Pow! Pow! Pow!
Each punch landed like a hammer, rattling through Doku's bones. His back hit the cold brick wall of the alley, the damp air smelling of garbage and old rain. The narrow path was half-lit by a flickering street lamp at the far end. It's light enough to illuminate Doku's bruised face.
All of them were in rumpled school uniforms, ties loose, shirts untucked. The thud of fists against flesh echoed in the empty alley, mixing with the muffled grunts of the boys catching their breath between blows.
Doku didn't fight back. He just stood there, swaying under the barrage, his head snapping side to side with each hit. Blood trickled from the corner of his lip.
Finally, the punches slowed. Their breathing turned heavy.
Doku spat to the side, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand… and smirked.
"You all punch like my grandma, is that all you got" he said, his voice dripping with mockery.
Eric, the leader, didn't like that. His jaw tightened, his short brown hair sticking to his sweaty forehead. Without a word, he grabbed Doku by the collar, yanking him upright like a sack of trash.
With a harsh shove, Eric slammed him into the wall again. The impact made Doku's head spin.
"I know you," Eric said, his voice low but sharp. "Always acting like you're some brave, strong guy. But deep down, it's just a show. Next time you pull that stunt with my sister again, it won't end with just a beating." His grip tightened. "I'll make sure you can't use those fingers to draw anymore."
Doku's laugh came out in a high, mocking tone, like a cheap cartoon villain.
"So… this is all because of your sister?"
Interesting...
Eric's face twisted in irritation. Without a word, he swung again, his fist slamming into Doku's side with a heavy thud.
Doku staggered, coughing up blood. But still his eyes… they carried no fear. Only defiance.
"If I'm getting my ass kicked because of your sister," Doku rasped, wiping blood from his mouth, "then I hope she told you everything about our therapy sessions."
Eric's jaw clenched, his anger spiking.
"You know," Doku went on, smirking despite the swelling on his face, "you can come to my place to check out some of my cool sketches. I can draw anything so close to real, you wouldn't tell if it's a photo or a painting."
His gaze sharpened. "I drew your sister's tits… damm, very alluring and amazing. At her age? She's carrying more than my hands can even handle." He lifted his fingers, squeezing the air like he was holding something soft.
"I drew it all," Doku said, his voice thick with mockery. "Down to her hips, that nice curvy waist. And don't forget her ass… so tempting. She just kept posing and posing while I drew every single thing the naked eye shouldn't see."
He chuckled, leaning forward. "I even grabbed those juicy boobs, showed her how to hold them so I'd get the perfect angle."
One of the boys standing nearby shifted uncomfortably. He didn't even realize when his excitement pressed against his trousers, bulging through the fabric.
Eric's knuckles whitened. He couldn't take another word. He lunged at him, fist swinging for Doku's face.
But this time, Doku's hand shot up. He caught the punch just in time, yanked Eric by the collar, and—crack!—slammed his forehead into Eric's nose.
The echo of the headbutt bounced off the narrow alley walls. Blood gushed from Eric's nose instantly.
Doku didn't waste a second. He shoved Eric back and bolted for the open street.
"Get him!" Eric roared.
The boys sprang into action, chasing Doku as if their life's depended; on catching him as he darted toward the alley's exit.
He was just about to make it out when—
BAM!
A deafening thud rang out.
A speeding truck had caught him as he tried to cross the road. His body hit the asphalt hard, blood pooling fast, dripping from every corner as he lay in the middle of the road.
The boys saw this, and they all ran back to avoid being noticed.
Just before his vision went black, a faint shimmer appeared before his eyes.
A glowing, translucent window floated in the air.
[ The System has chosen you. ]
[Do you accept to be the strongest being the world will never trample on again?]
[Yes / No]
His lips curled into a faint smirk. Even half-dead, his answer was obvious.
"Yes," he whispered in his mind.
The moment he chose, darkness swallowed him whole.
…
Now, standing in the prison, Doku's smirk returned.
"Now I remember where I first saw that screen," he murmured.
The Boss's massive shadow loomed over him.
A fist the size of a hammer swung down, air whistling from its speed. It was so close that Doku could almost feel the skin of his knuckles brush his cheek.
His lips moved slowly, each syllable heavy with power.
"Fall."
The word rolled out like a command from the depths of the earth.
The Boss's eyes went wide. His legs buckled as if the ground had turned to water beneath him.
With a loud, heavy thud, he collapsed, the impact rattling the damp stone floor.
Doku didn't even spare him another glance. His steps were slow but steady as he passed the fallen giant, heading straight for the far corner of the cell.
There it was.
A wooden bowl, half-filled with stale bread and scraps of meat—food the Boss had kept for himself.
That was Doku's main goal all along.
First, eat.
Then he could think of revenge.
.....
Finally, the stabbing hunger in his gut eased.
Doku sat back in the corner of the filthy cell, licking the last crumbs from his fingers. A smug smile tugged at his lips.
The night was silent. The guards wouldn't bother coming until morning. Even if someone screamed their lungs out or the cell turned into a slaughterhouse, nobody would come. Nobody cared.
The Boss was still sprawled on the damp floor, muscles twitching as he struggled against the invisible weight locking his body. The other two prisoners were frozen in place, forced to kneel, their eyes darting with confusion and rage.
Doku's gaze slid to the Boss.
But before he could speak, the Boss's shaky voice already broke the silence.
"Who… who are you?" he asked, his tone trembling between fear and anger. His wide eyes locked on Doku. "You're not the same boy who's been here this past week. I can feel it—an overwhelming mana aura pouring off you."
Doku's lips curved into a slow, sarcastic smile.
"I'm the one who's going to kill you."
The Boss's breathing hitched. Panic flickered in his eyes. "Please… spare me. I am sorry for everything I have done to you in the past."
The two other prisoners, still forced to kneel, exchanged confused looks. They couldn't make sense of what their leader was saying. Perhaps it was because they weren't magic users—they couldn't feel the crushing wave of mana radiating from Doku's body.
Doku tilted his head slightly, his eyes glinting.
"I believe in equality," he said, voice calm yet laced with venom. "So whatever you did to this body in the past… you'll get the exact same treatment."
His smirk widened.
The Boss screamed at the top of his lungs, panic and fear twisting his voice. "Help! Guards!! Help, he is a mage..." But everyone knew no one was coming, and no one would believe him.
Doku smirked, the smug grin spreading across his face. "What are you afraid of? You enjoy doing this to me, right? I'd love to see the tables turn for once."
Without warning, Doku's mood darkened, a menacing aura wrapping around him like a shadow. He looked at the Boss and ordered,
"Rise."
The Boss's body obeyed instantly. No hesitation.
Doku pointed to the foot of the iron gate locking them inside the cell. "Hold onto the foot of the gate." The Boss obeyed, dropping his head low as he grabbed the gate's base. His waist lifted, positioned like he was ready to take a beating.
Then Doku faced the other two prisoners, who were kneeling nearby.
"Rise," he commanded again.
They stood up immediately.
"You're going to take turns drilling his ass until he bleeds out," Doku said coldly.
Their bodies reacted without question. Hardness beneath their trousers stirring up very fast.
The first man plunged in without hesitation. The Boss screamed, trapped in that helpless position, unable to escape. The thrusts came fast and unrelenting, no space to breathe. After a while, the second prisoner took over, continuing without mercy.
They were scared of what the Boss might do to them afterward, but none of this was under their control.
Doku lounged on the mattress in the corner – the Boss's mattress. He barely glanced at the scene, already asleep, his mind on bigger plans.
"Tomorrow morning, when the guards come for me... that'll be my chance to escape."
The Boss's screams echoed in Doku's ears just before his eyes shot closed.
The night felt like an eternity of pain for the boss but it was f**king short to Doku. The morning dew was yet to clear before the guards arrived.
Despite the dark cell lit with only ancient tunnel fire torch light, the atmosphere gave that early morning cold.
What the f**k are you crazy bastards doing, the guards shouted on witnessing the prisoners still compelled to drill their boss.
Help us, we can't stop ourselves, one of them pleaded with a shaky voice. They were sweating profusely, tired, and their legs shaking. The boss had also lost his voice due to the constant cry and yell for help.
Just then, Doku smiled hearing the guards' voice as he said to himself.
It's about time....