It’s Jared again you know what that means.

Frustration consumed Jared as he unleashed a barrage of punches upon his room's wall. Each blow reverberated through the air, cracks forming in its wake. Oblivious to the structural damage, he cursed vehemently, his voice filled with rage. "Damn it! How could I let her surpass me in strength?!" His fists continued to collide with the unyielding surface. "She gained that power solely from acquiring a sponsor! You are worthless, Xipe Totec! Utterly worthless!"

Suddenly, the door swung open, and two armed guards entered, escorting a man from the faction between them. Unfazed by the crumbling wall, Jared struck it one last time before turning his attention to the intruders. The guards bowed before their leader, compelling the captive to follow suit.

"Sir," one of the guards saluted, "This man was attempting to foment rebellion against you! What would you like us to do with him?"

Jared grinned, acknowledging the guard's report. "Thank you, Sergeant 5. Leave him with me, and I'll handle it."

"Yes, sir!" The guards saluted and departed, leaving the man alone with Jared.

Jared paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back. "Soldier 151, enlighten me: Why do you believe I do what I do?"

The man spat at Jared, his contempt evident. "Because you're an evil, power-hungry tyrant."

Jared chuckled darkly. "You're half right, Soldier 151. I am indeed power-hungry. However, an army is only as strong as its weakest link." He halted his pacing, forcing the soldier to meet his gaze. "That is precisely why I surround myself with only the strongest."

"Now, Soldier 151, let me tell you about the Black Death," Jared resumed his restless stride. "It all began with rats—a single rat had the potential to annihilate an entire village. If a rat infiltrated an army, the consequences would be catastrophic." He paused, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Do you know what I would do to a rat that infiltrated my army?" Without awaiting a response, Jared triggered a gruesome display. Blood erupted from the soldier's body, forcefully flowing into a flask on the nearby table. Jared's smile twisted into a wicked grin. "I would exterminate it."

The soldier's eyes widened in terror as he futilely struggled against the invisible force that held him captive. "Please, sir," he pleaded, his voice trembling, "have mercy!"

Jared's sneer deepened, his sadistic satisfaction palpable. The rush of power coursed through his veins, fueling his cruel resolve. "Mercy," he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt, "is a luxury reserved for the weak, Soldier 151. You should have realized that when you willingly joined my army."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

In a final surge of energy, the soldier's body convulsed, wracked with agony, before collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Jared reached out and grabbed the flask from the table, its contents a testament to his macabre prowess. Taking a gleeful sip, he savored the taste before sighing with twisted satisfaction. Placing the flask on a shelf, joining others that bore similar morbid trophies, he surveyed his collection.

Stepping out of the room, Jared was met by the waiting guards. His grin widened as he issued his command with a chilling nonchalance. "There is something in there that requires disposal. See to it."

The guards, well acquainted with their leader's ruthlessness, nodded in unison, their expressions betraying neither surprise nor hesitation. They understood the grim nature of their duty and swiftly moved to carry out Jared's orders, leaving him alone with the echoes of his sinister triumph.

understood the grim nature of their duty and swiftly moved to carry out Jared's orders, leaving him alone with the echoes of his sinister triumph.

As Jared strolled through the echoing halls toward the courtyard, a message abruptly flashed across his screen:

A wicked smile curled upon Jared's lips as he read the message. "Fear not, Xipe Totec," he muttered to himself, his voice laced with dark determination. "I shall exceed your expectations and make you proud."

Emerging into the courtyard of his faction, Jared projected his voice, ensuring that all within earshot would hear his proclamation. "Soldiers, it has come to my attention that discontent lingers among us, questioning the governance of our faction. If any of you harbor such dissent, step forward now."

Trepidation initially gripped a few individuals, for Jared's reputation for mercilessness and the absence of escape were well known. However, after a brief pause, five figures summoned the courage to step forward. As they expressed their desire to sever ties, a chilling grin crept across Jared's face. With a casual wave of his hand, a sinister force overcame them, and they instantly collapsed, convulsing violently as their lifeblood drained away.

Jared's voice resonated once more, a chilling declaration that pierced the silence. "Know this: Those who choose to abandon us shall serve as sacrifices to me and my sponsor. Does anyone else dare to join them?"

The assembled soldiers cowed into submission, and remained frozen in place, their silence deafening. "How utterly disheartening," Jared mused mockingly. "These lifeless vessels shall stand as a perpetual reminder of the consequences of doubting me. Approach them, lay a finger upon their tainted forms, and you shall join their fate."

Jared's words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of fear and intimidation. The soldiers dared not make a move or utter a sound, their eyes fixed on the fallen figures that lay as grotesque reminders of the consequences of rebellion. Satisfied with the silence that enveloped the courtyard, Jared turned and walked away, leaving the soldiers to contemplate their choices. The whispers of uncertainty and doubt, once present among them, had been replaced with a chilling realization of the fate that awaited those who questioned their leader's authority.