But this smile, seen by others, sent chills down their spines.
They finally realized the man sitting before them wasn't a sheep, but a tiger with meat still stuck in his teeth.
"Friend, Meteor City welcomes everyone. Since you're here, you're now the Master of Districts 9 and 4. I am Brandon, Elder of District 1."
Brandon cleared his throat, forcing a smile onto his wrinkled, tree-bark face.
He couldn't read this guy.
Aizen Ryker showed zero emotion. Even surrounded by wolves, he wasn't nervous.
Two possibilities: He's crazy, or he's absolutely confident.
Either way, Brandon disliked it.
The other Elders sensed something wrong too.
Erica stood behind Ryker, trembling with excitement.
Before, she was Brandon's dog. Everyone knew it.
But now...
Their looks changed. No longer disdainful.
All because of this man.
Lord Aizen!
Lilian sat blankly, equally devoted. This man saved her from hell. She would do anything for him.
"Friend? No. You aren't qualified to be my friends. But if you perform well, I might allow you to be my dogs."
Aizen Ryker smiled, glancing at Brandon.
Name: Brandon (District 1 Elder)
Traits: [Manipulation Talent] (Gold), [Fire Nen] (Gold), [Fire Python Technique] (Gold), [Fire Clone] (Purple), [Disguise] (Purple), [Cold-Blooded] (Purple)...
Worthy of District 1.
Three Gold traits! Including skills.
Top tier in Meteor City.
The other Elders were trash in comparison (no Gold).
Weaklings!
No wonder Knox dared to challenge Brandon.
But even the "weak" ones had Purple/Blue traits. Passable.
Phantom Troupe really picked the cream of the crop when they left.
Ryker's words darkened the Elders' faces.
They were kings here. Laws didn't apply to them.
Now someone was shitting on their heads.
But with so many severed heads on the table, no one dared speak.
"Fuck you! Who do you think—"
BOOM—
Gold Tooth (District 3) raged, smashing his brass-knuckled fist at Ryker.
Ryker didn't move. Didn't even look.
Psychokinetic Nen!
Invisible force slammed Gold Tooth into the ground like a chick.
The long table shattered.
Ryker remained seated.
Gold Tooth lay spread-eagled, pinned like a dead dog. Ribs cracked audibly.
His gold teeth shattered, mouth full of blood.
He screamed in agony.
Terror seized him. He regretted his foul mouth.
But before he could beg...
Invisible hands twisted his limbs.
Crack! Crack!
To everyone's horror, his limbs were twisted into impossible angles. Like a crab.
Blood sprayed, but not a drop touched Ryker.
Erica's eyes burned with fanatical devotion. Her face flushed with near-orgasmic excitement.
So cool!
This is the Master I dreamed of!
Being his servant, his dog, his toy—it didn't matter!
Then, Gold Tooth was lifted into the air by an invisible crane.
"Hehe."
Aizen Ryker chuckled.
Splat!
Like a watermelon, Gold Tooth was crushed!
Blood and meat rained down on the other Elders. Warm organ pieces landed on the table.
[DING! You killed Elder Gold Tooth.]
[Auto-Loot: [Enhancement Talent] (Purple), [Mania] (Purple), [Boxing] (Purple)!]
[System Note: [Enhancement] fused. [Mania] crushed.]
Mediocre.
Enhancement was already Red. Purple was just XP.
Boxing... useless. Maybe for creating a custom martial art later?
Dragon Subduing Palm? Vajra Palm?
Ryker mused.
"..."
Deathly silence.
The Elders looked ugly.
They didn't expect instant death. Gold Tooth was strong, but he died without Ryker lifting a finger.
What kind of Nen is this!?
100% Force!
But no one understood it.
"Friend, hehe. Your strength is recognized. But if you want to sweep us all, you won't get your way."
Brandon, the old fox, spoke up.
The other Elders rallied behind him. Hundreds of thugs rushed in.
Ryker was outnumbered.
"Damn! You think killing Gold Tooth scares us? Be an Elder quietly, and we'll ignore this. If not, don't blame us!"
"Brandon! District 10 joins you! Kill him!"
"Me too! Meteor City doesn't need a monster like him."
The Elders united.
Before, there was balance. Now, Ryker broke it.
They had to team up.
"Hehe. Friend. Using that move must have drained your stamina. If we flee, you can't catch us all. When you're weak, we'll strike."
"You don't want to live in fear, do you?"
Brandon threatened, surrounded by flames.
"Right! Gold Tooth wasn't weak. Killing him cost you energy!"
"Protect me, idiots!"
"Agree to Brandon, and we can be neighbors!"
The Elders sneered.
"Sigh... why can't you understand human language?"
Aizen Ryker sighed.
He raised a finger at Brandon.
White Thunder · Cero!
BOOM—
A bucket-thick beam exploded.
The conference room was pierced. A hole appeared in the wall.
Old Brandon dodged, but his face was grim.
Damn!
Ranged attacks too!
"FIRE!!"
Brandon raged, waving his hand.
He became a flamethrower. Torrential fire poured onto Ryker.
"Dodge!"
"Brandon is crazy!"
"Fuck!"
The other Elders scattered. Slow thugs were incinerated instantly, turning to charcoal.
In everyone's eyes, Ryker, Erica, and Lilian were swallowed by fire.
Brandon poured more Nen into the flames.
Concrete cracked. Steel melted. The building shook.
"Harder, Brandon! Burn the monster! I'll call you Boss if he dies!"
"He's done!"
"Steel is melting! Human bodies can't survive!"
"Phew... Erica died too. Good riddance!"
"Boss Brandon, lots of empty districts now. Redraw map?"
"Yes yes! Boss Brandon!"
The Elders got excited.
Ryker's death meant a bigger pie for them.
The fire lasted 15 minutes. Brandon gave it his all.
He felt his ability breakthrough.
Temperature like a furnace. Even metal was juice.
"Huff—"
Sweating profusely, Brandon panted, staring at the ruins.
The fire died down. Heat distorted the air.
Crash!!
The building collapsed!
Concrete turned to powder. Steel melted.
Everyone watched nervously.
Dust settled.
"That monster... must be dead, right?"
One Elder spoke.
But the words stuck in his throat.
Everyone's eyes bulged.
Brandon almost had a heart attack.
In the scorching ruins.
A 5-meter circle remained pristine.
Intact floor. Intact chair. Intact curtains.
The demon-like man sat there, smiling at Brandon.
Behind him, Erica looked excited and terrified. Lilian was blank.
Three people... not even their clothes were singed.
Like an invisible glass dome separated them from the fire.
Impossible!
H-How!?
Brandon stumbled back, head buzzing.
He played with fire all his life. He never saw this.
15 minutes of melting steel!
Yet they were unharmed?
"Just this tiny flame? Not even enough to light candles at my birthday party."
Aizen Ryker stood up slowly, smiling at Brandon.
But to the old man, that smile was scarier than the Grim Reaper.
Every hair on his back stood up.
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