Reborn as God: The strongest system

Sam's voice trembled with disbelief as he saw Tara standing behind him, holding the dagger that pierced him. His eyes widened in shock, and his mind was filled with confusion and despair.

Tara looked at him with a cold and calculating gaze, "Sam. This was the only way."

Sam's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground. He was betrayed by his own underlings, and now the girl he loved was the one who stabbed him. It was a double blow that he could not bear.

As he struggled to breathe, a sense of betrayal washed over him. How could Tara do this to him? He had always trusted her, and now she had stabbed him in the back. He had thought that she had feelings for him, but it was all a lie.

Sam's thoughts were in disarray, and he struggled to make sense of what had happened. He had been so confident that his plan would work, yet it had all fallen apart.

No! It wasn't over yet! Sam stood up, turned around and with all of his remaining willpower he pushed Tara away. His eyes burning with anger, he wanted to take his revenge on this traitorous bitch!

Just as he was about to attack her, his fist was stopped midway. It was like punching a wall. But it was just Esdras.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing? You're in this situation and still dare to touch my things?"

That cold voice sent shivers down Sam's spine at last, and he knew he fucked up. Obviously, something went very wrong, their understanding of Esdras was all messed up.

Finally, the image of the weak and docile Esdras whom he used to bully all the time faded away, replaced by this new and unknown person.

When Esdras changed so quickly Sam's subconscious mind refused to believe such a thing because of the image he had of him for so long, and because of how quickly the change occurred.

In fact, in the past Sam had no hatred for Esdras, he just looked down on him and bullied him to vent his frustrations and to establish his place in the hierarchy. It's not like he was the only one Sam bullied, so he wasn't someone he paid attention to.

But, when did it start? Was it when Robert told them to get rid of Esdras? No, even back then, it was just a passing thought.

It was when everyone started praising Esdras for saving apprentices, when he was give a special mission by the higher-ups, when he got to go to the royal place of Elbrim. That was when his hatred for Esdras grew and took hold of him.

He hated it when everyone started talking about Esdras and praising him as some sort of god! That was ridiculous! The person he was just picking on last week turned into an overnight success?!

What kind of bullshit is that? It made no sense. So he refused to believe it.

People tend to worship those they perceived as much higher than them, overlooking their failings and even kissing the ground they walked on.

But if someone whom they perceived as lower or of the same level started improving, they would curse and hate that person.

Esdras twisted Sam's arm and an awful cracking noise echoed out, his arm was curled backwards twice. His bones jutted out of his flesh and he sank down crying his eyes out.

Perhaps it was that sight that awoke the rest of them at which point they decided to attack. Two of them cast spells, earth bullet and fire bolt at him. The other two went around him quickly brandishing their short swords for a pincer attack.

However.

The spells, were just a joke made of weak level three elemental conjuration and manipulation, not even cantrips. Esdras ignored them entirely and stood still even as the two melee 'mages' were closing in on him.

The two charging apprentices didn't have the time to think about it too much, since he was too late to respond they would make a kabab out of him!

But, something strange happened. No, it was too weird to just call it strange. It was abnormal.

The two of them ended up stabbing each other instead.

"What…!"

"You bastard! You're with him?!"

"Me?! Fuc—k!"

With the stance of stabbing each other the two of them started accusing one another. The swords went through their stomachs, so it was basically over for them.

The others were restrained with earth spikes that enclosed them preventing them from helping him. The earth spikes were not gentle either, there were several broken bones for both of them.

Not that they had the guts to do so anymore, they were more likely to try to escape.

As Sam lay on the ground, his vision started to fade, and he knew that his time was up. He closed his eyes and wondered where he had gone wrong. What had he done to deserve this?

His dreams and ambitions shattered. He had been a pawn in a bigger game, and he had paid the ultimate price for it.

However, it was at this moment of despair when his hidden powers awakened! The wounds of the dagger in his back and his mangled arm healed as a great power shook the land around the and surprising everyone.

As Sam's wounds miraculously healed, a newfound power surged within him. His eyes glowed with an intense golden light, and his body radiated with an aura of immense power. The ground shook beneath him as he stood up, towering over his former underlings.

"You thought you could kill me?" Sam laughed, his voice booming like thunder. "You are weak, pathetic, and you will never be anything more than that."

With a wave of his hand, the earth beneath them exploded, throwing his subordinates in all directions. They screamed in terror, but Sam was not finished. He raised his hand again, and a massive bolt of lightning shot from his fingertips, striking his enemies and sending them flying.

"Now, you will pay for how you acted towards me before!" Sam shouted, his voice filled with rage. They were just useless baggage at this point, it was better for him to kill them, and then allow the enemy to do so.

With a single thought, he crushed his subordinates into nothingness, their bodies disintegrating into dust. Sam laughed again, feeling more powerful than ever before. He had always dreamed of becoming a demigod, and now that dream had become a reality.

Esdras was it slippery and a coward at heart, this is why he took the chance to immediately flee into the forest downwards, hoping to escape his wrath, hoping to evade his judgment.

It was too bad that Esdras did not understand the realm of power that Sam has achieved.

As Sam's powers surged through his body, he chased after Esdras through the forest. The trees were shaking and uprooting as he ran, leaving a path of destruction in his wake. He could feel the power coursing through his veins, the energy of a demigod.

Esdras, meanwhile, was running for his life. He was terrified, and tears streamed down his face as he fled from Sam's wrath. He had never seen anyone so powerful, so unstoppable. He knew that he was no match for Sam, and that his only hope was to run as fast as he could.

But Sam was gaining on him, and with every step, he felt the exhilaration of his newfound power. He laughed as he chased Esdras, mocking him for his pathetic begging and crying. He felt alive in a way that he never had before, and he reveled in the destruction that he was causing.

Finally, he caught up to Esdras and grabbed him by the neck. Esdras cried out in terror, tears streaming down his face as he begged for mercy.

"Please, Sam, have mercy!" he cried. "I'll do anything you want, just spare me!"

Sam sneered at him, his eyes burning with fury. "You think I'm going to spare you after what you've done?" he spat. "You tried to have me killed. Know your place, scum!"

Esdras continued to plead for his life, but Sam was deaf to his cries. He raised his hand and unleashed a blast of energy that incinerated Esdras where he stood.

Sam stood there for a moment, watching as the divine flames of his fury consumed Esdras's body. He felt a sense of satisfaction, of power. He was unstoppable now, and no one could stand in his way.

But there was still one person left to deal with - Tara, the one who had betrayed him. He turned his attention to her, and his eyes narrowed in anger. She would pay for what she had done.

Soon enough he was back where everything started.

Tara was trembling as she stood before Sam, her eyes full of fear and desperation. She knew she had made a terrible mistake by betraying him, and now she was facing the consequences.

"Sam, please," she begged. "I'm sorry for what I did. I was wrong, and I know that now. I never meant to hurt you."

Sam looked at her coldly, his eyes betraying no emotion. He knew that Tara was responsible for his current predicament, and he was not in the mood to forgive her easily.

"I trusted you, Tara," he said, his voice laced with anger. "I thought you had my back, but you stabbed me in it instead."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Tara said, her voice shaking. "But it wasn't just me. Esdras and Robert had a hand in it too. They manipulated me, made me do things I didn't want to do."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? And you expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth, I swear!" Tara said, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Sam, I'll do anything to make it up to you. Anything you want, just spare me…"

"Hehehe, that will depend on your actions." Sam replied cooly.

Suddenly Sam was splashed with cold water and opened his eyes groggily. He heard someone complaining.

"For gods sake this is the first time I think something worked too well. Wake up you maggot!"

Sam was smacked across the face multiple times. And saw someone he though was already dead; Esdras.