The world shifted.
Suddenly, everything turned upside down. A realm like an alternate dimension of earth with buildings hanging from the sky, except the throne I was sitting on. It was a magnificent throne forged from black steel. The ground below sparkled like crystal, reflecting my image clearly.
I wore a black robe over a fitted black suit. It was regal and powerful. Made perfectly for me.
I looked around, taking in the view. "What is this place?" I looked ahead and noticed Jaw kneeling some distance away with his forehead to the ground, trembling.
"What…?" I muttered.
"This is your domain," said a voice, Maki. Only half of him appeared, clinging to the throne's armrest. "You have full control here. You can judge, as well as give and take."
I looked up to see the ghouls clung to the upside down buildings like bats, watching, and waiting for my command.
Jaw couldn't move, but he was still conscious. He was stuck in the domain.
"How do I give and take?" I asked, taking my gaze to Maki.
"You give energy to them and when you want to, you take something in return. His soul will repay the cost," Maki explained.
I nodded and stood up. "Then it is judgement time."
I imagined myself in front of Jaw and in a second, I was there. Seeing how I could control the world, excitement buzzed through me.
I knelt and gripped his jaw, lifting his face to meet mine. "Such a pity you're going through this for trying to survive." I leaned in and went on. "The military are after you. They want you to eliminate the students, then dispose of you like garbage. That's what they do. Use people and kill them afterwards."
I clicked my tongue and shook my head. "They're heartless. All of them. This is all for their gain."
I paused, watching him. "Unfortunately, you're a Beta. Weak, powerless, and useless to them," I said after a few seconds of silence. "You can speak."
I felt the shift. Maki was surprised. Maybe I wasn't following the rules. I don't care about the rules. I will follow no damn rules in my world. This was my world. My rules.
"Pl… please let me go," Notorious Jaw begged.
"I will," I said, and stood up. "But think about this. You will still be hunted. We were not the only group sent to hunt you. You're just a pawn to the military."
He looked down, frowning.
Satisfied with how fast I was getting to him, I pressed on with a sharp voice. "They sent kids to arrest you. Can you believe that? That's an insult to your name. You deserve better."
He looked at me with his frown growing deeper.
"I can help you bring them down," I whispered. "I'll give you an immense power that will make you unstoppable. You will get your revenge."
He stared at me like I was crazy and after a moment, he asked, "Who the hell are you?"
A grin tugged at my lips. That question filled me with something I hadn't felt before. Was this how it felt? To be so powerful that people become curious of you?
"I am the Omnipotent Ruler," I answered and watched him shivered.
"Are you sure you will make me powerful?" He asked, not taking his eyes off me. "Why would you help me?"
"Because I hate seeing people suffer. I hate watching the powerful crush the weak. You deserve to feel powerful too. I will grant you the power you need."
A slow grin spread across his face, "I am ready to receive this immerse power you talk about."
"Perfect. But you have one job for me," I leaned closer and with my voice barely a whisper, I spoke into his ear. "Bring me Ben's soul. His energy is mine to feed on."
Notorious Jaw shivered at my command but said nothing. He was weak just as I expected. Bringing Ben's soul to me was clearly a difficult task.
"So, are you in?" I asked, disappointed. This was the man they called the most notorious thief in all of Nehemas? The man trembling because of an easy job?
After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Yes. I'll bring his soul to you. Just give me the power as promised."
That was a change I wasn't expecting. I was going to give up on putting my trust in him.
I smirked and stood. "Very well, then. You will get the power." I turned to glance at Maki, who still had that dazed look on his face. I guess I must have done it a different way that left the ghoul shocked.
I snapped my fingers and Notorious jaw vanished, leaving behind his sweaty stench of fear.
…
No POV
Ben, Kelly and Stephanie stood around the lifeless bodies of Reggie and Notorious jaw, closely observing them. Kelly suddenly furrowed his brow, and faced Ben, who was more focused, examining Jaw.
"Something's off. I saw your arrow fly, but it never hit them." He sucked in air and averted his gaze back to the lifeless bodies. "But they both died."
Stephanie scoffed and folded her arms, staring at him with a small grin spread across her face. Kelly knew she was about to say mockery words, and wasn't surprised. She was someone who doesn't take things seriously until they become worst. "Come on, Kelly. Reggie was a weakling. The amount of energy Ben asserted into the hit was enough to kill him."
Kelly twisted his mouth and thought for a while. Not getting satisfied with Stephanie's theory, he squatted beside Jaw and said, "But Notorious jaw isn't weak. Infact, he is more powerful than us all. Ben's energy wouldn't do him any harm. Reggie isn't weak too. He was announced a Delta and we all are omegas. He is above us."
"That is enough, Kelly," Ben cut in. "They both are dead and that is all that matters."
"But we were told to bring Jaw back alive," Kelly pressed, eyeing the corpse. "What now?"
Ben smirked and faced him. "The question is, what are you going to do, because I have completed my mission." A blazing arrow emerged from his palm. "My mission is to kill Notorious jaw and two of my comrades. I can only spare one," he revealed and pointed the arrow at Stephanie who stepped back frightened.
"Ben?" she gasped, "What are you doing?"
"Didn't you hear what I said?" He asked, with annoyance slipping from his voice. "I will have to kill one of you."
"But… but we… we are friends?" Stephanie cried, slowly stepping back.
"Well, not anymore. I have to survive and this is the only way," he answered coldly and intensified the heat engulfing his arrow. "Failing the mission means losing my ability. I would be like those worthless commoners."
"How dare you?!" Kelly stepped forward, furious. "You dare point your arrow at your friends?" He looked at Stephanie who was shivering in fear. "If we both combine our abilities together, we will be able to bring him down."
He spread his hands open and began to chant, "BLOOM WIND: Surround and consume everything in your path!"
But Stephanie didn't move. Instead, she dropped to her knees and clasped her hands. "Please, Ben. Let me live. Kill Kelly instead and I promise to be your mistress."
Time froze for Kelly and his heart sank as he looked from her to Ben. They both betrayed him even though he saw them as his trusted allies.
Before he could speak, Ben's arrow pierced his chest and he fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
"I spare you, Stephanie," Ben said calmly. "Fulfill your promise."
Suddenly, the air grew thick and goosebumps rippled over their skin. Something was coming, something dangerous that made them shiver in fright even though they had no idea what it was.
Was it one of the students whose mission was to bring Notorious jaw? They wondered. The energy they felt was too deadly. No student would possess an enormous energy so great.
"What is that?" Stephanie asked and clung unto Ben, who was looking at for what was going to pop out from behind the trees.
"I must complete my mission," a voice growled behind them. When they turned, their body shook and their eyes went wide in horror. Notorious Jaw stood before them with his eyes dark and burning with rage. He was like a possessed bull, ready to attack. "I must please the master. I will bring your soul to him," he said.
Ben swallowed and gathered the little courage he had left to ask, "Who… who is the master?"
Jaw raised his finger and pointed behind them. The air suddenly shifted, and their hearts stopped. They slowly turned and their eyes fell on Reggie who had a smirk playing across his lips.
"I am," he answered.