Miya swallowed hard. Her throat was really dry even though she was sweating a lot. The sweat was cold. It was trickling down her back. She was staring at Ashzer. Ashzer was in the room. It felt like he was taking up all the space. Being, near Ashzer was scary. It was hard to breathe.
"Miya Rifenhardt, you are from Earth, aren't you?" I barked, my voice laced with cruelty and a smile that promised nothing but pain.
Miya stood still her eyes opening wide with surprise. How did he find out? The fact that Miya was a person, from Earth who had moved into this body was a secret Miya kept hidden; a truth that only Miya was supposed to know.
She took a breath and tried to calm down. "So that is it " she said, stuttering a bit. "Yes I am from Earth. You seem to know a lot so you must be, from Earth too."
"Well, you are correct," I replied casually, the tension in my shoulders dropping just enough to be unsettling.
Miya hesitated before asking the question burning in her mind. She needed to know his purpose. Until this moment, she had assumed Ashzer was just a gimmick, a petty tyrant playing games in this rural village. She was wrong.
I answered her unspoken question with chilling calm. "Naturally, I wish to create a Utopia. My own dream land. The perfect world!"
I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. "So tell me, Miya. If there was garbage right in front of you, would you let it rot, or would you throw it away?"
She remained silent, trembling.
"THINK, MIYA RIFENHARDT! THINK!" I shouted, my eyes glowing with a menacing red hue that seemed to pierce through her soul. "Let me make it clear. If someone in this village contracts a deadly, contagious disease, I will not hesitate. I will slaughter every single infected citizen to save the rest. That is efficiency. That is mercy."
Miya could not take it anymore. She clamped her trembling hand over her mouth, muffling a sob, before screaming hysterically. "YOU BASTARD! You are not human! You are a monster! You crazy !, get away from me!"
Her mental state was crumbling. The logic of a modern human clashed violently with the brutality standing before her.
I laughed quietly. Said "Calm down Miya." My hand went to the handle of my sword. I do not like it when people know things, about me. So let us just stop this now Miya. I really dislike it when people know my background, Miya. Let us end this here.
I began to draw the blade. The metal hissed as it left the scabbard.
However, just as the steel cleared the sheath, a bright blue holographic interface materialized directly in front of Miya. My eyes narrowed. I realized immediately that as a fellow System owner, I could see her interface just as clearly as she could.
"H-How is this possible?" I asked, my expression shifting from bloodlust to genuine confusion.
Three options floated in the air before her:
[10p] Heal any target (Includes physical or mental recovery)
[5p] Purchase Earth Medicine
[50p] Seal Malevolence (Locks the target's evil nature)
Current Balance: 67p
Miya did not hesitate. With shaking fingers, she selected the third option. She spent 50 points to buy the Malevolent Seal.
Instantly, a spectral blue padlock emerged from her system. It shot toward me with blinding speed, its faint blue light illuminating the dim room.
"Argh! Let me go, you wretch!" I shouted, struggling against the invisible force.
The padlock slammed into my chest and vanished. The physical pressure disappeared, and for a second, I felt normal. I assumed the item had failed.
"Nothing changed," I scoffed. "Die!"
I lunged forward, swinging my sharp blade toward Miya's neck.
But midway through the swing, agony exploded in my chest.
"Arghhhhhhh! Fuck!" I screamed, dropping the sword.
It felt like a massive heart attack. A crushing pain paralyzed my entire body, forcing me to my knees. I could not move. I could not breathe.
While I writhed in agony, Miya watched, slowly beginning to understand the situation.
She realized that as long as that seal was active, I could not harm her. I could not harm anyone if my intent was malicious.
I gasped for air, clutching my chest. I refused to believe it, but the pain was absolute. My life was now effectively in her hands.
Slowly, the pain subsided as my killing intent faded. I dragged myself back to my hard bed and sat down, leaning against the wall.
"I surrender, Miss Doctor," I said, raising both hands in a gesture of defeat. A sweet, fake smile plastered itself onto my face.
Miya blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in demeanor. "How... how did you know I was a doctor?"
"You told me yourself."
"When?" Miya asked, genuinely puzzled.
The room fell silent.
The scorching tension had cooled, but the danger remained. The monster had been caged, but Ashzer's twisted personality was far from gone.
The morning the sun came up over a village that had no idea it was now being run by new people.
Ashzer, ignoring the events of the previous night, immediately ordered his subordinates to check the infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Tia, approached Miya with a naughty smile.
"Umm, Sister Miya," Tia started, poking Miya's arm. "I heard some loud noises last night. It sounded like you and Lord Ashzer were having quite the... argument. Do you have a special relationship with him?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Miya snapped, her voice louder than intended. "How could I ever be with a monster like that?"
Despite her harsh words, a faint blush dusted her cheeks.
On the outskirts of the village, Sean stood atop the embankment. He looked down at the water level and nodded.
"The reservoir is small," Sean noted to himself. "It is only natural it filled up after just one night."
Ashzer received the report and nodded. It was time for innovation. His plan was twofold: the production of cement and the overhaul of the agricultural system.
He gathered the villagers in the square. "Listen well! We are beginning construction. Everyone who works will be paid with the harvest we are about to create!"
The enthusiasm of the villagers peaked. Food was scarce, and the promise of a harvest was a powerful motivator.