Trust

"ENTERTAIN ME MORE!!!" Liu Kai shouted to all the giant bugs around him. They twitched on his sudden loud voice and caused them to quiver.

Jin Chow and Sergio Von Croy landed beside King Lee.

"What's going on?" Jin Chow asked, looking at Liu Kai with a confused expression.

"I don't know." King Lee responded, still staring at Liu Kai while forcing his body to stop trembling.

Jin Chow and Sergio Von Croy felt the pressure he's releasing that made their body shudder. They want to approach Liu Kai, but their body sends them all the signals that they are in danger.

All the giant bugs in the field can only observe, trembling as they realize that they are now the prey instead of a predator after Liu Kai's transformation. They can't even run with their feet, and they bow down their heads in fear. Normally, a bug doesn't behave this way as they are programmed to attack everything that moves. Few exceptions can force them to escape, but they'll still attack in retaliation when the creature comes too close to them. But in this case, it's different. Perhaps the influence of Liu Kai's skill affected their animal instincts.

"Don't go close to him. He doesn't look like the person we know," explained King Lee, seeing him transform into a beast-like creature.

Jin Chow narrowed his eyes to King Lee and said, "What are you saying? He's still Liu Kai! We have to get out of here with him," Jin Chow attempted to step forward, but he can't. It feels like something is forcing him to run away from the place.

Sergio Von Croy, who always trusted Liu Kai's abilities, mustered his strength and managed to step closer bit by bit. He knew that Liu Kai's mind is firm enough not to get carried away by his strange power, regardless of how powerful it was.

After getting close enough to hear him, Sergio told Liu Kai, "Let's fall back! Our business here is over," Sergio slowly walked closer to him.

"Ho! You're gonna agree with that?"

Suddenly, everything turned black around Liu Kai. He closed his eyes in retaliation and took a step back. When he opened his eyes, he immediately found himself seated in a chair with arms tied together on the back of the chair in an empty dark room. The floor is like a chessboard, with black-and-white tiles that bring an eerie feeling. There's a mirror in front of him, but it doesn't reflect his current position. The man, who had the same appearance as him, grinned and walked closer until it emerged from the mirror.

"I don't know what you're trying to accomplish here but... just get loose!" The man said, touching his chin to lift it.

"You're wasting your time on those lowly creatures." The man brought his face closer to Liu Kai's ear.

The man whispered, "Just kill all of them!"

The man walked around him while talking about crazy things. Liu Kai tried not to listen and close his eyes, but it resonated in his ears. It's like the man's voice is directly going on his head using telepathic prowess.

"STOOOOOOOP!!!" Liu Kai shouted at the top of his lungs, struggling to break free, but he can't. The man continued to talk to him.

"Cut loose!"

"Take everything!"

"Kill everyone!"

"That's what you need to do."

"You wanted to get stronger, right?"

"Then do it!"

"Show me what you're truly capable of."

.

.

.

"How dare you to command me, you pesky human?" Liu Kai asked Sergio, walking closer to him.

"What?" asked Sergio, who was shocked already because of how dominant he was and how intimidating he looked, but he's more surprised that Liu Kai doesn't seem to recognize him.

"GRAAAAA!!!!" Liu Kai pounced forward to slash Sergio but Jin Chow intervened and defended Sergio using his skill.

"This is the last time I can use my skill for the day. Liu Kai, snap out of it! Let's fall back," Jin Chow begged at Liu Kai, standing in front of Sergio and deflecting the scythe with his toughen neck.

'Damn! If my skill activated a little late, I'm surely dead,' Jin Chow thought to himself.

The giant assassin bug differs from the rest. It didn't submit to Liu Kai's intimidating aura and pounced back to attack using its regenerated proboscis.

It suddenly appeared behind Sergio, attempting to pierce the three of them in one go, but Liu Kai rushed in to catch its proboscis.

"Not so fast!"

Liu Kai caught the attack using his left hand and holding his face in his right hand. He looked like he was trying to take over his body from someone else.

Sergio, who saw it, felt hope from Liu Kai's eyes. He trusted him after all.

"Snap out of it Liu Kai," Sergio begged, touching Liu Kai's shoulder.

"Get away from here!" Liu Kai responded, making various expressions and struggling to contain his bloodlust.

"But—"

"JUST GET AWAY!!!" Liu Kai cut him off. He looked at Sergio in the eyes.

'This look... it's not trying to scare me as it was before. It begs me to leave,' Sergio said to himself, gazing into Liu Kai's eyes.

"I can get out of here alive, so please get out," begged Liu Kai.

Sergio Von Croy recalled how naive Liu Kai was from all the things that had happened in the world because he is asleep, yet he is adapting fast to the situation. He's kind enough to teach him and Jin Chow learn Breathing Techniques and to help the Dwarves that he just met.

Sergio wanted to help as he could see Liu Kai in agony, but if he persisted, he realized that he would just make it worse for Liu Kai.

"Let's go, Jin Chow," said Sergio, switching his gaze to Jin Chow.

"What? We're not going to leave him here!" Jin Chow raised his eyebrows, complaining to Sergio.

"Let's go! We're not leaving, we're trusting him to handle all of these on his own," Sergio Von Croy confidently stated.

'Yeah, I trust Liu Kai with my life. You're different from Mario, right? You won't die,' Sergio talked to himself, weighing how he trusted Liu Kai and his difference on Mario.

Jin Chow doesn't want to agree, but Sergio Von Croy grabbed him to retreat.