Chapter 2: The Diamon Devil

Viktor examined the Purple Card, his breath catching as he read the details.

Emma Frost: The White Queen.

Basic Description:

Is a powerful and influential mutant telepath, most notoriously known as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club and occasional headmistress of the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Born to a rich Boston mercantile family, she parted ways with her family and built a financial empire with Frost International, ascending to a ruling position in the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club.

Personal Details:

Emma Frost is an Omega-Class Telepath. Emma Frost has vast psionic powers. She can read minds and project her thoughts into the minds of others within a roughly 20-mile radius. Frost can also psionically manipulate the minds of others. She also has the ability to shift into an indestructible living diamond form giving her super strength.

SKILLS:

Mutant Physiology: You possess the powers of a powerful mutant with diamond-like skin and telepathic abilities.

Organic Diamond Transformation: When you transform into your diamond form, your skin becomes bullet-proof, granting you enhanced protection. However, this form isn't invincible—you could be shattered under extreme circumstances, like if someone were to use a powerful enough force (such as Magneto with metal).

Superhuman Strength: In your diamond form, your strength is far beyond that of a normal human, allowing you to lift around two tons.

Superhuman Immunity: While in your diamond form, you're immune to the mental probes of others, even telepaths as powerful as Charles Xavier. No one can invade your mind while you're transformed.

Superhuman Reflexes: Your reflexes in diamond form are much sharper than an ordinary human's. You can catch projectiles with ease, even something as fast as a magnetically propelled knife.

Telepathy: You possess telepathic abilities like Charles Xavier. You can project your thoughts into someone else's mind, communicate telepathically, and even create illusions, tricking others into seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren't real. You can make someone think they're experiencing something entirely different, just like Emma Frost once made a Soviet General believe he was kissing her when he was just embracing thin air.

Weakness: Be cautious—if you take significant damage while in your diamond form, you'll be forced to revert to your normal flesh form to avoid shattering. Additionally, when you're in your diamond state, your telepathic powers are temporarily inaccessible.

"Emma Frost... Organic diamond form, superhuman strength... Can lift around two tons..." He paused, the weight of what this meant sinking in. He'd just pulled one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel. Slowly, he absorbed the card, feeling a strange sensation ripple through his body.

Testing his new ability, he willed himself to shift into diamond form. His skin crystallized, shimmering under the dim light of the apartment. He glanced around the run-down room, its walls peeling, and windows covered in grime. He curled his hand into a fist, punching through the wall effortlessly destroying it. The concrete crumbled like it was made of paper, not even a scratch on his knuckles. "Two tons of strength... Looks like the system wasn't exaggerating."

He turned back to his reflection in a cracked mirror across the room, watching as his body shifted back to normal. His blonde hair was messy, his blue eyes cold. The black long-sleeve shirt clung to his lean frame, paired with dark jeans and worn-out sneakers—clothes that once belonged to the original Viktor Frost.

Still marveling at his new abilities, Viktor concentrated again, testing his telepathy. He scanned the building with his mind, sweeping through the decrepit floors. His control was limited; he could only sense the inhabitants on the same floor, but it seems with enough practice he can reach the level of Emma Frost's abilities. But something caught his attention—a familiar presence. Lucrisha Brown. And not just her. Five men were with her, including her new boyfriend.

"Richie Nguyen," Viktor muttered to himself, recognizing the name from his mind scan. Looks like our small time thug was able to join the Golden Dragon gang, one of the newer gangs trying to carve out territory in Gotham's underworld. The memories of the old Viktor came flooding back—how Lucrisha had betrayed him, stolen everything, and left him for dead. Now, she was back, probably after the one thing she missed. The engagement ring.

"What a fucking bitch," Viktor said aloud, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He sensed their intent—Richie and his goons were armed, carrying knives and guns. They thought they were coming to intimidate the weak Viktor Frost, but they didn't know they were walking into someone very powerful.

The door to the apartment slammed open, kicked hard by one of Richie's men. The thugs entered with sneers on their faces, Lucrisha behind them, her eyes scanning the room. "Viktor, you piece of shit," she spat, stepping forward, "where's the ring? You owe me that much."

Viktor didn't respond. He sat calmly in the old chair near the center of the room, pulling on black gloves. His entire body was covered except for his face and neck, his gaze distant, as if the people before him were nothing but ghosts.

Richie, a tall Chinese man with slicked-back hair and a gold chain, chuckled. "Hey, man, you hear what she said? We ain't got all day."

The thugs moved closer, angered by Viktor's silence, but there was something about his demeanor—something different. He wasn't scared. He wasn't cowering like they expected.

Without a word, Viktor's eyes glinted his mind focus projecting a command to Richie's subordinates, suddenly Richie's right-hand man closed the door behind them, the sound of the lock clicking into place. The others stood there, confused, as if unsure why they had just lock themselves inside. Viktor smiled darkly.

With another projection, "Give me your weapons," Viktor ordered, his voice low but commanding.

The thugs obeyed, their hands moving as if they weren't their own. Knives, guns, and blunt objects dropped to the floor in front of Viktor, clattering in a pile. Lucrisha's face twisted in horror as she looked around. "What the hell is going on?! Richie, do something!"

But Richie couldn't. His mind was not his own anymore. He stood, paralyzed, as Viktor's power held him. Viktor took his time, enjoying the panic in Lucrisha's eyes, the confusion on Richie's face.

"You know," Viktor began, rising from the chair, "I was never the type to hold a grudge. But things have changed. I'm a new man now—a new and improved Viktor, and I've become a very petty person." He said with a cackle.

He stepped forward to face Lucrisha, his gaze sharp. Slowly, his body transformed into its diamond form, with only his neck and head remaining in human form while his diamond body is covered by his long sleeves and gloves. He picked up the weapons, excluding the guns, and effortlessly crumpled them into a ball as if they were nothing more than paper.

He stepped closer to Richie, who was now being tied up by his own men, their expressions blank, mindless. Viktor studied Richie for a moment, then released his control over him. Richie blinked, suddenly aware of his restraints. "What... what the fuck is this?!" Richie yelled, his voice shaking. He glanced around, eyes wide with fear. "Get me out of here! I swear to God, I'll kill all of you!"

Viktor ignored the threats, walking around Richie slowly, like a predator circling prey. "You're in no position to make demands, Richie. And your little girlfriend here—" he motioned toward Lucrisha, who looked as pale as a ghost, "—she's not going to save you either. As for your man well they're my thugs now." As he gave a nonchalant shrug as he rolls his shoulders. Fully enforcing loyalty to the other people in the room except for Richie and Lucrisha.

Richie struggled, trying to pull the ropes binding him. "Do you know who you're messing with! I'll have my gang burn this place down with you inside it!"

Viktor laughed softly, leaning in close. "No, Richie. I think you don't know who you're messing with." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm not the old Viktor. Not anymore."

Richie's eyes darted between Viktor and Lucrisha. "What did you do to them?" he demanded, calling at his thugs, who stood silently, not moving a muscle. "Fuck what did you do to my lackeys!" Richie cried out.

Viktor smirked. "Who knows, but who cares, all you should know is that I am in control."

Richie screamed in frustration, hurling threats, but Viktor only listened half-heartedly. He was more interested in the notification that kept popping up in his mind.

+1 fame point from Lucrisha Brown.

+1 fame point from Lucrisha Brown.

Viktor raised an eyebrow. "Fame points, huh? Looks like I've got a fan," he said, looking at Lucrisha, who was now trembling it seems no matter the emotion as long as it's connected to you, you can get fame points. But strangely, none of the thugs under his control were giving him any points even Richie here who's now free from his mind control is not giving anything either. Viktor frowned, realizing something. "So, I don't get points from anyone under my control, even after release. But unlike Lucrisha whose mind I've read can still give out points. Good to know."

Viktor turned back to Richie, who was panting heavily, fear finally breaking through his bravado. "Now, Richie... what should I do with you?"

The silence that followed was heavier than any threat, the dim, flickering light casting ominous shadows on Viktor's diamond-hard face.

Richie Nguyen, a scrawny but sharp-looking young man with jet-black hair, his Dragon gang tattoo barely peeking out from under his jacket still reddish and looking new, stood tied up before him. His once-cocky demeanor had been replaced with confusion and fear. Beside him, Lucrisha Brown—his ebony skinned ex—shifted nervously. She wore a tight-fitting leather jacket and jeans, her dark brown hair falling loosely around her face, though her confidence had drained the moment she realized something was terribly wrong. She couldn't believe what had happened, Viktor it feels like his a completely different person, his demeanor, his way of talking, his actions, the tone of his voice and most of all how his controlling Richie's subordinates.

"Well, well," Viktor whispered to himself, pacing slowly, the dull thud of his boots echoing off the rotting floorboards. "This is quite the predicament, isn't it, Viktor? To think… this pitiful wretch let himself be consumed by the likes of them. How poetic. To die in a pool of alcohol because of… these insects. But no more. No more." His voice was calm, measured, but it dripped with venom as if his going crazy by talking to himself.

He stopped in front of Richie, crouching down to meet the boy's eyes, his face mere inches away. "You're confuse, aren't you? Asking what is happening, why someone like me seems to be acting like a completely different person?" Viktor's lips curled into a smile, a twisted mixture of amusement and cruelty. "And I can't blame you. The old Viktor... he was weak. Fragile. But me..." He turned his right arm to diamond with a subtle shimmer, the sound of stone grinding filling the room, "... I'm something completely different… I'm stronger, I'm smarter, I'm better." While showing a smile so sinister it sent a shiver down Lucrisha's spine.

Lucrisha gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she backed up against the wall. Her eyes were wide, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure they could hear it, she tried escaping but the door was block by two of the Richie's thugs. Viktor stood and turned to her, letting his diamond form slide off just as easily as it had appeared. "You know, Lucrisha," he said, stepping toward her, "you really chose the wrong side, didn't you? Betrayed someone who gave you everything. And for what? This?"

She stammered, trying to find words, but all she could do was shake her head. "I—I didn't mean—"

Viktor silenced her with a raised hand. "Please. Spare me the excuses. You're not here because you didn't mean to. You're here because you thought you could take what was mine. And now…" He smirked, eyes gleaming with malice. "...you'll find out exactly what that costs."

He moved back to Richie, the tension in the room unbearable, as he sighed theatrically. "I must say, I expected more. It sems the thugs of Gotham are a letdown, give me a reason to enjoy this a little longer." Viktor glanced at the gang members, each one frozen, still standing like statues, thanks to his telepathic hold over them. "Come now Richie, scream, whimper, struggle more. Do something entertaining!" he screamed, with another sighed he said softly, "But all I get is this pathetic rabble."

He snapped his fingers, releasing his telepathic control over the thugs for a moment. Instantly, they scrambled, their eyes wide with confusion. Before they could react, Viktor waved his hand as if invisible chains had sprung from the ground and bound their bodies. Though it was only an illusion in their minds, but to them it felt painfully real as the chain keep tightening and tightening burning hot as it suffocate them and burn their skin. Smirking, Viktor casually picked up one of the mangled balls of metal at his feet.

"You know, I've always loved the sound of metal bending." He chuckled softly, his voice darkening. "There's something so satisfying about breaking something that was once so… useful." His eyes flickered with amusement as he tossed the crushed ball to the side, watching it roll to a stop near Lucrisha's feet.

Richie's breath came in shallow gasps as he struggled against his bindings, his cocky exterior shattered completely. "Let me go, man," he whimpered, his voice cracking. "You don't know who you're messing with! The Dragon Gang, they'll—"

Viktor's laugh cut him off, a low, dangerous sound. "The Dragon Gang?" He shook his head slowly. "You really think that means something to me? Oh, Richie... I'm so far beyond that. You and your little gang are nothing. Flies buzzing in my ear. And now..." His voice lowered to a deadly whisper, "... I'm going to swat you."

Viktor's cold smile deepened as he stepped toward Richie, watching the terror bloom in the thug's eyes. Richie struggled harder, but it was useless. Viktor's diamond form shimmered beneath his long sleeves, his gloved hands curling into fists as he moved closer.

"You look scared, Richie," Viktor said mockingly, his voice low and dangerous. "But that's nothing compared to what I'm about to do to you."

Without warning, Viktor lashed out, his diamond fist slamming into Richie's stomach. The force was devastating—Richie's body folded in half, and he let out a strangled gasp, all the air driven from his lungs. Viktor didn't stop. He grabbed Richie by the collar, pulling him up before delivering a vicious punch to his ribs. The crack of bones breaking echoed through the room as Richie cried out in pain, his voice weak and pitiful.

"That's for the old Viktor," Viktor said coldly, delivering a brutal kick with his diamond foot to Richie's side, sending him sprawling across the floor. Richie tried to crawl away, but Viktor was on him again, yanking him back by the hair.

"You think you can just walk here like you own the place?" Viktor growled. His diamond-coated fist smashed into Richie's face again and again. Blood splattered across the floor as Richie's nose broke, and his vision blurred with pain. "You beat the old Viktor, stole everything from him even sold the little things he has, memories from his parents, until he drank himself to death. But now, I'm here. And I'm not going to let you off that easy."

Viktor straightened, towering over Richie's broken body. The thug was a bloody mess, gasping for breath, unable to muster a single word of defiance. Viktor grinned, his diamond form glinting under the dim light of the room.

But he wasn't done.

Reaching out with his mind, Viktor forced his way into Richie's consciousness, delving deep into the thug's mind. Richie screamed, his eyes wide with terror as Viktor mentally flayed him. Viktor twisted and warped Richie's thoughts, shredding his intelligence, his willpower, and any semblance of dignity.

Richie could still see and feel, but his mind was shattered. He could no longer speak, and his body was reduced to a crawling, mindless husk forever tormented until he die. Viktor stepped back, watching Richie pathetically drag himself across the floor, his limbs barely functioning. His once defiant enemy was now nothing more than an imbecile, aware of his failure but powerless to do anything about it.

Satisfied, Viktor turned his gaze toward the remaining thugs, who were frozen in fear. Without a word, he raised his hand, "Kill yourself," he commanded and one by one, they strangle themselves until collapsed, lifeless. Their minds flickered for a moment before Viktor snuffed them out, killing them instantly with a casual flick of his telepathic power.

Now, only Lucrisha remained.

Lucrisha trembled, her back pressed tightly against the corner, her once confident façade now completely shattered. Viktor stalked toward her, his cruel smile never fading, the air around him thick with menace. As he closed the distance, his entire body shimmered, transforming into diamond. The gloves came off, revealing hands that gleamed with a cold, crystalline beauty.

His face, slowly changing starting from the neck as it started to crystalize until his face is fully change to diamond, it was like something carved by a master sculptor—perfect in its hardness, terrifying in its flawlessness. His eyes, gleaming orbs of pure diamond, were hauntingly beautiful, yet radiated a nightmare-inducing coldness. They were eyes that reflected no mercy, no warmth—only the promise of pain.

Viktor crouched in front of her, his diamond-covered hand reaching out to gently brush her cheek. The touch was deceptively soft, but it carried a chilling, lethal edge. The contrast between his beautiful, glistening form and the utter terror in her eyes made the moment feel like the calm before the storm.

"Do you feel that?" Viktor whispered, his voice low, dripping with menace. "That's the touch of someone you can never escape. Someone who could shatter you with a single thought."

His diamond fingers lingered on her skin, cold as death, as he leaned in closer, his face inches from hers. Every facet of his diamond form caught the light, casting eerie, fractured reflections on the walls around them.

Viktor forced himself onto her, his diamond lips and tongue invading her mouth with a brutal intensity. Each touch was like a shard of glass, leaving deep, sharp wounds on her lips and mouth. To Lucrisha, it felt as though the very walls with sharp knives were closing in, trapping her in a nightmare from which there was no escape.

"What about you, Lucrisha?" Viktor whispered, his voice dripping with malice. "Do you think I'll let you walk away from this unscathed? After everything you did? After you betrayed me?"

Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head, unable to speak through the sobs that racked her body. Viktor leaned in close, his voice a venomous whisper.

"You're not worth killing," he said coldly. "Not yet, anyway. You'll live, knowing what you've done. Knowing that I could crush you at any moment. I'll let you stew in that fear, that failure. And I'll be watching. Always."

With that, Lucrisha would remember the terror, the violence, how he could easily take someone's life with a wave of his hand. She would remember Richie's fall, her own helplessness, if she tells anyone Viktor wouldn't really care.

As for Richie, Viktor ensured that the fool would live—crippled, crawling, and mindless. He left just enough of Richie's consciousness intact for him to remember this very day, the humiliation, and the feeling of pain of his broken body. He will most likely die due to internal bleeding anyway.

Viktor straightened, his diamond form fading away, revealing his pale skin once more. He turned to the door, which one of the thugs had obediently closed before their demise, and allowed a cold smile to spread across his face.

As he walked out, the faint echoes of Lucrisha's sobs filled the empty hallway behind him.

+1 Fame from Lucrisha.

The system prompt appeared again, but Viktor dismissed it with a smirk. There were more important things to deal with now. This was only the beginning of something far greater. And he would relished every moment of it.