Chapter 167: Domain

The atmosphere in the room changed immediately with anger radiating from multiple sources.

Marcus’s voice came out harsh.

"We won’t call that ungrateful bastard Major Ryan Sukov. As soon as we got out of the portal, before any of us had even recovered, he sold Damian out to the military.

Told them everything about the Devourer Body Art, about the consumption of Giant flesh and about every method Damian used to save our lives."

Isaac nodded agreement, his usually calm face showing rare fury.

"Damian saved all of us multiple times. Became a monster to protect us. And Sukov’s first action was betraying him to his superiors. We don’t associate with ungrateful wretches!"

"I see."

Brian’s voice was carefully neutral.

But his eyes showed something else. Something cold and calculating and absolutely merciless.

"Then we move forward with nine members. Quality over quantity. All of you think about what I’ve proposed. We’ll meet again in three days for your decisions."

The meeting concluded with survivors filing out with troubled expressions and racing thoughts.

Brian remained behind, sitting alone in the darkness.

His mind was already working through logistics, planning operations and identifying targets.

And... thinking about the SFD.

About betrayal and appropriate consequences.

****

[Major Ryan Sukov’s Residence - Late Night]

Ryan returned home humming a tune, his day having gone well.

The military had been very interested in his detailed reports about Damian Valcor’s activities inside the portal. His superiors had praised his thoroughness and dedication to protocol.

He’d done the right thing. Reported a potential threat. Protected humanity from someone who’d crossed fundamental boundaries.

The fact that Damian had saved his life was irrelevant. Duty always came first.

Ryan opened his front door and stepped inside, reaching for the light switch.

But something felt wrong immediately.

The air felt... different and heavier. Like he’d stepped into a space that didn’t quite follow normal physical rules.

His combat instincts, honed through years of military service, screamed warnings.

’This isn’t right. The house feels different. Like I’ve entered somewhere else entirely. Something like...’

His voice came out as a low, horrified whisper.

"A fucking Domain."

Domains were advanced techniques that awakeners could only create after reaching A rank.

A manifestation of their willpower and Aura that created a controlled space centered on their body.

Within a Domain, the creator had absolute control.

They could manipulate reality according to their understanding and power.

They could make the impossible become possible within their defined territory.

Every domain was unique and completely dependent on the understanding of the user regarding the principles of the world they understood.

Being caught in someone else’s Domain was a death sentence for anyone significantly weaker.

"Who’s there?!"

Ryan’s hand went to his weapon, his C rank Aura flaring defensively.

As soon as his voice rang out, a shadow moved in the corner.

It was large and bear-like in body shape. Holding a massive hammer that looked designed to crush rather than cut.

The shadow’s voice rumbled out, low and menacing.

"Major Ryan Sukov. Alive completely thanks to Damian Valcor. But as soon as you left the portal, the very first thing you did was betray the person who saved you.

Told the military about what he did inside. About his methods and techniques and transformation."

The shadow made a disapproving sound.

"Tsk tsk. You are truly an ungrateful bastard."

Ryan clenched his teeth, trying to maintain composure despite the fear.

"I’m from the military! Hiding details about potential threats is against protocol! I had a duty to report what I witnessed!"

"You were not on an official mission inside that portal."

The shadow’s voice cut through his justification like a blade.

"Your presence was accidental. You had no orders, no authorization and no protocol requiring you to report anything. Yet... you betrayed your savior without a second thought."

The shadow’s form shifted slightly.

"Stop lying to yourself and others. Just admit it. You were scared of Damian. Terrified of what he’d become. So you tried to use the system to eliminate him for no reason other than pure jealousy."

Ryan’s mind raced, analyzing his situation.

’C rank fighting an A rank inside their Domain. Chances of survival: effectively zero. I need to stall! I need to find weakness! Need to–’

"You should have seen that kid!"

Ryan’s voice came out desperate, trying to justify and explain.

"He’s not sane! He’s the same as those Monsters we fought! Eating sentient beings, transforming his body, losing his humanity bit by bit!

He’ll become a threat to all humans eventually! It was only right that I made sure the higher-ups knew what he was capable of! What he created!"

The shadow was quiet for a moment.

"Hmmm... Anything else?"

Ryan opened his mouth to continue his explanation, to pile on more justifications, to somehow talk his way out of this situation.

But suddenly... the shadow disappeared from his vision.

There was no sound or any warning. The shadow was suddenly directly in front of Ryan, close enough to touch.

Then the hammer rose.

"Wait–"

SMASH.

The hammer came down with A rank enhanced force, catching Ryan’s skull and obliterating it instantly.

Brain matter and bone fragments exploded outward, blood spraying across the walls.

Ryan’s body collapsed, already dead, his last moment filled with the realization that no amount of talking would save him.

But... the shadow didn’t stop at that.

BAM

The hammer rose and fell again, pulverizing the corpse’s chest.

BAM

It rose again as the torso was reduced to broken meat.

BAM BAM BAM

Again. And again. And again...

The shadow kept hitting long after Ryan was dead, and kept destroying the body until it was nothing but a paste of blood and flesh and shattered bone spread across the floor.

The rhythm was methodical and mechanical. Like someone working through deep emotion by focusing on repetitive physical action.

Finally, the shadow stopped.

It stood there breathing heavily, the hammer dripping with gore.

The Domain dissolved with reality snapping back to normal with an almost audible pop.

The shadow’s features became visible in the dim light.

It was none other than... Brian Oleaf!

He stared down at what remained of Major Ryan Sukov, his face completely empty of expression.

"The thing I hate most now..."

His voice was quiet, almost conversational.

"Is betrayal."

He turned and walked away from the carnage, his footsteps echoing in the empty house.

Behind him, Ryan’s remains slowly oozed across the floor, completely unrecognizable as having ever been human.

The Northern Branch of the Mafia had claimed its first victim.

And Brian Oleaf had completed his transformation from idealistic officer to something far more dangerous.