The Bounty Hunter Chapter 75: 666 is My Favorite Number

June 10th, 2089

Dantes POV

Bad dog! Really bad dog! I shouted as I sprinted through the burning ruins of what once was a cheerful little town in Macedonia that had been in the midst of a sumr festival. Im sure it was once a charming place, based on the scenic mountainside it was located on and the quaint hos. Unfortunately for them, one of my siblings decided to visit with his minions and ravage everything. The 4-story 3 headed dog with a mane of dead snakes and a chain like tail of bone and muscle barked out in frustration as he continued to try and devour . Or char to a crisp. Or lt into a fleshy puddle. Its hard to tell which one exactly as he kept alternating from breathing fire, spewing acid and simply biting at .

This is the last of my siblings that I need to convince (puml), thankfully. My kin are naturally drawn to making and respecting hierarchies of power, so it was rather easy so far to bring them into line. I just needed to beat down the leader, grant them a na and the rest followed obediently. 572 of my 666 siblings have submitted, all that is remaining is bad doggie and his friends. WOOF! DONT WOOF AT YOU DAMN MUTT! I KNOW YOU CAN TALK DAMNIT! Cue the frantic pirouetting as the bad doggie started spitting boatloads (literally) of acid.

Pssh!!! My rhythmic evasive maneuvers were effective and quite stylish as well. I should consider a career in dance. Its all in the hips. Cha cha cha! Avoid dog bites with a double backflip. Cha cha cha! Oh, here cos the fire breath again. Go low like in limbo to slide beneath it. Cha cha cha! And then Cerberus uses Tail Whip, a gaming classic! Hop over it like I did in that pick-up ga of double dutch yesterday. Cha cha cha! And now RUN!!!

I quickly scampered from the path of the frustrated dog that has resorted to trying to crush by rolling over the ground where I just was. Ha, a dog rolling over, its like I am training him! What are you going to do next, big guy? Sit on ? I heard a loud growling and finally my assailant spoke Dont tempt . And damn it, apparently, I am a sultry temptress because I saw a big, furry canine butt descending upon like the wrath of the heavens. As funny as death by dog butt would be to have on my epitaph, Ill have to decline. One frantic ergency barrel roll later, I was back to running as the three-headed dog chased .

*Sigh* I was having fun pretending to be weak, but its getting repetitive now that were back to the chasing. I guess I should wrap things up. I suddenly stopped and turned with my fist cocked back as tens of thousands of kilograms of slly dog ca upon . SUPER AWESO INSTANT COUNTER!!!! I roared as I activated my magic for an epic punch. My shoes beca so heavy that a large crater ford around . My pants grew like roots to pierce the ground and anchor in place. Lastly, my sleeve and glove bulked up as if there were suddenly the massive muscles of a giant beneath them instead of my lean fra. The lunging doggie face full of teeth t my oncoming fist and shattered. A high-pitched yelp was emitted as the now two headed dog was flung backwards and the shockwave decimated the few remaining houses standing in the town square.

The bad doggie groggily tried to get up from my blow, but he then fell back down as he didnt have the strength to stand. It was like watching a cute puppy trying to take its first steps. Aww, its too damn cute! I am now going to proceed to viciously beat this cute little puppy until he acknowledges as his new boss. *Smash* *Break* *Crack* *Squeals of Pain* *Repeat for the next 2 hours* So, who is the new lord of you and your forr subordinates? I asked as I wiped off the blood that I was drenched in. You are. And my orders are? Absolute.

I smiled cheerful at my new groveling subordinate. Okay, as your new lord and master I shall grant you your na. Rise as my vassal, Cerberus. Granting and accepting a na among our kind is the equivalent of acknowledging a contract of servitude. As treacherous a breed as we are, we never violate a contract. As Cerberus rose, I couldnt help but get a warm, bubbly feeling inside. Then the indigestion faded and I started thinking about my situation.

I now have all 666 of my lesser kin under my control. It is ti to call everyone together and for to explain my vision. These poor misguided fools were just gleefully slaughtering wherever they went up until now. Luckily, I caught up with them rather quickly and they at least had enough sense to keep to the shadows. This world may have left magic behind centuries ago, but if they knew the truth behind our existence that could change. There are still artifacts of yore that hold power here, but they are currently collecting dust in ruins and museums. I want to keep it that way. Or better yet, claim those items for myself.

Furthermore, only a fool would underestimate this world simply because they dont use magic anymore. The power of technology and industry is matchless in open warfare. Had Cerberus, for example, continued his rampaging without being discreet in the Balkan peninsula he would have been brought to heel. A well-organized army, coordinating with their artillery and air force, could bring him down (not without casualties however).

Teamwork, the strength of numbers, and the relentlessness of machines can bring down all but the most powerful beings and users of magic if one is willing to pay the price. Sadly, many of my newfound subordinates are weak. They barely have any magical capability or intelligence and a few trained soldiers with guns could handle them in a fair fight. An open battlefield would eradicate the majority of them. I would be fine in open war, but what kind of lord would have no subordinates?

Magic may not necessarily be supre on the open battlefield, but when it cos to smaller-scale engagents and subterfuge there is nothing better. It is simply a matter of quality over quantity. Especially when this world has no defense against it, no way to detect it or even a general awareness of its existence. But skulking in secrecy the entire ti would be tooo booooring. Going for a one-hit kill by launching all of the world powers nuclear arsenal while disabling their missile defense systems would be just as dull since I wouldnt even be able to savor slowly corrupting this world. And who wants to rule over a pile of radioactive rubble? So, I simply need to obscure our true nature as we spread terror and destruction in my quest to create an inferno of fun.

I already have a plan for that. There are these wonderful enterprising groups all over the world who are known as terrorists. They actively seek to spread terror and do so in all the most inventive ways. Its disappointing that they all try to use that terror for a political or social purpose rather than simply seeking to spread it for fun, but no one is perfect.

Ah, but if I want to start a terrorist organization I need a cool na! Thats an absolute must when running any organization. Even more so when we will eventually beco the most notorious group on the planet! Although well be hiding our true forms, I kind of like the idea of secretly rubbing it in everyones face. And then when it is far too late to stop us, well let them realize the truth. Anarchy, despair, violence and depravity, well spread it all. Itll be bedlam. Itll be chaos. Itll be mayhem. Itll be pure Pandemonium.