Marvel: Video Game Templates!

Three days had passed since Maxim Novikov had felt the darkness pulse within him, transforming him in ways he could scarcely have imagined.

During those days, the cell had become his training centre, all day, every day. He trained, harder than ever, his will indomitable.

Due to Omen's abilities, he didn't need to eat or drink to survive or thrive. But he still ate, taking that time as a break to reflect on his training and check the system.

Maxim had continued his relentless training, pushing his body and mind to their limits. The constant regimen of physical drills, combat techniques, and shadow manipulation had honed his skills to a razor's edge.

The System now showed 30% integration with Omen, each percentage point hard-earned through sweat and blood. But even this progress felt like just a fraction of what he could achieve.

Unfortunately, it seemed impossible to tap into the true powers of Omen without combat experience.

As the third day dawned, a faint metallic hum signaled the approach of his captors. Maxim was already alert, his mind a cold, focused machine, dissecting the situation.

He knew what was coming. The guards were punctual, almost annoyingly so. It was time for another round of training, another attempt to break him down and rebuild him as Hydra's perfect weapon.

But today, the game was about to change.

He stood motionless as the door to his cell slid open with a harsh clang, revealing the usual trio of guards. They moved with the precision of a well-oiled machine, having done this multiple times before.

To them, Maxim was just another tool to be used. But they had no idea of the storm that had been brewing in the shadows.

"Step forward scum," one of the guards barked, annoyed that he had to take care of this 'mutant,'

Maxim complied, his movements slow, deliberate. There was no hint of resistance in his posture, no sign of the deadly intent simmering beneath the surface.

He allowed the guards to cuff him, their touch rough and mechanical. He could have fought back then and there, but that wasn't part of the plan. Not yet.

They led him through the dimly lit corridors of the facility, the cold steel walls reflecting the harsh fluorescent lights overhead. The path was all too familiar; Maxim had memorized every twist and turn, every door and security checkpoint.

But today, he wasn't just another prisoner being escorted to a training session. Today, he was a predator, and the facility was his hunting ground.

As they approached the training area, Maxim began to subtly test the restraints, noting the slight give in the cuffs, the way the guards kept just a little too much distance between themselves and their captive.

They were cautious, but not cautious enough. Hydra had trained him well, but they had underestimated the power of his will, the strength of his resolve. After all, who could expect what he went through?

The door to the training room slid open, revealing a large, sterile space filled with the usual array of equipment and monitoring devices. Maxim stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room, taking in every detail.

The guards positioned themselves by the door, their hands resting on their weapons, ready to act at the first sign of trouble.

Maxim moved to the center of the room, his posture relaxed, almost casual. The moment had come. He could feel the darkness within him stir, a living thing eager to be unleashed.

His mind raced through the plan he had meticulously crafted over the past three days. First, he needed to get to the control room, the nerve center of the facility.

From there, he could shut off the power, plunging the entire complex into darkness, a playground he would use to his advantage.

The guards exchanged glances, wondering why the prisoner was so relaxed today, almost too relaxed, too cooperative, but it was too late, Maxim was already in motion.

He shifted his weight slightly, a subtle signal to the shadows that clung to the corners of the room. In an instant, they obeyed his command, gathering around him like a shroud.

The air grew thick with tension as the darkness pulsed, responding to his will. Without warning, Maxim unleashed the full extent of his power.

The shadows erupted from him, a swirling vortex of black energy that engulfed the room in an instant. The lights flickered, then died, plunging the room into total darkness.

Panic gripped the guards as they fumbled for their weapons, but they were too slow, way too slow for their own good.

Maxim was already on them, he struck the first guard with a brutal efficiency, his fist connecting with the man's throat in a crushing blow that dropped him to the floor.

The second guard barely had time to react before Maxim was upon him, a savage kick to the knee sending him sprawling.

The third guard managed to draw his weapon, but Maxim was faster. He stepped through the shadows, appearing behind the man in a heartbeat, and delivered a precise chop to the back of his neck, sending him crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

The room was silent, save for the soft hum of the emergency lights that had flickered to life, casting a dim red glow over the scene. Maxim stood in the center of the chaos, his breath steady, his mind cold and focused. The plan was in motion.

He bent down and retrieved the access card from one of the fallen guards, his fingers moving with practiced ease. With a flick of his wrist, the cuffs fell away, useless now. Maxim pocketed the card and grabbed one of the guard's guns, a pistol.

~BANG~BANG~BANG!

Three shots rang out, and three holes appeared, one in the middle of each guard's heads as they were brutally murdered, shock and fear on their faces as they died.

To Alex, or even old Maxim, this would be horrific, but after inheriting some of Omen's ruthless mindset, this was necessary for survival. Finally, Maxim turned towards the door, his eyes burning with a fierce determination.

The control room was several floors above him, heavily guarded, but that didn't matter. Maxim was done being a prisoner. He was done playing Hydra's game.

As he stepped into the corridor, the shadows followed, wrapping around him like a second skin. The facility was vast, a labyrinth of corridors and security checkpoints, but Maxim knew the way.

Every step brought him closer to his goal, every beat of his heart synced with the pulsating power within him.

He encountered several guards along the way, each one dispatched with the cold efficiency that had become his trademark. His strikes were swift and lethal, leaving no room for hesitation or mercy.

The darkness swallowed the sound of their bodies hitting the floor, their lives extinguished without a whisper.

The corridors leading to the control room were heavily guarded, as expected. Hydra's security measures were formidable, but Maxim had spent the last three days studying every detail of the facility, memorizing every possible route and weak point.

He avoided the main checkpoints, opting instead to traverse the maintenance tunnels and access corridors that ran parallel to the primary pathways. The shadows were his map, and they guided him unerringly toward his destination.

As he neared the control room, he paused at the edge of a corridor, peering around the corner. The door to the control room stood at the end of the hall, flanked by a half-dozen armed guards.

They were on high alert, their weapons drawn, and their eyes scanning the darkness nervously. They knew something was coming, but they had no idea what form it would take.

Maxim's lips curled into a grim smile. He could feel the fear emanating from them, a palpable wave of anxiety that fed into the darkness within him. Fear was a weapon, and he wielded it with the same precision as his fists.

With a thought, Maxim called upon the shadows, summoning them to him. The darkness gathered at his feet, rising like a living thing, until it enveloped him completely.

He became a silhouette, a figure of pure blackness that seemed to absorb the light around it. He moved forward, silent as death, his form barely discernible against the darkened corridor. The guards remained unaware of his approach until it was too late.

Maxim struck the first guard with a single, brutal punch to the throat, collapsing his windpipe before he could even scream. The man crumpled to the floor, his weapon clattering uselessly beside him.

~BANG~

Before the others could react, a bullet pierced that guard's skull, killing them. The other guards immediately began firing in the general direction, but Maxim was already on the move, his shadow slipping between them.

He grabbed the second guard by the collar and slammed him into the wall, the impact shattering the man's spine with a sickening crack. The third guard swung his weapon around, panic in his eyes, but Maxim was faster.

He twisted the gun out of the guard's hands, flipping it in a single fluid motion, and fired a single shot into the man's chest. The sound of the gunshot echoed through the corridor, but it was lost in the chaos.

The remaining guards scrambled to react, their movements frantic and disorganized. Comparatively, Maxim was tactical and ruthlessly efficient, he struck the forth guard with a roundhouse kick to the side of the head, the force of the blow snapping the man's neck.

The fifth guard managed to raise his weapon, but Maxim was already behind him, driving a knife he had taken from the first guard into the man's kidney, and sending a bullet through his brain as well.

The last guard backed away, his eyes wide with terror as he fumbled to activate the alarm. But before he could reach the panel, Maxim was upon him.

Maxim's hand closed around the man's throat. He squeezed, crushing the life out of him with a cold, unrelenting pressure. The guard's body went limp, and Maxim let it drop to the floor. The corridor was silent once more, the only sound the faint hum of the facility's power systems.

Maxim wiped the blood from his hands, his expression devoid of emotion. He stepped over the bodies and approached the door to the control room.

With the access card he had taken earlier, he bypassed the security protocols, the door sliding open with a soft hiss.

Inside, the control room was a hive of activity, filled with technicians and Hydra operatives. The large monitors on the walls displayed various feeds from around the facility, including the training room where Maxim had made his move.

The footage was dark, the screens showing only static where the cameras had been taken out. The people inside the room were tense, their movements hurried and erratic as they tried to make sense of the situation.

Maxim stepped into the room, his presence going unnoticed at first. But as the door slid shut behind him, the sound drew the attention of one of the technicians.

The man turned, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Maxim standing there, a dark silhouette against the light of the monitors.

"Intruder!" the technician screamed, scrambling to reach for an alarm. But before he could hit the button, Maxim was on him, driving his fist into the man's chest with enough force to shatter ribs.

The technician crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath that would never come.

Panic erupted in the room as the other operatives realized what was happening. They scrambled to draw their weapons, but Maxim was already moving, the darkness swirling around him like a living thing.

He was a blur of motion, his fists and feet striking with lethal precision. The control room filled with the sounds of gunfire, screams, and the sickening crunch of bones breaking.

One by one, the operatives fell, their bodies hitting the floor in a chaotic heap. Within moments, the control room was a scene of carnage, the bodies of Hydra operatives strewn across the floor.

The air was thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder, the monitors still flickering with images of static and darkness.

Maxim stood in the center of the room, his breath steady, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He had been forged in the fires of Hydra's cruelty, but now, he was the one in control.

He approached the central console, his fingers dancing over the controls with practiced ease. It took only a few keystrokes to initiate a full shutdown of the facility's power systems.

The lights flickered once, twice, and then died completely. The room was plunged into total darkness. The entire facility was now in chaos, its systems offline, its defenses crippled.

Maxim allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, feeling the darkness pulse around him in approval. This was his world now, a realm of shadows where he was the master, and his enemies were nothing but prey.

He turned toward the door, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the task ahead. The hunt had begun, and Hydra would learn the true meaning of fear.

Maxim Novikov was no longer just a man; he was a force of nature, a shadow that moved through the darkness with deadly intent.

And now, the facility would be his hunting ground.