Who the hell is this guy? Scott thought, frowning at the stoic-looking man before him. Hastur’s gaze wasn’t working, and an unsettling sensation of suppression gnawed at his abilities. The feeling intensified the longer he stared into the man’s eyes.

“This is a surprise,” said a member of the human party, smiling as he leaned against another champion. “First time I’ve seen someone talk without your permission, Hurly.”

“There really is a first time for everything,” another champion giggled. The hulking man licked his lips, his lecherous eyes roving over the female champions. His right hand cradled his groin, and the depravity in his eyes simmered. “Lots of cuties this time. I can’t wait,” he muttered.

Hurly pointed at the hound extermination crew. “Start with them,” he ordered.

The men turned their attention to the immobilized group members, their gazes lingering on Ember and Zara. They let out muffled gasps and excited whistles.

“How long has it been since we had a cat-girl?” one man asked, a bulge already swelling in his pants.

“Forget the cat-girl. The other one’s even more beautiful. She’s just my type,” another champion said with excitement.

“I’m going first this time, you fuckers,” the hulking man announced, stepping forward.

“Nobody wants to go after you, Eugene,” someone began. “You’re—” The man’s words trailed off, and so did Eugene’s advance. The champions turned their attention to Scott, who had stepped forward.

“Look at Rambo over here,” Eugene snickered, derision clear. Chuckles echoed from the champions as Scott approached with slow, measured steps. Eugene stepped forward too, wearing spiked, golden brass knuckles. The giant man strode powerfully, his eyes brimming with uncontrolled malevolence. His gaze stayed fixed on Zara and Ember, wild thoughts of the immobilized champions running through his mind.

“Eugene, come back,” Hurly commanded, his voice low and calm.

The hulking man paused, confusion evident on his face. He turned to the lanky leader and returned without a word. The rest of the group stayed silent. Hurly strolled forward, his steps cool and calm, each one measured and filled with intent.

Scott and Hurly stopped about ten feet apart, neither speaking nor advancing. They locked gazes, and an eerie silence lingered in the air. Hurly’s companions exchanged confused glances but remained still, hands resting on their weapons.

“You look human, but you’re definitely not one of us,” Hurly said, breaking the tense silence. “Why is a rotten abomination like you, without emotions, disguising yourself as a human?” he probed. Scott continued staring at him without moving or speaking.

“I really don’t like you,” Hurly said impassively, his gaze narrowing. “I’ve met a lot of posers who feign being emotionless, but you’re genuinely a beast with no shred of emotion. I was going to have my men rape your companions repeatedly, toying with them until the embers of their miserable lives rot, and all they can think of is the solace of death. But your eyes tell me you wouldn’t care. Calling you a beast is an insult to beasts everywhere. You’re nothing, a vessel already consumed by emptiness.” Hurly paused, advancing. “That’s why I’m going to squeeze out every bit of emotion from your companions. I want to see the look in their eyes while they’re tormented and humiliated. I want to see how they react when they realize you can’t do anything. I want to see if the emptiness in your eyes will remain,” Hurly stopped barely three feet away from Scott, and they stared into each other’s eyes.

The yellow sign flickered ominously, while the shattered worlds in the cracks of the other spun. Hurly’s pupils emitted a pulsating, rhythmic yellow hue.

“I’ve seen enough,” Scott began. “You’re just a depraved psycho who feeds on emotions. I wonder who’s really lower than a beast between the two of us,” Scott took a step forward. “We do share something in common, though.”

“Oh? What is that?” Hurly asked, also stepping forward.

“I also want to see the look in your rapist crew’s eyes as I drag them through the pits of despair. How would they react knowing you wouldn’t give two fucks about them?” Scott said with a smile.

“I really don’t like you,” Hurly said with a smile.

Both men stopped simultaneously. At that moment, Scott flexed his arm, and a blackened portal to the nihilistic zone manifested below his hand. The handle of the Warhammer of the Mad God ejected from the abyss. Hurly lowered his gaze, and the portal closed forcefully.

“I can do more than just feed on emotions,” Hurly said with a crooked smile. “Don’t worry, I have enough time to play with you.”

Scott moved again, charging toward Hurly. Hurly launched himself into the air, easily evading Scott’s charge. Simultaneously, the shadows of Hurly’s companions darkened, the nihilistic zone opening beneath their feet. Three instantly plummeted into the inky abyss, while Eugene and the man next to him barely survived by the moment Hurly glanced at them.

“How cunning,” Hurly smiled, landing on the ground. “Since you’ve taken three of my people, it’s only fair I take three of yours.” His smile grew brighter. Scott and Hurly had exchanged positions, with Scott now facing the hound extermination crew while Hurly faced the survivors of Scott’s sneak attack.

“Do you know what it feels like when someone’s brain is overloaded with the euphoria of different emotions all at the same time? Imagine feeling horny, angry, depressed, excited, in pain, and sorrowful, all to the maximum, and at the same time. Your brain simply goes—” Hurly snapped his fingers, and several muffled explosions rocked the area. Dozens of bodies fell on the cold, marbled floors.

“You have quite a lot of tricks,” Hurly said, smiling. The hound extermination crew was the only group yet to lose a member. “You’re also capable of feeding off emotions?” he questioned, ignoring the slew of system notifications appearing in front of him.

“Hurly, something feels off with Wade!” Eugene suddenly screamed. “He’s getting leaner!”

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Hurly’s gaze instinctively turned toward his companions. Wade lay on the floor, his visage whitening by the second. Eugene stood over him, debating whether to touch him. Hurly turned back to Scott, who smiled.

“I’m somewhat of a parasite too, you know. Thanks for the meal,” Scott said, mockingly snapping his fingers.

“Hurly! I don’t feel so good,” Eugene screamed, his voice growing faint. He tried to move but stumbled to the floor, his complexion worsening. Wade lay motionless, eyes and mouth open, breathless.

Hurly’s impassive eyes lingered on Eugene’s withering form. He clicked his fingers, and a muffled explosion echoed from Eugene’s head. Fluids poured from his orifices as Hurly turned his attention back to Scott.

“It seems you’re the winner of this round,” Hurly said. “Those mongrels weren’t enough to defeat you. But don’t worry, I’ll be back with an even better team—”

“And I’ll kill them too,” Scott interjected.

Hurly tilted his head slightly. “Then I’ll be back with a superior team, one armed with the experiences of previous failures,” he declared.

Scott chuckled softly, shaking his head. “In this fantasy of yours, is there no scenario where I end up killing you too?”

Hurly couldn’t hide his confusion. He narrowed his gaze, pointing at Scott. “You? Kill me?” His confusion turned to amusement. “What a ridiculous thought,” he said, stepping forward casually. “Have you ever seen a scenario where a monkey kills a god?”

Scott chuckled again. “So, I’m a monkey, and you’re a god?”

“Yes,” Hurly declared impassively. “What difference is there between a monkey with an axe, a monkey with a gun, and a monkey in a circus? They’re all monkeys, no matter how trained they might be.”

“And what if I kill you right now?” Scott declared; his voice cold.

Hurly laughed. “Now you’re just being silly,” he said. “Give it your best shot. Let’s see what type of monkey you are.”

Hurly approached Scott with slow, measured steps, stopping a few feet away with both arms raised. “Well?” he said, meeting Scott’s gaze. “Give me your best shot.”

In lightning-quick fashion, Scott reached into the formless mass in his chest, retrieving the Warhammer of the Mad God. The air churned as the ominous weapon revealed itself, and Scott unleashed a brutal swing toward Hurly’s skull.

Hurly ignored the weapon racing toward him, his eyes still focused on Scott. “This was quite the introduction. This will be my gift to you. I’ll be seeing you around.”

The war hammer landed, ripping half of Hurly’s skull from his head. Fresh blood sprayed into the air like a geyser, and the corpse fell backward, its eyes still filled with indifference. Gasps echoed from the hound extermination crew as the quartet recovered from their inanimate state.

You have received 20,000 Exp for eliminating an alliance! Congratulations! You have leveled up! Level: 70! Experience Points: 2000/7100 Congratulations! You have reached the stage of completion!

The shattered worlds in Scott’s right eye stirred, forcing him to his knees as blood poured from the animated eye. A deafening echo pounded in his skull, causing his vision to waver while tremors shook the area. Hazy regions opened around him, accompanied by occasional cracking sounds.

Skill: Void Bank is attempting to merge with your domain!

Scott’s eyes continued to bleed, and the pounding in his head intensified, muffled groans escaping his lips.

The hound extermination crew remained motionless, a byproduct of the sudden advancement. Slim and Zara levitated in midair, enveloped in a thick mana cocoon. Ember and Slim, however, stayed in place, their skins visibly reddening.

Your domain expansion is ready!

Domain: Chaotic Voidscape Description: Unleashes a domain engulfed in a swirling maelstrom of darkness and chaotic energy. The area within the domain becomes a nightmarish landscape filled with twisting void tendrils and distorted spatial anomalies. This domain amplifies the user's void abilities and destabilizes the mental and physical state of any intruders.

Effects Reality Fracture: The battlefield is distorted, causing enemies to perceive multiple versions of the user, confusing their attacks and decreasing their accuracy. Abyssal Summons: Eldritch creatures from the void are summoned to fight alongside the user, each capable of dealing significant damage and inducing fear in enemies. Energy Drainfield: The domain constantly siphons life force and energy from all within it, weakening enemies and continuously healing the user. Mental Collapse: The chaotic energies of the domain gradually erode the mental resistance of enemies, making them more susceptible to the user's Mind Control and Madness abilities. Shadowstep: The user can teleport to any shadow within the domain, allowing them to move unpredictably and strike from unexpected angles. Warped Space: The layout of the domain is ever-changing, with pathways and distances constantly shifting, making navigation nearly impossible for enemies. Void Infusion Surge: The user's attacks are empowered with additional void energy, increasing their damage and adding effects like paralysis and disintegration. Void Bank: The user can open spatial gateways to all areas an essence of their being has left behind.

You have attained the minimum level and rank to wield authority! Your current rank has been expunged! A new rank is being calculated… Calculations completed! Rank: Challenger! Description: Champions at the earliest stages of contending for authority!

Scott glanced at the array of system messages, panting heavily. The pounding in his head had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, but he remained on his knees, his right eye still bleeding. Slim and Zara remained encased in their mana cocoons, while Ember and Slim each bore runic markings on the backs of their necks. Scott's gaze, however, lingered on a slender, somewhat illusionary figure beyond his companions. With hair like a raging fire and a body more dazzling than diamonds, the figure pointed a spear at Scott.

“I will be expecting you!” the figure declared before vanishing as mysteriously as they had appeared.

Lilac embers appeared suddenly, burning runic markings on Scott’s neck too, but the markings disappeared into the voidweaver’s skin.