Chapter 18: A Costly Mistake

A week later, within the confines of the concealed underground facility, Runo's anguished screams pierced the air. He writhed on the floor, his body convulsing in agony, the milliamps of electricity coursing through his chained hands reaching a torturous 163.

Acco, with an air of false camaraderie, addressed the suffering Runo. "Come on, Runo, I thought we were building a nice relationship."

Runo, teeth gritted, muttering a subtle, "F*ck you!"

Acco's grin concealed his underlying deception as he pointed to a man dozing in a wooden chair nearby. "Look at Hugo over there. His 'gift' is memory erasure, and if you comply with our demands, he can wipe these painful memories away, and we'll let you go scot-free. Sound good?"

A glimmer of hope shone in Runo's eyes. "Will you really do that?" he asked tentatively.

"Absolutely," Acco assured, his smile oozing deceit.

"Fine, I'll do it," Runo agreed, his desperation clear.

"HEY, HUGO, WAKE UP!" Acco shouted, jolting Hugo from his slumber with a start.

Runo summoned his telekinesis 'gift' and harnessed his own unique 'gift' to enhance Hugo's abilities. It was a choice he made out of necessity, understanding that defying them with his telekinesis alone would only subject him to relentless shocks.

Hugo felt a profound transformation, akin to when he first received his 'gift' – a second awakening of sorts.

Acco reached for his phone and dialed Raiden, announcing, "We've succeeded. We can now proceed with the plan."

Without a word, Acco and Hugo left the room, leaving Runo behind in a state of isolation.

"WHAT ABOUT OUR DEAL!" Runo's desperate screams echoed as the elevator doors sealed his fate.

In the grand tower structure that housed the Stormdeath Guild's headquarters in Ocanom City, Soralia, a helicopter landed on the rooftop. Acco and Hugo disembarked, and they were swiftly escorted to the office of Raiden Ellison.

"Finally, Acco, Hugo, you've both arrived!" a scientist in the room greeted them, his visage marred by a grievous burn mark that covered half of his face.

Acco reluctantly shook the scientist's hand, purposefully averting his gaze from the disfigured side.

"Good to see you too, Josef Rellik," Hugo said, equally discomfited by the scientist's appearance.

Raiden initiated their meeting. "Let's get down to business. Hugo, you know what to do. There is no need for direct eye contact now to use your 'gift.'"

Hugo nodded and turned his attention to an eerie vial containing a disconcerting orange liquid. With his 'gift,' he manipulated the vial.

"Done, sir," Hugo reported.

"Excellent. Now, everyone, drink the antidote!" Raiden instructed, offering a peculiar-looking beverage.

Raiden turned to Acco. "Acco, teleport to Penrith College and release it there."

Acco vanished along with the vial at Raiden's command. With a maniacal laugh, Raiden declared, "Now, no one will remember the name Runo!"

Little did the students of Penrith College realize that a virus, a creation of Josef Rellik, had just been released. This virus was harmless in every way except for its insidious capacity to erase memories, courtesy of Hugo's 'gift.' It silently spread across the world, clandestinely obliterating all recollections of Runo Devrin, the shattered and discarded soul whose life had been completely and utterly destroyed.

END OF THE ARC