ZERO SHIFT

The metallic chill of the holding cells enveloped Maya and Lily as they approached their bound captives—men whose bodies were twisted with the unmistakable signs of devil possession. These weren't mere criminals. They were host vessels, now reduced to trembling husks by whatever contract bound their souls to silence.

Maya's expression was hard, her gaze unwavering as she observed their resistance. Without hesitation, she signaled to Lily. "Turn on the electric pulses," she ordered, her tone carrying an air of authority that left no room for question.

With a nod, Lily adjusted a control panel, setting off a jolt that crackled through the room. The captives convulsed as their bodies surged with electricity, their screams mingling with the hum of energy. Maya watched impassively, letting the current course through them for exactly forty-five seconds before signaling Lily to stop.

As the electricity ceased, Maya summoned her Full Bringer. One end of her weapon transformed, growing larger until it resembled a heavy, formidable mace. Without hesitation, she slammed it against the leg of the nearest captive, and his scream tore through the silence. His defiance faded, replaced by raw agony. But even as he writhed, he remained silent, his lips pressed in a thin, fearful line.

Maya raised her weapon again, prepared to strike, when the man finally broke. "Please… it's not that I don't want to speak. I… I can't tell you," he choked out, desperation lacing his words.

Beside him, the second captive nodded weakly, his face ashen with fear. "We're… bound. It's part of the contract," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Just as the third man opened his mouth to add his piece, he froze, his eyes widening with sudden horror. "If we reveal any information—" he started, but before he could finish, his body went rigid, a strangled gasp escaping his lips. His eyes turned pure white, veins darkening as they surged across his face, and foam began to spill from his mouth. His tongue dropped lifelessly, and in mere seconds, his body collapsed, convulsing as he succumbed to whatever dark magic enforced his silence.

The other two captives watched in abject terror as the life drained from their comrade's eyes. Maya took a measured breath, not a trace of pity in her gaze, and called for the medical team.

Within minutes, medics arrived, their gloved hands swiftly assessing the body. After a moment, one of them met Maya's gaze and confirmed, "He's gone."

A look of resignation crossed Maya's face as she regarded the remaining captives. There was no extracting information from them—not without triggering the same fate. These men were pawns, their tongues bound by devilish contracts, and without breaking that spell, they were useless.

She nodded at the medical team, who began transporting the lifeless body to the crematorium, ensuring there would be no trace left of the possessed man. Turning to the nearby ranger, Maya issued her next command.

"Eliminate the other two. We can't risk them escaping," she said firmly, her voice a low, dangerous calm.

She then turned to Lily, who had been monitoring the procedure silently. "You're dismissed, Lily. Report to Kyle's office," Maya instructed, deactivating her Full Bringer with a swift motion.

With a final glance at the holding cells, Lily nodded and left, heading to deliver the findings to Kyle, aware that the sinister plot behind these devil-bound criminals ran deeper than they'd anticipated.