Supreme Nexus vs Dark Minions (2)

"So, where should we begin?" Rasoul finally spoke with a smile, having observed their reactions.

"You must be wondering what on earth is happening. Well, obviously, your boss is now six feet under, and I'm here to step into his shoes. He gave it a shot, but in the end, he lacked the strength to deliver a fatal blow," Rasoul said, carefully scanning the room. He had recently unlocked a new ability from the system that allowed him to see everyone's status.

"I know you all must be boiling with anger right now. I get it; this is the man you pledge your loyalty to. The man you've vowed to kick the bucket for—the man who turned your pointless lives around.

But understand this: he died attempting to take down a Master stage cultivator. That alone should earn me some points. It wasn't a walk in the park, but here I am sitting in front of you, so instead of simmering with anger, why not think of ways to make me happy?"

Your former leader gave it his all while he was alive, but now it's decision time for you all. Are you ready to follow me willingly, or must I force your hand?" His tone turned icy, though his face held a cheerful façade.

Rasoul, now firmly in control of the room, provoked them. If anyone took the bait, he'd use them as an example for the rest, showcasing the consequences of defying him. He knew convincing them wouldn't be a cakewalk, so he required a scapegoat.

Right on cue, Jack, the one among them, spoke up.

"I don't care who you off or what grand plan you think you're executing. I'll never bend the knee to someone like you. A mere Master Stage nobody won't earn my respect or loyalty," he stood up. But just as he was about to exit, Rasoul intervened.

"Let's be clear; I'm not here to win your respect or loyalty. As my companion mentioned earlier, you folks are cannon fodder, stepping stones in my ascent to power. And lest you forget, I'm the one calling the shots now, so park yourself back down," Rasoul ordered.

"And who do you think you are, barking commands at me? I'm a semi-saint. Nobody dictates my actions," Jack retorted defiantly.

Rasoul, maintaining his cheerful demeanor, chuckled at Jack's defiance. "Well, semi-saint or not, you're in my world now, and you'll dance to my tune. Sit down and learn your place." The room fell silent, a mixture of tension and uncertainty in the air.

"I could off you right here, and you wouldn't even see it coming," Jack threatened, or at least attempted to.

"Bitch, please. Who are you fooling? There's no mana here. At this moment, you're just a feeble, cocky man who can't see the danger staring him in the face. But since you're so keen on playing tough, how about I send you on an acid trip?"

"Distorted Perception," Rasoul waved his hand, then unleashed a power he hadn't revealed until now, "Acid Trip: Second Move - Macabre Reverie."

"AAARRRGGGGHHHH," a scream of agony erupted from Jack as he crashed to the ground. He clawed at his face, attempting to peel his skin off. He writhed and rolled on the floor like a newborn, sending shivers down the spine of the remaining leader. They were assassins, familiar with pain, but what unfolded before them was beyond their experience.

Though they were tempted to step in and plead for Jack, what they heard next silenced them, forcing them to sit back down with mouths shut, staring at Jack's tortured screams.

"Those aspiring to take his spot should speak up for him. There's plenty more where this came from for each of you."... They all averted their gazes, unable to intervene given Jack's agonizing state. They had no business meddling.

"Wise choice."

"Before we dive into the main event, I need to know who's the genius behind those assassins sent after the Princess. Basically, I want to meet the brain behind this operation," Rasoul demanded.

All eyes pointed at a young man, looking to be in his 30s. "Well, would you look at that? In the face of overwhelming power, friends start pointing fingers."

Rasoul shifted his gaze to the man, waved his hand, and intoned, "Acid Trip: Fifth Move - Petrifying Dread." Instantly, the man's screams surpassed even Jack's in intensity. He was trapped in a horror, more chilling than he could have imagined.

***[Acid Trip: Active] - (Tier 4)

[Haunting Visions:]

>>Implants ghastly and nightmarish images into the minds of the targets, tormenting them with disturbing hallucinations.

[Macabre Reverie:]

>>Transports victims into a nightmarish dreamscape filled with grotesque and horrifying scenes that tap into their deepest fears.

[Abominable Illusion:]

>>Twists the dream world with horrifying illusions, subjecting the targets to nightmarish scenarios beyond their worst nightmares.

[Cruel Night Terrors:]

>>Forces the dreamer to experience unspeakable horrors, amplifying their dread and anxiety within the surreal nightmare scape.

[Petrifying Dread:]

>>Inflicts an overwhelming sense of terror, making the dreamers feel trapped in a never-ending abyss of horror.

[Abyssal Torment:]

>>Plunges the dreamers into a world of perpetual suffering, where every moment is a struggle against unspeakable nightmares, pushing them to the brink of desperation.***

-------

He yearned to unleash this power on the seven heirs who had once killed him in his Clay form. He wanted them to taste death repeatedly, to endure a terror so horrifying that they would think a million times before crossing anyone again.

Rasoul was a highly calculated individual, not one to go on a random killing spree like a maniac. His goal was to deliver a fatal blow to the Seven Families, rendering them vulnerable to his mercy.

The toll of his supposed death wasn't limited to him alone. His Master also experienced torrents of grief that drove him to cross boundaries he wouldn't have under normal circumstances. He became entangled with the underworld and caught the attention of the most notorious assassin network in the Empire.

As the two writhed on the floor, screaming in agony, Rasoul turned to the others and said, "I'm not usually this violent, but something terrible happened to me recently—a game-changing event, you could say. Long story short, I don't give a damn about anyone anymore except myself and my companions. So, I'll pose a question, and all I need from you is an answer. Simple, right?"

"Dare I ask, do you all want to become my slaves and serve me for all eternity?" All 32 nodded.

In an instant, 32 new slaves were added to his slave seal.

[Slave seal]

- [][Semi-Saint - (39)][]

"That wasn't too difficult now, was it?" Rasoul grinned as he casually shifted his gaze toward a very handsome gentleman sitting at the far end of the table.

"You must be Princess Vina's brother," Rasoul remarked with a devilish smile.

"Yes... Yes, sir," the prince answered with a shaky voice.

"Hahaha, look at you trembling like a puppy. Let's be real, you're a disgrace to all men. Instead of facing your issues head-on, you resorted to underhanded tactics. Normally, I wouldn't bother meddling in a petty sibling feud. But you, my friend, went to the extreme of hiring goons to harm orphans and loot orphanages just to tarnish your sister's reputation. That's a low blow, and as a staunch supporter of gender equality, I must say, you lack the courage of a man or the grace of a lady."

"I won't kill or torture you; that would be mercy for a selfish and self-conceited bastard like you. What I have in mind is far more potent and cruel. The best part? You'll willingly embrace it without the ability to resist," Rasoul continued, walking towards the prince, precisely delivering his words.

"I'm going to make you devote your heart, mind, and soul to supporting the Princess for all eternity. You'll become her lackey, handling all the dirty work while she enjoys her time in a more relaxed setting. Your free will is forfeit. Starting today, your sole purpose is to serve your sister in joy and love," Rasoul declared as he activated three abilities.

"Spiritual Erosion: Third Move - Ephemeral Chains." The prince momentarily froze as ethereal chains bound his soul, rendering him immobile. Rasoul then activated Mind Manipulation, instantly gaining access to his mind, and imprinted the slave seal.

He returned to his seat, settled down, casually gestured with his hand, and the two writhing on the floor ceased their screams, waking up with pale faces and sweat-soaked bodies.

"I hope you've learned a thing or two," Rasoul said as he implanted the seal into their weakened minds.

"Starting today, you all answer to me. The prince will provide you with passes; use them to access the tomb and make every effort to gather resources. Additionally, utilize your spy networks to collect intel on the seven great families across the human Empire. I expect a comprehensive report in one month," Rasoul declared.

"Furthermore, dispatch elite assassins to infiltrate the great families in the other kingdoms. Be sure to choose the cream of the crop."

"Yes, Master," they responded in unison.

'Alright, you can all leave now. I'll reach out if I need anything. Also, use this connection to contact me in case of any developments,' Rasoul said, employing Telepathy.

After their departure, Sabrat turned to Rasoul and inquired, "Aren't we using the passes to enter the tomb? Why hand all three to them?"

"I already have one, so there's no need for us to take those," Rasoul replied, but Sabrat remained dissatisfied and pressed on.

"What about us? Aren't we going with you? Don't tell me you plan on going alone."

"Buddy, aren't you forgetting something," Rasoul replied, pointing to his space ring. "We have this. I can bring millions with me if I want to."

Sabrat froze as he realized the capabilities of the ring. He had overlooked the fact that there was a world inside it, surpassing the beauty of the outside world. The realm within the ring was so vast that Rasoul hadn't even explored 10% of it.

"What you should be contemplating now is your strength. I have the corpse and core of a Saint Assassin and also the Corpse, Core, and essence of the Great Beast I killed during the monster tide. I think it's about time you evolve, don't you think?"

"Finally," Sabrat replied cheerfully. He yearned to surpass Lara in strength, but that tiger kept getting stronger by the day. Now, he had the opportunity to outshine her in all aspects, or so he thought, until he heard Rasoul addressing Lara.

"I've also brought back some goodies from the Ringworld. Why don't we use them to upgrade you, too? But first, we need to get back to Orange Field City and enter the ring from there.

'System, teleport the three of us.'

[That will cost 1,000,000 Fire points.]

'Take it.'

Immediately, a magic circle appeared, and poof, the three vanished, leaving the room empty.