Kirill screamed, lunging at James with a pitchfork. James tried to defend with his nunchaku, succeeding, but Kirill punched him in the stomach, the face, the throat. James coughed blood.
"Damn, you're strong…"
Kirill headbutted him. "I know. And I see you as an enemy and a problem. So I'll get rid of you quickly."
James looked at him with a neutral expression. "You don't understand... I don't want this. I really don't want this. It's the system. That pink monster. She's forcing me…"
Kirill's face twisted in confusion. "Pink monster? You mean Ortus?"
"Yes! Exactly her! That bitch is forcing me to slaughter this entire town for no reason, just because she thinks you're criminals…"
"Criminals?! We're farmers. We work hard to maintain this land. And she thinks we're criminals? Why?"
Dylan hovered above, his voice soft and sorrowful. "Because that's who she is. Cruel. Bored. Always looking for action. I don't know what the system really is, but when she created it, I understood one thing. There's no real justification for its existence. It's just designed to break the player, to force them to act against their will, because their life is on the line. And if they refuse, like some already did... Ortus kills them and brings them back to life in an endless loop."
James looked terrified. "I don't want this... I just want to go home." He threw the nunchaku on the ground in frustration.
Kirill looked at him with empathy. "I understand, kid. I see they're forcing you... but I have to protect my home, my family, and myself. So if you choose to keep fighting, I'll have to strike back. And next time, harder."
The system issued a warning. "Continue your mission within the next few minutes, or face severe torture."
Dylan glanced down with a serious gaze. "I won't let you die again, James. You don't deserve it. And Kirill, you're doing the right thing. You better fight to the death. Otherwise, Ortus will do the destroying herself."
James fell to his knees. He began punching the ground. In his mind, he saw Quara being butchered by Ortus, the moment he was forced to kill two virgins, and even the times he beat up Kuina at school, bullied the nerds, the rival players — all for no reason. He whispered to himself, "Maybe I deserve to die. Maybe it's for the best. I'm a total monster. Pathetic. A loser. A fucking bastard. That's who I am... James Atomis. A worthless piece of trash who deserves death for what he's done. Kirill, kill me. Don't let Ortus do it. I give up. I can't anymore. I thought I was strong. Charismatic. Untouchable. But I'm impulsive, angry, and a fucking disgrace. I humiliated people, killed... for what? So a loser like me could keep living?"
He sobbed and trembled. Kirill stared at him in disbelief. "That was one hell of a speech... I don't know what to say," he muttered with a Russian accent and a slight stutter.
Dylan looked at James with sorrow, then suddenly his expression turned fierce. He shouted to the skies, "Ortus! Show yourself! Now! Give us an explanation for this brutal mission, and why you took an eighteen-year-old kid as a hostage in your system!"
A loud silence followed, thunderous in its weight. Kirill crouched beside James, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm with you, young man. I'll protect you. And you'll help me defend this town from Ortus. Got it?"
"Yeah… No problem…"
The system warned again. "Incorrect choice. Mission failed. Punishment: Death by torture."
Ortus appeared instantly behind James, choking him from behind. Kirill stepped back in panic. Dylan dove toward her, but she shot him with a pink laser from her other hand, blasting him away.
"Oh James," she cooed with a wicked smile. "Very strange choice. You already died once. Now I have to kill you again? Why? Why not make the right choice and slaughter the whole town?"
"Because I'm not your puppet, you bitch! I won't keep doing this! Kill me if you want, but I refuse! They didn't do anything!"
Ortus laughed maniacally. "You hypocritical little shit. Did the boys and girls you bullied at school do anything to you? No. Yet you humiliated them, beat them, cursed them, ruined their lives. And now you cry? Oh Jamesy, you're pathetic. I offer you godhood and you're throwing it away over some filthy farmers? You're making me cry from laughter!"
James remained silent, gasping under her grip.
Kirill pointed his pitchfork toward her in a defensive stance. "Let go of the boy, Ortus! I'll be your opponent!"
Ortus flung James toward Kirill. Kirill had no choice but to dodge with a roll. Dylan caught James quickly.
Ortus grinned. "Fine. I'll delay his death a bit. Let's see what you've got… Kirill Romokov."
"Before I take a single step, I want to know — what did we do to you? Why do you want to massacre us?"
"Hmmm... Let me think of a reason that sounds justified... No, wait... Nope. I don't have one. Just because I felt like it. I wanted to clear out the area and let some female farmers move in. You all stink, you're old, weak, and you don't radiate enough sexual energy. And that, Kirill, is what matters. Also, there are still a few virgins in this village, which must be exterminated. That's why."
Kirill grimaced, disgusted, spitting on the ground. "You're disgusting. A horrible woman. I know I stand no chance against you, but let me tell you something... that young man? Even if you make him a god, he'll always serve you out of fear, not love. He'll always see you as a monster, no matter how much power you give him. He'll never love you. And you? You'll always be the beast."
Ortus's smile faded. She pointed a finger at Kirill. His body floated mid-air, writhing in agony.
"What the...?"
"This is the Death Pleasure technique. Your sexual desire is now a thousand times the average. You'll be begging soon..."
Kirill tried to resist, but a moment later he moaned uncontrollably, vomited, and collapsed from overwhelming sensation.
Dylan stood behind James, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You proved you're a good, broken soul, James. Everyone has done awful things in the past. But now it's time to end this chaos."
"But we don't stand a chance…"
Dylan kissed his cheek gently, divinely. James froze and wiped his cheek with his hand.
"What the fuck?! Are you serious? I'm not gay!"
Dylan chuckled. "You will be…"
Ortus stared at Dylan, grinning. He looked at her with rage.
"Here I come!"
Dylan charged with blinding speed. Ortus dodged, teleporting rapidly.
"Come on, Dylan! Defend Jamesy, whom you've known for, what, a second?"
While throwing punches, Dylan said, "I'm defending him because he doesn't deserve what you're doing!"
Ortus grabbed his fist and twisted it. Dylan screamed in pain. She flung him back, slamming him into a hut. Then she cast a spell.
"Now don't move. Stay frozen."
Dylan struggled to get up. "Damn it... I can't move…"
James screamed, "Fuck! Goddammit! I'll fight you to the death!"
He grabbed his nunchaku and lunged. Ortus smiled.
"Oh, such a feisty little thing."
She pierced his neck with her long nail. James gasped, blood gushing from his throat. He stumbled backward, panicking, choking, falling to his knees.
"You... bitch…"
He clutched his throat and fired a lightning bolt at her with his other hand. Ortus flicked it away effortlessly.
"That's all?"
Kirill rose, barely standing.
"I'm... not finished!"
Ortus grinned. "Oh, you're quite resilient... I'm impressed you survived that. But... you should have faked your death or something, not played the hero."
Kirill smiled faintly, turned to James, and said, "I'm no hero… but I do want to save this boy."
He raised both arms, charging an attack.
"GORINKO FLASH!"
A massive wave of blue energy burst toward Ortus. She vanished and reappeared behind him.
"Cute move, darling. But... too weak. Any last words?"
Kirill smiled. He wasn't surprised. He lowered his arms.
"One day, someone will kill you the same way you kill others, bitch."
Ortus smirked, grabbed his head with both hands, and without effort, ripped it off. She turned and showed it to James. He froze. Tried to scream, but his throat was too damaged.
Ortus cast a healing spell on him.
"There. Now you can scream."
"No! What did you do?! You bitch! I'll kill you! I'll kill you a thousand times!"
"Whoa, calm down, kid. You just met him and you're this upset? Here, say goodbye to his head."
She tossed Kirill's head to the floor. James stared in horror. Dylan, still frozen, was shocked and devastated.
Electricity surged around James's body. Pure rage. His eyes turned red-yellow. His aura became a lightning storm.
"I'll kill you!!"
Ortus stood still, motioning him to come.
Dylan burst free from the spell in a white-red explosion. He leapt forward and shouted, "Stop. Calm down. This won't help you. Let it go. She wants you to get angry."
James glared at him. "Move. Don't interfere…"
Dylan stood firm.
"Don't. Just don't do it…"
Ortus's smile faded.
"Alright. Enough games. James, your sentence is death, as the system declared. Or, you can slaughter the villagers by your own choice. What will it be?"
Dylan interrupted. "What if I do it instead? If I do it, will you spare him?"
James shouted, "No! Don't interfere! I'll kill her!"
Ortus nodded. "Yes, the system said you can help. I have no problem with that… for this mission."
James grew furious. "Why are you doing this?! Why volunteer?! She killed Kirill! Quara! And now you're going to kill for her?!"
James charged at her, shoving Dylan aside. Ortus watched, half-smiling.
But Dylan kicked James in the face, sending him flying back.
"Enough! Don't be reckless! You have no chance against her. Neither do I. Fighting her is useless. It will go on forever. We have no choice but to complete the mission. If you can't do it... I'll help you! Yes, I'm sad about Kirill too, but we have no choice!" he cried, choking on tears.
Ortus clapped. "Bravo, Dylan. At least you're proving you were once a wise god. Alright, I'll be off. I'll be watching from afar. Don't forget your promise… ciao."
She blew a kiss and vanished.
James got up quickly and yelled, "Why, Dylan?! Why?! Don't do this for me! Let me die!"
"No. No way."
"Why would you slaughter an entire town for me?! What's wrong with you?!"
"Sometimes... you don't need a reason. I just feel like it's the right thing. You have to live... to fix your mistakes. I made mine. I used to be pure, but I broke. I killed. I am no longer the god of hope, so I allow myself to dirty my hands. And... I feel something for you. Something weird. Like... love."
James stood speechless, the rage fading.
"Love? What are you talking about? Dylan, you've known me for a few hours, you idiot. Don't you think Ortus deserves to die? That we should avenge Kirill and Quara?"
"You stand no chance... understand that. And as for love, a few hours is enough to fall. But don't flatter yourself. I'm still confused myself."
The system issued a new warning. "Watch Dylan slaughter the village or join him. Reward for success: 100,000 levels and the power of the abyss."
James cursed, "Fuck... I don't know what to do…"
Dylan cast a spell. "Here. You're in a cage. Leave it all to me. And remember, I'm doing this purely for you. Because you matter to this world."
Dylan hovered and began blasting house after house with energy beams, white and green, endlessly. Explosions, screams, terror.
Tears streamed down his face.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
Within five minutes, the entire village was gone. No trace left. No people. No homes. James stood frozen, the cage vanishing.
"Shit… goddammit… fuck…"
Dylan landed on the burning ground, crying.
"I'm sorry… I hope I burn in hell for this…"
James cried too. He stood up and placed a hand on Dylan's shoulder.
"Dylan… I… I don't know what to say… you shouldn't have done this, not for me…"
Dylan turned and hugged him. The system chirped.
"Mission complete. Reward granted. New directive: make love with Dylan at his home. Reward: additional 100,000 levels. Refusal = cosmic punishment."
James froze.
"No fucking way. This is too much. Doesn't the system have any feelings? We just killed thousands… and the bodies are gone… fuck!"
Dylan let go. "I saw. And I'm unsure too. But the question is... does it mean sex or just a kiss?"
"Dylan, I'm not gay, you dick! I refuse! I fucking refuse!"
Dylan shouted, "Shut up! You can't refuse anything anymore!"
"Don't force me, Dylan! This is about sexual orientation now! I… I'm not attracted to men!"
Dylan smiled softly. "Of course. I won't force you. I want it to come from you, eventually. But the system says… you really need to understand this is for your own survival."
"Every time it's about saving me?! Why does this fucking system put me in life-or-death every second?! Fuck! That bitch Ortus!"
Dylan said, "Let's just fly away…"
James paused. "Wait. My nunchaku."
He picked it up, then noticed Kirill's pitchfork. Slowly, he picked it up too.
"Thank you, Kirill. At least I have something left of you…"
They flew off. An hour later, they arrived at Dylan's home.
The system chirped, "Begin with a kiss."
James placed the pitchfork and nunchaku on the table. Embarrassed.
"No way. My ego's too big for this. I can't believe this…"
Dylan lifted his chin gently.
"You're lucky I know what I'm doing…"
He kissed James on the lips, softly, quietly.
The system announced, "Level up! Level up x10!"
James pushed him lightly. "Okay, that's enough. I… I don't understand how you can even kiss me after slaughtering all those people. Do you even feel anything, Dylan?"
Dylan slapped him gently.
"Do I feel? Shame on you for asking that after what I've done. Of course I do. I care about you and I don't even know why."
James slapped him back.
"Don't slap me!"
They exchanged soft slaps until Dylan grabbed James's cheeks and kissed him again. He gently laid him down on the bed. They kissed.
James kept his eyes open during the kiss and muttered, "Fuck. I have no choice. I just don't…"
Five hours later, the system announced, "Mission complete."
Dylan sat on the chair, James asleep on the bed. Dylan looked at him softly.
"I still can't believe we actually did it... but it felt right."
James opened his eyes and whispered to himself, "I only did it because I had no choice. I am not gay. Period."
Eleven months later, after countless missions, level-ups, and moments of love with Dylan, James had become a far more powerful warrior. Now nineteen, his level reached nearly a billion. His brown hair glowed, his beard had grown, and his muscles were defined beneath a rugged brown armor.
They arrived at their new mission site.
"Destroy Torissa, Queen of Justice. Reward: Wrath Power and official ascension to godhood."
James stared at the notification coldly. Dylan glanced at it and asked, "Interesting. Shall we kill her?"
James answered with a deeper voice, "Let's see who she is... and how strong."
They entered the castle swiftly. Two servants attacked. James teleported and sliced off both of their heads as if they were made of air. Dylan smirked.
"Oh, so arrogant as usual."
Torissa rose from her throne, smiling.
"Well hello, handsome strangers. How can I help you?"
Her long chestnut hair flowed, her golden eyes glowing. She wore a red cloak, elegant and wild cleavage, blue lipstick, and black high heels.
Dylan spoke in a charming tone. "Torissa, forgive us, but sadly, we must fight you to the death. It's not personal. But the Wrath Power lies within you, and this is a rare chance. Don't take it personally."
James said nothing. Cold as ice, he teleported toward her and attacked with the nunchaku. Torissa blocked with a nearby shield.
"Whoa! Calm down! Why would you want to kill me? I'm the Queen of Justice! I bring fairness to this world! Shame on you!"
James answered in a deep voice. "It's not personal…"
Torissa smiled. "Okay, but—"
She didn't finish. James decapitated her in one clean strike with the nunchaku blade. His power was so immense that even a queen like Torissa posed no real threat.
Dylan stared in shock. "Wow… that was fast."
The system announced, "Wrath Power located. Retrieve it from her castle. Once acquired, it shall be yours, and you will become a god. Hint: It is inside a body."
James inspected Torissa's corpse, trying to sense the power. But he felt nothing immense coming from her. Instead, he felt something radiating… from Dylan.
Dylan stood in place, startled. "What is this? Something just entered me."
James was stunned. The system confirmed, "The power is within Dylan. Extract it by any means. Reward: Ascension to godhood."
James replied, "I don't give a damn about that power. I will not harm him in any way."
Dylan froze. "How is that possible? How did it enter me? Why am I only feeling it now?"
James looked at him, confused. "Torissa… the power must've transferred to you. But how?"
Dylan stood still, then slowly smiled and knelt down.
"James, do it. Kill me. Take the power of wrath. Become a god."
James shouted, "No! Absolutely not! Get up, Dylan. I refuse! System, I refuse to extract power from him!"
Dylan smiled sadly. "Only by killing me can you extract it. If you think there's another way, you're wrong…"
"After all we've been through, you kneel like this and ask to die? For power?!"
"I'm sorry, James, but… I have one more thing to tell you."
James shouted, "Just say it already! What is it?!"
"I'm sick. I have acute pancreatitis. My time is limited. It's untreatable. No healing magic will change that. Even your healing powers won't help. It's chronic…"
James choked. "And you're telling me this now?! Only now?! Everything has a cure. I'll find one. Killing you is not an option, idiot!"
Dylan yelled, "Stop! Wake up, James! I can't be your partner in this journey anymore. It's been nearly a year. A year of fighting together, laughing, killing… and we've killed too much. Way too much. You've met others along the way, but now… it's time for me, Dylan Komoli, to move on. And I'd rather die with dignity than from a cursed disease. Do you get it?"
Dylan cried. James stood frozen. He activated his x-ray healing vision and saw Dylan's pancreas failing.
"Fuck… No… This can't be happening. Fuck! It's all happening so fast…"
Dylan stood and walked over to James. He gently lifted James's chin.
"I love you, man. My life changed because of you. I'm happy I made you believe in yourself… in me… and in love. And I'm glad you chose life over death. But now you must extract this power. Become the god of wrath. Ortus will respect you. You'll be stronger than ever. Then… you'll kill her. Because only you can. Your potential… it's massive. Understand that."
James's tough facade broke. Tears streamed down his face.
"I can't believe you're saying this…"
"I'm sorry… end it now. I'll always love you. I'll always remember you. Always."
James hesitated, frozen. Dylan raised James's hand and drove the nunchaku blade into his own abdomen.
Slick.
Blood spurted. Dylan gasped, smiled faintly, took a few steps back.
James rushed to catch him.
"Fuck! What did you do?! No! No! Why?! I didn't want this power! I wanted to heal you! Why are you doing this?!"
Dylan smiled, spitting blood.
"Enough, James… I told you. You are the future. You will be a great god of wrath. Our journey… it's over."
James broke down.
"No, Dylan… please… I… I… I love you… Please don't die on me…"
His voice cracked and choked. Dylan smiled weakly.
"Finally… the first time you say that to me…"
He closed his eyes. The sky turned bright. The Wrath Power burst out of the hole in his stomach and flowed into James.
Dylan was dead.
James had become the God of Wrath.
The system issued a triumphant alert. "Congratulations. You are now the new God of Wrath."
James sobbed and screamed into the sky.
"Dylan!! No! No!!"
He cradled Dylan's head one last time. Then, Dylan's body vanished in magic, as if it had never existed.
Back in the present, James sat with a neutral expression across from Kuina.
"And that's my story. What happened to me… and to my beloved Dylan. And here I am… full of regret for everything I did to you, Kuina. I regretted it a decade ago. And now, I'm immortal. I feel empty. Still weaker than Ortus. You need to understand how horrible life before her — and after her — was."
Kuina sat silent, eyes wide. She teared up.
"I… I can't believe it…"
James rose from his seat.
"It's alright. I can't believe it either. But in the end, you and I — we're both victims of the same system. I just want us to start over. Because even if you could take revenge, it wouldn't satisfy you. You'd just feel empty. Like me."
Kuina stood as well, in tears.
"Your story… it broke my heart. I won't lie. But I need to think. I can't give you promises or answers right now…"
James smiled faintly.
"Cherish every moment with the girls. Love them. Don't be indifferent to love."
A knock came at the office door.
"Kuina?! Are you in there?! It's Kylie."
James nodded. "Go to her. Our conversation is over anyway."
Kuina hesitated. "Um, I…"
"It's okay. You don't need to say anything. Just go. Come back when you're ready… I hope you understand."
Kuina gave him a small smile.
"I understand… too much."
To be continued.