Like a wave, one by one they dropped to their knees. The harsh footsteps echoed throughout the dark dimension, the feeling of dread coming near. Thiệu had created some sort of alternate plane. Suruj didn’t even notice the change. He could barely find the will to look up from the floor. One of the soldiers attempted to talk.

“Mr. Thiệu, w- what brings you here to-”

“Silence. Who gave you permission to speak?”

“Yessir…”

There was a long silence.

Suruj could feel the minutes passing by slower than anxiousness itself.

There was silence.

Thiệu interrupted the silence, “It hasn’t been evening. And yet you still intend to cause a ruckus in the town? Do you know that I have to deal with the paperwork to make sure that the Wakoku ‘Basad Kesat isn’t up on our necks?”

No one responded.

No one moved.

Just utter silence.

The true meaning of fear entrenched in everyone’s body.

“I could kill every, single, one of you here right now. However you nine are the piece to the puzzle. I’m disappointed in all of you. Suruj.”

His shoulders perked up upon hearing his own name. He felt the stiffness in his neck.

“You were a part of the instigating group, thus will serve punishment. And Saya, although you intended to quell the situation in the end, it is your fault alone for planning it. Out of everyone here, you disappoint me the most.”

Suruj shifted his head slightly to see Saya. It was true that she was partly to blame, but he was the one that started the fight. It was his fault. Thiệu spoke again.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Ashojan. You prevented Saya from stopping Suruj’s antics. You deserve to be punished. But I will be lenient this time. I will allow you to choose a person that attempted scat to bear the penalty with you,” In a flash, Suruj was held up in the air, held by his wrist. Thiệu had him. Suruj didn’t even realize what happened. Such speed. But it wasn’t the time to compliment him. Suruj’s body went numb at Thiệu’s iron grip. He was scared. If anything, he didn’t want to die. If he died, then everything would be in vain. He wouldn’t get his change to destroy Al-Wa, and the tournament.

“Decide quickly. I will count to five,” Thiệu went on, staring layering sheets of terror. “For every number you wait, I will cut one of Suruj’s fingers off. Starting with his little one.”

Cut fingers?! Suruj’s internal panicking system went off. He used every curse word he found in his brain. He shook his body violently. It was useless. He couldn’t manifest saharic particles either. It was either they were in an unknown domain or Thiệu was preventing him from assimilating. His fingers. He didn’t want it to-

“One. Mahou Kamisori.”

Blood scattered everywhere. Intensified agony. Perpetual pain. His finger…

“Ghhhhhh! Puñeta! Ashojan! Ashojan, you putang ina!”

His feet trembled in the air. Helpless. It hurt like a blaze. As if his hand was bursting in flames. He could still feel it. He could still feel the finger falling to the floor. For a moment, he saw Tvuj about to stand up.

“Don’t!” He yelled over the mountain of pain. “Ashojan, Ashojan! Listen! Look at me!”

Ashojan, shaking, slowly lifted his head at him. His face was covered with a bandana, with only his eyes visible. Everyone looked on in horror.

“L- Listen! Just choose me, then it’ll be ove- AHHH-”

“Two.”

He screamed in deafening agony. Another finger flew off into the distance. He wanted it to end. His heart was going to burst. Suruj could barely keep his eyes open. He only had three fingers remaining on his left hand.

“Gh, gh, ghhhh…” He took sharp breaths. “A- Ashojan…”

“Hyun-woo, Toqemur, Saya, or Suruj. What will it be?”

“I will be with Ashojan.”

Everyone turned to the person that had risen to their feet. Saya raised her hand, without a hint of nervousness. She stared in defiance to Thiệu’s glare. With a release, Suruj was dropped to the floor. Saya…

“Suruj! Oi! Suruj!” Mouka stood up as she frantically called.

He curled up into a ball, grasping his left hand. It was the only thing he could focus on. The pain surged throughout his body. Tears fell out of his face as everything faded to black. Maybe it was retribution. Maybe he deserved it. Every encounter led him to discover a meaning of this world.

Terror.