Scene 1 – The Offer
Helicopter rotors thunder through the cloudy Chennai night.
Inside, Agilan sits across from Raiden Jang, Apex's top S-Rank hunter — his spear glowing faintly with blue plasma.
Raiden Jang:
"You could've crushed me, Monarch. Why hold back?"
Agilan (coldly):
"You said something about my father."
Raiden:
"He's fine… for now. We've transferred him to Apex Medical under full protection."
(pauses, smirking)
"But if you refuse our offer, protection ends."
Agilan's jaw tightens. His right hand flexes — the flesh ripples and hardens like armor.
Agilan:
"You're threatening me?"
Raiden (grinning):
"Call it… motivation."
The helicopter cuts through the clouds, revealing the Apex Tower — a colossal fortress rising over the city, wrapped in blue energy circuits like a living machine.
Raiden:
"Welcome to Apex. The highest place humanity has left."
---
Scene 2 – Inside the Tower
The elevator ascends through a glowing glass shaft. Dozens of hunters stare as Agilan passes — whispers follow him like static.
> "Is that him?"
"The one who closed an A-rank gate alone?"
"His mana signature broke three scanners!"
The doors open. Waiting inside the main hall is Chief Seung-Ho, the Korean Apex Director — calm, sharp-eyed, commanding. A man who's seen worlds burn and still smiles.
Seung-Ho:
"So… the Indian anomaly finally appears in flesh."
Agilan:
"You dragged my father here. I want him back."
Seung-Ho (measured):
"And you'll have him — after you help us."
(turns the hologram on — footage of the infected hunters shaking violently in containment tubes)
"These men fought where you did. Now they're turning… into something inhuman."
Raiden:
"The infection is mana-based. It's spreading through India faster than we expected."
Seung-Ho:
"And you, Agilan Shaktivel… your power is the only one that resonates with it. That means you're either the cure… or the origin."
Agilan glares. His shadow twitches unnaturally.
---
Scene 3 – The Unexpected Guests
Cut to the Apex Tower gates.
A battered auto-rickshaw screeches to a stop beside the security fence. Out step Vinod and Shalini, covered in dust.
Vinod (panting):
"I told you, we'd make it in one piece."
Shalini:
"You nearly flipped us into the canal!"
Vinod:
"Small sacrifices for friendship!"
They sneak up to the gate — guarded by two heavily armed Apex agents. A security drone hovers, scanning.
Vinod (whispering):
"Okay, okay… Mission Save Fleshbro starts now."
Shalini (facepalming):
"Do you even have a plan?"
Vinod:
"Of course. Step one — distract the guard. Step two — sneak in."
He throws a rock. It hits the guard's helmet with a dull clunk. The guard turns instantly.
Guard:
"Who's there!?"
Vinod (panicking):
"Step three — run!"
They sprint for cover behind a cargo container. Shalini glares at him while trying not to laugh.
Shalini:
"Brilliant plan, 10/10 execution."
Vinod looks around — spots an open supply truck.
Vinod:
"Quick, inside the truck! Maybe it's going inside."
They dive into the truck just as the guards return. The back door slams shut. The truck moves — heading straight toward Apex's interior lab bay.
Vinod (whispering in excitement):
"See? Told you. Everything under control."
The truck hits a bump — a crate falls on Vinod's head.
Shalini:
"Still under control?"
Vinod (groaning):
"Barely."
---
Scene 4 – The Pact
Back in Seung-Ho's chamber.
Seung-Ho:
"You seek the 'Essence of Seraphis,' yes? The cure for your father's heart. We can help you craft it — in exchange for your cooperation."
Agilan:
"And what's the catch?"
Raiden Jang:
"The Essence requires a horn from the Demon King. The only way to reach him is through the Devil's Castle — a gate Apex controls."
Agilan's eyes narrow. His heartbeat echoes through the room — thud, thud, thud — as tendrils flicker faintly beneath his skin.
Agilan:
"You'll give me access?"
Seung-Ho:
"If you join Apex. Otherwise… you'll never see your father again."
Agilan looks down. The red glow in his eyes flickers dangerously, shaking the air around him. A holographic monitor cracks. Even Raiden tightens his grip on his spear.
> [System Alert: Emotional Surge Detected]
[Monarch Instinct — Rising]
Then — Agilan exhales.
Agilan:
"Fine."
(beat)
"But don't mistake me for your soldier."
He steps closer, eyes glowing faintly.
"I don't take orders. I make them."
Raiden (smirking):
"Then prove it."
The moment freezes — the future Monarch standing before the Apex's greatest hunter, the Chief watching with silent interest.
---
Scene 5 – The Hidden Eyes
Meanwhile, down below…
The supply truck doors burst open — Vinod and Shalini tumble out, landing in a hallway full of Apex drones and techs.
Vinod (grinning weakly):
"See? We're in."
Shalini:
"Yeah. Surrounded by armed guards. Great job, Agent Dumbass."
An Apex drone floats toward them, scanning their faces. The display flashes red:
> [Unauthorized Entry Detected]
Vinod:
"Uh oh."
Shalini:
"Run!"
They bolt down the corridor, alarms blaring behind them.
---
Final Scene – Overlapping Destinies
Up above, Seung-Ho turns to his console. A glowing window opens — showing Agilan's mana signature: black and crimson swirling like a galaxy.
Seung-Ho (to Raiden):
"You feel that?"
Raiden:
"Yeah. He's not human anymore."
Seung-Ho watches the screen closely.
"The world just got its first S-rank or even higher.. And he's in my building."