Cadmus Facility – Level 0
Deep beneath the earth, where even the most classified Cadmus files refused to acknowledge its existence, Project Beast lay dormant. Sealed away in the forgotten halls of Level 0, an experiment deemed too volatile to control.
For over a century, he had remained in a dreamless sleep, waiting.
Until tonight.
Explosions shook the facility. Alarms wailed. The scent of battle filled the air—smoke, sweat, adrenaline.
The time had come.
The Awakening had begun.
---
Elsewhere in Cadmus…
Robin sprinted down the hall, dodging laser fire as Superboy crashed through a wall beside him, taking out an entire squad of Cadmus security in the process.
"This is getting out of hand!" Kid Flash yelled, appearing beside them in a blur of yellow and red.
"You think?" Robin retorted, flipping over a guard and jamming an electrical disc onto his armor, dropping him instantly.
Aqualad deflected an energy blast with his water-bearers, eyes scanning the chaos. "We need to find out what else Cadmus is hiding."
Superboy, hearing something deeper within the facility, clenched his fists. "There's more."
M'gann nodded, pressing a hand to her temple. "Something… old. Something powerful."
That was when the entire facility rumbled, as if something massive had just awakened below them.
---
Cadmus Facility – Level 0
The containment chamber hissed, steam venting from the massive steel door.
Inside, a pair of golden-red eyes snapped open.
A heartbeat.
Then another.
Then—a roar.
The door to Project Beast's chamber exploded outward, torn apart by claws that could shear through steel like paper.
A shadow emerged, white mane-like hair flowing, a powerful wolf tail flicking behind him. He stretched, the movement causing his muscles to ripple beneath dark skin.
Avon Von Deovola had returned to the hunt.
---
The Team Arrives – First Contact
The doors to Level 0 slammed open as The Team stormed in.
"What the hell happened down here?" Robin muttered, scanning the broken chamber.
Superboy stiffened. His Kryptonian-enhanced senses picked up something massive moving in the shadows.
Then—golden-red eyes flashed.
Avon stepped forward, his presence overwhelming. He looked at them all, unimpressed. "Children."
The word carried weight. Not as an insult, but a fact.
Superboy stepped forward, fists clenched. "Who are you?"
Avon tilted his head. "A better question—what are you?"
Robin whispered, "Not ominous at all."
Aqualad took a step forward. "We are not your enemies. We were imprisoned here as well."
Avon considered this, his claws flexing absently. "Prisoners of Cadmus." His gaze flickered over each of them before landing on Superboy. "You are strong. Yet incomplete."
Superboy scowled. "I'm not incomplete."
Avon smirked. "Convince me."
Then he moved.
A blur of white and gold, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.
Superboy barely had time to raise his arms before Avon's claw-strike sent him skidding back, tearing trenches in the metal floor.
The rest of The Team reacted instantly.
Aqualad's water-bearers surged, forming defensive blades.
Robin threw smoke bombs, trying to create cover.
Kid Flash blurred into motion, aiming a strike—only for Avon to twist mid-air and snatch him out of the speed force like he was standing still.
Kid Flash's eyes widened. "Oh, that's not—"
Avon flipped him over his shoulder and into the floor with enough force to dent it.
M'gann tried a telepathic assault, but the moment her mind touched Avon's—
Pain.
She staggered back, gasping. "H-he's… too much…"
Avon's golden-red eyes locked onto her. "Do not enter the mind of a wolf, little one. You will not like what you find."
A low growl echoed through the chamber.
Then—
A new presence arrived.
---
The Justice League Arrives
The walls shook. A blur of red and blue landed with a forceful boom.
Superman stood between Avon and The Team, his eyes glowing red.
"You need to stand down," the Kryptonian ordered.
Avon studied him, amusement flickering across his face. "Ah. A real challenge."
Superman's eyes narrowed. "Last warning."
Batman landed beside him, cape billowing. His eyes met Avon's.
A low growl rumbled from the Dark Knight.
Avon's ears twitched. His expression shifted—recognition. Understanding.
Robin muttered, "He understands Bat-growl?"
Flash appeared, looking between them. "Okay, I don't know what's weirder—the fact that Bats is growling or that the werewolf actually gets it."
Superman didn't hesitate. He moved, throwing a punch faster than sound.
Avon caught it.
The impact shook the entire room.
For a brief moment, Superman's eyes widened.
Avon smirked. "Better."
Then he twisted, using Superman's momentum to send him crashing through the wall.
The League moved as one.
Wonder Woman's lasso whipped forward, wrapping around Avon's arm—he yanked her towards him, forcing her to block with her bracers.
Green Lantern formed chains, but Avon tore through them.
Martian Manhunter attempted a mental assault, but—just like M'gann—he recoiled instantly.
Flash zipped past, throwing rapid punches—Avon sidestepped every one.
Batman watched, calculating.
Another growl.
Avon's golden-red eyes flicked to him. Then—a knowing grin.
"This is fun," Avon admitted. "But pointless."
He suddenly leaped upward, crashing through the ceiling.
By the time they reached the surface, he was gone.
---
Aftermath – Watchtower Briefing
Superman sat with his arms crossed. "We can't let him roam free."
Wonder Woman nodded. "He is powerful, but he values honor. That may be our only advantage."
Green Lantern scoffed. "Honor doesn't stop someone from being dangerous."
Batman let out a low growl.
Flash sighed. "Bats, we need actual words here, man."
Wonder Woman smirked. "He means, 'I already have contingencies.'"
Superman looked at Batman. "And?"
Batman didn't answer.
But the holo-screen behind him changed.
A single name appeared.
Project Beast.
Avon Von Deovola.
The Hunt had begun.
_ _ _