Three days later, on a Germinal jet heading to Andrea, Hila sat in the copilot's seat, her eyes narrowed.
-Are you sure this will work? - Hila couldn't help but ask again in her mind.
-...you're really cute when you're worried. - Ringo commented. It was actually true, but he only said it because Hila kept asking it. Knowing her personality, her response to affection was anger, unless the source of the affection was Aurora.
Just as he expected, she frowned slightly and ignored him.
After losing Ringo, they searched for two more days, but this elite team was hastily assembled and each had their own agenda. They couldn't keep chasing Ringo to the ends of the earth. So, with the trail cold, Hila was released. Luckily, the day to visit her sister was the very next day. Hila thought she'd miss that day again, but now not only was she returning, but she was also ready to turn the tables.
Ringo's plan wasn't risky, at least not for her or Aurora. He would act alone after taking him to headquarters. She would be suspected if he failed, of course, but at least there would be greater guarantees.
Hila spent the next few hours thoughtful and anxious. Ringo didn't speak to her either, sensing her state of mind. If it were another woman, she might need some comfort, Hila was the type who would prefer physical comfort.
Not in a sexual context, not yet at least, but a heated fight would probably ease the woman's stress.
Ringo was far from close to her and talking now wouldn't alleviate her anxiety, so it was best to remain quiet and leave her alone.
When the plane landed at the enormous base camouflaged by the jungle, Ringo continued to hide in Hila's consciousness.
The woman was already accustomed to the place, so she was responsible for taking him to the Leader.
Of course, she wouldn't take him directly there, but through her memories, he had already memorized much of the base's information.
When she was near an elevator, she spoke mentally. - This is it. Moving anywhere else would be very suspicious.
-Okay, from here on out, it's my turn.- Ringo said mentally. As soon as she passed the elevator shaft, Ringo climbed down her legs, crossing the floor, and into the shaft, where he quickly descended.
Hila felt the cold energy coursing through her body and her teeth clenched slightly. She couldn't help but mutter. - Pervert. - In fact, she was the only one on this planet Ringo thought could actually sense his movements through her body, his ability was too focused on the spiritual aspect after all.
Ringo, on the other hand, reached the twelfth underground floor. He had memorized the camera layout.
Taking a deep breath, Ringo entered the air duct still in his spiritual form and quickly navigated toward the leader's office.
He had to pass through a few walls due to the lack of connection, but finally reached a huge dome-shaped room. The modern atmosphere was dim with dim lights. At the end of the room, there was a huge, solid wooden table.
Behind her, a man wearing a mask.
-"Bingo." - Ringo smiled mentally, approaching on the ground. In truth, with Hidden Nightmare, he wouldn't be found even if he walked in front of the man, but he was a cautious man, and what fun was there in completing everything easily?
Ringo viewed this as both a ceremonial process and training for the future.
Thus, Ringo walked across the ground, towards the Germinal leader. He never noticed his approach, even though he hadn't actually used his concealment ability, the difference in Grade was a chasm separating them.
The next moment, he entered his consciousness. The leader seemed a little drowsy for a moment, but the next moment, his eyes widened. He wanted to jump, thinking there was a sleeping gas in the air, but he couldn't. His head fell directly onto the table, asleep.
In the Leader's consciousness, he found himself in the same room, but this time, there was a man sitting in the chair across from him.
The pair stared at each other for a moment, neither of them speaking.
Ringo was in his Death Scream form, so the Leader's first thought was that he was being murdered, but he didn't ask that, instead, he asked. - How did you get into my dream?
-Oh? You noticed? - Ringo was surprised, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was feeling very excited at the moment, like a cat that caught a mouse, with its paw on its tail.
-How much did they pay you? I can pay more. - The Leader didn't answer, but changed the subject.
-Pay me? No, no, I came for free. - Ringo laughed, highly amused.
The Leader fell silent again. - Do we have a grudge?
-Oh, what do you think?- Ringo returned to his giant form, watching the Leader's reaction.
Of course, the man was still wearing a mask, but he stiffened for a moment when he saw this.
He sighed lightly and spoke. - I see, it seems I greatly underestimated you.
-Yes, you did. - Ringo nodded.
-Isn't there room for argument? I gave you this power after all, without me, you'd be nothing. - the Leader argued.
-You've been in this position for a long time, right? - Ringo picked up a dice shaped paperweight from the table, playing with it, running it through his fingers.
The leader didn't answer; it was a rhetorical question, they both knew that.
-Do you know what it's like to be locked up for months? Being tortured every day, pushed to the limit while some idiot laughs at your misfortune and a bunch of scientists treat you like a lab rat? Do you know what it's like to have your body parts removed, to be electrocuted, poisoned, burned, frozen... over and over again, without knowing when it will end? - Ringo asked without changing his expression.
The Leader was silent for a moment before saying. -You're not the only one who's suffered, boy.
-Yes, that's true, but what did you do to those who did this to you? - Ringo asked calmly.
The leader fell silent again, letting out a sigh. There was a lot of emotion in that sigh, but at the same time, it seemed to express nothing. This was a contradictory man, hidden behind many layers. Ringo bet that not even the Leader himself knew himself completely.
Perhaps, it was only at the last moment, before the nuclear bomb exploded, that he truly knew himself.
That's how humans are, too complicated for our own good.
-So? - the leader finally asked, leaning back in his chair. - What's your plan for me?
-Oh, you'll love it. - Ringo laughed, greatly amused, thinking of something happy.
-I won't kill you, nor torture you, at least not physically. - He sat on the table, looking directly at the Leader.
-No, I know a tough guy like you will endure all this in silence. So I'll just take everything from you, I'll take everything that's yours and let you watch me do it. - Ringo's smile faded as he spoke.
-Finally, when everything you've built has been corrupted or destroyed, I'll take away your power, make you a paraplegic, and commit you to a fine nursing home. You'll spend the rest of your days being cared for in a luxury nursing home, day after day. You'll just watch as they treat you like a giant baby, spoon-feeding you and changing your diapers. How about that? Aren't I kind? - Ringo smiled brightly, laughing happily.
The Leader's hands clenched into a tight fist. He didn't respond, trying to release his energy, but nothing...
-Ah, I spent so much time thinking about what kind of revenge I would have and in the end I decided on this one. Aren't I kind? Before you answer, know that I considered drugging a herd of mutant horned gorillas and making them think you're female. - Ringo gave him a gentle smile.
The leader remained silent, but he was trying madly to shake off this state, but to no avail, he seemed just like an ordinary human.
-You know why I gave up? Because I felt it would end too quickly. Have you ever seen the size of a Horned Gorilla's dick? They have bull DNA, man, you wouldn't be able to handle that. - Ringo laughed even harder.
The Germinal leader suddenly grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed himself in the jugular, but the scissors disappeared and no blood came out.
Ringo, still fiddling with the dice, looked up, his soft smile, just a small curve at the corner of his mouth showed his current state of mind.. - Sorry, there's no escape from this dream, but your will is a little too strong, it's becoming uncomfortable to maintain this, so sorry, it might hurt a little later.
Ringo's eyes turned black, and the leader began to tremble as a deep growl escaped his mouth. On the real side, the leader's body trembled slightly as he slept. This was deliberately done by Ringo, or he would already be writhing and screaming.
In the dream, Ringo sighed, shaking his head regretfully, slowly swallowing the fragments of the Leader's spirit, careful not to let his soul shatter.
By this point, in the dream, the man could no longer bear it, he was rolling on the floor, screaming in pain, clutching his head and rolling.
Ringo stood up, sat in his chair and watched coldly.
All those months came back to him as a madness that rarely appeared in his eyes returned with force. A sadistic smile spread across his mouth as he laughed happily.
-Ah... I've waited so long for this, but don't worry, it'll be over soon. - Ringo let out a tired and relieved sigh, feeling much lighter for a moment.
-Revenge may not change my past, but it can make my present much lighter. - he commented, then stopped tearing the Leader's soul and began to control it. This would be an exhausting and complicated process.
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--x--
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