Rey paced in his room upstairs. He needed some time to himself to think, or he might divulge the wrong information. Besides, it was kind of fun to let them panic for a bit. Of course, if some idiot did something stupid as fall on their sword and call the demon horde to them, Rey would be more than disappointed in them. But Kassandra knew what to do in that instance.

  He needed to turn six of the NPCs downstairs into side characters, and he just didn't know how. There was one he had started on already. Just one love session with a succubus and Ajay had transformed into quite the reliable man.

  If only I could do the same with everyone.

  Maria would shriek and try to exorcise the demon from the succubus. He was surprised she hadn't tried to do that with Phil. He cocked his head to the side. Maybe she had. She was a lost cause. The faster she moved on, the better. Besides, she gave very Karen-like vibes. She had been mostly quiet ever since Daddy Phil returned as a demon. That must've rocked her worldview.

  Rey snapped his fingers. Maybe that's what they all need to get them in shape.

  Only nine people remained, ten, if he counted himself, so he could lose four of the lovely folk down there. Maria, he wouldn't mind losing. He prayed to whatever devil or god was listening that Gloria, the tastiest Churro, didn't bite the curb.

  If she's going to die, at least give her a slow-motion action scene death.

  He wouldn't mind losing Jerry as well. He could take his bike and ride off into the sunset at any time, though he had picked a nice Talent, that was for sure. Lastly, Tia, the princess Peach who acted like Bowser, had conquered her kingdom and didn't even offer to marry her. The worst part was that he didn't know what her Talent was or what the future held for her. So, she could die in any way she wished.

  That left Ajay, Filomena, Gloria, Dr Bahar, Sergei, and Kassandra—who he would save even if he had to sacrifice everyone else. In essence, he should try to save everyone until they reach the Kingdom of Night because bodies will drop like they love hugging the ground.

  Man, I hate that place.

  He didn't even want to think about that toilet that no one bothered to clean for an eternity. Now, it was so clogged with demons that a giant with a plunger the size of the Empire State Building couldn't unclog it. Worst of all, that three-eyed triclops was there, and Rey couldn't wait to poke his eyes out.

  He returned his focus to the task at hand. There was only one way to do it. Zalathar, the cuckold supreme, had made him the leader, so he had to act like it. Then there were the consequences of failing to please the dickless devil. Rey could only imagine what he would do. He had seen Zalathar lock people in cages of eternal darkness and lay a seed of chaos in their minds that drove them so mad that they split open their skulls. When he got really playful, he would torture them, put them back together, and then try something new again and again.

  Rey wouldn't pick the third option, for it would hurt as all hell. Besides, would Zalathar be okay with losing someone who could see the future? The answer was that he wouldn't mind losing Rey at all. He could install someone else in Rey's place, but that would only happen if the future turned out like the past and he was the only one who remained alive by the end of the year.

  No pressure, Rey. No pressure at all.

  The sound of footsteps came from down the hallway, and he knew the others' anxiety must've peaked, which meant ready or not, it was his time to take center stage and let loose the biggest dump he could push through his shiny butt cheeks.

  He opened the door just as Kassandra was about to knock. Ajay was there with her as well.

  "Yes, I'm coming," Rey said.

  "The others are starting to fight, and I can only control them so much," Kassandra said, clearly exasperated. "They think you've told me something."

  "Which I haven't," Rey stated.

  "But they don't know that." She shot back.

  "Don't worry, Kassi, let's go. Ajay, my man, why didn't you put on a fire-breathing show to keep them distracted? What is the point of having fire skills if you're not going to use them?"

  "B-But I don't have a fire-breathing skill," Ajay replied.

  "That was a joke, buddy. See, joking helps to distract people from their impending doom."

  "What?" They both said.

  "That's what I've been doing here when I've not been shitting myself, worrying about what will happen to me if I fail. Don't worry, you can't find the shit stains, I made sure of that."

  Kassandra sighed. "Let's just go."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  She led them down the stairs, and with each step, dread built into Rey as he had no idea what to tell the rest. He was no leader. He had no business leading anyone. He could hardly lead himself, and he was an adult by most standards.

  The group quieted when they arrived, and Kassandra and Ajay joined them, leaving the attention on Rey. They were all there, aside from Gloria and the good doctor, whom they had passed on the stairs on the second floor. She was keeping close to Gloria in case her condition worsened.

  "What? No introductions," he said to Kassandra. "How will the people know who is here to give today's TED Talk?"

  "Just fucking tell us what Zalathar said, you dumbass," Tia snapped.

  "You just made Santa's naughty list," Rey said. "Why doesn't everyone take a seat? It'll make me feel like I'm on a stage and presenting to a loving crowd." No one sat down. "No? Tough crowd. Well, the good news is that cuck—I mean, our loveable patron, Mr. Zalathar, has informed me that he doesn't give a fuck about any of you. The bad news is that, with my future seeing ability, he has made me the de facto leader of this group."

  "Bullshit," Jerry snapped.

  Rey raised his hands. "Hey, his words, not mine."

  "As if we would listen to you," Tia added. "I don't think you're even sane. Half the time, you're talking like you should be in an asylum."

  "I know!" Rey cried. "But that is not all he said. He thought it would have been funny to watch us die as we tried to figure out the ins and outs of the system, and I was ruining his fun by just revealing all the secrets. He even skinned my most hated uncle and made a nice coat out of him and a few other family members."

  They all looked at him like he had lost it. Unfazed, Rey marched forward.

  "But he had a change of heart. So, he's charged me with making sure at least five of you lovely folks make it to the end of the year and reach the D-Tier. Me! Your leader? Can you imagine?"

  The silence that followed lasted just long enough for Rey to reconsider all his life choices.

  Maria spoke first, and Rey heaved a heavy sigh inwardly because he was sure she was about to give some thoughtful insight.

  "How can we believe you? I've been onto you from the start. First, that devil gives you a higher rank, and then you just happen to know everything about everything. No, I don't trust you to lead me to the angels if they came down to this cursed place." She pointed to him with a trembling finger. "I think he's a demon who has been supplanted amongst us to keep us corralled and doing that demon's bidding."

  "Oh, for fuck's sake," Rey cursed. He was not expecting this. "You could always leave it to the Karens to turn nothing into a scandal."

  "She's right," Jerry said, stepping up. "I haven't trusted you from the start, and now you say you're going to lead us. Fuck off."

  Next was the wonderful Tia. "I agree. You're the last person I would follow. Hell, I won't follow any of you. Why shouldn't it be me?"

  "If the leadership is up for debate, then I want to put my name down as well," Jerry said.

  Then Filomena stepped up to join the Discord server of Hell's castle of grime, which, by the way, still hadn't been cleaned. Last time, they had seen enough death by now that they all wanted to work with each other. However, the only death they had seen so far was Latoria's. They hadn't seen death after death, which would make them want to work together to survive. So, they could endure this nightmare that had become their reality.

  He looked to Kassandra, who just shook her head. He looked at Ajay and made an exploding gesture. For once, the Succubus conqueror understood Rey's meaning and let loose two columns of flames from his hands, which silenced everyone immediately.

  "Would you all just like to die then?" Rey stated calmly. Though on the inside, he felt anything but fucking calm. He paused a moment to let that sink in. "Because that is the future that is awaiting you all. Only I make it to the end. Only I survive the year and make it to the D-Tier. You say you don't believe me, then when have I been wrong before? Tell me that."

  He took a long pause, and no one dared say anything. He found his anger rising, and his tone hardened with each word.

  "This is exactly what I thought would happen. You all cannot function together to save your own fucking lives. And now your continued existence is connected to my survival because if I can't at least get five of you to the end, then I'm fucked too. And I definitely do not want to be fucked by a devil of Chaos. So, no more voting. No more asking for your thoughts or feelings. I'm taking control. You can either fall in or fuck off. Who's with me?"

  Kassandra immediately came to stand by his side. "He helped me pick my Talents, brought us water, and saved my life. If there is anyone who can see us through this, it's him."

  Ajay was next. "He's not a demon. I've fought with him. I know he can be odd at times, but he's not a bad person. I trust him."

  Segei was next. He said nothing but quietly came to stand by his side. Filomena looked at the others and finally moved.

  "I hope you know what you're doing," she said.

  I hope so, too.

  "I'll follow him too," the Persian doctor said. "I want to live, and his foresight abilities might just get us through this place."

  That left the three Rey didn't want with him anyway, but he couldn't play favorites. That was a nice way of getting shanked in the showers. This place was worse than prison, and it would most definitely bring out the worst in everyone. None of the trio moved.

  "Listen, I'm not against you or trying to trick you," Rey said, a little calmer now, having vented his anger in that outburst. "I'm not the smartest one in here. I'm not even the strongest one amongst us, but you don't know where you're headed. I do. And I will do everything I can so that we can all make it to the end."

  Jerry glanced at Maria, and they finally nodded. "Fine. We're with you."

  That left Tia. She set her jaw and was about to say no, but Rey cut in.

  "You can say no, but then you're on your own. That goes for everyone. If you can't follow my orders, don't like what I'm making you do, or simply don't like me. Then take a fucking hike. This is my castle now. If you're not with me, then there is no place for you here. See how long you survive out there on your own."

  Tia's upper lip curled down into a snarl, and she looked like she had some choice words for Rey, but the next moment, her anger was gone. "I'll stay until I know everything; I need to survive by myself, then you can keep your ugly castle."

  The faster you sail off into the sunset, the safer I'll feel, Blondie.

  He had just made an enemy by putting her in the corner and forcing her to choose him as her leader. Keeping people around like her was how leaders lost their heads. He didn't need to see the future to know that.

  "Okay, everyone, we need to set our house in order first."