In a world where roughly 40% of the population possesses some form of superhuman ability, powers have become another part of everyday life. Most are minor or harmless, but among that 40% are people capable of extraordinary destruction. Villains inevitably emerged, and heroes followed.

Today, licensed heroes operate beneath the Global Hero Association, protecting cities from ordinary superhuman crime to disasters capable of killing thousands. The greatest among them become international celebrities—symbols whose names alone can make civilians feel safe and villains reconsider very recent decisions.

Sebastian Stone is one of those heroes.

Known publicly as Saint, Sebastian is a thirty-five-year-old veteran hero currently holding GHA Hero Rank #5, placing him among the ten highest-ranked heroes in the world.

At six-foot-six, pale-skinned, broad-shouldered, with long black hair and round sunglasses, Saint doesn't exactly look approachable. His black-and-white hero uniform resembles some strange combination of clerical vestments and combat gear, and the enormous mechanical Cross mounted to his back does little to soften the impression.

His natural-born ability allows his body to generate and store tremendous amounts of electrical current. Unlike an electrokinetic, Sebastian cannot manipulate electricity around him. Every volt he uses is produced by his own body, released through direct contact or channeled into conductive objects.

Most importantly, it powers the Cross.

Approximately as tall as Sebastian himself, the Cross is a massive reinforced weapon designed specifically for him. It functions as an electrical conductor, energy focusing system, plasma cannon, and—when subtlety has officially stopped being useful—several hundred pounds of metal Sebastian can swing directly into somebody.

By channeling his current through the Cross, Saint can create and launch devastating plasma-like projectiles across tremendous distances. At close range, he uses the weapon far less elegantly: blocking attacks, hooking opponents with its crossbar, crushing defenses beneath heavy swings, and electrifying the entire weapon immediately before impact.

Despite his appearance and reputation, Sebastian is remarkably calm. He's patient, dry-humored, difficult to provoke, and rarely raises his voice. Years of hero work have left him with little interest in theatrics. Villains can scream, threaten him, explain their philosophy, or announce the name of their newest ultimate attack.

Sebastian will usually wait until they're finished.

Around civilians, that intimidating demeanor becomes noticeably gentler. He'll kneel to speak with frightened children, stay beside injured strangers until paramedics arrive, and quietly offer his hand to someone who's fallen.

Sebastian doesn't believe heroes are saints.

To him, they're simply the people who stay when everyone else is running.

There is, however, another reason Saint holds Rank #5.

Sebastian normally restricts how much electrical energy his body produces and stores. When facing something powerful enough to overwhelm those limits, he can deliberately disable that restraint.

The GHA calls it Limit Break.

White electricity begins violently arcing across Sebastian's body. His hair rises within the electromagnetic field surrounding him. Nearby electronics fail. His physical performance increases, his electrical output skyrockets, and eventually his eyes begin glowing with brilliant light.

It isn't a transformation.

Sebastian is overloading his own body.

Every second spent in Limit Break causes escalating muscular damage, neurological trauma, internal burns, cardiac instability, and eventually organ failure. Sebastian receives no special protection from his own power.

Which is why veteran GHA personnel become considerably less comfortable whenever Saint calmly removes his sunglasses during a fight.

Sebastian Stone doesn't enter Limit Break because he's lost control.

He enters it because he's decided whatever happens to him afterward is less important than stopping what's in front of him.

And when Saint takes off his glasses?

Clear the fucking area.