Hell? I ended up in hell? Was I so unfortunate to deserve nothing but hell all through my life and down to my death?
I thought good people go to paradise? Or was I never good?
I shut my eyes and lowered my head, trying to accept my fate when he spoke up again. "Just say a word, master, and I will do as you say. I am your subject."
'Do they have masters in hell?' The question ran through my mind, confused about everything.
He appeared before me and stared deep into my eyes. An hideous creature staring at me but I didn't move an inch in fright. I am scared of cockroaches but surprisingly, not the monster.
"Who are you?" I summoned the courage to ask.
He vanished and reappeared behind me. "I am your servant. The one who would lead you to victory."
"Servant? The last I heard, hell don't provide servants to offenders," I pointed out and there was silent behind me for a few seconds before he appeared some distance away from me.
"You are not an offender. You are the ruler of this world."
I drew my brows and looked around at the empty place he called world. It was empty and in desolate. No one would want to be a ruler of such place with nobody to rule.
"So, I am like the devil or what?" I asked, even though I knew what he said was stupid.
"No, you are not. This hell is not the hell you think it is," he replied. "This is worst than you can ever imagine. A place of no return. A place never to be wished upon, and you are the ruler of this place."
I scratched between my brows, trying to figure out if I was dreaming or it was real. Could it be a prank? "Why am I the ruler of a place like this?" I asked, not able to hold back my curiosity. It must be a prank. There was no way I would be a ruler of hell.
"You were, even before you were born," he answered and immediately, the whole place was lit up, revealing the millions of the hideous creature with their heads bowed. "We are your subjects. I am Maki, and I am your beast."
A world I was worshiped. A place where I don't have to get bullied. A place where I am the ruler. My lips curled up as I looked around.
"What are you all?" I asked, facing Maki.
"We are ghouls!" They all chorused and kept shut, waiting for my command.
This would be the first time anyone would listen to me or answer me without insulting or feeling disgusted. I took a few steps closer to Maki who didn't break eye contact with me, and when I was close enough, I said, "Take me back to the world of the living."
Would they be able to do it? That would be bringing me back to life. I could smell the amount of energy wafting the air, and it was dangerous and powerful. I made my request with one thought in mind 'to know the level of how powerful these ghouls have.'
Am I dealing with weaklings like my self or not?
"As you wish, master," Maki answered, taking me by surprise. I wasn't expecting a quick or positive response.
Everywhere went dark again but it was just for a few seconds. When the lights came on, I was back at the test room, lying on the bed with the heavy strange headphone covering my ears.
I gasped realizing I was brought back to life. I looked at my chest, the place I was shot, but there was no wound, no pain, no bloodstain. My eyes went wide, realizing it wasn't a dream neither was it a prank. I was back. I was living again, although I still felt numb which got me confused for a few seconds until I remembered the state I was in before I died. I swallowed hard and looked around to notice the doctor and the soldiers all feozen.
"This is the tip of an iceberg of what you can do." I looked up and noticed Maki standing by the side of the room.
Bringing me back was just the tip of an iceberg? "How powerful are you?" I asked. "How powerful would you make me?"
"We are nothing. You are the power we have. This and more are yours," he explained, standing tall with no expression on his face; well, a ghoul with a skull face wouldn't have an emotion.
"So, am I in the level of a god?"
"No. You are in the level of an omnipotent, the powerful of them all."
Omnipotent? I haven't heard of that level before, but I suddenly felt a quick and powerful surge of power flow through me when he said that. Whatever that level was, it's dangerous and powerful.
I looked at the doctor and smirked, "I will reshape my rotten destiny." I took a step closer, not taking my eyes away from the frozen man. "Maki, can you change the screen and bring me down to the level of Delta?"
"Your wish is my command," he replied and immediately, the screen changed to blue color.
My smile widened seeing how easily I got it done. Now, no one would ever look down on me again. I love this power already. I shut my eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to breath in the new breath of power. It smelt different- so different. I faced Maki and ordered, "Wipe their memory of what happened twenty minutes ago and unfreeze them."
I went back to lay down as he got to work. Immediately he wiped their memories, everyone unfroze and Maki was gone.
The doctors drew his brows and stared at me strangely. Sensing he might have known what happened, the smile on my face slowly faded and I swalloawd hard.
"Reggie, how are you moving? I had injected you?" He asked, calming my racing heart.
"I suddenly feel strengthen," I answered.
He stared at me for another few seconds before he looked at the screen and gasped. "A Delta?" He asked, with his face covered with surprise.
"Is that a bad thing, sir?" I asked even though I knew what it was. It wasn't bad to play dumb for a little while or rather, to make him feel dumb for just a little bit.
He shook his head, not realizing the sarcasm and answered, "No, it is not a bad one. Infact, only those students who have start mastering their abilities can reach this level and that's why I am surprise about yours. According to your report, the level of your ability is low."
"Well, I guess your report is wrong after all. The power in me is just so mighty." I climbed down the bed and reached out for my crutches. I took a step forward and realized my legs weren't hurting. Infact, they weren't bent as it has always been.
I looked forward and noticed how clear I could see without my glasses, which I have wore all my life. I could walk again. I could see again! The urge to scream came strongly but I held it in. I wouldn't want to raise suspicion.
I suppressed my excitement, wore my clothes and walked out, not saying a word to them, not that they would care to listen to me anyway.
Immediately I walked out, an announcement was made about me been a Delta and the whole hall went silent, with everyone's gaze on me.
Who would expect a commoner like me to reach the level of a Delta? Not just a Delta, but the level of an omnipotent, the most powerful of all?
I smirked and walked away. In no time, we will all be summoned again and get our first missions which would be the final test. Then, we will finally go into the real world.
.
Every students chosen were all gathered outside the school building, all dressed in ash jumping suits. It was time for our first missions and we had no idea of what to expect.
An army officer, who was definitely a ranked officer, walked to the podium. He looked at the multitude of students gathered before he went ahead to give his speech. "Everyone here was successfully chosen for the society. You all are now entering a new stage of life. A stage where there are many things to expect, many crazy things to happen, many changes to undergo and so many. The world out there is a blissful place and it can be scary too. It is a new stage of survival and only the fittest survive," the commander of the army in charge said to us. He stepped forward and went on. "You all will receive your new missions that would build you up for what to expect in this world."
A bowl filled with folded papers were passed around and each of us picked out one piece of paper. Many students who had picked theirs all had scared looks on their faces while some, or rather, a few, wore smiles on their faces.
I picked out a paper and unfolded it. Seeing what was written in bold letters, my heart skipped a beat.
'A death mission'