Chapter 62: [Day 22] – “Brand” (1/2)
∼ Day 22 ∼
[Siphon]
[You've consumed the blood of an LVL: 21 - Orc]
[455 points of EXP has been acquired and stats have been added]
As I was indulging in my carnal desire of ravenously gouging the arrogant prick of an orc, whilst everybody around stared in muted horror at the scene, I was all of a sudden interrupted by the clatter of metal-clad feet scuttling over the ground.
Tearing my head from the shredded throat of my victim with blood both covering and dripping from my face, I spotted twelve heavily armored orcs swiftly filing into the courtyard. They all lined up next to each other, forming a half-circle wall around me with their weapons drawn and pointed directly at me.
Although those orcs were all highly leveled and trained, when I locked eyes with them I could not only see the slight tremble of their weapons but also smell the fear creeping up their spines and shaking the very foundations of their wills and bravery.
The sight of my currently gory and bloody state, combined with my crimson-red gaze and terrifying bloodlust that seeped into my intent, I honestly couldn't blame them for fearing the much stronger and feral creature eyeing them for a snack.
I had to actively restrain my desire to just dash and tear their limbs and heads off too, simply so I wouldn't begin indulging in my desire for a fest of slaughter. But knowing these were the guards of the Mistress' I highly doubted that it would in my best interest if chose to. With a great mental effort, I managed to slightly quell the manic bloodlust encompassing my mind.
Behind the row of orc guards, I could see the approaching form of a small and round creature. I couldn't immediately recognize the creature through the haze of my mind. But as it swatted the metal shins of one the orcs blocking its way, the creature came to sight while walking past the orc parting way for it.
”Not even a day before you go and mess things up you stupid fucking git!? Who the fuck told you to go and damage the Mistress' property right before the Mauling was about to begin!? -Hmph! Good fodder isn't exactly easy to come by on short notice, you know?” - Jeerbal
It was the gremlin, Jeerbal, who I had met just before getting thrown in here. I could only blankly stare at the diminutive creature currently fuming.
”Urgh- why would the Mistress' put such a volatile creature within the fodder... mmm... orcs... stupid gits...”
As he was talking, he slowly trailed off in a mumble while looking towards one of the closest orc guards. Holding his hand out, palm facing upwards, he obviously needed something from them.
Hurriedly, one of the orcs standing in line scurried over and placed an old-looking and rusty metal branding iron in the gremlin's outstretched hand. Standing with the branding iron in his hand, he inspected it almost... lovingly?
In silence, we all just stared at the plumb and diminutive greenskin. Suddenly realizing that everybody was just staring, the gremlin looked angrily at the guards.
”You gits! What are you all gawking at? Go over and restrain him already! -stupid... ugly... damn orc gits...” - Jeerbal
I didn't resist the orcs as they tentatively took my arms and locked them in a hold. With a key, they opened the mechanism in my shackles that held my hands together without actually taking them off. This allowed them to pull my hands behind me.
I was now currently sitting on my knees with my arms pulled backward in a lock by two orc guards. Slowly the gremlin, Jeerbal, approached me while twirling the rusty-looking branding iron in his hand.
I had no idea what it was for, but I doubted he'd use it for anything pleasant. I knew that there were going to be repercussions from killing the orc but I wasn't sure how severe seeing as they practically ignored the orcs breaking and raping the catgirl who was still unconsciously laying in one of the open sleeping chambers, plus the one I had just killed was very weak and most likely not valuable.
But in my haze of anger and bloodlust, I simply couldn't care less for some punishment. Standing before me, the gremlin just had a sinister smirk, sardonically plastered on his ugly and wretched face. Suddenly a dark premonition began taking over my mind...
-maybe I underestimated those repercussions...
”You know... I don't get to use this as often. It's quite a shame honestly, it's the greatest gift given to me by the Mistress herself! But seeing as you unruly and dumb gits are in short order, I will make sure that I savor every last bit of using it.” - Jeerbal
”You know? This is actually quite the honor, to be deemed worthy enough for a brand from the great Jeerbal himself.” - Jeerbal
Grimacing in annoyance at the over-the-top narcissistic gremlin, I locked eyes with him, who surprisingly seemed completely unfazed by my bloodlust. Touching some runes inscribed onto the branding iron, I'm suddenly stunned at the dark-purple light that began lighting them up one by one.
At the end of the branding iron, that was usually heated up by the use of a furnace or fire, it began radiating a sinister dark-purple haze of smokey darkness.
There was no mistaking it, this was the Mistress' magic.
Wait... this actually reminds me of Lily's odd stone that sucked out all of my magic. It too had runes engraved into it. Does this mean you can actually engrave magic onto objects?
My wandering thoughts were quickly swept away as the now glowing branding iron in Jeerbal's hand was now pointing straight towards me. Looking into Jeerbal's eyes, I could easily see the pure malignant and sadistic nature of this little creature flashing across them.
”Fufufu- Don't try anything stupid now. Only more punishment is coming your way if you resist, you stupid git -fufufu.” - Jeerbal
Ever so slowly the malevolently grinning gremlin lowered the branding iron to hover above my chest. As he suddenly closed the last few inches of distance between my carapace-like skin and the branding iron, my mind was suddenly turned into a world of blinding pain.
[You have taken 1 damage!]
This was no pain of merely having my skin scorched, no, this was a mind rending pain of feeling my entire being getting torn apart. Whatever this branding iron was doing to me, it was much more than just leaving a mark on my skin.