Chapter 86: CH 086: Leader of the Merger Faction

Chapter 86: CH 086: Leader of the Merger FactionDave’s fingers dug into Todd’s neck, his eyes boring into the man’s defiant gaze. "Tell me who Master Tyler is," he growled, his voice low and menacing. Todd’s face reddened, his eyes bulging as he struggled to speak. "You...can...never...get...anything...from...me," he rasped, the words tumbling out in a slow, agonized whisper. Dave’s grip tightened, his fingers pressing deeper into Todd’s neck. But instead of fear, a spark of determination flared in Todd’s eyes. His hands, previously limp at his sides, began to twitch. Flames erupted from Todd’s palms, engulfing his body in a sudden, fierce blaze. Dave recoiled, his hands releasing Todd’s neck as he stumbled backward. The heat from the flames washed over him, intense and suffocating. Todd’s body arched, his mouth open in a silent scream as the flames consumed him. The air was filled with the stench of burning flesh and hair, the sound of crackling skin and popping fat. Dave’s eyes remained fixed on the inferno, his face a mask of shock and fascination. The flames died down as suddenly as they had begun, leaving behind a charred, blackened corpse. The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of Dave’s ragged breathing. He stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the remains of Todd, his mind reeling with the implications of what had just occurred. "Shit!" Dave muttered, his eyes fixed on Todd’s charred remains. He felt a surge of frustration and annoyance, his mind racing with the possibilities of what he could have done differently. He hadn’t anticipated Todd’s desperate move, and now the man was dead. As he stood there, lost in thought, the sound of footsteps echoed through the factory. The slow, deliberate pace that echoed through the factory. Dave turned to face the approaching figures, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Jackie and the three other mergers. They walked toward him with a steady, purposeful gait, their faces set in determined expressions. Dave’s gaze lingered on Jackie, his mind whirling with questions. Why were they approaching him again? Hadn’t he just demonstrated his formidable power? Dave let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. After everything he had done so far, from the summoning of beasts, to him taking out the Tai Faction army, which was much larger than them, he had expected them to retreat and not try to attack again, but it seems like they weren’t relenting until they take him out. As he watched the four mergers approach, a reluctant admiration crept into his mind. They were brave, he had to give them that. Despite the odds, despite the display of power he had just put on, they were still willing to take him on. The mergers drew closer, their eyes fixed intently on Dave. The air was thick with tension, the silence between them heavy with unspoken threats. Dave’s hands hung loose at his sides, his fingers twitching with anticipation. If they want to fight and won’t ally with him as they said, then he’ll just have to take them all out. And while they approach, he had decided to at least ask them a question, maybe he’ll understand why they were so adamant on wanting to take him out at all cost. "I just can’t understand you. Do you guys have a death wish or something?" he asked, his tone laced with incredulity. The four mergers halted in front of him, their faces bearing no expression. Jackie’s voice had then broke through the silence, his words measured and deliberate. "The Merger Faction has managed to overcome a deadly situation today, even though it was indirectly by a non member." He started. "We would have been wiped out by the Tai Faction, if not for the quick intervention of someone... a stranger, who we would love to know more about." Jackie’s eyes locked onto Dave’s, his gaze piercing. "We have watched and realized how powerful you are. We saw the display of your powers, especially the one where you were able to summon and control beasts. We are... baffled and surprised at the same time. Such a powerful person... they are not just strong, but also dangerous." Jackie’s words hung in the air, his tone dripping with a mix of awe and wariness. "Which is why we have concluded and decided against your proposal. We won’t be allying with you." The finality in his voice was unmistakable, his decision firm and resolute. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Dave digested Jackie’s words. The mergers’ change of heart was unexpected, and Dave’s eyes narrowed as he tried to comprehend what was happening. His face went blank, and his mind struggled to keep up with the sudden turn of events. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words were caught in his throat. Why had Jackie complimented him if he was just going to refuse his proposal? The praise seemed hollow now, like a polite gesture before delivering the blow. It was like those job interviews where they compliment you for your school certificates, only to decline you for not looking good enough, or for being too straight forward, which is bad for their customers. It was the exact way Jackie’s word had sounded in Dave’s ears. But before Dave could process his thoughts, and ask why his proposal was neing rejected, Jackie had continued with his words. "However, we have a much better proposal for you." He paused before continuing. "We want you to be our leader, we want you to lead us with your great strength and dangerous personality." The factory fell silent for a heartbeat before erupting into a chorus of voices. "Please, lead us!" The shout echoed off the walls, a cacophony of enthusiasm and desperation. The words crashed into Dave like a wave, leaving him stunned. He blinked several times, his eyes darting between the mergers’ eager faces. Had he heard that right? Lead them? The absurdity of the request hit him like a ton of bricks. He rubbed his ears, wondering if he had misheard them. True, he wanted to have them as his army, that’s why he had came to form an alliance with them. Maybe even joining their group as a member. But things were turning out in a different way than he expected. He least expected they would propose for him to be their leader. It must be some kind of joke right? Jackie stepped forward, his voice booming through the factory. "I, Jackie Herman, vacate my position and role as the leader of the Merger Faction to the new leader. Everyone, greet the new leader!" The words hung in the air like a challenge, and then the mergers responded in unison. Everyone in the room had immediately bowed heads, all of them facing the ground as they greeted Dave in show of respect to him as their new leader. Dave’s eyes darted between the rows of bent figures, his mind struggling to comprehend the scene unfolding before him. He felt a nervous cough building in his throat, and before he knew it, it had escaped his lips. "Please lift your heads," he said, his voice a little low. "You don’t have to bow to me." The words tumbled out awkwardly, but Dave didn’t know what else to say. This was an uncharted territory for him, yet he was winging it. As the mergers slowly rose to their feet, their eyes locked onto Dave with admire and expectations. He shifted uncomfortably, feeling like a figurehead without a clue about what to do next. It was pretty obvious that this was new to him. At that instant, Jackie had started approaching him, a small smile playing gently on his lips. "Please, leader, what is your name?" he asked, his voice respectful. Dave hesitated for a moment before responding, "Huh, Dave." He still couldn’t shake off the thought that maybe this was all some kind of secret plan to fool him, and then take him out when he wasn’t aware. But Jackie’s expression remained serious, his eyes shining with a genuine intensity. "Dave, you are now our leader," he said, extending his hand in a gesture of respect. "Like you initially proposed, let’s forget about our conflicts and make the world a better place." At that moment, the system had displayed a series of messages to him. [Congratulations, you have been made the leader of the Merger Faction] [1/3 of the faction present on earth is now under your rule] [You are a couple of steps closer to being the world leader] [Dominate the two other factions and reach your goal] Without hesitation, Dave had then grabbed onto Jackie’s hands, his suspicions disappearing almost instantly.