"Hey, it's not a good idea to try that, you know?" I said, easily dodging the attacks from the guys in black suits. I ducked as a kick nearly grazed my head, then jumped to my left as a fist almost connected with my face.
I crossed my arms and leaned my back against a wall. "Come on, guys, you're tired. You need to rest. Damaging your body isn't healthy."
But the burly guy just ignored me and threw another punch. I moved casually, dodging the attack, then reached into my pocket and pulled out a protein shake. "You want protein? It's good for a healthy body!"
The other guy—the one with the balloon gun—lunged at me, trying to tackle me, but I simply threw the protein shake in his face. His face was now covered in a green mixture of different fruits, and the floor was soaked with the shake.
He slipped the moment his foot hit the milkshake-soaked floor and fell face-first.
I turned to see the big guy charging at me with a face full of pure rage. "Oh, dude, I can see a vein on your forehead that looks like it's about to burst. That's not healthy."
He kept charging. I sighed and said, "Okay, enough games."
I moved quickly and appeared in front of him. I grabbed his face with one hand and lifted him like he weighed nothing.
He tried to hit me, but I didn't feel a thing. "Oki-doki, dude, the game's over. I don't want to get too violent... for now."
The guy struggled to escape my grip, but it was useless. I used a bit more force.
"ARRRGGHHHH!" he yelled in pain. "Okay, okay! I GIVE UP!"
I smiled, but then suddenly felt something on my back. I let go of the burly guy, who dropped to the ground, groaning and clutching his face. I turned around and saw the other guy—his face still covered in green protein shake. His hands were empty, but he'd clearly used something. I reached behind me and pulled it out.
A knife, soaked in blood.
I sighed and looked at the guy. He had a victorious grin... but it quickly disappeared the moment he saw my face, calm and unbothered.
"Okay, okay. You want a little more violence, huh?" I said, twirling the knife in my hand before stabbing it into his shoulder at a speed faster than he could perceive—faster than any human could ever react to.
"AH! FUCK!" he screamed, clutching his shoulder with the knife still embedded. I looked at him and slapped him. His head whipped sideways with a loud crack, the sound echoing through the endless hallway.
He collapsed to the ground, his legs shaky and weak.
"Finally! They calmed down. Just needed a little punishment for their bad manners."
I turned and approached the burly guy, who looked like he was ready to bolt.
"Hey, buddy, don't run. There's no escape. But... I could get you out of this if you take me to your boss. Maybe I'll even leave you in good shape. Well... acceptable shape."
He was trembling, staring at me like a scared puppy. "Ah... okay..."
"That's how you talk, man!" I said, patting his shoulder.
I snapped my fingers, and everything around us instantly returned to normal. The hallway was just as it had been before.
I grabbed both guys by the shoulders and kicked a wall. Just before my foot hit, a door appeared out of nowhere. It swung open from my kick, revealing the outside of the building.
"You guys need more style. Let me help with that!"
I grabbed their clothes, gave them a firm squeeze, and in a single motion, their outfits transformed. They now wore flashy lemon-green suits with matching top hats.
I pushed them out, and we exited the building. I glanced behind me—only the normal front entrance remained. The strange door had vanished.
The two guys stood beside me, visibly trembling but with clean, uninjured faces. These powers really are useful.
I looked around. No one had noticed us suddenly appearing. Nice work, David.
Then I spotted a car parked out front.
"Is that your car, guys?"
"Uh... yeah! We came with someone else. He's out here taking care of the car," the big guy answered quickly. The other one was still staring at his outfit in disbelief.
"Okay, fellas, let's go. I want to meet your boss. After all, two great people of high status need to meet!" I said with a big, cartoonish smile.
I walked up to the car and tapped on the driver's window. The guy inside looked at me with a confused expression and rolled it down.
"Do you need... anything?"
I smiled. "Oh... well, you look decent. New suit?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, it's new. I bought it a few days ago," he said, glancing down at his black suit.
"Good, good. You look sharp. Guys! Open the door for me," I said, turning to the two other men. The big guy opened the back door, and I climbed in without hesitation.
"Huh? Hey guys, who the hell is this? What happened to the guy who owes the money?" the driver asked, clearly confused, watching me get in.
"Reggie, shut the fuck up or I'll shove a knife so far up your ass you'll taste steel," the guy next to me said with a fake, forced professional smile.
Reggie froze, eyes wide, then quietly put his hands on the wheel and said nothing.
"Well done. Now, let's go visit your boss," I said with a grin.
"Reggie, drive to the club. Don't ask questions—just go," said the fake-smile guy, his voice calm, but clearly holding back frustration.
Reggie started the car and pulled out onto the street.
"Alright, introductions. Big guy—what's your name?" I asked casually.
"...My name's Damon," the big man replied quickly.
"Good name."
I turned to the guy beside me. "Fake smile. What's yours?"
"Nathan..." he said, clenching his fists. He looked angry at first, but slowly started to calm down.
Alright, they're not total idiots trying to pick a fight. Looks like they know better. After all, they've seen what I can do. They're not brainless.
"Okay, boys, you can call me Mr. Big Head,your new boss" I said, crossing my legs like I was settling in for a ride. "So tell me, why were you after this Tommy guy?"
"He owes us money," Nathan said, looking out the window. "It's a debt. If he can't pay, his only way out is getting executed."
I nodded slowly.
Time passed quickly—exactly thirty minutes.
The car parked in front of a building. It looked like a bar.
"The club's in the alley next to the bar. I'll take you there," Damon said respectfully.
Nathan opened the car door for me, and I stepped out at my own pace. I looked at the bar, then turned my gaze toward the alley beside it. Reggie got out of the car too, staying close.
The street was quiet. Not many people around this part of town, and this particular block felt practically empty.
Even better for me.
We walked into the alley. There were some trash cans tipped over, and a cat was sniffing around a bag of garbage. It noticed us and scurried away.
Eventually, we reached a door on the side of a building. Nathan stepped up and knocked four times in a specific rhythm.
I took out my phone and sent a quick text to Tommy.
"Gonna be a bit. If you want, you can leave the bathroom, but don't leave the apartment or the building—unless you want to end up cooked."
I sent it and put the phone away.
A small hatch opened on the door, and a pair of eyes stared at us.
I stepped up and said, "Oh... so this is the place, huh? Cool. I'll just head in, then."
"Who are y—"
I cut him off. I reached out, and my hand phased straight through the metal door, grabbing his face.
"HOLY SHI—"
Before he could react, I yanked his head forward and slammed it against the door. Again. And again. I didn't stop until I heard the heavy thud of his body hitting the floor.
Then, I pressed my hand to the door and gave it a solid shove. The door ripped clean off its hinges. I grabbed it and tossed it aside into the alley like it weighed nothing.
"There. Entry complete," I said casually, my hand still covered in the guy's blood from repeatedly smashing his face into the door.
I looked down at him—his face was a mess of blood and broken skin. A few teeth were lying on the ground beside his head.
"Damon. Nathan. With me," I said. "Reggie, stay here and keep watch. Don't try to run—you won't like how that ends."
Reggie nodded quickly, his face pale as he stared at the man lying unconscious in the doorway.
Damon and Nathan followed, keeping quiet.
"Alright, boys, let's go see what this weird little club is hiding," I said with a grin. "I've got a feeling things are about to get a little... violent."
-
-
-
Inside, people danced to the beat of loud music, colorful lights flashing across the room. Some waiters carried trays of drinks, while others handed out food to the guests.
Suddenly, David walked in through a pair of double doors, flanked by Damon and Nathan.
He looked around with interest. The place was buzzing—people dancing nonstop to the blaring music. It was full of energy and movement.
Then, a man in a black suit and sunglasses approached them—a security guard.
"Damon... Nathan, what the hell are you two doing wearing that suits? And the guy in debt?" the guard asked in a raspy voice. Nathan and Damon smiled awkwardly.
David cleared his throat and said, "Oh, good evening, hard-working sir. Could I see your boss right now? We—distinguished individuals from the Greens—need to discuss a bit of business."
The guard frowned and looked at David with annoyance. Then he turned to Nathan and Damon. "And this idiot? Where the hell did you find him?"
David's eye twitched slightly, but he just cleared his throat again. With a smooth motion behind his back, he pulled out a briefcase. The guard didn't even notice—he was still focused on the other two.
David smiled. "Ah, forgive me. Perhaps I should've been more professional. After all, your boss is concerned about the Greens, right? I'm here to help out a dear friend financially, and also to talk business. High-value business, of course."
He popped the briefcase open. Inside were stacks of neatly arranged bills.
The guard stared at the cash, speechless for a moment. Then his whole attitude changed.
"Oh... should've started with that, good sir. Right this way!"
He motioned for them to follow.
They were led through a door marked "EMPLOYEES ONLY" and into a hallway. A few people passed by carrying folders or chatting in hushed voices. The hallway looked busy—well-kept, even. Some expensive-looking paintings hung on the walls.
As they walked, one of David's eyes twitched slightly. He just smiled.
A few seconds later, they arrived at another set of double doors. The guard knocked rhythmically, and soon, heavy footsteps echoed from the other side.
The doors opened to reveal a tall man—blond hair, black sunglasses, a scar running along his lower lip. He was huge.
"What do you want? The boss is busy," the man grunted.
The guard cleared his throat and gestured toward David. "This gentleman came to settle a close friend's debt. He also wishes to discuss high-value business."
The giant squinted at the group and opened his mouth, but another voice cut in from inside the room.
"Let them in, Simon. Business is always welcome, hahaha."
The voice was charismatic and smooth. Simon, the massive man, stepped aside. "Come in."
The guard turned and exited as David stepped into the room, followed by Damon and Nathan—both of whom avoided eye contact with the giant, looking nervous.
David took a moment to glance around. The faint smell of cigarettes hung in the air, but he ignored it.
Sitting in an armchair ahead was a man in a sharp black suit—tailored, expensive-looking—paired with dark blue pants and neatly styled black hair.
David spotted another armchair nearby and sat down casually. He placed the briefcase on the small table between them.
"My name's Christian. Just call me Christian, buddy," the man said with an easy smile, taking a drag from his cigarette. "So, what kind of business are we talking about?"
"You can call me Big Head," David replied with a big smile. "I'm here to clear a dear friend's debt. I brought the full amount... and a little something extra."
"You've got style, my friend. Perfect white teeth. And your... head has... what do they call that look again, Simon?" Christian said, glancing at his associate while puffing smoke.
"Aesthetic, sir?" Simon replied from his spot next to the couch.
"Oh! Yeah, aesthetic. You've got a unique look, buddy," Christian said, grinning.
David chuckled softly.
Then, just like that, he dropped the smile, his face going blank. "Hey Christian... do you like kids?"
Christian raised an eyebrow. "Well... I've got a few friends with kids. I'm not really into them. Honestly, they're kind of annoying."
"Haha, yeah... what about video games?" David asked, keeping his tone light.
"Video games? Oh yeah. Good way to pass time. Why do you ask?" Christian said, his voice a little uncertain, clearly caught off guard by the strange question.
David pulled out his phone.
"You know something? There's this indie game that got really popular back in the day. It was actually pretty great—fun, emotional, with a solid story. Sometimes it even made me cry. It had three different routes to pick from, though one of them got kind of tedious. You had to kill monsters nonstop, and yeah, it got boring after a while. But there was one... enemy, I guess you could call it—terrifying. A kid who fell into a different place."
Christian raised an eyebrow, puffing on his cigarette as he listened to David.
Simon narrowed his eyes, watching David closely. He was getting a bad vibe.
"Now that I think about it... I've never actually tried this. Wonder if it'll work? I don't know—but I want to give it a shot," David said, curiosity lighting up his eyes.
Suddenly, the screen on his phone changed.
[Chara LV ?? ??:??
New York / Club
Continue ----- Reset]
David blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Oh... it does work. Imagination really is powerful, huh?"
He tapped "Continue" on the screen.
Nothing happened.
He just stood there, quietly tapping "Continue" over and over again.
"Huh... is this broken?" he muttered, frowning a little.
Christian looked at him in confusion. "Uh... dude? What are you even doing?"
"Oh, nothing. Just trying to summon a terrifying being shaped like a little kid to kill everyone in this club. Mainly you guys. Y'know— bitch ass criminals," David said casually, still tapping at his screen. "I'm in kind of a violent mood today."
Christian stared at him silently for a few seconds, then glanced at Nathan and Damon, still dressed in their flashy green suits. His smile vanished.
"Simon. Execute," Christian said coldly.
Simon didn't hesitate. He pulled a pistol from his waistband and aimed it at the two men.
"WAIT, BOSS—!" Nathan shouted, but a gunshot cut him off.
A bullet tore through his forehead. Blood spilled down as he collapsed to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
Damon raised his hands, eyes wide in terror. He opened his mouth to scream—but another shot rang out, and he dropped too. Another lifeless body on the floor.
David finally stopped tapping on his phone and looked down at the corpses.
He widened his eyes dramatically and shouted, "DAMON! NATHAN! NOOOOOO!"
Then, after a beat, he dropped the act. "Well, anyway," he said, and resumed tapping the "Continue" button on his phone like nothing happened.
Simon exhaled slowly and pointed the gun at David—but just then, the lights in the room began to flicker rapidly, and then cut out entirely.
The room was swallowed in total darkness for a few seconds.
"SIMON?! WHAT'S WITH THE LIGHTS?!" Christian's voice echoed through the pitch-black room.
"Ohhh! Did it actually work!?" David said excitedly, his eyes fixed on the glow of his phone screen.
[Game loaded]
The lights suddenly snapped back on.
David looked up—and froze.
There was something in the corner of the room.
"Oh... it worked? Damn..." David said with a fascinated smile.
Standing there, back turned to everyone, was a boy in a neon green, long-sleeved sweater with a single cream-colored stripe across the chest. He wore brown pants and shoes. His brown hair hung slightly over his head.
No one could see his face.
Simon and Christian followed David's gaze and locked onto the boy in the corner—silent, unmoving.
A deep chill crept up Christian's spine. Something felt very wrong.
He whipped his head toward David, panicking. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"
David just shrugged, a calm smile on his face.
"I summoned him."
Suddenly, the lights flickered again.
Christian stood up quickly and rushed to the desk in the corner of the room.
"BOSS—" Simon shouted, but before he could finish, the lights cut out completely again.
It lasted less than two seconds.
When the lights flickered back on, the boy in the green sweater was no longer in the same corner—he had moved to another one across the room.
But something else had changed.
Simon, Christian's personal guard, was standing completely still. Frozen in place. At first, it looked like nothing had happened to him.
Then, slowly, a thin red line appeared across his neck.
Christian's eyes widened in horror as he stared.
Simon's head slid off cleanly—almost silently—and dropped to the floor with a dull thud. Blood gushed out of the stump of his neck, pouring down and soaking the floor beneath him.
His decapitated body crumpled a second later, collapsing into the spreading pool of blood.
"HOLY COWLY MOWLY BLOWDY!" David yelled, his eyes going wide at the grotesque sight. He had never seen a corpse before—definitely not like this. It was the first (well,second) time he'd witnessed someone die in front of him.
Still, with the mask on, something in his mind was different. He didn't panic or throw up. He just stood there, stunned. Shocked. His expression was caught somewhere between disgust and fascination.
Christian stared at Simon's body, mouth hanging open. His face went pale.
"...Monster," he muttered, his voice trembling.