A man from the crowd saw Aoyama in a hiding spot and rushed toward him at full speed. Aoyama sensed danger and leapt away, landing in the auditorium where the bickering had just stopped. As the fog dispersed, the Ugly King stood and yelled:
"Who are you!! And why are you here?!"
"I am just an ordinary person whose ambition is to remove the filth out of the gutter," Aoyama replied, speaking from the heart.
Disgusted by the hideous king, Aoyama unconsciously summoned a spear from his inventory and hurled it at Mach 22. The land around it dissipated as it vanished into the horizon.
"Oh crap! Sorry about that… didn't mean to throw it that hard… uh, never mind," he muttered, eyes popping. "Anyone want to fight me?"
Brainwashing formation dissolved. The bandits cowered, some peeing themselves, others begging for mercy.
"Sir Immortal! We plead for mercy! Please spare us!"
"AAhhh!" Some screamed from sheer panic; others cautiously celebrated, free from the curse.
Aoyama extended a rope that could stretch indefinitely."Fall in line!" he commanded.
The bandits obeyed immediately, forming a straight line. One whispered: "Did he say immortal… or immortal like pizza immortal? I mean, who even is he?" Another added: "I hope he likes snacks… I brought cookies."
"Sir-Sir Immortal! What are you going to do to us?"
"There is nothing for me to gain if I kill you. I will bring you to the Town of Balikoyan for questioning and rehabilitation. Fate will decide your next six months," Aoyama explained.
~The bandits nodded, signaling to each other. One muttered: "Six months… hope they have snacks… and beds… definitely beds." Another replied: "Do you think they allow napping during interrogation?"
They followed him toward the Tavareth troops.
"Here is fresh meat," Aoyama muttered, feigning an evil grin.
"Ar-are you going to eat us, Sir Immortal?"
"Nah, just kidding," he said. The bandits sighed in relief… only to cower again at his playful threat.
"Hahaha! General, you may do as you please with them," Aoyama said in his monotone, hurried voice.
"Oh, alright. I'll report this to Mayor Kalian first," the General replied.
"Say my regards to the Mayor! Fate willing, perhaps I'll see Balikoyan again… Ciao!" Aoyama laughed and vanished with a swoosh.
Venturing deeper, Aoyama found a basement door. Descending, he saw a dark figure walking calmly toward him.
"System, activate Skill [Nexus of The First God of Mind] [Insight]!"
Ding
[System Alert] Skill [Nexus of The First God of Mind] [Insight] activated.
[Insight Information] A girl, Elena, 17, [State] Dizzy, Weak.
Aoyama retrieved supplies: food, water, alcohol, betadine, clean cloth, girl's shirt, and sterilized bandages.
"Miss! Are you okay?!"
"HE… lpp! So…me…bo…dy…hel…p! …Us!" she stammered and collapsed.
He laid her on a mat, undressed her for treatment, sterilized her wounds, applied betadine, and wrapped her in bandages. One bandit peeked from upstairs: "Uh… is that how they give spa treatments here?" Another whispered: "Should we bring cucumber slices next time?"
"Stay here. I'll put a barrier at the door to protect you," Aoyama instructed.
"Th-thank you," she whispered.
"Eat and drink while you can. I'll return soon," he added before moving deeper.
The basement reeked of bones and blood. A bandit laughed, boasting about sacrifices to the gods, clearly delighting in torture.
"Who's there?!" he demanded.
"Show yourself!" another yelled, sword drawn.
Aoyama appeared, sword in hand."Torturing others is like being tortured in hell. Care to try it yourself?"
Ding
[System Alert] Skill [Domain Creation] [Level: Advanced] generated. You may create a domain of your choice, 100x100 space.
"Visualize the 18 Towers of Hell," Aoyama commanded.
After a few minutes, the domain was complete.[System Alert] Creation of [Domain] 18 Towers of Hell complete. Transport? Allowed 2/10 people besides owner.
"Transport us to floor 4," Aoyama ordered.
Swoosh
"Ahhhh! Where are you taking me?!" screamed the bandit torturer.
"To your doom," Aoyama said, tossing him into the domain.
~Floor 4 revealed the chamber of souls: victims confronting the torturer, reliving the pain he inflicted. Ghostly retribution consumed him. One surviving bandit whispered: "Do you think this place has a gift shop? Because I kinda want a t-shirt… with flames on it." Another muttered: "I think the ghosts just judged my fashion sense."
As the torturer screamed, bandits began tripping over each other, panicking: one fell into a wall of spectral fire, another accidentally grabbed a ghost's hand and squealed: "It's… cold! Oh god, it's cold! Someone help me!"
Aoyama watched, unfazed, while secretly chuckling at the bandits' antics.
"Well… that was unexpected. The domain even expelled grievances… perfect," Aoyama muttered. "Let's go back...I don't want to stick around for more ghost complaints."
Ding
[System Alert] Teleport back to previous location?
"Yes, preferably without surprises," Aoyama said.
Swoosh
One bandit fainted from relief, while another muttered: "I think we just got ghosted… literally." Another added: "Next time, can we negotiate with snacks first?"