Should Have Let Me Die

I ran up the stairs and yelled out to Markeye.

"Let's go! The others can catch up! Head to the village, NOW!"

Markeye turned without question and made us start moving. Now to deal with this tiger fuck. One thing my power did that I was sure how I felt about was make the person or Kin loyal to me, so it was basically forcing my will on them, but this wasn't the time for debating my powers.

Buddy dragged the now struggling and bound Tigerfolk, the was mostly hairless. I might laugh if I wasn't so pissed off. I took my glove off and walked over to Buddy, and the squirming bundle that he held with one hand like the thing weighed nothing. That evolution made Buddy a beast, and I liked it.

I slapped the growling and gagged hairless cat and turned away so as not to get blinded. I turned back to see a more human Tiger-Kin that had stopped struggling. I told Buddy to put him down and untie him.

I noticed my wives waiting for me peaking up just out of sight on the stairs. I guess they were smart to stay back for now, at least until I got some answers. I turned around to the now standing Tiger-Kin.

His furred was now short and smooth from the long and rugged look he had before. Now his body was only covered on the side and back with fur. I looked him in the eye, and I saw no defiance.

"Where are the rest of your clan or whatever you called yourselves?"

"Our Pride is about to strike the village ahead. We were sent to make sure no humans came to stop us and warn the Pride if they did, but the others saw what I saw and am now. They will attack faster now."

"Ladies! Come on, he is fine," I turned back to the Tiger-Kin. "Name."

"Carth."

"Carth, you will go with Buddy and Mesh and explain all the things that would be important about your pride, understand?"

"Yes, Great Master!"

I got a sick feeling in my stomach and had to force it down. This was brainwashing to its core.

'It is if you have to force it on them, but what is more important right now? This is why I told you it was dangerous. I know you won't use it like that because I wouldn't let you for one. Two, you aren't that type of person as it is clear right now.' -Gripton.

'It's a really scary thing, one hand can make slave with the other hand can kill. I didn't really get it till now, but I will have to decide which kind of ruthless I want to be.'

'The price of power if you want to take over a world as messed up like this one. There is no exact way to the top, and this journey will be filled with moments that threaten to tear you apart. This world is in need of a reckoning, and we shall give it one.' -Gripton.

'Yeah, I fucking got this.'

'Now, since you in a better mood, I have good news! Buddy's upgrade gets you something now, and luckily with all my hard research into your magic, I can even tell you how to unlock it.' -Gripton.

'Why wouldn't it just give it to me?'

'It says that if you gain two buffs or magic abilities of the same type, the old one is removed forever. So, it's a way to let you adjust your skills you gain.' -Gripton.

Gripton explained that I had to put my hand over my right hand on my chest while saying that hand's name, Maximus. I was about to do it when I noticed my wife waiting patiently. I smiled at them because they looked worried since I must have had my own edgy look plastered on my face as I talked to Grip.

"Are you OK?" Alex asked.

"Ya, your Pops and I talked about what I just had to do with Carth, the Tiger-kin. I don't want to be the person to brainwash people into being my slaves."

"But we have free will, right? We can do whatever we want, so it doesn't seem that bad," Kyra said, but some of the others, like Kadence, knew what I was talking about.

"To a point because you accepted my power, but you cannot harm me, and no magic works on me that I give. If I order you to sit, you will do it without choice. Now think about what that means. I can make you do anything if I order it. Sexual favors, to walk around naked, or the worst thing. I could tell you to kill Kadence and then tell her to let you, and it would just happen, and neither of you could stop it."

The girls had all turned pale, meaning everyone understood what I was trying to explain, so I continued.

"But, I would never do that. Ever. And Gripton wouldn't let me. I just want you all to understand how dangerous my hands are, and there is still so much I don't know about them. I am about to gain my first skill, so I would like you all to stand back and cover your eyes."

Color had returned to my wife's face as I explained myself and the reason for telling them. They all looked shocked about the last part but did as I asked and backed up, shielding their eyes. I placed my hand on my chest and closed my eyes.

"Maximus!"

I spoke with determination because this was the moment I was waiting for, my own tangible magic! Since I completely lit up like everyone I had touched, my hand blinded me. Fucking idiot.

When my eyes cleared, everyone was looking at me, and I looked down at myself, and nothing had really changed. I looked the exact same, but a thought implanted itself into my mind. Suddenly I was on the floor in pain that was fifty shades shittier than I had ever experienced.

My body was literally tearing itself apart and doing something fucked up inside me. I didn't matter what was going on. All that matters was the pain that had made my vision go white. I could hear voices partially, but I couldn't contrate long enough to listen to what they were saying.

Instantly, the pain stopped, and my vision returned, better. Like 1080p to 4k better. I could see the girls around me, terrified, so I got up quick to reassure them.

Shit, too quick! I catapult myself at Nina and turn mid air to narrowly miss her while landing back on my feet, sliding backward. Holy Shit! I stood up and looked down at my hands. They were shaking with excitement, and my heart was pounding.

Memories of my father's boxing lesson, causing a tear to leak out, and I smiled fiercely as it took a stance. The girls were looking at me with a confused look, but I was too excited to explain. I turned my perspective, so I faced an open area, and I test out a jab to start.

*CRACK!*

Holy fuck.

*CRACK, CRACK! CRACK!*

I kept going until I broke a sweat, but then stopped. I understood what had changed now, and I wanted to save my strength for what was to come next. I turned back to the women, and they all had their hands over their ears.

"Sorry!" But they all just took their hands away and started to cheer and rushed me.

I was surrounded by praise, and I could not deny how good it felt even if I wanted to. Once everyone settled down, I gave my wives the news that they were not going to like.

"Your all staying here. Buddy and I will go ahead and deal with them with Trem's help. He will drop us from fifty feet up onto a build to break our falls, and then we will subdue the enemy."

Instantly, everyone started to argue, and I was almost about to order them to stop, but I remember that would prevent them, and that wasn't right, even as a threat. Kadence was the one most worried and spoke the loudest, while Alex was waiting patiently for everyone to get their part in so she could round them up.

"You have to take me! Just because you're strong now doesn't mean you don't need me!"

I walked over and took her hand, looking into her eyes.

"These aren't mistreated Bearfolk or starving Lizardfolk. These are killers! I can't protect you there, I have to try to save as many as possible, but only Buddy and I can move faster than them. I would love to take everyone into battle with me, but I will not waste your lives!"

Kadence looked down and away, but I knew she understood because she made no more complaints. This was going to be ridiculous, but now I could really let loose on these bastards. I would need some weapon; nothing fancy with this strength was required, just sturdy.

I looked to find a buddy, and he was already coming over to me with Ganth and Harmonie. All three had a pile of spears, clubs, swords, and axes and two large bags with no seams, definitely Kara's work. Damn, Buddy was too good, I was busy punch air, and he was doing the thing I thought of and finished by the time I thought it.

Where was Mesh? We had been training together and spent time talking. We had to get him in on this!