The Fat God System

Aric walked through the hallways out of the classroom with his head down looking at the floor. He was alone with just his thoughts to accompany him.

His previously neat and tidy hair was nowhere to be seen. Now, it was disheveled and dirty, a complete opposite of his charismatic personality.

His steps were slow, and his feet were dragging in the pavement. It was clear that he did not want to walk; he was dreading it.

The only thing that kept him walking was the fear embedded into his heart. It fueled his every move albeit without his consent.

He was delaying every step, but he kept on advancing; he had to.

———flashback———

"...betray...the school?"

Aric looked up at Maverick while his arms and legs were constrained by large cuffs. His eyes were sunken and his face was pale. His previous clear complexion was now filled with dirt and dried blood.

His eyebrows were furrowed as he asked the question again at his father.

"Yes. You will obey my commands and cause chaos at your school."

Maverick's words were full of confidence and bravado. His eyes glowed in the dark as he stared at the sorry state of his own son, but there was no warmth at all.

"Why?"

Aric's mind was fuzzy and he could not think straight. All the torture he had to endure finally caught up to him. It was taking every bit of mental and physical strength just to keep himself awake.

"Why? You do not need to know why. You just have to do it."

Maverick frowned as Aric questioned him. A frown formed on his face as if he was offended. His posture stood straight and his shoulders broadened as if showing Aric who was in charge.

"I do not want to do it."

Aric's eyes were half-closed, but his words rang in the room. There was a deathly silence that followed after those controversial words.

Aric could not see his father's face, but he could feel his anger. He saw the ground beneath Maverick's feet start to crumble under the pressure.

He had felt this suffocating pressure numerous times before, but it did not make it any easier. It only served to further stab a wound on his mental health.

"You do not have the strength to oppose me, boy."

Maverick grabbed a handful of Aric's hair and pulled his head up, locking eyes with him. Aric saw no anger on his father's face. There were no furrowed eyebrows nor were there any creases on his forehead, just a deadpan expression.

Somehow, an empty expression was more terrifying than a face full of anger. Aric could feel the empty void in his father's eyes, a sign of his cold and dark morality.

"No."

Aric could only say one word. Even though his father's pressure was pressing vocal cords together, he still let out a denial.

"I own you. I made you. You do not get to say no."

Maverick had a face full of disgust as he looked at his own son. There was a hint of fury and indignation as if his natural right was being oppressed.

Aric winced. His father's suppression was getting to him. He hated his father deep down into his bones, and he would never succumb to his wishes.

Even if Maverick had told Aric to perform a simple task, Aric would have refused either way. That was how much he hated his own father.

Aric kept quiet. He knew better than to argue with an egotistical maniac.

"You are too soft. You can never inherit my business at this rate."

Maverick threw down Aric's head and walked away for a few steps. His head was signed away from Aric, so Aric could not see what his dad was doing.

"I have raised you to someday replace me, but I see now that it is not going to happen."

Maverick put his hands behind his back and walked along with the room with a serious face.

"Blacklade Academy is deeply tied into our business. You should not hesitate to sell out your school for the benefit of your future."

At this point, Maverick's tone of voice calmed down and it looked like he was lecturing Aric. There was no more anger, but his pressure was still applied throughout the room.

"I don't care."

Maverick stopped in his tracks as he heard Aric's response. Aric got knew that his response was insolent, so he got ready to get beaten within an inch of his life.

Contrary to his belief, Maverick did not erupt in anger. Instead, a chuckle echoed throughout the room.

"Hahahaha"

Aric was perplexed at the sudden change in emotion. He had never seen this side of his father before. He did not even think that the man was capable of expressing more emotion other than anger.

Aric forced his head to look up, and his sight confirmed his guesses. Maverick was laughing all to himself.

"You don't care? Hahahaha that is funny."

Aric frowned. He did not know why Maverick found his words to be funny. There was a hint of mockery in his face that would have infuriated Aric if it was any other person other than his father.

"You do know that you will take my mantle in the future, right? Is it not a matter of if, but when."

Maverick faced Aric once again and waited for his response.

"I will not stand in your shoes."

Aric used all of the remaining strength in his body for his head to look up at Maverick. He used every bit of his mental strength to lock eyes with him without breaking eye contact.

Maverick only looked at Aric without any expression. He did not seem to be angry nor disgusted. Only a slight smile formed on his face.

Aric could see the sinister smile on Maverick. This look made him remember all the times that Maverick planned something. He knew that wheels were turning in Maverick's head.

"I'll give you a bargain. Complete this mission and I will grant you your freedom."