Divine Beast Ascension

“Honey–”

“All of you, please step out,” Rhyner quickly rephrased his thoughts and changed his attitude, but he maintained a soft glare on Oli, whose shadow was now concealing Vloz. “Wait outside and I’ll call you back in momentarily, after I’ve had a moment to think. But don’t try anything...”

Jarrit was the first to move in response, holding the door open for everyone else. Yet he too was baffled by Rhyner’s unforetold shift in attitude. While everyone else was stepping out, Jarrit asked, “Rhyner, do you–”

“Not now, Jarrit... I’ll explain afterward.”

“Okay...”

Getting everyone out of the room only took about a minute, but the stress hidden under Rhyner’s faint smile stretched that minute longer and longer. Only after the door shut did Rhyner feel some sort of ease wash over him.

.....

“Good. You can make quick decisions,” teased that calm yet untrackable voice. “That’s one sign of a good leader... Another sign is knowing when you’re in over your head. That being said, do you understand your current situation?”

The invisible hand loosened and slid from one shoulder to the back of Rhyner’s neck and then to the other shoulder before Rhyner felt the sweet release of the hand’s disappearance.

“Don’t think you’re off the hook so far. That would depend on your comportment from this point on...”

That voice now seemed more noticeable and less hidden. Also, there was now a clear and stable direction that voice was coming from as it drifted from a nearby couch. Following that, Rhyner finally caught a glimpse of the mystery man, wrapped up in a cloak stitched from shadow and a dark hood covering the top half of his pale white face. A playful smile was all Rhyner could distinguish from the anonymous intruder.

“So, do you understand your current situation, or no?”

“I’m not sure...”

“At least you’re honest,” chuckled the man. “Let’s just say that I’m the reason that kid managed to here. The same goes for the cat too. And I’d prefer that you don’t interfere with any plans that I’ve taken so long to formulate...”

“How can I avoid that without knowing your plans personally?” questioned Rhyner.

“Fair point... Want to know what I’m planning?”

“...”

“Good answer!” The man laughed again, now slightly leaning forward. “It’s best to stay out of other people’s business, especially those more powerful than you. And the wider the gap, the farther away you should stay.”

“... Then what’s your reason for bringing Oliver here? You’re not a territory leader... Are you?”

The man immediately broke out into profuse laughter at the thought. At the same time, Rhyner could only manage a smile.

“Haaa... Do you not understand the disparity between us?”

Before Rhyner could try and retort, his jaw and body locked up. Not even his eyelids were responding properly to his thoughts. All he could do was stare at the man sitting before him, unable to quiver, move, or respond in any way.

“This may only be a fraction of my strength, but it’s plenty enough to deal with a child like yourself...”

Lifting his head, two pale white eyes peered out from under the dark hood. No pupils. No irises. No veins. Only white. And Rhyner felt himself begin to sink into those growing, white pools. Rhyner’s body felt trapped in a desert of coarse salt, unable to find footing and only sinking deeper and deeper until his head fell under. No light could reach him as he felt every little touch of the salt around him, as if each granule was almost piercing his skin with complete disregard for Rhyner’s clothing. But the weight of the white granules began to increase, getting heavier, and heavier... Rhyner felt his body begin to give way under the weight of endless salt crystals.

There was no way out. No means of escape. No relief to be found. Just gradual, ever-increasing torture.

“Had enough?”

“HHHUUUUUUUU?!?!” A sharp, dragged-out breath finally escaped Rhyner’s lips. He could blink again. His slow torture was suddenly gone. With fluttering eyelids, Rhyner found himself still sitting at his desk, unmoved and uninjured. But the same couldn’t be said for his psyche as the anonymous man was still casually sitting on the futon not even two krin away.

“What... was that?”

“A warm-up.”

“A... warm-up?”

“Mhmm,” the man responded with a teasing nod. “If you need more convincing, now I’m ready to show you a small fraction of my power. Are you ready?”

“No, no! That was more than enough...” stated Rhyner, bowing his head in respect. “Please, have mercy on a weakling like me.”

“Goooood... Now you’re starting to understand your true position.” Chuckling to himself, the man leaned back into the couch. “Like you, that boy is also a part of my plans.”

“Like me?”

“Only he plays a much greater part in the grander scheme. You’re only a side character by comparison... But that’s how you’d like to play it anyway, given the secret you’ve done well to hide thus far.”

“... What is it that I’m a part of?” asked Rhyner.

“I’m glad you asked... I suppose I can fill you in on the tidbit of events soon to involve you. But you’ll have to listen carefully. If you dare mention anything without my permission...”

“There’s no need to even imagine such a thing happening,” Rhyner claimed. “So long as my family and cultivation aren’t in jeopardy, then I’ll hear you out wholeheartedly.”

“Then I’ll tell you what. This plan will actually give you what you want even faster. Though it may break some taboos, there would be no meaning to rules if they’re never challenged at some point.”

Both curious and terrified to ask, Rhyner slowly nodded back at the man.

“You won’t need to be patient any longer,” the man continued with a smile. “Do exactly as I say, regardless of what the rest of the world may think or do in response, and I can guarantee that your own goals will be achieved faster than you had ever thought possible.”

Unsure whether he should smile happily or cower in anxiousness, Rhyner nodded again and listened with excruciating focus.