Pity? Incredulity? Both.

On a lonely empty afternoon, the air was tense. A lady stood at the edge of a cliff with waves crashing against the steep, stone slope. The mist and air intertwined with the lady's abrupt laughter.

"Betrayal will always come with a price. The only reason why this principle is forgotten is because people never cash in full nor do the debtors pay in full. Mercy is a luxury for those who live in their ignorant fantasy world. I do not live in such a place nor do I ever want to visit. You say that God will spare those who are merciful and smite those who are not.

Well, to that I say, 'Down with that pretentious being!' If he wants me to spare pitiful, disgusting traitors like yourselves, then God will have to step down from his so-called "Mighty Kingdom" to attempt to convince me. Also, that's if I even feel like meeting him.", the lady tilted her head and her voice changed from a sarcastic tone to a threatening malice.

"God is a concept foolish humans came up with to explain their follies. I reject such excuses. Humans determine their own self worth and control the environment around them. Mutuality and tolerance are the key to the so-called 'Peace' that is desired by many. My doctrine achieves peace through mutuality and tolerance while encouraging equality through merit and maintaining it through rewards and punishments.

Everyone was informed of the rules to be followed when they joined me. What happened to the arrogant parasites who mocked those being punished in the past? I believed that the due punishment would be entertaining for you all since you very much enjoyed isolating and destroying those I punished. Those people were unlike you all. They did not beg for mercy! They welcomed their retribution with open arms! I respected them for they kept their pride and dignity unlike you all!", the lady's tone changed once again into one of disgust as she created a fifth layer of a barrier with the wave of her left arm.

"You all absolutely disgust me to no end. Perhaps when you were born you may have had potential, but now? You've wasted it all! There are no words for exactly how much I loathe you all at this very moment. There is nothing to label you with as calling you swine or insects would be insults to them. They at least have some use. You all can't be called 'nothing' because that would be an insult to dead space as well as myself and those who truly matter.

As much as I would enjoy dismembering you to use you as fertilizer for my garden, I'm afraid I'm feeling a bit dark today."

The lady clapped her hands together and hooked her lips into a bright, sinful smile with the undercurrents of danger. Her eyes were clear without any hint of corruption. Disregarding her words, if one didn't know who was standing on the increasingly stormy cliff, they would assume the beautiful lady was speaking to her lover and children.

The lady lifted her right foot languidly before stomping it and causing cracks to form beneath her. The hairline cracks grew more defined going outward from her and caused half-meter deep crevices to form 3 meters away from her. People started collapsing one by one as their minds couldn't handle the pressure from the shock wave that was released by the lady. The 9 traitors in front of the lady broke out into cold sweats before collapsing. The lady looked around her and her attendants motioned over towards the back of the crowd of spectators.

A group of young children coldly looked on as adults and children alike fell into a deep slumber around them. The lady smirked and crooked her left index finger towards them bringing them over. While they were surprised they didn't voice it out and just observed her. A few even showed excitement which earned a short chuckle from the lady. Then her eyes turned sharp as she looked at the traitors foaming at the mouth.

"You weak things! Get your @sses up! I haven't even allowed you to collapse have I?" She turned to the man on her left and asked "Have I allowed those d@mned traitors to sleep?" His mouth twitched as he held in his laughter. He had jet black hair and turquoise eyes that twinkled as he was entertained by her. "No my lady, you haven't graced them with your decision."

Those in the crowd who were awake and the children by her side felt their mouths twitch as well. The emotions they felt were difficult to describe.

Pity? Towards the arrogant fools who walked into the mouth of a demon?

Incredulity at how the personality of the enchanting lady changed from a regal empress with the aristocratic world under her feet to a gangster queen who ruled the underworld with the regular world in her back pocket?

Ah, yes.

It's probably a combination of both. Just as they finished those thoughts the lady turned her head to them.

"Tell me, did I give those disgusting scum permission to sleep? Have I graced them with my verbal verdict yet? Have I given them the honor of receiving their last verbal abuse from me?" The bystanders and children all unanimously answered "No".

"So why the bloody heck are they so weak? When I wake them up, I'm going to hang them upside down and pour cola down their nose just like S0u60*." The crowd below looked at her in confusion while the man to her left and her two female attendants smiled and giggled respectively.

"Alright! Shush! We have to look stoic and you all have to look nervous, fearful, etcetera. It's the key to having them know that I don't play these games! Come on! Poker face! Become award winning actors and actresses!"

Everyone below sighed in resignation while the lady's 3 people cleared their throats. The lady of the hour however brought out a snack from God-knows-where and finished it off before waving her arm.

Nine men and women woke up looking filthy with their foam mixed with the dirt on the ground. One man actually urinated on himself. He immediately blushed when he looked at his pants before he turned pale. "Gutless, dirty thing. Even the twenty year old woman didn't make such a mess of herself." The lady murmured this line before she projected her voice towards the man.

"I'm so disgusted by you right now that I just want to kill you by drowning you in bleach. Sadly, I don't like the smell of bleach." The dark haired man's eyes watered a bit as he held back his laughter. 'Lady Chao is ridiculous.' When his eyes were regained their calm, he cleared his voice to get the lady's attention and stepped forward when he saw the sign of acknowledgement. "My lady, if you would like, I may deal with this coward the way you want. If you're still uneasy, you can instruct me step-by-step and I can record it for you."

"Thank you Furvus. Let's do that." Then she turned to the remaining eight, "As a reward for your ability to control your bodily functions, you all get one last request. As long as it doesn't have anything with letting you live, I'll grant it."

Man 1: "I'd like a 4 course meal. I'm not asking for multiple types of cuisine. I just want an appetizer, a small entree, the actual meal, and a dessert. I'm not picky with food. The only thing I dare to add is that you cook it for me."

Man 2: "I would like for my animals to be given to my family with their memories of me replaced with their new owners."

Man 3: "Please call my name one last time. I'll pray for your success in all your exploits in another place." Chao turned to him and gave him a gentle, genuine smile. "If I come across you again untainted, I'll bring you under my wing once more, Abdo." He smiled back and closed his eyes. When he sensed her gaze move somewhere else, he allowed his tears to fall slowly, gently and silently.

Man 4: "Please get my children registered in your schools."

Woman 1: "Could I get a kiss on my hand from the attendant there." She tilted her head with a reddened nose as she pointed to one of the ladies. The attendant she pointed to covered her mouth and nodded her head at her. "If you want her, find her and marry her." The lady looked at her attendant's eyes and then the woman's.

Woman 2: "I would like to listen to a collection of my favorite songs as I die"

Woman 3: "Can my clothes be recycled into clothes for my family?"

Woman 4: "I would like to eat with him." She tilted her chin towards man 1 and giggled when she saw his surprise.

"Alright. Furvus, deal with the children's registration. You give her the kiss however you want. You deal with the animals and clothes. The meals will be ready in an hour. After they're finished eating, all of you are dying."

"You stupid wench! Just try to get your dog of a lackey to kill me! I'll pee in your mouth and force you to swallow it! Even better, I'll impregnate you!" The pee man rushed towards the lady as he yelled hoarsely. His eyes strayed over her body, but before he could reach even 3 cm of her, he coughed up blood and slid down the previously invisible barrier.

"You couldn't wait for Furvus to finish his job? Rude." A playful and seductive voice filled his ears. When the man looked up, he saw Chao looking at him while pulling her clothes. "I'll have to punish you mister."

Just as the man started fantasizing about her naked body beneath him, Chao grabbed him by his jaw with one hand and disappeared.