The King of Cruelty

Weak, I am too weak.

That was the bitter thought in Alister's mind as he tasted the distinct, metallic tang of blood in his mouth. His jaw throbbed in pain, and he spat out a mouthful of blood on the pristine school hall floor. All around him, everyone cheered, despite how their only reason for winning was their numbers.

"Stand up, Alister Rhithron." Taunted one of the bullies. "I still needed to wipe that smug look off your face."

Alister glared at him in anger, and he clenched his fist before he dashed to throw a punch to one of them. Alister decided not to waste time aiming for his opponent's face, and instead, he decided to aim for their stomach.

As tough as they were, they have to pay.

He placed all his power in the punch, and as expected, they doubled over in pain, caught off guard fro m the unexpected attack. Seeing an opportunity, Alister decided to kick the bully right in the same spot, causing him to double over. But, his attack was not enough, as the opponent merely grinned and took hold of his foot.

"Get him." The muscled boy ordered his friends.

Like hungry crows upon a corpse, they descended down on him, throwing punches and kicks all over his body. As bruises form and blood started to seep out from the brutal wounds, Alister still maintained his glare, prompting the group to hit him even more.

I am too weak.

Was falling unconscious here perhaps the better outcome? He would not see his parents for some time, and maybe he could get some relief from the problems plaguing everything he touches.

"What an absurd thought!" A voice snarled in his mind and right after, everything turned gray, everyone suspended in the middle of their own actions. One of the bullies who spat on him has a drop stop moving right in front of his face, one has their fists stop a few centimeters in front of his eyes, and another has their feet hovering right near his stomach.

The laughter of the other students who were cheering had also stopped, leaving a space with neither movements nor sounds.

Alister stood up and examined his surroundings in detail. Everything as far as the eyes could see has been stopped; even the bird flying across the window was hovering in midair.

"You are weak, and you would just accept it without a fight? Might as well die now, you maggot!"

Red-gold smoke seeped out from the classroom doors, windows, and cracks on the walls and floor, before it coalesced into a figure. The figure was tall, that much was certain, and the pair of black, curved horns resting atop his forehead created a striking image. His eyes were a striking gold and narrowed towards him, while the length of his silver hair rested atop his collarbone. His skin looked pale yet pristine, with an otherworldly charm to each of his movements.

The figure wore armor made of deep red metal, and each time the light hits it right, the red became reminiscent of freshly spilled blood.

"You may call me Zeri, I am known as the King of Cruelty from the Demon Realm." The figure spoke, authority lining every inch of his voice. "You may be a maggot, but I have seen your life from birth to now. Do you wish for power? Do you wish to take control of your life and dispose of these things?"

As he asked, Zeri lifted the chin of one of the students who surrounded Alister with a clawed hand, his expression nothing short of pure disgust. "Just say the word, and I will slaughter them all- , no, I will gift you with the power to slaughter them all until there is no trace of any living being here except for red smears on the floor." Zeri's lips twisted into a cruel grin, showing off his sharp teeth.

"Are you in, Alister Rhithron?"

Alister clenched his fist. The desire for revenge has stewed in his mind for so long, and now, his opportunity for revenge has been dangled in front of him. However, in the law of the jungle, a mysterious piece of dangling meat would often lead to a trap, and Alister knew better than to trust him.

"What is in it for you then... Zeri?"

Zeri let out a hearty laugh and responded. "A healthy caution! Cannot say I like it, but keep it, maggot, for it will help you in the future."

The demon walked towards one of the other bullies and stuck his clawed hand out. Alister half expected for the demon's claws to maul them, but the claws passed through the bulky student's head, as if the creature was nothing but an illusion Alister conjured. "I am unable to interact with the physical world, as I am nothing but a soul that was thrown out from my own realm and landed into your body when you were born. I will tell you now, maggot. Magic exists in this world, and twelve families have access to it. They created a portal leading to my realm, worked with the traitors and criminals in our realm, and took it over. All I want is revenge. I will give you power and one wish, and in exchange, you will slaughter all twelve families."

It was such a tempting offer, and Alister had nothing to lose.

While he was thinking, Zeri walked toward Alister, and offered his hand. "Accept, and you will no longer live as a maggot."

Alister looked down at the outstretched hand, took a deep breath, and gave Zeri a gleeful grin in exchange.

"I accept!"

"Great! My true name is Akzeriuth, and I put my title as the King of Cruelty to the line, for my revenge, and for your wish!" He dispersed into smoke, and the wisps seeped into Alister's mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. Heat spread as Alister felt like his bones melted into wax, which spilled out of his eyes and mouth in the form of golden liquid, before they all turned into motes and disappeared. Unbeknownst to Alister, his eyes had turned gold, and a streak of silver hair could be seen atop his head.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain started to subside, and Alister could feel strength thrumming right in his veins.

"Now, Alister, you are no longer a maggot, for you have been reborn into my host. Show them your strength, and put them in their place!"

As Zeri finished speaking, color returned to everything around, the echo of his gleeful laughter disappearing right as everything started to move again.

Alister clenched his fist, and with his newfound power, he launched a punch at one of the bullies.