"Oliver, our skills as archers can stop them. These people are not just escaping prisoners; they're dangerous criminals who will harm innocents if left unchecked," Roy Harper, standing firm beside Kaius, said. "Honestly, Kaius's methods may be harsh, but they're effective. Instead of outright killing, he's neutralizing their ability to harm others."
Roy's reasoning softened Oliver Queen's rigid stance. Though reluctant, Oliver sighed, his expression betraying a mix of understanding and unease. "Maybe you're right, Roy. I just—" he paused, glancing at Kaius, "I can't condone what you did back there, Kaius. It was... unsettling."
Just moments earlier, Kaius's heat vision had vaporized the legs of several fleeing prisoners in an instant. Had his aim drifted slightly, they would've been split in half. The scene had transformed the prison block into a nightmarish landscape.
Ding!
A sudden chime resonated in Kaius's mind, drawing his attention. The system interface appeared before him, announcing, "Friendship with Roy Harper increased to 'Friendly.' Character card unlocked: Red Arrow."
Kaius examined the newly unlocked card. Like Oliver's, Roy's card was blue, indicating mid-tier elite strength, bolstered by the residual effects of the Mirakuru serum. While not extraordinary, it was useful enough to slot into his secondary card slot, granting him a subtle boost in power.
"Oliver, your reluctance is understandable, but have you considered this?" Kaius spoke firmly. "Letting these criminals live—monsters who will never repent—means they will inevitably kill again. Their actions will cost innocent lives. Mercy for the wicked is cruelty to the innocent."
Oliver hesitated, clearly recalling past tragedies, like the death of his friend Tommy Merlyn. Shaking his head, he countered, "But who are we to decide who lives and who dies? Once we start down that path, what stops us from becoming tyrants ourselves?"
The debate over morality and justice hung heavy between them. Finally, Kaius asked, "Have you ever heard of the Three Judges' Court?"
"The what?" Oliver echoed, puzzled.
Before Oliver could delve further into the cryptic question, Kaius ascended into the air. "Focus on securing the prisoners," he instructed. "Leave the more dangerous ones to me." With that, he burst through the shattered ceiling, soaring toward a commotion deeper within the prison.
In the adjacent cell block, a towering figure with a black-and-orange mask—was rallying prisoners. "Anyone who wants freedom, follow me!" The man bellowed as he ripped open cell doors with ease.
The escapees surged forward, but their momentum was abruptly halted. Kaius appeared, floating amidst the chaos, his black cloak billowing ominously. His voice, cold and commanding, echoed through the room. "None of you are leaving. Return to your cells, or face the consequences."
A few prisoners hesitated, their resolve wavering. However, the masked man, undeterred, launched himself at Kaius. "You think you can stop me, boy?" He growled, his fists aimed at Kaius's head.
Just as the masked man closed the distance, Kaius's eyes blazed red. Twin beams of heat vision erupted, searing through his's armor and slicing him in two. The room fell silent, save for the sickening thud of his bisected body hitting the ground. Though gravely injured, the masked man's mask betrayed his terror, a fear that spread rapidly among the prisoners.
Kaius's eyes dimmed, returning to their natural state. He scanned the room, his gaze piercing. "Does anyone else wish to challenge me?" he asked, his tone as unyielding as steel.
Not a soul moved.
After Kaius's gaze pierced through the fortified man's defenses, he killed him without hesitation. The remaining prisoners, struck with terror, scrambled back into their cells, fearing they might be too slow and fall victim to his deadly stare.
Kaius's voice was cold and unyielding as he floated ominously in the air. "Once you're released, you'd better turn your lives around. I'm not as forgiving as Green Arrow. Understand?"
The prisoners, paralyzed with fear, nodded frantically and began shouting their promises.
"I promise to reform! I'll live an honest life!"
"I'll never steal again! I'll find a real job!"
"I was wrongly accused, but if you get me out, I'll live clean and start fresh!"
Kaius ignored their frantic pleas. He understood what Oliver Queen's principles of non-lethality led to: giving criminals a psychological safety net. They thought, He won't kill me. At worst, I'll go back to prison. No big deal—I'll just try again when I get out.
But Kaius believed differently. True deterrence required consequences—dire, immediate consequences. Fear of death made even the most hardened criminals reconsider their actions. He wasn't the savior; he was the shadow, the blade wielded in the name of justice. Whether the criminals truly reformed or just pretended to, Kaius didn't care. That wasn't his responsibility.
Elsewhere, Oliver and Roy were holding their ground. Despite being outnumbered, Roy—a Mirakuru-enhanced fighter—handled the assault of the prisoners with ease. But there was an issue: Roy's increasing inability to control himself during combat. The influence of the Mirakuru serum was driving him into a frenzy, making him unpredictable and dangerous.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Roy seized a massive prisoner, relentlessly punching him in the face. Blood splattered everywhere, and the prisoner was barely alive. Oliver, horrified, shouted Roy's name and rushed to intervene, grabbing his arm. But Roy, lost in his rage, flung Oliver aside effortlessly.
Just as Roy was about to deliver a killing blow to the prisoner, a voice cut through the chaos.
"Well, well, Roy. Losing control again?"
That voice stopped Roy in his tracks. His body trembled, and the haze of rage dissipated as clarity returned. Turning to the prisoner he'd nearly beaten to death, Roy saw his own reflection in the man's bloodied, terrified face. A chill ran down his spine.
"No… I'm not out of control," Roy stammered, his voice shaky. "Who's out of control? Not me! Hahaha! I'm fine! Perfectly fine!"
He turned to face Kaius, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace. The mere sound of Kaius's voice had paralyzed him with fear, the memory of past encounters leaving a psychological scar. In Roy's mind, Kaius wasn't just a comrade—he was a force of nature, one that even the unbreakable Mirakuru couldn't protect him from.
Kaius's influence was clear: he inspired fear, even in the strongest of allies.
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