Pain. He felt pain all over his body. To a normal person this pain would have cause them to faint, but for him it was like an old friend. He stood up and inspect his wounds, there were too many to count. Small cuts across his body - he ignored those, burns on his right arm, missing left arm, etc… He looked like a walking corpse. Ignoring the superficial wounds, he turned his attention to the large hole on his side. Using the last of his psion, he mended the wound. It slowly closes and turn a bright pink in color. He looked around the large hallway littered with corpses and slowly moved forward through a large doorway. Inside he found what he was looking for.

“Elena?” He uttered weakly towards the woman lying on floor as he try to rush to her.

“Elena, oh Elena. I’m sorry.” Tears weld up in his eyes as he knelt in front her.

Her beautiful face was marred with bruises and cuts. Blood was trickling down from her mouth. Once again, the man felt pain. But this pain was different, it wasn’t a simple physical pain that he has gotten used to and welcomed as a friend. This was a horrible pain, it was pain that is consuming him, eating away at his very heart. He hated this pain. Never in his life has he even imagined that he would someday experience this pain. But then again, he had never imagine he would love someone as much as Elena.

‘She’s dead you know. Holding her like that won’t bring her back.’ A mocking voice sounded behind him.

He eased Elena’s body back to the ground then slowly turning around. His hateful eyes caught the sight of a tall man wearing a black uniform of the Imperial Guards. The man was tall with dark brown hair. A handsome face that would make any woman swoon over him. An annoying smirk can be seen across his face. A smirk that he would personally wanted to wipe off. He knew this man.

“Why did you do it Jason? Why her?” He asked weakly.

‘Isn’t it obvious? To hurt you. A monster like you wouldn’t know physical pain so slowly torturing you is useless. Killing you is too kind. But hey, we couldn’t have done this without you. If you hadn’t gotten close to this little whore, this would have never happen. So thank you.’ Jason said with an evil grin as he stretch out his arm and did a slight bow.

Anger poured over the man as he lunged towards Jason. But before he could even touch him, Jason flick his hand and the man was thrown against the wall. It was a simple telekinesis and under normal circumstances, the man wouldn’t even be affected by it, but he was too weak now. Fighting through a horde of psyker as well as two Ascended has left him severely weakened. Jason moved closer and punched the man right in the stomach with enough force that would’ve killed a regular person. But the man didn’t even flinched, he had experienced far worse.

‘Ahh that felt good. I’m feeling really good now. Do you know how long it took to get all of this together? You should feel honored that I went through all of this trouble for you. But it was all worth it, the look on your face is priceless.’

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

“…”

‘But you know, I got to give credit where credit is due. I had planned to let the two Ascended beat you to a pulp and drag you to her dead body but I would’ve never imagined that would be able to kill them both. Man you really are one hell of a monster.’

“…”

‘What? Cat got your tongue? No matter, once we get you back to lab you’ll be screaming a top of your lunges.’

“…”

‘What, you didn’t think we would simply kill you now did you. No, no, no. Do you know how much money the Empire has poured into making you? No, we are going to get our money’s worth. We will dissect you piece by piece and rebuild you as a perfect killing machine. This time, there won’t be any sympathetic nurse to help you escape.’ Jason smirk as he turn to look at Elena’s corpse.

“…”

‘That’s fine, you don’t need to talk. The Imperial Guards will be here in just a minute. Meanwhile I get to have some fun with you.’ Jason smiled evilly as he brandished a small energy knife.

Unbeknownst to Jason, the man was preparing a spell. He’s gathering what’s left of his psion and condense into his psionic core. The man was careful not to let Jason sense what he was doing. He was thankful that Jason’s bloodlust got the better of him as he was focusing solely on beating the man bloody.

Approximately thirty minutes passed and the room was now filled with Imperial Guards. The man looks like a corpse now. His blood were all over the wall. Cuts and bruises were all over his body. But during that thirty minute long torture, he didn’t say a word. But now, a smile can be seen on his face and it didn’t went unnoticed.

‘What are you smiling at freak? Has the pain gone to you head? Whatever, guards take him to Lab X66 and prepare a transport back to Terra.’

But before Jason could turn and walk away, a bright light emanate from the man’s body. Jason’s smug face turned to horror as he comprehend what was happening. He assumed that the man has exhaust his psion and never sealed his power. He has forgotten the one move the man can take, psionic implosion. The man overloaded his psionic core – a suicide act. Before Jason could get away, the world turned white.

“Elena, I’ll be with you soon.”

*On September 8th, 3254 the Imperial Prince Jason von Terra and his contingent of Imperial Guards was killed on Elysium 12. Preliminary investigation suggested the rebel group Liberty’s Children as the culprit. The group detonated a small fusion bomb when was corned by his Majesty. The Emperor has issued a national mourning throughout the Empire and has vowed to bring his son’s killer to justice. Elysium 12 is currently under martial law and the Imperial Fleet has blockaded the planet. The Emperor will held a press conference later this evening. Stay tuned for further development, only on the Imperial News Network.*