HAWTHORNE STORM AND HIS EXECUTIONER

Fearless Among Monsters

Terrifying deep voices echoed from inside as the officer silently unlocked the gate.

Hawthorne didn't even shiver. He remained completely unshaken and quietly thought.

“The Abyss...”

“It must be a brutal prison.”

One of the soldiers quietly told the others as the gigantic gate was finally unlocked.

“Quietly uncuff him.”

The men obeyed.

They slowly uncuffed the tired-looking Hawthorne and carefully opened the iron gate. Even the soldiers seemed afraid because they had lost control of the prison many months ago.

They silently entered.

It was already early morning when one of the soldiers glanced at his wristwatch.

Hawthorne thought the soldiers were still following him, but when he turned around, they had already disappeared without his notice. Confusion and shock flashed across his face as he muttered under his breath.

“How did they vanish?”

He turned and looked at the massive gate. It was now locked, unlike when they had entered.

“They slipped away without my notice.”

“I'm sure they did it on purpose, so whatever is inside this prison wouldn't catch them. Or is this some kind of policy meant to terrify new prisoners? Either way, it won't work on me.”

The long hallway was dark and freezing.

The atmosphere was terrifying as distant shouts, roars, and deep, intimidating voices echoed through the darkness.

Then, while walking forward without fear, his leg accidentally struck a metal bench.

KRAAT!

The terrifying voices suddenly fell silent.

The entire place became eerily calm.

Hawthorne continued walking boldly toward the unseen occupants of the prison, wearing nothing but his bloodstained boxers.

Then he heard heavy footsteps.

Terrifying footsteps.

They approached deliberately, each step striking the ground with overwhelming force, making the walls of the long corridor tremble.

A lone bulb suddenly flickered above Hawthorne.

Its shaking light slowly revealed giant-looking hawking men standing before him.

They looked imposing and intimidating, almost like Behemoth, the monster who had brutally beaten him.

One after another, they emerged from the darkness in overwhelming numbers.

Their towering shadows swallowed the walls beneath the flickering light, making the corridor feel even darker, more oppressive, and frightening because of their overwhelming presence.

Hawthorne stood firm, fearless and unshaken. Even so, he was deeply astonished by what he saw, then thought.

“Unbelievable.”

The intimidating inmates stood before him like monsters.

Their massive frames nearly filled the corridor.

Their presence alone carried immense pressure.

Some were closer to normal human size, yet they still looked terrifying because of their scarred bodies and intimidating builds.

They stared angrily at Hawthorne with frightening, scarred faces.

Hawthorne boldly stared right back.

Eyeball to eyeball.

Though much smaller than them, he remained completely fearless.

None of them had any idea who was standing before them... or how powerful he truly was.

One of them stepped forward.

Because of the shaking light and surrounding darkness, Hawthorne could barely see his face, only his enormous frame.

The man spoke with a deep, intimidating voice.

“Welcome to The Abyss.”

Then he turned toward the other inmates and roared.

“Drag him to the battlefield!”

Hawthorne had no intention of revealing his advanced energy yet.

He would wait until he reached the so-called battlefield, which he already knew was the main prison.

The intimidating inmates roared together as they grabbed Hawthorne.

“RAAW!”

“RAAW!!”

They dragged him along as if he weighed nothing.

Hawthorne calmly watched them and thought.

"They have no idea of who I am."

The bulb suddenly went off.

The darkness returned as the inmates continued roaring while dragging the fallen War God through the prison.

Some even began punching and kicking him, venting years of bitterness and suffering.

Still, Hawthorne refused to react.

He had no intention of proving himself yet.

Instead...

He simply smiled calmly.

Minutes later, they entered the main prison grounds.

Its gates and defensive barriers had been destroyed years ago by these mighty inmates, which was exactly why the soldiers had disappeared instead of escorting Hawthorne all the way inside.

Years ago, before everything was destroyed, soldiers would unlock the gates and personally deliver prisoners into the prison.

Now they couldn't.

The prisoners had completely taken over.

The intimidating inmates violently threw Hawthorne onto the ground.

The impact sent pain through the broken bones Behemoth had left behind.

Other inmates watched from every direction.

One of the inmates, named Pablo, who, along with the others, had brought Hawthorne there, respectfully bowed his head and said in a deep voice.

“My Lord... here he is.”

Hawthorne slowly raised his head.

He saw a terrifying giant sitting upon an iron chair that resembled a mighty throne.

Other inmates surrounded him.

Their bodies were covered with different tattoos and old battle scars.

Every one of them was muscular, rugged, and dressed in torn clothing.

From the day The Abyss was built, it had never been an ordinary prison.

It was nothing more than a cage for monsters too dangerous for any normal prison.

It was filled with murderers, cartel leaders, war criminals, human traffickers, drug lords, and psychopaths.

Men whose names had once dominated headlines before vanishing behind reinforced concrete and steel.

Years ago, even the military had lost control of The Abyss.

Their only remaining duty was delivering prisoners—both guilty and innocent—for punishment and regret.

Just as they had done with Hawthorne.

Hawthorne slowly stood.

He boldly stared at the giant sitting before him without trembling or showing the slightest hint of fear.

Sitting upon his mighty throne was Dos Santos...

The absolute ruler of The Abyss for many years.

A Former Drug Lord.

Now old, his face was covered with scars that made him look terrifying.

His body was covered in countless tattoos, including a giant skull and other frightening predators and sinister symbols.

He wore a full-grown beard, a mohawk haircut, dusty black trousers, and nothing on his upper body.

His six-pack abs were clearly defined.

His broad shoulders, massive biceps, and bulging veins made him look more like a beast than a human.

Even his bare feet had toenails that had grown long like a tiger's claws.

Dos Santos crossed one leg over the other and asked in a deep voice that echoed throughout the prison.

“Who the hell are you?”

Hawthorne met his gaze without fear.

“My name is Hawthorne Storm.”

Dos Santos was deeply unsettled by Hawthorne's boldness.

There wasn't even the slightest trace of fear in his eyes.

Still, he refused to show his reaction.

He angrily locked eyes with Hawthorne, trying to intimidate him.

But Hawthorne remained calm.

Composed and unmoved.

Dos Santos became even more unsettled.

His anger slowly intensified.

Tapping his fingers against the iron armrest, he asked again.

“Explain yourself... right now!”

His thick, thunderous voice echoed through the prison, making the walls tremble.

Hawthorne had finally had enough.

Now...

He meant business.

It was time to show them exactly who he was.

He boldly walked forward until he stood directly before Dos Santos.

Then he calmly folded his arms.

Dos Santos looked shocked.

Even more unsettled than before.

He had never witnessed such fearless behavior.

No prisoner brought before him had ever dared stand before him like this.

He bitterly thought.

“Impossible.”

Rage completely consumed him.

His eyes slowly turned blood-red as the veins across his body started bulging violently.

Hawthorne looked directly into his eyes and declared without the slightest hint of fear,

“None of you have the right to question me.”

He paused.

Then his voice echoed throughout the entire prison.

“The War God is now in charge.”

The entire prison fell into absolute silence.