Chapter 666: “Cut the sad story, I’ve heard plenty." (2/2)
The monsters laughed in their drooling lust, a relish of certain death. 'They were killed so easily and effortlessly. What's the point even?' the wolves gathered around the merchant, the stench of ammonia broke the smell of dogs, '-he really peed himself?'
”PROTECT ME!” cried the merchant, ”-I'LL GIVE YOU MONEY, ANYTHING YOU WANT!”
”Oh, shut up, your voice annoys me,” *slash,* a swipe instantly beheaded the man. No heed to the monsters, they crawled closer and intended to attack, *-grr.*
”Silence,” he thundered, the monsters crept closer and bore fangs. ”-art thou an imbecile?” a side-glare froze the coordinated approach, ”-does thee wish to harm thy monarch?” the monster's ring lit, ”-heed me, monsters, do you wish to attack your king?”
”Majesty, we apologize for the indiscretion,” they bowed, ”-I shall relay thy arrival to the other monsters.”
'Telepathy. The King of monster title has a lot of advantages. Thoughts communication to beasts. Still,' stood before the merchant, '-bait is best dead.'
*Once living now dead. O' thee who've lost thine life to mine blade, thee who held regrets in the mortal world, I grant thee a chance at life. Be one with those who are to serve me, Blood-Arts: Ghoul Revival*
Later that day, Igna would claw out the dungeon beside the party-leader and merchant. The tent filled castle-yard accommodated medics and traders alike. Many adventurers waited for the chance at the battle. Rumors of a man rescuing a party of Floor-4 would soon spread.
Another day passed, ”-let's head to Ritenoot,” said the party leader. ”-the quest is still active.”
”I'll stop at Glenda, you two continue.” There, the party split at the marketplace. A figure atop the castle walls dropped to nothingness. Said afternoon, news of an ambush would spook the talk of the town. None cared to believe until the party leader returned with the emblem of Kreston. He'd later die in his sleep said night. Another morning rose suspiciously, the fear of the church terrified the Ardanian, was it a repeat of the invasion? Not to thoroughly stick to Glenda, the same issue arose in Ritenoot. The merchant's guild was tipped on the assailant - mercenaries. Similarly, far towards the airfield, troops readied for the capture.
'We've planted the seed of fear,' thought Igna in the company of Vanesa. The town hall gave a nice view onto the streets, '-now we wait until the guilds are scared.' The afternoon arrived with the news of another ambush, this time, only one escaped. The loot and guards were killed.
”Guild master HARU!” cried the office, ”-please, let us take care of the ambush.”
Her feline expression remained docile, ”-no need for senseless deaths,” she said.
17th of October, a few days, even weeks, had passed. The conflict between Ritenoot and Glenda escalated to the point of no return. An emergency council called by the Guild Leader Haru dulled a pleasant morning. The city guard and a few statesmen sat silently.
”I'm sure thee knows of the current situation. Our sources say Ritenoot is heaven for remnants of the church. Not only were traders and adventurers targeted, but young men and women alike were also abducted.”
”What of it?” said the city guard, ”-we're tasked to care for the people. Attacking their town without knowing numbers is foolish.”
”The captain has a point,” firmed a stateman, ”-if Glenda is to survive, we best not fight back.”
”Igna, you understand, right?”
”I do,” he stood, ”-Lady Haru, I understand thy request. Listen up, I shall personally see our retribution to have a long-lasting message. No matter the adversity, we shall prevail for we stand alongside our people!”
A touching speech led to a secluded walk onto the hardened path, ”-the scheme's on schedule,” said Alta.
”Aren't you supposed to be in town?”
”I can walk beside my lord until he leaves, can't I?”
”Good point,” they stopped beyond the populous' range.
”Status on Ritenoot?”
”They actually are a haven for the church. Numbers aren't high, the mastermind's hidden in an estate in the middle of Mont Blanc and the town. Here's a vague location. The guards are hidden among the townsfolk.” A nod led to a flap. *Ancient Magic: Teleportation.*
'I'm disappointed, we used propaganda to scare the noble; the man moved pathetically as foretold. Can't expect much from pretenders. Ritenoot is ours.' *Vengeance.*
”-yes master?”
”Go clean up the trash, I don't want a single Krestonian alive. Wipe them out.”
”Understood.”
Farther north rested the Mont Blanc and the associate mountains. Days culminated to the desired result, somewhere along the line, without a response from the enemy, the mind shifted to utter destruction. Only the strong and tenacious are allowed to be in charge of lives, not the weak and incompetent. Nothing annoyed more than a mastermind without the mind. Tall trees covered in snow hid a manor, a frigid roof, a slippery yard, and lifeless torches.
”Master, what shall we do about Ritenoot?”
”I don't know,” the fireplace cast weak shadows, ”-I underestimated the propaganda. I thought we could fight…”
*CRASH,* '-pesky doors,' explosions rattled the manor.
”WHO STANDS THERE!”
”Death,” *slash.* Footsteps echoed up the stairs, *Mana Control: Purgatory Flame Variant – Hellfire Blaze.* Despite the cold, the flames of anger charred the floor, curtains and pillars caught fire, smoke hovered to the upper floors.
”STOP OR DIE!” screamed weakened guards.
”Shut up,” *Blood-Arts: Extria,* a flick of the finger tore off heads, broke limbs, and twisted the prey, '-I've come to slaughter,'
”What's this ruckus about?” wondered the noble.
”I don't know, sire. Please stay here, I shall go investigate. A harrowing gust blew and caught the butler, ”-no need for said trouble,” whispered a demonic sneer. The palms opened into a hell of fire.
”-MASTER,” he shielded the noble.
”Good. Protect your master until the very end, for I, the Devil of Glenda, have come.”
”Devil of Glenda?” the master pushed the retainer aside and lifted the hood, ”-PLEASE, STOP!”
”What are you?” the flames subsided.
”I don't have a name,” he said, ”-I was asked by the king to stay and wait until my time comes.”
”You're a half-human and half-demon…”
”I don't know,” he stared with a single horn and redden complexion, ”-please, hear me.”
”This explains why the schemes went along so easily. The head of Ritenoot is a child?”
”I only did what was told to me,” dropped to the knees, ”-please, hear me, Devil of Glenda.”
”Speak.”
”I want to die and reincarnate as a normal child. I don't want to suffer, I don't want to cry, my parents abandoned-”
”Cut the sad story, I've heard plenty. Here, I'll grant you passage to a realm of rebirth,” *snap,* ”-die.”