The down payment

"Adam!" Stella was the first to react, rushing to his side with a cry of alarm. Her hands hovered helplessly over him, unsure where to touch that wouldn't cause him more pain.

Yusuf and Melissa were right behind her, their faces ashen with fear.

"What's happening to him?" Yusuf said voice trembling.

Melissa was on her knees beside Adam, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch him.

"Yusuf, call an ambulance!" She finally ordered.

Their once light-hearted training session had taken a terrifying turn, transforming the gym into a scene of panic and fear.

As Adam writhed on the floor, they could only watch helplessly, their hearts aching with worry for him.

They were awash with terror, each person grappling with their own feelings of helplessness as Adam continued to shudder on the floor.

"We don't have time for an ambulance." Stella was screaming, eyes wide and frantic as she hovered over Adam.

Yusuf was clutching his phone. "I'll get the car ready, we'll get him to a hospital!"

"No!" The sudden protest from Adam had everyone freezing. His voice was hoarse and gritted out through clenched teeth, but the command in his tone was unmistakable.

"But Adam—" Melissa started to protest, her hand reaching out to him, only to freeze mid-air as Adam shook his head vehemently.

"No...hospital." The words were broken, each one seeming to cost him immense effort. He gasped for air, his face pale and beads of sweat dotting his forehead.

Everyone fell silent at that, their eyes wide as they stared down at Adam, struggling with his command. Yusuf, who had been watching the scene unfold in mute shock, was the first to react.

"Adam," he said, his voice stern despite the fear that was evident in his eyes. "You're in pain. We need to get you to a hospital."

"No..." Adam repeated, his voice barely more than a whisper now. His eyes were clenched shut, but he managed to open them enough to lock onto his father's. The sheer determination in his gaze was enough to quiet any further protests.

"Adam," Melissa said, her voice shaking. "You need to go, you need to get checked."

Adam forced himself into a sitting position, a sheen of sweat making his skin glisten. He sucked in a sharp breath before managing to give a small smile.

"I'm fine, really," he assured them, his voice sounding more steady now.

He glanced around at the anxious faces surrounding him. "I know you're all worried, but there's nothing to be alarmed about."

Melissa didn't seem convinced, her face pale as she watched Adam with a mixture of relief and concern. "Adam, you were in so much pain...what happened?" she asked, her voice shaky.

Before he could answer, the gym door burst open and in came Annabelle. Her face was a picture of confusion and concern. "What the hell is going on?" she demanded, scanning the room and its anxious occupants. "Is everyone okay?"

Adam nodded at her. "Yes, everything is fine." he said, managing to push himself up to his feet. He swayed slightly but remained standing.

The smile on his face was bittersweet. "I think...I think I know what happened, but I need to tell you something about my talent."

Adam cleared his throat and began explaining. "When you awaken your talent in the Dreamverse you are given a talent weakness, mine took the form of a negative trait. It's called 'Sole Weapon Bond'... the trait means that I can no longer use any other weapon for combat. If I even have any intentions of using another weapon in combat, I'll experience soul-searing pain."

He gestured to the wooden spear on the ground. "Like what happened just now."

The room was silent as they absorbed his words. "I just didn't expect it to apply on Earth," Adam continued, running a hand through his hair. "Considering I don't have access to my skills here…"

"I'm sorry, Mum," he turned to Melissa with an apologetic look on his face. "I can't spar with you. I can only use the Immortal Dream Blade as a weapon... and I don't have access to it here."

Melissa looked at him, worry in her eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a comforting smile. "Don't worry about it, Adam. It's okay."

Adam pushed himself up, stretching and wincing slightly as the last bits of pain subsided. "Since I can't use a weapon, there's nothing stopping me from using my fists."

Melissa's eyes widened, "Adam, I..."

He quickly waved her off, grinning. "Don't worry about hurting me, Mum. My second highest attribute is constitution. I can handle a bit of a scuffle."

He scanned the room, his eyes lighting up with an idea. "In fact, everyone grab a weapon. Let's do some practice together."

---

The meeting room was filled with tension as Adam and Annabelle sat on one side of the table, a bodyguard standing protectively behind them. On the opposite side, a group of well-dressed professionals from a top advertising agency fidgeted nervously, led by a high-ranking executive.

Annabelle, kept her gaze steady. "We need you to market our organization," she clarified, her voice firm. "It's called the Immortal Dream Cult."

The room fell into a tense silence as the marketing team blinked back at them. Adam could almost see the thoughts whirling in their heads - the confusion, the hesitance.

'Cults aren't usually open about their status, let alone looking for advertisement,' he thought. It was clear from their expressions that this was uncharted territory for them.

Annabelle waited patiently, her gaze not faltering as she held the gaze of the executive. But the silence dragged on, the room heavy with uncertainty.

Across the table, the head of the marketing team, a silver-haired executive named Harris, was visibly struggling with the proposition laid before him. Adam could practically hear the man's inner conflict.

"I must admit, Ms. Emmanuel," Harris began, choosing his words carefully, "this is a highly unconventional request. We've worked with a broad range of organizations before... charities, businesses, political parties... but never a... a cult."

There was an edge of disbelief in his voice that Adam could empathize with. It wasn't everyday someone approached a reputable agency asking them to advertise a cult.

Undeterred, Annabelle retrieved a briefcase from under the table, popped the locks open, and slid it across to the team. The lid flipped open to reveal neatly stacked bundles of cash, immediately drawing gasps from the team.

"I understand your concerns, Mr. Harris," Annabelle said, her voice cool and steady. "But our organization is legitimate, and we're willing to pay for your services." She nodded towards the briefcase. "Consider that a down payment."

Harris blinked at the sight of the money, his face growing paler by the second. He hesitated, glancing towards his team who were looking equally stunned. "We...uh...we will need to discuss this internally," he stuttered, clearly torn between the lucrative offer and the ethical dilemma.

"That's fine," Annabelle replied calmly, "but remember, we need this to be out yesterday."

Struggling to regain his composure, Harris nodded, "We'll...we'll put something together."

"Good," Annabelle replied, standing up.

Adam followed her lead, leaving behind a marketing team trying to make sense of the unorthodox request and the mountain of cash on the table.

As Adam and Annabelle stepped out of the firm's building, they both felt a strange mix of satisfaction and unease. They were one step closer to their goal.

"That's the third firm we've visited so far," Annabelle mused, her gaze distant. "Luckily The Children of the End didn't manage to get their claws in these guys, too."

Adam sighed, tugging at the collar of his shirt. "This just shows how important it is for us to increase our recruitment efforts," he stated, his voice hardened with resolve.

"You're right," Annabelle agreed, offering him a brief nod.

"I'm just glad your father managed to get his family on board so quickly. Without the Amin family's support, we wouldn't have had the resources to push our marketing material in front of the public's eyes at such a critical time."

Adam couldn't help but nod in agreement, thinking about the next step in his own journey. "Once I'm in the Dreamverse tonight, I should be able to upgrade my talent. I've completed a sacred sacrifice, and I've brought way more than ten people into the cult. That should be enough."

They reached the SUV parked at the curb, its blackened windows reflecting the cityscape.

As they got in, Adam gave a curt nod to the bodyguard who was waiting for them, a mountain of a man who radiated silent authority. Adam couldn't remember the bodyguard's name, he invited all the staff into the cult and it was hard to keep track of everyone's names.

"What's next on the agenda?" Adam asked as the SUV's engine rumbled to life. The bodyguard slid into the passenger seat, leaving the driver to guide the vehicle through the bustling traffic.

Annabelle picked up a sleek tablet from the console, her fingers flying across the screen with practiced ease. "We have two more meetings before we can call it a day," she replied, her tone crisp.

Adam took a deep breath and leaned back against the plush leather seat. "Alright," he replied simply. With each passing hour, they were carving out a foothold in this new, chaotic world.

In the comfortable silence of the SUV, Adam turned towards his aunt. "Aunt Annabelle," he began, "Why did you invite only me to accompany you to these meetings? I would have thought you'd include Stella, at least."

Annabelle remained quiet for a moment, not taking her eyes off the tablet screen. "I needed your input, you are the leader of the cult after all."

Adam frowned at her answer, sensing something wasn't quite right. There was something up, everyone has been a bit weird for a few hours now.

He let the topic drop, and the vehicle sank into silence once again, punctuated only by the hum of the engine and the occasional beep of Annabelle's tablet.

Eventually, Adam broke the silence, voicing out his concern. "I'm worried about how fast The Children of the End are expanding. We're currently in the dark, but once the public starts seeing our advertisements for the cult..."

Annabelle finally looked up from her tablet, her gaze steady on him. "It is highly concerning," she admitted. "But remember, they don't have the unique advantage we do."

Adam couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that the others weren't taking the threat posed by The Children of the End seriously enough.

Annabelle seemed to read his thoughts, shaking her head slightly. "If you're worried about them, then use your resources. Create some stumbling blocks for them."

Adam tilted his head. "You're talking about Grandma?"

She nodded, her gaze resolute. "The Amin family is providing us financial support, and it makes sense for the Emmanuel family to utilize their connections and political power to smooth our path."

Adam mulled over her words, processing the idea. "Can you pass me the phone? I'll give her a call," he decided.

As Annabelle handed him the phone, she warned, "Be careful."

Adam offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I know exactly what to say." With that, he dialed the number and held the phone to his ear, preparing for the conversation ahead.

---

Adam sat in the SUV, barely stifling a yawn.

Despite his boredom, he had to admit that it had been a productive day. Annabelle, with her relentless drive and adept negotiation skills, had managed to convince yet another major advertising firm to promote their cult.

The funds they were investing were excessive, but for the Amin family, it was hardly more than a rounding error.

As the vehicle pulled into the driveway, the bodyguard sprung to attention, stepping out of the vehicle to open the door for them.

Stepping out the vehicle, Adam threw a casual, "Thanks," over his shoulder.

The bodyguard responded with a grin and an enigmatic, "Enjoy."

Adam paused for a moment, puzzled by the bodyguard's word choice, but quickly shrugged it off.

Instead, his attention was drawn to the row of expensive cars lining the street - evidence of the new guests; his uncles and his grandfather. His father's love for cars, it seemed, ran in the family.

Entering the house, Adam found it eerily quiet.

'Where the hell is everyone?' Adam couldn't help but frown seeing no one around.

As he entered the living room, a grin spread across his face, taking in the sight before him.