Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 116
The temperature spiked in an instant, even though The Fire of Judgment was dozens of meters away; Ethan could still feel the heat radiating from it, spreading like an invisible wave.
The figure before him had shed its guard disguise completely, its sharp outlines blurring as it merged into roaring flames. Its body swelled, far beyond the size of any adult, towering like a small giant, broad and imposing. Fire spilled from its chest, tracing strange patterns that hardened into deep crimson armor, shielding it like a warrior’s plate.
Ethan’s Snake pendant burned hot against his chest, a dire warning he couldn’t ignore. Without a second thought, he bolted toward the purple jumpsuits.
From the way The Fire of Judgment was gathering power, transforming, it was clear: once it finished, this level would turn into a blazing inferno. Staying alone near it was suicide; better to regroup with the purple jumpsuits, even if just for now. Besides, in his pig-headed creature guise, he’d ordered them to leave everyone but Julian alone—they might not turn on him. He could use them as a buffer, slow the thing down, and scout for weaknesses in the chaos.
...
Rewind a bit.
Julian and Leo moved together. Julian tasked Leo with covering him while he hunted for clues alone. With a warm smile, he parted from Leo, but the moment he turned, his face twisted into something cold and calculating.
He came from an elite family, raised in luxury from the start. Smart as a whip, he figured out most things without anyone spelling them out. The first time he grasped the chasm between people’s statuses was when a housekeeper accidentally shattered an antique vase in front of him.
Amusingly, this grown woman dropped to her knees, tears streaming, begging a kid not even out of his teens to keep quiet—lest she lose her hard-won job. The scene was absurd, comical even, but to Julian, it was utterly fascinating. His life was plush, every want fulfilled; he aced whatever he touched, no real challenges. It all felt so empty, so void of meaning.
He knew he was wired differently from most folks, but that was fine—his background and brains gave him license to stray off the path. Julian didn’t indulge in crude thrills, like tormenting animals; that was beneath him, too basic. What fun in bullying dumb beasts?
But this housekeeper, with her groveling desperation, filled him with a rush of satisfaction. For the first time, he understood the weight of power and position, yet what he truly craved was toying with people’s lives.
Animals weren’t worthy playthings. Humans, though? They were perfect.
Julian knew the housekeeper was sweet on one of the gardeners—a little secret he’d uncovered while idly watching the staff in his boredom. So he hatched a delightful plan.
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