Hysteria looks in the mirror. As he examines the mask, the black ink spots rotate along the cloth to reform different shapes. Rotating, rotating, he examines his jawline through the mask. The Prophet moves his ungloved fingers along the fabric of the mask feeling for any rips or imperfections.

I am surprised this mask has lasted as long as it has. Even during the fire, it lasted the entire way. This mask has become somewhat of a newly acquired friend. A means to an end. One has to wonder how long it will be that I must disguise this face. How… much… longer….



Will it be a month? A year? I suppose it would be cheating to tell. Hehe



I entered this tournament on Warfare to claim a title belt. You should know my track record. How many title matchesss have I had?





One.



Care to guess that finish? That’s right. I defeated Guppy Parsh to win this very belt.


Hysteria undoes his jacket to reveal The Prophetic Belt of the Almighty Higher Power belt. He rubs his hand along the belt.


Since I won that belt, I have defended my belt against not one… not two… but ten men. Ten have fallen in my title reign. Everyone who has stepped forward and tried to take this title has laid down before me. I have denied no challenges. I have conquered them all. All of them except for two.

I may be the Prophet to my people, but I own up to my faults. One loss I hold was for the Trios titles. Which I held my own, but facing a dreadful trio with Frodo and my unfortunate other partner, we didn’t do as well as I’d like.



My other loss was to Justin Sane. One of the other men in this tournament has the only pinfall against me. But congratulations Justin. You caught me getting carried away. Once I turned around, you caught me off guard long enough to pin me to the mat. It won’t happen again. When I make it past this first round, and if you’re there… I will rectify the problem from last time.



Sebastian Duke. It seems I’ve been fortunate enough to draw you as my first opponent. No, it’s not because I think you’re easy prey. By no means would I insult your legacy by saying that. But don’t take this match lightly. Don’t take ME lightly. That would be your downfall.


Hysteria places his hat on his head and pulls his gloves over his fingers. He pushes the door open and walks out into the large assembly area of the Church of the Higher Power. He climbs the steps and stands behind the podium. He drums his fingers on it. The room is dark except for the white light shining down onto Hysteria.



Here I stand on this podium in our newly built church. Our church is like our friend Ghost Tank. It’s a Phoenix. From the ashes, it was reborn even stronger than ever before. I can recall when Manson and myself founded this church with our first members of Ghost Tank and Cory Scarecrow. We created our own little family and it was nice. But creating a small family was not in The Higher Power’s plans. It wasn’t my prophecy.



I promised The Higher Power an army. I promised him a family of believers…


A ton of red and yellow torches fade into picture behind Hysteria. The camera rises into the air to show Hysteria with the sea of flame behind him.



And so I have provided! My mission… my prophecy… has come to fruition.