LogFAQs > #929187458

54. Superhuman Potion (16.5 points)
Nominated by: Pirateking2000 (3/5 remaining)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCQqyR6G48" data-time="

Importance: 1
Fear: 7.5
Snake: 8

This scene is just brutal, and there's so much horror to unpack in such a short time. Let's start with the obvious. Firstly, Mayuri's appearance, positioned somewhere between Padme and Pennywise if he were the grim reaper, is a ghastly figure that enhances the terror whenever he's on screen. Then, we have Mayuri's "superhuman formula", which allows one, as it says, to experience superhuman senses. While this sounds good in theory, this formula allows you to experience one moment as if it lasted for a 100 years. When inflicted on Mayuri's enemy Szayel, this allowed Mayuri to pierce Szayel's hand and chest, and for 100 years, Szayel experienced this excruciating pain. Seeing the sword go ever slowly towards his heart is such an anxiety-ridden, agonizing scene, and really makes my own heart hurt! Now, imagine what Szayel is feeling. What makes this scene extra horrifying is that Szayel, being effectively immortal, is able to remake himself through other bodies, which is how the drug was inflicted on him, planned ahead by Mayuri. This level of strategy is cold, cruel, and calculating, and the perfect antidote to Szayel's haughty attitude and feeling of invincibility. It's true what they say, no one lives forever. A real frightening, effective scene!
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I try in vain to slumber, my reveries gripped by violent terror. My only salvation, the shock of awakening. Something is very, very wrong here.