Nightmare for you

The private suite was lavishly decorated, exuding an air of exclusivity and importance. The long, glass-top table reflected the soft golden glow of the floating lanterns above, their light shifting slightly with each movement in the room. The guests seated inside were already waiting, their eyes sharp, their postures poised with a blend of authority and wariness.

Sol stepped inside with an easy gait, hands in his pockets, his sharp starry eyes sweeping across the room. The atmosphere was heavy, thick with unspoken words and barely restrained power plays. He smirked to himself—this was going to be entertaining.

Elise walked forward with effortless grace, her golden eyes scanning the room before she inclined her head slightly. "I appreciate you all coming on such short notice," she said smoothly, her voice commanding attention without the need for volume. "Let's keep this civil, shall we?"

At the far end of the table sat a man who oozed quiet authority. He was older, his silver-streaked black hair slicked back, a tailored navy suit draped over his broad frame. His sharp, calculating eyes settled on Elise first before flicking to Sol. "So this is the infamous ghost I've been hearing about," he mused, leaning back in his chair with an almost amused expression.

Sol quirked a brow, unfazed. "Infamous already? I must be making a hell of an impression."

"More than you realize," the man replied before nodding toward Elise. "Shall we get down to business?"

Elise took her seat, gesturing for the others to do the same. Sol chose a spot near the end of the table, leaning back with an air of nonchalance, though his mind was already mapping the dynamics in the room. He noted the small but telling movements—the way one of the seated figures tapped their fingers in a controlled rhythm, the way another subtly adjusted their sleeve, as if concealing something underneath.

Asha took a seat beside Elise, her demeanor poised yet cautious. Jupiter, on the other hand, remained standing, arms crossed, her presence exuding restrained tension. She was here for security, a looming reminder that things could escalate quickly if necessary.

Elise laced her fingers together, her gaze unwavering as she addressed the group. "Let's be clear—I didn't call this meeting to waste anyone's time. There's been movement in territories that were previously neutral, and that needs to be addressed."

One of the men across from her scoffed lightly, a younger but equally sharp-dressed figure with short cropped black hair and a scar running down his cheek. "Territory lines shift all the time. It's the nature of business."

Sol chuckled under his breath. "Funny how it's only a problem when someone starts stepping on your toes."

The man's sharp gaze snapped to him, irritation flickering across his face. Elise remained composed, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes as she glanced at Sol.

"That's exactly why we're here—to make sure toes remain unstepped," Elise interjected smoothly. "The Twin Dragons has always remained neutral ground, and I intend to keep it that way. Overstepping boundaries, intentional or not, risks escalating tensions, and I doubt anyone here wants unnecessary bloodshed."

A moment of silence stretched as her words settled over the group. Then the older man at the head of the table sighed, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. "You know as well as I do, Elise, that not everyone plays by the same rules. There are those who see neutrality as an opportunity rather than a boundary."

Elise nodded slightly. "And that's why we need to make it clear that neutrality is not a weakness to be exploited."

Sol watched the exchange with mild interest. Elise handled herself well—calm, composed, and exuding authority without the need for overt displays of power. Still, he knew these types of discussions rarely ended with just words.

The older man studied Elise for a moment before shifting his gaze to Sol. "And what role does he play in all of this?"

Sol smiled lazily. "Oh, I'm just here to keep things interesting."

The scarred man sneered. "A joker, huh? You don't belong at this table."

Sol tilted his head slightly, his smirk never wavering. "That so? And here I thought this was a business meeting. Didn't realize there was a dress code for personalities."

Elise cut in before the tension could escalate. "Sol has a talent for disruption, which is exactly why he's here. The unpredictability he brings ensures that certain... risks are reconsidered before they're taken."

The room fell into a brief silence, and Sol could practically see the gears turning in their heads. Good. Let them wonder.

The older man finally sighed, nodding slowly. "Fine. We can maintain the balance—so long as all parties involved respect the boundaries."

Elise inclined her head. "That's all I ask."

With the immediate tension defused, the discussion shifted toward the finer details—logistics, agreements, and lines of communication. Sol leaned back, listening, his mind already assessing the long game at play. He had no intention of being anyone's pawn, but for now, this game was proving to be more fun than he'd expected.

As the meeting concluded, Elise stood, offering a final nod of acknowledgment. "I trust we all understand each other."

The older man stood as well, adjusting his suit. "For now."

Before they could leave, the scarred man's voice cut through the air. "Hey, you."

Sol paused, turning his head slightly, a lazy smirk still playing on his lips. Elise's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of displeasure in her golden eyes, but she remained silent, curiosity flickering beneath her composed exterior. She wanted to see how Sol would handle this.

Sol glanced over his shoulder, hands still casually in his pockets. "Me?"

The scarred man's gaze was hard, assessing. "You talk big for someone who just walked in here. I don't buy into the whole 'wildcard' act."

Sol chuckled, taking a slow step back into the room. "Oh? And here I thought we were all getting along so well."

The scarred man's sneer deepened, clearly unsatisfied with Sol's nonchalant attitude. "I don't like unknowns in my business. And you, Sol, are one big question mark."

The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly, tension rising as some of the seated figures exchanged glances. Asha's posture straightened slightly, while Jupiter exhaled heavily, her arms still crossed but her stance shifting ever so slightly forward, prepared for any escalation.

Elise remained seated, observing quietly, her expression unreadable. She didn't interrupt, clearly curious to see how Sol would handle himself.

Sol exhaled dramatically, tilting his head. "That's fair. People tend to get nervous around things they don't understand. Makes them act irrationally."

The scarred man's fingers twitched slightly as he leaned forward. "You think you're untouchable? That your little parlor tricks make you immune to consequences?"

Sol let out a soft, amused hum, his smirk never faltering. "I think consequences are only a problem if you can't afford to deal with them. And from what I've seen here, you're all more afraid of making the wrong move than actually dealing with me. That's what's really bothering you, isn't it?"

The scarred man's jaw tightened. His irritation was growing, but he wasn't reckless enough to lash out. The others were watching, assessing. And Sol knew he had struck a nerve.

Elise finally broke the silence, her voice smooth but laced with warning. "Gentlemen, let's not forget why we're here. This meeting was about boundaries, not personal grievances."

The scarred man's gaze flickered to Elise, then back to Sol. After a moment, he let out a sharp breath through his nose, clearly restraining himself. "Fine. But don't think for a second this is over."

Sol's smile faded, his relaxed posture straightening as he let out a slow breath. His starry eyes sharpened, a cold glint replacing his usual amusement. "Oh, but it's not."

The shift in his demeanor was immediate, thickening the tension in the room. Several of the seated figures stiffened, sensing something unnatural about the sudden shift in atmosphere. The scarred man sneered, masking his unease with bravado. "Oh? And what exactly are you gonna do?"

Sol turned slightly, his gaze locking onto Elise. His voice was calm, but the underlying tone sent a chill through the air. "Is it fine if I put him to sleep for a bit?"

Silence fell over the room, thick and suffocating. Elise felt a shiver crawl down her spine as she met Sol's gaze. For the first time, she felt something dangerous lingering behind those unreadable eyes. She inwardly cursed. I should've stopped that bastard from provoking him.

She exhaled, knowing full well she couldn't control him. "Just don't kill him."

Sol's smirk returned, his usual casual demeanor slipping back into place as he flicked his fingers. A barely visible, translucent purple sphere shot forward, striking the scarred man's forehead. No one had seen it, but they all caught the movement of Sol's flick, their confusion evident.

Asha, however, had seen enough before. Her body convulsed slightly, her breath catching in her throat. It's over for him.

The scarred man scoffed. "Stop trying to act mysteri—"

His voice cut off, his pupils dilating before his expression twisted into raw terror. A bloodcurdling scream tore through the room, agony lacing every syllable. He clawed at his head, gasping as though unseen horrors wrapped around his throat.

The room erupted into chaos. The guards, trained professionals, reacted instantly, weapons raised toward Sol.

But Sol had already anticipated this.

With a casual snap of his fingers, the guards suddenly yelped, dropping their weapons as pained expressions twisted their faces. They stumbled back, gripping their hands, their skin sizzling as their weapons seemingly melted in their grip.

Except they weren't melting.

Sol had layered a complex illusion, one that made their brains register excruciating pain as if their flesh was truly burning. The illusion twisted around their senses, making them believe their very bones were being scorched from the inside out.

Then, with the same flicking motion, he sent more of the translucent spheres at the guards who had drawn their weapons.

What followed was a cacophony of terror. Screams and cries filled the room as the illusion consumed their reality.

Elise, Asha, and even Jupiter felt their blood run cold. Witnessing the rumors about Sol's abilities was entirely different from hearing them. His methods were subtle yet devastating, breaking people without lifting a single finger.

The other figures in the room recoiled, their minds struggling to process what was happening. They had no idea what Sol had done—only that the scarred man and the guards were now lost in an invisible nightmare.

Sol sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, before casting a glance at Elise and the older man. "You should really keep your people on a tighter leash."

The room's tension slowly dissipated as Elise stood, clearly signaling the end of the meeting. Sol watched as the scarred man gave him one last unreadable look before turning away.

Elise sighed again, shaking her head slightly. "You really don't know when to back down, do you?"

Sol grinned. "You wanted me in this little game, so I might as well break the board."

As they walked out with the sounds of screams still echoing behind them, Sol casually snapped his fingers again. The sharp sound made Elise, Asha, and Jupiter freeze, their eyes widening in alarm as they instinctively turned to him.

"What did you just do?" Elise demanded, her voice tense, a flicker of fear slipping through her normally composed demeanor.

Asha and Jupiter were equally on edge, their postures rigid, ready for another outburst of chaos.

Sol laughed, shaking his head. "Relax," he said, flashing a playful grin. "I was just waking up those poor souls."

Elise exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple as she muttered under her breath. "You're going to give me a damn heart attack one of these days."

Asha still looked unconvinced, but she sighed in relief, while Jupiter scoffed, though there was a hint of unease lingering in her glare.

Elise took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. "Your job is done, Sol. And you did great," she admitted, though she mumbled under her breath, "Might have taken it a bit too far, though."

In truth, she just wanted to put as much distance between herself and this ticking time bomb as possible. The longer he stayed, the more unpredictable the situation became.

"I'll send you a message when something else pops up," she added, her tone composed but firm.

Sol shrugged, completely unfazed. "Guess I'll head out then." He gave a lazy wave before turning on his heel.

As he walked deeper into the dark night, his figure flickered for a brief moment before vanishing entirely from sight. It wasn't a normal disappearance—it was as if the shadows swallowed him whole, erasing his presence from existence.

Asha, still shaken, mumbled under her breath, "Ghost…"

Elise and Jupiter's pupils shrank at the sight. Even with all their experience in the underworld, they had never seen someone disappear like that.

Elise rubbed her temple once more, a new wave of exhaustion settling in. She turned to Asha, her voice quieter but firm. "Change of plans. I'd rather not risk playing with fire. That kid is a bomb, and I'd rather have him blow up at others rather than us. No games when it comes to Sol."

Asha completely agreed, still shaken by what had transpired. The memory of those screams echoed in her mind, and she shuddered involuntarily. Even Jupiter, normally unshakable, remained uncharacteristically quiet, rattled by what she had just witnessed.