Malcolm Specter woke up with amnesia. It was dark. He tried to look around, but found he could not move his head. This angered him. Was he captive? His mind felt strange, foggy and weak. He tried to push away this weakness to make way for his resolve of steel, but he found he could not.

Where am I?

His last memory was of him holding a Numa crystal by the nightfire of the camp. He knew, just knew time had passed since then. But whenever he tried to reach for those memories, there was nothing but a haze. FoRGeTT

What? What is this? Have I been drugged by something?

Suddenly a voice spoke. It wasn’t that much a voice as it was a sensation within his mind. But it had a specific sound to it. It was an ominous and tyrannical tone, yet it had a subtlety and softness to it. Malcolm Specter had spent a lot of time with hard men, persuasive men, even dangerous men. But never had he encountered a voice which demanded such space. SUbMiT. SeRVE.

Ah, my pet. You are awake at last. That is good. I must start my work with you.

Malcolm tried to struggle. What was this? He must have been captured by the enemy—MAsTerR. He tried to remember, but the oppressive force pressed on his mind, giving his thoughts no space.

The camp… Focus on the camp. I had organized it. Logan was being difficult. People were adjusting. I am their leader. SErVe!

You were wasted with the other insects. You have so much potential. So I took you.

The LevemothMASTER took him? Why couldn’t he remember? Malcolm tried to speak, but he could not. He didn’t have any bodily sensations. He tried moving, breathing, raging at whatever was restricting his will, but nothing worked. His anger boiled, but something powerful pressed it down.

Be patient, Greedy One. You need not do anything. Just listen. I will give you reign later.

Tsk. Greed has never driven me. It was always ambition.

The presence was filled with mirth. It let out a hollow laugh which echoed in the endless darkness.

You think you know yourself and the world so well. I was born of greed, I am the eternal embodiment of the lust to own EVERYTHING. I know my kin well.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

What do you want?

To unlock you. To make you perfect and then unleash you. To give you this world.

You are that creature in the sky? You have been trying to kill us since the start. Why would I trust you?

I do not need your trust, insect. I am no more evil than a tiger is evil when it eats the deer. We all act according to our nature. And it is in your nature to rule. I will make you a ruler.

Malcolm’s hard intellect and skepticism triggered. Ten questions popped up and his mind went to negotiation strategy. But the creature noticed this and flicked something at him lazily. His thoughts were muddled again, and all he could think of was something simple and straightforward.

Why need me? Why not do it yourself?

I am but a seed of what I should be. I was wounded a long time ago and have shriveled since. If I did not need you, do you think I would have expended resources on you?

Malcolm didn’t trust this creature. He needed to get away. Where was he? He wanted to know what had become of Logan. That fool of a son. With himself gone, the boy would have to lead. Would he be re—FoRRGetT. FEaST EATTT ConSSUmE…

An oppressive feeling came upon Malcolm, as if forcing his mind into a smaller container. The whispers came. He recognized these. Malcolm realized he had been hearing the whispers since leaving earth.

They muddled his mind and inserted ideas which started to echo. Malcolm fought a war on an open battlefield in his mind. He mustered all of his willpower and his formidable ego, to take control, to take ownership back of his mind. He pushed the whispers away. Feeling victorious, he let himself relax.

But that was when they struck him again.

The whispers came in waves, faster and faster, in and out. Increasing, increasing, until they hit a crescendo and Malcolm forgot everything but the voice.

SubMiTT. SeRvE! FoRRgET.

Malcolm tried to push the whispers away, but his mind was slipping away. All the while the oppressive, maddening feeling squeezed tighter.

CONSUME, TAKE, SERVE, FEAST, FEAST AND CONSUME.

Malcolm Specter pushed as hard as he could. He summoned the full might of his rage at this monster that had captured him, manipulated him along the way and now wished to use him. But the creature was so vast. It could just press down Malcolm’s existence with an idle thumb. He sensed that his struggle only amused the creature. It was inevitable, predetermined. Malcolm Specter raged, but the whispers were overwhelming.

WORSHIP THE MASTER. SERVE THE MASTER. THERE IS ONLY MASTER!

Good. Listen to me, Greedy One. Your fighting will has pleased me. I chose you for your will and ability to dominate. This is an honor I am giving you. And thus, you need a new name. I will not use your filthy insect language. I shall give you a new name. Malz’Kamoth, The Devouring Herald.

Malz’Kamoth stopped fighting the whispers and the pressure on his mind. He surrendered to it. The urgent whispers stopped attacking him immediately, and instead caressed him gently. When the master spoke again, it sounded like a gilded gift.

Goooooood… It took me weeks to subdue your will. I am glad you found reason, Malz’Kamoth. Now there is the matter of another one with a will we must subdue. It is a human called Logan Specter.

Malz’Kamoth realized he had the ability to speak. He could still not see or move, but the master had been generous to him.

“Can you not subdue him like you did with Malcolm Specter, master?”

Alas, I tried, but Logan Specter has a spell in his mind that protects him. I spent much to capture you and to attempt to destroy him. You must be my hand upon this world, Malz’Kamoth. Do you accept?

“Of course, master. What would you have me do?”

I will give you a sword and a crown, Malz’Kamoth. You will have two objectives.

“Anything, my master.”

First, you will seduce and unite all the humans. They must worship me and give me Numa. I require tithes, or there will be punishments.

“It will be done,” Malz’Kamoth said. “What of the second objective.”

[Class changed: The Devouring Herald]

Your seed has a dangerous will. Since I cannot control him, there is only one solution. You must kill Logan Specter.