Trapping the Assassins

Two days earlier, Rasoul received a report from Kelvin, the heir of the Cilas family. The report unveiled a crucial insight into why the seven great families wield such formidable power—it's attributed to the possession of three semi-saint assassins each. Every great family boasts one of these skilled assassins, enabling them to act with a certain level of impunity, seemingly indifferent to the rules governing the kingdoms.

Intrigued by the news, Rasoul reached out to the Semi-Saints he had subjugated from the Great Families, and to his surprise, the information proved to be accurate.

Aware that the great families might employ these assassins to ensnare him if the alleged negotiation turned out to be a ruse, Rasoul understood the need for a swift plan to eliminate this threat.

He directed his subordinates to strategize, proposing a plan to lure all the other assassins into a single location. The intention was to ambush and subdue them before proceeding to the scheduled meeting with the heads of the great families.

Two days later, upon their return to the capital, Rasoul convened with his semi-saint slaves. As a united force, they journeyed to the designated location for the planned ambush.

This time, Rasoul refrained from preparing any array formation, as he entrusted Sabrat with taking the lead. Given Sabrat's recent upgrade, Rasoul believed in allowing him to transform into his formidable beast form, relying on the sheer aura to accomplish the task. However, what Rasoul wasn't aware of was that Sabrat had devised an alternative plan for the undertaking.

---

In a room not far from the capital, 14 figures were seated, the palpable tension in the atmosphere revealing their mutual displeasure in each other's company. Despite their shared commitment to the legacy's cause, the families harbored a deep-seated animosity toward one another. The desire to lunge at each other and settle their differences was palpable.

After a 30-minute wait, Sabrat and his companions entered the room. Instantly, the room became charged with a readiness for combat. However, before the situation could escalate, Draven, the assassin from the Charles family, intervened.

"Hold on, tigers. No need for alarm; they are our friends. Let's show them some respect instead of drawing our daggers. We wouldn't want our guests to perceive us as brutes, now would we?" Draven remarked, attempting to diffuse the tension.

"What's the meaning of this, Draven?" questioned a young man with short black hair and pale blue eyes.

 "It's quite simple. My master desired a conversation with all of you, so I thought it would be more interesting to bring you together for the discussion." Draven answered.

Perplexed, the man pressed further, "What do you mean? The family heads are in a meeting, anticipating the arrival of those three nuisances."

"I'm not referring to those fools. I'm talking about him," he said, pointing at Rasoul.

A surprised expression crossed their faces as he disclosed who his master was. Just like a premonition, they instantly understood what was about to unfold. Thoughts of strategy raced through their minds, but before they could formulate a concrete plan, Sabrat spoke in a cold and threatening tone.

"Now, now, we wouldn't want this to get messy, would we? Although the sight of a bloodbath brings me joy, I am currently in a phase that requires me to avoid blood for as long as possible. I wouldn't want to halt halfway, so do me a favor and comply without resistance. I'm sure you wouldn't want things to escalate."

He continued speaking as he advanced toward them, "I realize this might sound peculiar, but which one of you would like to become my slave?" He asked, accompanied by an evil smirk.

"Any volunteers? No?," he paused, scanning their faces before continuing, "I understand it's a lot to process, but let's make things simple. While killing can be amusing, I prefer a more peaceful resolution when possible. Considering you all have families to return to, and I'd rather avoid any 'Fast and Furious' scenarios, I suggest you make a wise choice and accept my offer.

In a chilling tone, he reiterated, "I pose the question again: Who is willing to be my slave?"

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. They were aware that the person standing before them was perilous, but their group of fourteen felt more than capable of handling the situation.

Rasoul sensed that Sabrat had a hidden agenda, but the details eluded him. On the contrary, Lara seemed indifferent, standing at the entrance with her arms folded.

"You must be delusional to think you can single-handedly overpower us. Despite our differences and mutual animosity, when it comes to facing you and your associates, we'll always unite. After all, we still have seven traitors to apprehend," remarked another young man with dark blonde hair, his face displaying disdain as he observed the seven Semi-Saint slaves positioned alongside Rasoul.

Well, I tried, but it seems like violence is the only solution. How about we visit a tough situation for a bit? Maybe that will make you reconsider.

"Gate Of Damnation - First Form: Hell Visit... As soon as Sabrat spoke those words, a big gate showed up and pulled the 14 assassins in right away. Then he looked at Rasoul and Lara and said, 'I'll be back soon.' After that, he went into the gate and both he and the gate disappeared."

"What happened?" Rasoul asked immediately, staring at Lara.

"I don't know! You're supposed to have all the answers. Why not ask the system instead...

[Forget it, I won't tell you anything]

"Wait, what!? What do you mean? Stop playing around... I need answers."

[ 10,000,000 Fire points will make me talk. ]

'Dream on. I will wait for Sabrat to come back and ask him myself. 

[Suit Yourself.]

-----

After being sucked into the gate, Sabrat and the other 13 folks found themselves right in hell. It was a fiery place, with flames dancing and making eerie shadows on sharp, dark landscapes.

The heat was intense, making it hard to breathe, and the air was filled with screams of tortured souls. Creepy creatures with fiery eyes lurked in the shadows, showing the eternal suffering of this nightmarish abyss. The whole place screamed agony. The air seemed to torture minds, and the flames kept burning hot.

The 14 assassins began screaming in agony. Some dropped to the floor, while others turned and pleaded with Sabrat. The pain they endured was beyond this world. They appeared lost in a torturous illusion causing relentless suffering.

As time passed, a dark aura enveloped them, penetrating their minds. Their screams intensified, but this time, they seemed more dead than alive.

Sabrat sat on a throne made of skulls, calmly sipping from a dark cup emitting fiery red smoke. His entire demeanor indicated his authority in that domain. His influence there was unquestionable. Sometime later, He raised his head and spoke.

"This could have been easier, but you chose to complicate things for me.

"Please, make it stop... The man with pale blue eyes pleaded.

"Why would I want to do that? You opted for the hard way, so enjoy it. It's not like you'll die. I'm in control here. I decide who lives and who dies, so don't be afraid," Sabrat said, devoid of any sympathy in his tone. He remained unaffected by their distress, showing no concern for their pain.

"Please, I'm willing to be your servant. Just make it stop," he said, his voice filled with agony.

"But you've misunderstood. I'm not here hoping you'll accept my request. It's quite the opposite; I aim to break you and reshape you with the flames from hell. Soon, all of you will be under my command, walking the path of hell alongside me.

Saying this, the fire intensified, and the screams grew louder. Yet, Sabrat remained unaffected, calmly sipping his hellish wine.

After some time, their mental strength waned. Sabrat applied the sealing mark. Once the seal was in place in their minds, the gateway reappeared, and they were transported back to the room where Rasoul and Lara awaited anxiously.

"It's done, boss. They are now under your command," Sabrat immediately declared upon exiting the Gate.

"What the hell was that, Sabrat?" Rasoul questioned promptly about the gate, but Sabrat casually dismissed the query, pretending ignorance.

"I'm talking about the Gate thing. Care to spill the beans?" Rasoul pressed on.

"Shouldn't you already know about that? I acquired it after my last upgrade. It's neither an ability nor a technique; to be honest, I don't even know what it is," Sabrat answered with an air of mystery. While he wanted to disclose information about the gate, he genuinely did not know its nature.

With no other options, Rasoul turned to the system.

[Well, well, well, the prodigal son returns], the system remarked.

'Gloat all you want. But first, tell me how many Fire Points I have,' Rasoul demanded.

[Fire Points: 250,989,000], the system replied.

'Take the necessary fire points and provide information about Sabrat's ability,' Rasoul instructed, a hint of annoyance evident in his voice.

[That will be 20,000,000 Fire Points], the system stated.

'Are you kidding me? Why increase it when you already said 10,000,000 a few minutes ago?' Rasoul exclaimed.

[No reason; I want to show you the consequences of rejecting my offer]

'You are evil, Rasoul remarked.

[You don't have to tell me that.]

Just take it and tell me what I want to know," Rasoul urged.

[Your subordinate Sabrat received an innate ability when you upgraded him; before you ask, Innate abilities are like the blessings you received from the God of War. It's within him. He gained this ability based on his Class and Personality. You might have already suspected the Necro-Smith ability goes beyond what you know], the system explained.

"Are you trying to tell me Sabrat isn't just a random creation?" Rasoul questioned.

[Not entirely sure, but I guess we will know once you create new subordinates]

'Is there anything unique about this innate ability?" Rasoul inquired.

[It's beyond the word unique. It gets stronger as the subordinate rises in the ranks. Should one day your subordinate awaken like Lara, he will get an upgrade to this innate ability,]

'That is great then; as long as my subordinates are stronger, I feel more at ease," Rasoul remarked.

[You should be the more vigilant host. I know your subordinates won't betray you, but remember that they have their personalities, so evil innate abilities can influence them into doing some unethical things], the system warned.

'As far as those unethical things are done to bad guys, I won't reprimand them.

[And you calling me evil]

'Kindly show me the ability now?

Ding....

[Innate Ability: Gate of Damnation]...