It was an unbelievable sight.
A giant, redish 8-tentacle monster and a giant, hard blue shell creature with two huge claws.
Kei had summoned the kraken and carcinus, a giant octopus and crab respectively.
They are the size of a small mountain and started trashing the whole castle town!
Not only that! The ground are starting to break apart, then a flood of smaller versions of the kraken and carcinus are coming out the cracks!
What Kei prepared was summoning these octopi (octs) and crabs inside the sewers. He did this over his stay in the capital. Kei had to managed his mana since everytime he summoned, his mana had never replenished. Luckily the cost for summoning all kinds of creatures were low-cost. But he already summoned a million beings for his army. A monster can get stronger or evolved by consuming more mana with different elements. Kei was very generous in this regard for his army, resulting in 25% of his mana being unavailable until his army disappeared.
But now, he had to be more cautious. There are several spells that consumed a lot, like that ultimate healing spell.
So, he decided to summoned the octs and crabs over time, growing their numbers.
He was testing out the changes of the octs and crabs by giving away various amounts of mana and different kinds of elements. It resulted in various sizes, different colors, and features. From the size of a small dog to an ox and there was a crab with a tiara on its head.
He planned to dispelled them when the job was done.
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The larger octs are grabbing people by the legs and smacking them on the ground like rag dolls!
The smaller ones would attached to the heads of people and bite them or stangled them to death!
"Fucking slippery!"
"MMMph! MMppppphhh!"
"Let go of my leg!"
"Kyyyaaa! No! Not there!"
One of octs straighten one of its tentacle like an iron rod and forcefully insert its tentacle into a woman's vagina. It was so forceful that it pushes straight through out her mouth!
"Gur! Gurrrg! Ggur...."
Pieces of organs are visible and escaped out her mouth. She died.
The crabs on the order hand are using their claws as hammers and scissors and attack everything on site!
A man with a broom tried to attack one of the crabs.
That crab incised the broom then that man was cut in half.
This was happening all over the castle town.
No one can escaped the place because the bridge over the moat connecting to the outside had taken been over. Tentacles were creeping out of the moat and started grabbing people from the walls and bridge. Giant crabs were acting like guards, forbidding anyone to leave.
Several amoured men was leading a charge against the box-like green crabs on the bridge. They are determined to leave!
"CHARGE!"
The soldiers lifted their shields and ran towards the crabs. Their shields clashed with claws. The soldiers tried to push through but the crabs were not moving an inch.
Some bared their swords and spears and tried to slash and pierce them. But their shells were as hard as their shield if not harder!
The crabs tried to be on the counter-offensive and used their claws to break the soldiers' swords and spears in pieces.
Long tentacles came out of the water below and started snatching the soldiers from the side.
"Ahhhh!"
"Help!!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"
They cannot pass through the crabs and were afraid to get taken by whatever creature in the water.
So they ran back and tried to find another exit.
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The octs were on the slow side compared to the crabs. So some of them decided to hop on to the top of the larger crabs for a joy ride.
The crabs are walking sideways at a fast pace.
They're stopped by the gates of the inner wall leading to the castle!
BAM BAM BAM
A 6 stories building tall, pink crab with a tiara was bashing on the inner wall's gates!
The gate was about to be destroyed!
"Men! Stop that pink thing at once!"
Arrows were ineffective. Various magic was no use against the princess crab!
But the smaller octs and crabs are getting hurt!
So the princess crab back away to shield its subjects with its claws!
The carcinus caught this on and sprinted towards the inner wall.
Houses and buildings were getting crushed and pushed to the side by carcinus!
Then he broken through the wall like a truck into a wooden house! It started using its claws to smash the rest of the wall and the soldiers on it in a fit of rage!
Each time he hammered, it shook the ground!
Once the dust settled carcinus approached the princess crab to see if its okay.
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While that was happening the kraken was just sweeping and slamming its arms in all directions.
It cared less about its brethens and wanted to destroy. Its arms acts like a broom, sweeping houses and people like dirt!
Using all of its appendages it stared grabbing people.
"Ahhhh!"
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"No! No! Noooooo!"
The kraken tilted to the side and revealing its black beaks. It open its mouth and started tossing his snacks inside.
The people were never seen again.
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The king can't belived what was happening in from of his eyes.
This was the end for his kingdom. Just three years. What did I do wrong to deserve this?
He was sweating beads. His doors became wide opened with a loud bang, drawing his attention.
It was his wife, child, ministers, and guards!
"We must go now! There are does things at our front doors!" Said one of the ministers.
"Your majesty, we must use the secret tunnels." Said head of the guard.
Thomas gritted his teeth and stared outside.
"Did you secure most of the treasure from the treasury?"
"Yes your majesty. We brought half of it and several heirlooms. We don't have enough men to carry the rest!"
As long I'm alive, I can come back. The Runis State or Cloq Dukedom can help me with the treasures as payment. Damn it! Should I just hideout and live in peace and not return?
The reason why the people all appeared in the king's chambers was because it was where the entrance to the hidden tunnels.
BOOM
The front entrance of the castle had been compromised!
"Sweety we must get out of here now!" The queen yelled. She didn't want to die!
"Mama! Mama! Mama!" The small boy was crying in fright.
"There there. Everything is fine!"
The queen picked up her son and cuddle him.
"You, you, and you! Come here!" Thomas was giving orders to a few men and approached to a large bookshelf in the back of the toom.
"PUSH!!!" Thomas and the soldiers pushed the bookshelf aside and revealed a hidden iron door!
"Everyone get in!" Thomas yelled.
Everybody were rushing inside. There were a lot people considering the workload of the treasure.
Once everybody was inside, the bookshelf were put in place like before, and locked the door.
...
...
The tunnel system runs through the mountain where the castle situated. There was only one entrance and one exit, which was the other side of the mountain. There are many deadends that only the king can knows the true route.
Everyone felt safe and relaxed. No one wants to look back or imagine how the rest of the people in the castle are doing.
"Are we safe?" The queen ask Thomas.
He wiped his sweat and responded: "As long we reach the other side before those things find the hidden entrance, if the find it. We should be safe.
Hey Chris, how are you doing?" That was king and queen's son name.
He just nodded his head while in his mother's embrace.
"Papa, are we ever go back?" Chris asked. He was only 7 and was borned before his father was coronated. His whole life was the castle.
Everyone present heard this question and doubted they would ever comeback unless they brung an army. Their own perished not too long ago.
"We will definitely come back." Thomas said with confidence to ease the worries of his son and others.
It was dark and humid in the tunnels. Only a handful of people has torches and mages lit a fireball for better a view.
They are moving in a uniformed line in two columns.
More cowebs are starting to appear and they were quite thick and sticky. The fire were slightly useful against them but it was taking too long to burn. The king decided to mow through them with a sword instead of a potential fire breaking out.
"Ahhhh!"
Someone screamed at the very back!
More people started to scream!
Clashes of swords and shield can be heard echoing through the tunnels.
In panic, people are running far from the back to the front, dropping the treasure they suppose to carry! They are rushing towards the king and wanted to pass him but where stopped by the king's personal guards, blocking them!
So a few headed towards different tunnels! They don't care, as long they can get away from the monster!
Thomas grabbed one of them and punched him!
"What the hell you're doing! Get back there and get the treasure!"
"Monster! Monster!" The soldier can only say those words in fright!
It sounds like his men can't win. But it was too hard to let go of the treasure! He need that to live or used to convince the other nations for help!
"DAMN IT!!!" Thomas has to get it back later!
"Fine! Take what you can and follow me!"
Thomas and everyone following him were dashing. The cobwebs were started to be seen less and less. They finally reached a bronze door and seemed to be a makeshift room inside. The room was the size of the dining hall of the castle, a long hall with high ceiling. There were several old wooden chairs and tables scattered around along with chunks of rock. This room acts like a resting point and indication for Thomas that they were half-way there.
Once everyone was inside, they boarded the door with planks of wood that was laying around and push boulders to block it. The stragglers came a few minutes later banging the door and yelling to be let in! Soon, nothing can be heard from the other side.
Only half the men was left. Majority of the treasure was gone.
"Damn! Damn! Damn!" Thomas was hysterical and was slashing his sword against the rocks.
No one wants to utter a word in the king's fit of rage and only some eyes caught something else in this room.
After calming down he looked around to see why everyone was so quiet and then he saw a woman and a wing demon sitting by a round table, blocking the other door, sipping on wine.
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Kei's spies already known the existence of this tunnel and just waited in this room. This room was the mid-point to pass through into another tunnel system leading to the exit on the other side of the mountain.
Elen, Kirin, Polin, and the rest of the elves were outside of the capital uninvolved of the chaos.
Bridget and Kei moved one of the tables in front of the other door and waited while drinking wine.
Vetros and Jacklin were hiding in one of the dead end tunnels and was ordered to attack from behind once Thomas's group pass them. And now only half of them remained: tired, irritated, scared, and confused.
"Oh, hello!" Kei waved his hand towards Thomas and the others. He was in a happy mood because he got to spend some alone time with Bridget.
Thomas and the others were not in a happy mood to respond and felt that this was not a coincidence that they were here.
Then small balls of white flames appeared and illuminated the whole room. Everyone and everything can be seen like it was day.
"You!" Thomas yelled like it came from hell. His face was turned white and so was several other faces.
It was Bridget Jol Ruther. Former marchioness and convicted murderer of former crown prince and Thomas's older brother.
Bridget just smiled and continue sipping her wine.
There was a cold silence in the room. A powerful monster was waiting for them from the way they came and the exit was just the other side passed Kei and Bidget.
"You...you certainly gotten healthy..." Thomas said with sweat pouring down from his forehead.
No reply.
Then the queen tried to get sympathy. "This is my son Chris, you met him years ago remember. He's 7 years old now. Young and innocent, you can at least let a mother and son go?"
She tried to ditch everyone else and used her son to escape, but Bridget didn't respond.
Even if some of them didn't recognize her face, they know of her deeds.
One of the ministers, named Roth, who came along was old and grey. He been through many ups and downs in politics and turmoil from internal conflicts. Always side with those who benefit him.
He knows that Bridget was holding a deep grudge. Nonetheless, he will try to save his own skin.
"Miss Bridget, it certainly been long. It wasn't my choice to go against you. It was Thomas and some other nobles who want to drag you down!"
Bridget pointed her finger at him and shot a lightning bolt from her finger tip. Roth died in a second and his pieces flew everywhere!
"Tch! Men what are you doing! Kill that treacherous bitch and that demon!" Thomas commanded!
Then all the glowing flames disappeared including the torches.
BOOM
The door that was blockaded was opened!
Vetros and Jacklin started attacking the unassumed men from behind.
Kei stunned the key targets for Bridget's revenge and dragged them in the shadows!
Soon, everything came to an end.
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Elen, Kirin, Polin and rest were outside the capital's walls.
They were preparing for lunch outside in the open area.
They can hear the screams and see the smoke rising from the capital.
Kirin was hugging her legs being a witnessed to what was happening. Polin sat next her and patted her back.
"See, nothing to worry about. Darling will destroy this place and move to a better home. People are mean to me there."
Kirin's body jolted. Her country was being invaded by the Cloq Dukedom but she never seen such catastrophe in her life. She always sadden and enraged to see her people and fellow kind being killed and their homes burned. What's happening to Chesire Kingdom was just chaos. It was a different feeling. It was not for greed, territory, pride, or nationality. Just destruction. Whether there was some malice, planning, or secret agenda, Kirin didn't see it.
Elen sat the other side of Kirin and wrapped her arm over Kirin. I wonder if I will burn my capital if I had to fight my uncle. No! I need to negotiate before anything! I must convince the people first to stand by me!
The cephalopods and crustaceans were running amok, the crabs more so. The octs are really not suited for land, resulting with the weaker ones dying and majority of them crawling towards the moat.
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The night came and the capital was silent.
The octs, crabs, kraken and carcinus summoning was dispelled and were replaced with more abled beings to loot any and all valuables.
Just like in Asul, slaves that are held captived were freed and some buildings were left untouched. Some people was still alive and kicking but stayed indoors until the creatures leave.
In the deep dungeon of the castle were jail cells. It was where all the nobles Thomas locked up.
Thomas and his family was in one of them.
Bridget was passing through each cell taking a good look at everyone's faces. Some recognizes her and can only feel despair knowing what we happen to them.
This dungeon has a few torture rooms, one of them was very familar to her. It was the one where she stayed for days, weeks, and months.
When she went in that room, she only can feel chills and saw flashbacks of her torments.
Now, this room will be the final resting place of her tormentors and people who plotted against her.
"Would like to begin?" Said Kei.
Bridget nodded her head. She been waiting for this moment. This posionous lump in her heart and soul will be gone. Whether it brings clarity or not, she knows she will be enjoy this moment.