The Rise of ANUBIS (Chapter 1)

It was 11:30 PM when Greg and Steve, the costumed superheroes known as Might Lightning and Ronin, walked into the broken down warehouse.  This part of the city was one of many that had long since been abandoned because of the “Arsinal Incident.”

            “Man, I got a bad feeling about this,” said Greg.  Steve smirked and replied, “You always say that.  Exactly what part of showing me what ‘being a hero is all about’ is being scared of…”

            SLAM! The door closed behind them as if on queue. Bewildered, Ronin drew his sword, the Tsunami, so fast it seemed to suddenly appear in his hands.  “Then again, there is something to say about being prepared.”  Greg rolled his eyes, and simply said “yep.”  Their eyes were adjusting to the darkness, but not nearly quickly enough.  Greg slammed his Thunder Gauntlets together to create a burst of light that allowed them to see their immediate surroundings at least momentarily.  Using all the bass his eighteen-year-old voice could muster, he bellowed “Who is this,” to the seemingly empty room.

            Suddenly, light after light illuminated the middle of the warehouse, each with an audible KLACK.  Standing at the far end of this path with his back to the boys was a dark figure, hunched over a workbench, and immersed in a shower of sparks. Even with his eyes still focusing and the sparks hindering his vision even more, Greg knew exactly who it was.

            “You,” Greg snarled through his gritted teeth.  Before Steve could even ask, Greg took off down the path of lights as if shot from a cannon, leaving heavy footprints in the concrete floor.  Each time his foot touched down, it sounded like rolling thunder, deafening and powerful, as if it were created by a mighty bolt of lightning.

If Mighty Lightning was the thunder, surely Ronin represented the lightning itself in this equation.  Even with his amazing speed, he took a couple seconds to catch up with Greg.  As the duo got closer to their target, the Thunder Gauntlets and the Tsunami began to crackle and glow, pulsing in time with their anticipation.  They were steps away from the mystery man when the lights cut off again.  It was pitch black.

“Coward. Show yourself,” Greg commanded as adrenaline continued to flow through his veins. 

“I guess my hypothesis was correct,” a voice spoke from the darkness.  Steve, after hearing the voice, now realized what Greg had.  “What? There’s no way! I saw you die on live TV!”  A spotlight appeared over Greg and Steve.  They could now see a figure walking silently, covered in just enough shadows that they couldn’t make him out.  Both of their fears were confirmed when the voice finally responded.

“The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” replied Arsinal.