysterious liquid, and the potential to shape Gotham as he saw fit. It was time to take the next step.
Matthew knew that in Gotham, power wasn't just about money or muscle; it was about connections. He couldn't make a move without attracting attention, and he certainly couldn't keep his position without a loyal network. To rise, he needed people, resources, and—above all—information. But, as always, he wouldn't rush. This was going to be a slow, deliberate climb.
Building the Network
Matthew began by identifying the weak points in Gotham's criminal underworld. The gangs were fragmented, each ruled by self-serving, unstable leaders who clung to power with desperation. They were always looking for ways to expand, to take control of new territories, but none of them were particularly intelligent or capable of true leadership. This made them perfect targets.
He started small—using his newly acquired cash to pay off informants, hire street-level thugs, and gain access to various low-level criminal operations. He didn't show himself just yet; instead, he worked through intermediaries, building trust with the right people and setting up a series of carefully planned deals.
His first step was taking control of a small drug operation in the Narrows, one of the poorest, most gang-ridden areas of Gotham. He didn't want it for the drugs; he wanted the people. Matthew's goal was simple: destabilize, buy out, and then consolidate power.
It worked flawlessly. Within weeks, he had absorbed several small crews, slowly knitting them together into a loose network of criminals who followed his direction without even knowing it. They didn't care about the man behind the operation; they cared about the cash, the security, and the promise of more.
Learning About the Liquids
Meanwhile, Matthew's obsession with the two mysterious liquids was growing. The vial from the vault—its pulsing, glowing liquid—was the first. The second came from the information he'd gathered through Marco's old connections, who had spoken in hushed tones about a substance known only as "the serum." It was said to have been developed by one of Gotham's wealthiest and most secretive families—an old pharmaceutical dynasty with ties to the criminal elite.
Matthew knew he needed to learn everything about them, but research in Gotham was rarely straightforward. Information here was buried under layers of secrecy, greed, and violence. So, Matthew used his growing network to dig. He set up a quiet meeting with a hacker named Jax, a former IT specialist turned criminal, who could help him infiltrate databases.
After hours of searching through encrypted files, they found something—an old, sealed document detailing the research and experiments surrounding the serum.
The Serum's Origin
The document revealed that the serum was created in secret by a man named Dr. Nolan Vance, a biochemist with questionable ethics. Vance had been working for the Blackgate Pharmaceutical Company, and he had experimented with a variety of chemical compounds, hoping to create a drug that could enhance human strength, cognitive abilities, and—strangely enough—longevity. His notes hinted at the possibility of rewriting human biology on a fundamental level.
Matthew's eyes glinted as he read through the pages. This was more than just some street drug or an experimental treatment. This serum could be the key to something far greater. And the other vial? That could be related—perhaps the final piece of a puzzle that would give him the ability to control life itself.
But Vance was no fool. His research had caught the attention of more powerful figures in Gotham, some of whom weren't inclined to let their secrets slip. Matthew realized that getting his hands on the serum—and learning about the other vial—was a miracle. He would have to outsmart, outmaneuver, and eliminate anyone in his way.
The Move
As Matthew continued to expand his influence in Gotham, he began to recruit the kind of people who could help him take on the city's most dangerous players. He needed not just muscle, but intelligence, stealth, and ruthlessness. Slowly, he began to attract more competent individuals—veterans from other gangs, disgraced businessmen, and even a few corrupted officials who were willing to play along with his plans.
Matthew's first full-fledged meeting with his newly assembled crew was held in an abandoned warehouse. The walls were cracked, the air thick with the stench of oil and decay. Matthew stood at the center, his mask still firmly in place, as he surveyed the men and women gathered around him.
"I'm not here to play games," Matthew said, his voice low and commanding. "Gotham is a city of chaos. But chaos isn't power. Power is control, and control is what we will have. I don't care how you got here. I don't care who you think you are. You'll follow my rules, or you'll end up like the others."
The room was silent as Matthew continued. "We will take what's ours. We'll move slowly, building influence and eliminating those who get in our way. And when the time comes, we'll strike at the heart of Gotham. we're the future. But only if we take control first."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "So, welcome to the beginning of your new life. Follow me, and we'll rise. Don't, and I'll bury you just like the rest."
The room buzzed with a mixture of excitement and fear. This was more than just a gang—it was an empire in the making. And Matthew St. Jude was its master.
The First Strike
Matthew's first move after securing his new crew was simple: he targeted a rival gang—the "Midnight Saints." They had been expanding into his territory, and their leader, a man named Zane, was known for his cruelty and erratic behavior.
It wasn't a full-on war—at least not yet. Matthew's plan was more subtle. Using his connections, he funneled misinformation to Zane's closest allies, framing him for a series of botched drug deals and killings. Zane's own men began to question his leadership, and within a week, the gang's foundation was starting to crack.
Matthew had calculated every move, and it was only a matter of time before Zane's empire crumbled. Once it did, Matthew would swoop in, take what remained, and consolidate his hold over yet another part of Gotham.
As he watched the pieces fall into place, Matthew's mind turned back to the serum. He had to move quickly now—he could feel the power in his grasp, just waiting to be unleashed. The world wouldn't be ready for what he was about to do.
____
The vial sat before him, its contents glowing faintly in the dim light of his hideout. Matthew had acquired the serum weeks ago, slowly building his influence, plotting his next move. But now, standing over the small glass container, he was ready. He had everything in place—his network, his plans, his power—and this serum could be the key to something far greater. He had been researching it obsessively, and the potential was too great to ignore.
But Matthew wasn't prepared for what happened when he took it.
The Decision
He picked up the vial carefully, the glass cool against his fingers. He had waited long enough, played it safe long enough. It was time to test it. He uncorked the bottle with a snap, the faint smell of chemicals wafting into the air. His pulse quickened as he prepared himself for whatever was about to come.
His heart raced as he tipped the vial, swallowing the glowing liquid in one smooth motion. It burned going down, a strange heat that spread through his chest, and his vision blurred for a moment as the liquid settled in his stomach. His body tensed.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then, the first signs came: a tingling sensation in his skin, an electrical hum under his muscles. It felt like a thousand pinpricks all at once. His heart began to pound in his chest, almost painfully so, and he staggered back against the wall, feeling the rush of energy coursing through him like a surge of electricity. His body was overwhelmed, as if it was trying to process the influx of power.
The Unexpected Reaction
Suddenly, his vision went white, and he felt as if his very mind was splitting open. A piercing headache throbbed behind his eyes, and his senses warped. It was as if his body was pushing back against the serum, rejecting it, but the force of the transformation was too great to deny.
His muscles contracted, and a wave of nausea hit him. But it wasn't the serum alone—it was something else. His mind flashed with memories, strange images he hadn't recognized—visions of fire, blood, and chaos. They weren't his memories, but they felt as if they belonged to someone else. Someone far older. Far more powerful. His fingers twitched, an unnatural force growing inside him.
For a moment, the room around him seemed to spin, and Matthew's heart stopped beating entirely. He gasped for air, but it came in sharp, erratic bursts. His mind screamed—something inside him was clawing its way to the surface.
The Power Within
Matthew felt it—the surge of power. It wasn't just a physical transformation. It was as if something ancient, something primal, was awakening inside him. His entire body shuddered as the power grew, making him feel stronger, faster, and more aware of everything around him. He could feel the blood pulsing through his veins, the air in the room vibrating with the energy now coursing through him.
His eyes flickered—first a brilliant white, then a deep, unnatural black. The whites of his eyes became a cold, endless abyss, and for a moment, he saw himself—no longer the boy who had lived on the streets, starving, broken. He saw the man he was meant to be, a figure of immense power, unbreakable and ruthless.
The serum had unlocked something in him—a darkness he hadn't expected. He hadn't just become stronger. Something had changed.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a voice—a soft, almost whispering voice, one that seemed to come from within him.
"You have unlocked the power. But with it comes the price. Control is an illusion. Power… power cannot be contained."
Matthew staggered, reaching for the nearest surface to steady himself. His mind was racing, heart pounding. The voice faded as quickly as it had come, leaving him with a lingering unease. The power—this… force inside him—it was his own voice.
A New Reality
He closed his eyes for a moment, grounding himself. His body was still trembling from the transformation, but it was already beginning to settle. His mind cleared slightly, though the weight of the voice, the presence within him, lingered.
He flexed his hands, feeling the strength coursing through him. His body had adapted—no longer weak, no longer fragile. He felt invincible. His muscles had grown, his senses sharpened. He could feel the city around him, every vibration, every subtle shift.
The serum had granted him more than physical power. It had granted him something darker, more dangerous.
Matthew stood up slowly, his head swimming with the possibilities. His eyes flickered with new intensity, the glow of power still there beneath his controlled exterior. He was changed. The city was his. And he was now something more than human.
But as he moved to the mirror to inspect himself, he saw something else—his reflection. The white of his eyes had turned back to white, no longer fully consumed by an abyss-like darkness. his features were much sharper.
This wasn't the change he had expected. But in the back of his mind, he knew that he was no longer just Matthew St. Jude. He was something greater.
Something unstoppable.
But the true question lingered in his mind—who does he have to crush to get what's rightfully his?