[LOCATION: Pritampur City Outskirts – 2:13 AM]
A massive explosion shattered the night sky.
Buildings collapsed like dominoes. Sirens screamed. Fire lit up the horizon like a second sun.
But what walked out from the flames was no human.
It was a demon.
Ten feet tall. Black obsidian armor. Blood-red eyes. A jagged tail dragging behind like a blade.
Its scream shattered glass across five blocks.
People ran. Screamed. Died.
And cameras captured it all.
But what made the world stop breathing wasn't the demon.
It was the symbol on its chest:
A white skull—Skull Mask's emblem.
[Rudra's Hideout – 2:45 AM]
System Notification:
[WARNING!]You have been marked as a Global Threat.Crime: Terrorist Act in PritampurCasualties: 162 confirmed deadStatus: Kill on Sight
Rudra's hands trembled.
"I didn't do this," he whispered.
But the world didn't care.
The news flashed on every screen:
"Skull Mask: Terrorist or Demon?""Former Vigilante turns Mass Murderer?""Heaven's Eye Declares War!"
Even the college group chats buzzed.
"Bro, Skull Mask's gone psycho.""My cousin died in that attack.""He was never a hero."
Rudra stood silently.
This was war.
And someone just declared it on him.
[Meanwhile – Heaven's Eye HQ, The Architect's Office]
Seraphina burst through the doors.
"You lied to me!"
The Architect turned, calm as ever. "Did I?"
"You said you just wanted to monitor him. But you framed him!"
He offered her tea.
She slapped it away.
"You used me to track him. Then you launched Project Demonfall without clearance."
The Architect smiled. "History only remembers results, Seraphina. Not permission slips."
"You turned a hero into a villain!"
"No. We revealed the villain hiding under the hero's mask."
She clenched her fists.
He walked closer, whispering coldly: "He was never going to stop, Seraphina. His mind is a time bomb. One day, he would destroy everything. I just pushed the clock faster."
She left, disgusted.
But even she wasn't sure anymore—was the Architect right?
Or had they just created the very monster they feared?
[Rudra's POV – Rooftop, Pritampur]
Rudra watched the city burn.
His name… burned with it.
His face… was on every screen.
He could feel the world's hatred like fire licking at his skin.
"I didn't kill them," he whispered again.
Eva, his system AI, responded: "But the world thinks you did. That's what matters now."
He looked at the chip Seraphina gave him.
Inside it were the names of all 108 orphans turned into weapons by Heaven's Eye.
He opened the file.
And saw something that broke him.
File #77: RUDRA YADAVCode Name: Black Unit – Wraith ChildStatus: Suppressed Memories – Unstable Bloodline
Tears welled up.
"They didn't just kill my parents," he said softly. "They created me… in a lab."
Eva whispered, "That's why you were different."
He clenched his fists.
"This isn't just revenge anymore."
[Newscast – Next Morning]
"…And in today's top story, the mysterious anti-hero known as Skull Mask is now officially classified as the World's First S-Class Criminal. Heaven's Eye has announced a global manhunt with a 1 billion credit bounty."
"Experts warn he may possess supernatural abilities. Citizens are advised to report any sightings immediately."
[Classroom – College Campus]
Everyone was talking.
Theories. Memes. Fear.
"Dude, Skull Mask is like... the Joker of India now."
"But he used to save kids and women—what happened?"
"He was always a psycho. Just took time to show it."
In the back row, Priya, a quiet girl with sharp eyes, whispered to herself:
"…But he saved me. He's not a monster."
She clenched her notebook where she'd drawn his symbol over and over again.
[Back to Rudra – Underground Sewer Path, Walking Alone]
"I have two choices," Rudra whispered to Eva. "Run forever… or make them regret choosing war."
Eva replied coldly, "I've already started unlocking your next skill."
[Skill Unlocked: Phantom Army – Create copies of yourself using shadows. Each lasts 60 seconds.]
[You are evolving from 'Ghost Sovereign' to 'Phantom King'.]
Rudra smiled.
A cold, broken smile.
"They want a demon? Fine."
"I'll show them what a real one looks like."
[Final Scene – Somewhere Dark]
The demon that attacked the city sat chained in a chamber.
The Architect walked in.
"You did well," he said.
The demon looked at him and hissed, "You promised… freedom."
The Architect nodded. "One last job. Kill him."
The demon's eyes burned. "Skull Mask… I'll rip him apart."
The Architect laughed softly.
"No. You'll do more than that. You'll break him."