Chapter 26: The New Follower—Empath assassin
The woman woke up to water being slammed on her face by Lola, who ruthlessly splashed it without scruples.
The cold slap of water to the face is never gentle. But the way Lola did it? That was personal. She didn't just splash Relia — she baptized her into consciousness with the rage of a woman whose six hundred comrades lay scattered like laundry after a tornado.
"Hey… I'm awake already!" Relia sputtered, coughing and flinching as a third bowlful of fury smacked her in the eye.
Lola went for round four until Conrad — the walking definition of damage control — intervened like a tired kindergarten teacher on a Monday morning. He practically wrestled the bowl out of her hands and shoved her into a corner like, "Breathe, woman. Breathe!"
All Josh had said before stepping out was simple: "Don't kill her."
And Lola, with a straight face, obeyed.
She didn't kill her — she just nearly waterboarded her soul out of her nostrils.
The tension in the room simmered — six hundred elite soldiers unconscious, emotions high, dignity low — and Lola still fuming like a volcano with a caffeine addiction. Everyone was itching for revenge, and when Josh Aratat strolled in, it was like the temperature in the room adjusted to match the weight of his steps.
Relia, now fully drenched and finally awake, blinked rapidly as Josh approached. One look and the last 24 hours played in her head like a cursed mixtape.
"You… You shouldn't be alive," she muttered, voice trembling with confusion. "You were supposed to…"
"It's either these guys' mental spheres are very strong, or they have a way higher cultivation level compared to mine or both..." Relia muttered.
Josh didn't flinch. "What's your name? What was that ability you used last night?" His voice didn't rise. Didn't fall. Just hovered like judgement wrapped in velvet.
The woman blinked. Then sighed. Might as well take a few down with me, she thought.
"My name is Relia. I'm an Empath. My ability lets me manipulate emotion—make people feel things so hard, they think it's real. Last night, I made your soldiers believe they were dying. But I didn't go overboard ,That's why they collapsed. Since I lost consciousness, the connection broke. They'll wake up in two hours max—just mentally exhausted."
She paused, then added with a grim smile, "If I wanted to kill them they would all be dead by now... as for you ..I guess your mental sphere is too strong, or you're just emotionally unavailable."
Lola snorted. Even Conrad cracked a grin.
Relia continued, tone softening, "I was sent by Alloysius… told to kill you. He wants your name buried so his can rise. But I didn't do it out of hate. I did it because my family's starving. The war's drying up food faster than an arrogant fire mage at a wine festival. Just tell them I tried… Then kill me."
She closed her eyes, awaiting death with the grace of someone who'd finally given up fighting fate.
But Josh? He was thinking. Hard. The empire's collapsing. Food's vanishing. Desperate people are turning into weapons for hire... I need to start finding ways to provide food for my people and to bring more loyal followers to my side.
"Release her." He commanded.
"Wait—what?" came three overlapping voices. Relia's eyes popped open like spring-loaded shutters. Lola's mouth was wide enough to catch birds. Even stoic Conrad's brows nearly took off in flight.
"Let her go," Josh said again, turning to leave like the matter was closed.
Conrad chased after. "Master, with all due respect—what if she attacks again? We'd be dead if not for our strength!"
"I heard you," Josh said without turning. "But I've decided."
Loyalty trumped logic today. Conrad and Lola obeyed, but with one hand on a glaive and the other twitching near a whip.
Then the twist hit.
Relia didn't flee. She ran forward and dropped to her knees before Josh.
"I want to join your army. I swear on my Dao of Heart. Let me serve you!"
Josh paused mid-step. Expected it? Maybe. Shocked by the intensity? Definitely.
'i never thought this would actually work, but I need loyalty. The last time I had over 8000 soldiers at my beck and call but only about 2000 had any form of loyalty, everything is overated in front of loyalty. '
He then responded...
"Joining's easy," he said slowly, "but I demand loyalty."
"I will die for you," Relia whispered, voice shaking with something far deeper than fear—resolve.
Ping.
Josh's Kingly System hummed in his mind.
> New Follower Acquired: Relia Amia, Empath-Assassin. Loyalty Level: Death.
Reward: Orb of Memories
Images spun. Light danced. A glowing green orb shimmered into being—mystical, dangerous, and tailor-made for an empath like her.
Josh pulled it out of thin air with casual flair and offered it to her. "This is for you as a congratulatory gift for joining us. Also, bring your family over here. They'll be cared for under our protection."
Relia stared at the orb like a starving girl offered the last cake on Earth. To say she was delighted was an understatement. If she wasn't holding herself back, she would have rushed up to Josh and kissed him passionately.
"You… You're not all what they described at all!" she whispered. "You're better, with a kind heart and a forgiving spirit. Hence forth, with me here, No one will dare cross you again. I'll see to that… even if it costs me everything."
And with her vow, a storm began to gather—not of war, but of something far rarer in times like these: hope.
And maybe… a few more sarcastic water splashes if Lola didn't keep her bowl to herself.
Lola and Conrad Stan, who had witnessed the entire exchange, stood frozen for a moment—stunned, yet not entirely surprised. Somehow, deep down, they felt they should have seen it coming. Josh always had a flair for the unexpected.
"Welcome to the team..." Lola finally said, extending a hand to a completely drenched Relia Amia. Her tone was neutral, but her eyes said, Try anything funny, and I'll turn you into soup stock.
Relia gave her a look that practically screamed I should slap your soul into another dimension, but instead, she took the hand with surprising grace. Her handshake was firm—too firm—like a woman mentally negotiating with herself not to choke her new teammate on the spot.
Then came Conrad, beaming like a golden retriever who didn't know he was in trouble. "Come here, teammate!" he said and tried to slide into a side hug.
Crack!
Relia's elbow connected with his ribs so fast and sharp that Conrad bent over, coughing like he'd swallowed a trumpet.
"I deserved that," he wheezed out, raising one hand in surrender, the other holding his side. He knew full well she was getting payback—for Lola's earlier waterboarding, by proxy.
Without another word, Relia turned and strode out of the Black Dragon Base. Nobody stopped her.
Everyone had already been briefed: she was now one of them. A powerful empath-assassin with a temper, a grudge, and a new master. Though the base members still watched her with narrowed eyes and wary hearts, they knew one thing for sure—if Josh Aratat trusted her, they would too. Or at least pretend to until she saved one of their lives.