Bateman's operations had become a symphony of chaos and precision. In the wake of the heroes' relentless pursuit of vengeance, their prisons overflowed with captured villains. It was the perfect opportunity to strike, to free those who could bolster the ranks of the Secret Society of Super-Villains. However, Bateman's ambitions extended beyond mere numbers—his ultimate goal was the perfection of his own body, to transcend mortality and become a god among monsters.
The Great Liberation
Bateman stood at the edge of a secluded mountain, watching a sprawling high-security prison hidden within the landscape. This facility, operated by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, housed the most dangerous villains captured during the aftermath of Loki's invasion. It was a fortress of steel, reinforced with vibranium plating and protected by energy barriers.
"Are you certain we can breach their defenses?" Lady Deathstrike asked, her claws gleaming in the moonlight.
"Not 'we,'" Bateman replied coldly, his Ghostface mask glinting under the pale light. "I'll handle this personally. Gather the others for extraction once I've cleared the path."
Bateman's blades—reforged from the strongest metals known to man—gleamed at his sides. He activated a cloaking device embedded in his suit and vanished into the night.
Breaking the Fortress
The assault began with a flicker of the power grid. Guards within the prison exchanged uneasy glances as the lights dimmed. Before they could react, Bateman struck. Moving like a phantom, he infiltrated the facility, cutting down anyone in his path with surgical precision. His new electrical powers coursed through his body, crackling with deadly intent.
With a flick of his hand, bolts of electricity surged into control panels, disabling the energy barriers. The villains, sensing their chance, began pounding on their cells. Bateman moved swiftly, freeing one prisoner after another: Bullseye, Rhino, Crossbones, Vulture, and countless others.
As chaos erupted within the prison, alarms blared, and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents scrambled to respond. Bateman faced off against a squad of guards armed with advanced weaponry, their plasma rifles tearing through the air. He deflected the blasts with his reforged blade, then unleashed a devastating burst of electricity, frying the soldiers in an instant.
By the time the extraction team arrived, led by Lady Deathstrike and Green Goblin, the prison was in ruins. Bateman stood at the center of the carnage, his mask spattered with blood.
"Welcome to freedom," he said to the newly liberated villains. "You owe me your loyalty. Now, let's burn this place to the ground."
The Experimentation Begins
Back in the depths of his hidden laboratory, Bateman prepared for the next phase of his evolution. He had already injected himself with serums and mutagens stolen from the labs of fallen heroes and villains, but his thirst for power was insatiable.
The room was a nexus of cutting-edge technology and mad science. Tanks filled with glowing liquids lined the walls, and the air buzzed with the hum of machines. Bateman sat shirtless on a metallic chair as his team of rogue scientists prepared the injections.
"Are you certain about this, sir?" one of the scientists asked nervously. "Combining so many volatile serums could—"
"Could kill me?" Bateman interrupted, his voice cold. "Good. What's power without risk?"
One by one, the serums were administered.
The Extremis Serum burned through his veins, enhancing his healing factor and granting him pyro kinesis. The Golden Sentry Serum imbued him with unparalleled strength and the ability to manipulate energy. Lightning Strike—a specially designed procedure—allowed him to channel and control electricity with godlike precision. Spider Venom from 30 radioactive spiders rewrote his DNA, granting him enhanced agility, reflexes, and web-like secretion abilities. Goblin and Lizard Serums mutated his physiology, increasing his strength and resilience while sharpening his instincts. The Hulk Serum coursed through him, pushing his physical power to unimaginable heights. Morbius Serum made him a living vampire, granting him immortality, flight, and heightened senses. The Agony of Transformation
The process was excruciating. Bateman's body contorted and spammed as the serums merged within him. His skin glowed briefly, veins darkening as his muscles expanded and his bones restructured themselves. His screams echoed through the lab, a primal sound that sent chills down the spines of even his most loyal followers.
Hours passed before the pain subsided. Bateman rose from the chair, his body trembling with newfound power. His reflection in the glass showed a being both monstrous and divine.
"Run diagnostics," he ordered, his voice deeper and more commanding than before.
The scientists hesitated before reporting the results. "You've surpassed all expectations, sir. Your body has successfully integrated the serums. Your power levels are…off the charts."
Bateman smirked. "Good. Let the world tremble."
Unleashing Chaos
Bateman tested his powers in a series of missions, each more violent than the last. He tore through enemy strongholds with ease, his new abilities making him unstoppable. Electricity danced at his fingertips as he fried entire squads of heroes and mercenaries. His vampiric instincts allowed him to track his prey with terrifying precision, and his spider-like agility made him a blur on the battlefield.
In one particularly brutal encounter, Bateman ambushed a group of lower-tier heroes—Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Falcon—who were investigating one of his operations. The fight was brief and one-sided. Mockingbird fell first, her screams silenced by a single strike from Bateman's blade. Falcon fought valiantly but was no match for Bateman's speed and strength. Only Hawkeye managed to escape, vowing vengeance.
The Society's Plan
With his power consolidated, Bateman returned to the Secret Society. The villains, awed by his transformation, pledged their allegiance without question. In a grand meeting, Bateman outlined their next move: to destabilize the heroes' alliances further and claim dominion over the world's major cities.
"Divide and conquer," Bateman said, addressing the room. "The heroes are fractured, weak. We strike now, and the world will be ours."
Apocalypse, one of the Society's newest recruits, nodded in approval. "Your ambition rivals even mine, Bateman. Let us see if you can deliver."
"We'll deliver," Bateman replied, his voice laced with menace. "And when we do, the age of heroes will end."
A New Dawn
As Bateman stood on the precipice of his ultimate plan, the world's heroes began to sense the growing threat. Whispers of his transformation reached the ears of Tony Stark, Bruce Wayne, and even the enigmatic Doctor Strange. They knew they were dealing with something far beyond their understanding—a predator who had evolved into the ultimate killing machine.
For Bateman, this was only the beginning. He had become more than a man, more than a villain. He was chaos incarnate, a harbinger of doom that neither heroes nor gods could stop.