I Am the Devil of This Hell

Chapter 025

Marcus Grady—the "Undying Fox"—slipped behind the bulky frame of Nathan Black. He leaned in close, his voice dripping with a menacing chill that made the hair on Nathan's neck stand up.

"Why should we trust a word you say?" Marcus whispered.

Nathan shuddered violently. He didn't hesitate. He slammed his forehead onto the concrete floor with a resounding thud, his entire body trembling like a leaf.

"Eagle… Eagle, please!" Nathan’s voice shook. "I know I have a reputation for being cunning, but I swear on my life, I never break an oath once given. I hate traitors more than anyone! My only request is the same as Ethan’s—help me get out of here, help me take revenge on the man who betrayed me. If you do that, I, Nathan Black, will never have a second of disloyalty. Please, Eagle. Believe me."

Kane Adler (formerly Julian Cross) exchanged a glance with Rex Dalton. Both men nodded slightly. Kane gestured for Marcus to back off.

"I believe you," Kane said calmly. "Ironically, because you were betrayed by your own confidant, your hatred for betrayal makes your loyalty credible. But let me give you one warning: The Shadow Eagle Clan does not feed useless mouths."

Nathan nodded furiously, the fat on his cheeks jiggling. He looked up, a desperate, eager smile plastered on his face. "Don't worry, Eagle! I built my empire from nothing. I turned the entire northern region into my personal distribution network. As long as we get out, as long as you build the muscle, I will build you a financial fortress. A massive underground d**g empire, a global money-laundering network… I will make sure you never have to worry about funding your war."

"Hahaha!" Kane laughed, a sound of genuine satisfaction. "It seems I picked up a treasure. Very well. If you can deliver on your promises, I swear here and now: I will never betray you."

Kane extended his right hand, just as he had with Ethan Skyler.

Nathan grinned, relief flooding his face. SMACK! He grasped Kane’s hand firmly. The pact was sealed.

"Jackson!" Kane called out. "Tell Elias to add Ethan Skyler and Nathan Black to the roster."

As Jackson Hayes turned to leave, Kane stopped him. He glanced at Marcus, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Add one more name," Kane said. " Dixon."

Marcus’s eyes lit up. "Heh heh. I knew you wouldn't forget him, Boss."

Rex Dalton snorted. "You think we didn't notice you sneaking downstairs every day? But I agree. That cyclops has skills worth using."

"Heh, I thought I was being subtle," Marcus scratched his head, grinning. "That kid is right downstairs. I’ll go fetch him."

He darted out of the room. Jackson nodded to Kane and hurried off to update the list.

A few minutes later, Marcus returned, beaming. Behind him trailed a figure that seemed to suck the light out of the room.

He was short and painfully thin, standing only about five-foot-five, looking like a victim of prolonged malnutrition. His face was rigid, even more expressionless than Elias Thorne’s, but his eyes were what drew attention. They were pools of pure, concentrated malice, radiating a toxic glare that made anyone near him feel physically ill. A natural, suffocating gloom hung over him like a shroud.

This was Dixon Jace.

The future right hand of The Eagle.

The future "b****y Dagger" of the underworld.

The man who would become known as the Butcher—the only one besides Kane who dared to execute anyone, anywhere.

The future captain of the terrifying Heaven's Justice enforcement squad—the Blood Skull.

"Kane," Dixon murmured. He bowed deeply to Kane, his face remaining a mask of death.

Kane smiled, patting Dixon’s frail shoulder. "You know everyone here, so I won't do introductions. In ten days, I’m taking you out of here. We’re leaving."

Dixon’s body trembled imperceptibly. He jerked away from Kane’s hand and dropped to his knees with a heavy thud. His voice was a raspy, broken whisper.

"Dixon… will follow The Kane to the death."

The vow was simple, but it carried the weight of a blood oath. Dixon wasn't a man of many words, but he was a man of absolutes. He had spent five years in this hellhole, five years of twisting his own soul to survive the horror. He knew the taste of despair better than anyone. He hungered for freedom more than any of them.

Kane—the man who saw his value, the man who was pulling him out of the abyss—was now his god. He would burn the world down if Kane asked.

Kane looked at his hand, then at the kneeling figure. He laughed, a sound of pure triumph. "Haha! The East Wing truly is full of hidden dragons! Good! Good!"

Marcus chimed in, leaning against the wall. "Boss, don't let his looks fool you. This kid is handy. If he wasn't so creepy and antisocial, someone would have shanked him years ago. He’s got that disguise trick, sure, but he’s also a master of… interrogation."

Interrogation?

Rex looked Dixon up and down. "Heh. Jack of all trades."

"Psychopaths usually are," Marcus shrugged. "They love tormenting people. He’s an artist at it."

Dixon didn't react to the teasing. He didn't even glance at Nathan Black, who was eyeing him with a mixture of curiosity and revulsion.

"Kane," Dixon said quietly. "I have a suggestion."

"Speak," Kane said. "There are no outsiders here. Only brothers."

Brothers?

A flicker of something—perhaps hope—sparked in Dixon’s dead eyes.

"Kane," Dixon continued, his voice low. "The real hidden dragons aren't just in the general population. They are in the Special Confinement Cells on the fifth floors of the other blocks. Every block—Aether, Terra, Umbrage, Radiance, Astra—has a fifth floor like this one. They hold the prisoners who were too dangerous or too rebellious for the general population. Their strength is terrifying. But their numbers are fewer than here in Cataclysm."

Kane’s eyes widened. He exchanged a look of surprise with Rex. They both turned to Ethan and Nathan.

Ethan Skyler looked embarrassed. He coughed lightly. "He’s right. The fifth floor is… well, it’s where we keep the monsters we can't control but don't want to kill. Usually, it’s for 'disciplinary' reasons. But there are a few… permanent residents. Guys whose strength rivals the block leaders, so we keep them locked away 24/7."

Kane’s interest spiked. More assets?

"Ethan," Kane commanded. "Tell me about your fifth floor."

Ethan sighed. "In Aether Block, the strongest one is in Cell 501. He was the former champion of the block before me. I’ve kept him locked up for three years. His strength… honestly, it might be a notch above Brandon."

"Stronger than Brandon?" Rex’s eyes began to glow red. The Mad Tiger was intrigued.

Dixon interjected. "Heh. I knew he was still alive. He is a powerhouse. But he’s a loner. He tried to take down Ethan, but Ethan was too strong. His nickname is Scorpion (real name: Viper). Kane, I know him. I can talk to him. I can convince him to submit. Trust me."

"Haha! I trust you!" Kane laughed. "Do it. You have my full backing. In fact… tomorrow, Rex and I have to leave for a few days to handle some 'medical procedures.' While we are gone… Dixon, Ethan, Marcus—I want you to sweep the fifth floors of every block. If there are monsters locked away, free them. Recruit them. But the condition remains: Loyalty. Do not bring me anyone with a treacherous heart. And…"

Kane looked at Ethan and Nathan sternly.

"I want you to forget the past. Forget your rivalries. In ten days, when we walk out of these gates, we are all on the same war chariot. Whether we get true freedom or just a longer leash depends on the strength of this army. Only by being the strongest can we win this death game."

Ethan took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. "Kane, don't worry. I know what’s at stake. I will handle Aether Block. I will bring you every useful soldier I have locked away."

"Good," Kane nodded. "Ten days. You have ten days. Marcus, use the criteria Rex and I set. Vet everyone one last time. In ten days, a transport team will arrive to extract us. We will be waiting for you on the outside."

The men straightened up, their voices echoing in unison.

"YES, SIR!"