"You must use extreme caution, team."

Sage's words rang in his head as Vert exited the Saber, slowly moving towards the brightly burning flame.

"Even too focused a stare can instantly corrupt even the purest of souls."

It was worth the risk. The artifact had to be destroyed. Sage had described it as the essence of pure evil; an essential pawn in the rising of the Ancient Ones. Pyrofrost was already after the object; he and his team had been sent to destroy it.

"You must not let it corrupt you."

Vert knew what he had to do. He would take the risk, for his team, for the Multiverse.

"Vert, wait!" Agura shouted, driving towards him. He took a breath.

"I'm sorry." Vert whispered to her. He knew the pain, the resistance would be great.

Maybe too great to bear.

But if that was his fate, so be it. Vert's outstretched arm just brushed the tip of the burning flame. He gazed into the flickering glow, mesmerized, as it slowly engulfed his soul.

Wait...no! Something felt wrong. He couldn't draw away. The fire captivated him, filling his mind with thoughts of power.

"Yes, human." The voice of Pyrofrost echoed in his ears. "Let the power of evil consume you."

"No…this…this is…wrong." Vert struggled against the force, but to no avail. His eyes widened as he collapsed in front of the flame.

"VERT!"

Vert rose to the voices of his teammates. Agura was sprinting over to him, fear written on her face.

"Vert? Vert, what happened? Vert!" She screamed as he slid his eyes open. He felt…different. New. Stronger. The evil flame now held a tempting aura, inviting him to draw closer.

"Thank goodness!" Agura leaned over him anxiously. "Are you oka-"

"Never felt better." Vert sneered, using his arm to shove her away. He easily took the flame in his hands, feeling a surge of strength.

"V-Vert?" Her eyes clouded with worry. "What are you doing?"

"What I should have done all along." He growled, brushing past her towards Pyrofrost, who had an evil grin on his face.

"Vert?" Agura called, panic setting in. She reached out to grab his arm, trying to stop him.

"Let me go!" He shouted, wrenching away and throwing her body onto the ground.

"Agura!" The Buster Tank screeched to a halt beside her, Sherman running out. The larger Cortez knelt next to her body.

"Hah. Pathetic." He sneered.

"Excellent work, my apprentice." Pyrofrost said coolly as he took the flame. "You shall be greatly honored."

"The greatest honor is to serve you, my lord. I pledge myself to a greater power; to the Ancient Ones!" Vert knelt, bowing his head to his new leader. Power surged through his veins, and Vert rose, experimenting with his new abilities. Laughing, he flung the Chopper hundreds of feet away, pinning Zoom under it. He delighted in Stanford's screams of terror as the Reverb flipped in mid-air.

"What?" Sherman gasped.

"V-Vert…" Agura lifted her head, vision still clouded. Sherman pressed her back down. Vert felt cold anger fill his heart.

"What do you want, huh?" He demanded, storming over. "I know what's right for me!" The Buster was thrown through the air; Sherman slammed into a rock. Emotionless, Vert yanked her up by the collar.

"You're just a weak, pathetic little do-good." He snarled, dropping her to the ground. Agura crumpled, her wrist snapping as it gave in to the rock.

"Exactly." He hissed, and re-joined his new master.