With the enemy losing their footing of their encirclement, it was only a matter of time until they were forced to withdraw or be annihilated in Vivrus’ land.
Allies overcame the siege and launched a counterattack, trapping those who haven’t fled the battlefield. However, Vivirans made a grave mistake. By pressuring the enemy too much and sealed off their exit, they were met with great resistance of being unable to end the battle immediately. Rozzalians and traitors of Xu’s soldiers bunkered down with the remaining ammunitions they had for their artillery and fire lances, making their last stand against endless waves of insectoids.
In the end, the battle was extended for another eight hours. Only when trebuchets were set up started hurling boulders at enemies’ last outpost, thinning their defenses, were the insectoids able to charge in. This ultimately forced the remaining few to detonate barrels of fire medicine to prevent their siege weapons from falling into Viviran hands.
“Kihet, Kihet! Look! That’s a lot of food! They look so appetizing!”
“I can see that.”
Lily tugged on his tattered jacket and pointed towards tables stacked with dishes from one end of the room to the other. After a full day of rest, they were invited to a banquet as a means to celebrate Vivrus’s successful defense against Rozzosea’s attempt to seize Ilum mines.
“Where should I start?”
“Start from the right side.”
“Huh?” Lily stared at him strangely.
“What do you mean ‘huh?’. Did I say something weird?”
“I’d imagined you’d say something like ‘Just eat whatever you want.’” She imitated his usual annoyed tone. “Or something like that.”
“Does it matter?”
“I guess not. Then as you say, I’ll start on the right side and work my way to the left!”
Lily stacked a mountain of food on her plate and she was only at the beginning of the table. Nobles and other guests who waited their chance to approach her found it difficult seeing she her gluttonous personality surfaced. Only a few such as the Queen, her officers, Priqet and Yixy managed to strike up a conversation with her in between bites.
Kihet thought since Lily was a priestess, a representative of Xu and a hero, she would act a bit more graceful in these events. As for himself, he stood with his back leaned against a wall. Curious guests occasionally walked towards him to get a word but were quickly discouraged when they met his unfriendly gaze.
A black slate then emerged from the corner of his view. A dragonfly stood next to him and looked up with his large compound eyes.
[No eat?]
“Don’t have the appetite. You?”
[Claimed reward. Will go back.]
“Right. You got the orphanage to take care of and I still have unfinished business to do.”
Kihet looked out once again and found Lily caught speaking with the Queen. Judging by the liveliness around her, he expected it’ll keep Lily occupied for a while.
[Where go?]
“I’m going to get answers.”
[I follow.]
“Suit yourself, but I’m warning you. It won’t be pretty.”
Using this chance, they slipped away from the banquet before anyone noticed. They marched into the dungeon where prisoners of wars were kept while Lily’s full attention was on the ‘all you can eat’ buffet.
As for the victims of golden dusts, the Oracle’s silver flames were able to purify the victims. However, they were left in a trance and laid on beds in a vegetative state. Healers there were tasked with providing treatment until the victims recovered.
Four prisoners, two Ogres and two Giants. Among the captives, they were discovered to have the highest ranks and were chained up against the wall with spider silk woven in a way that was said to be many times stronger than steel chains. The Ogres had a more beaten look than the Giants with their physical difference lacking, but their unwavering will stayed resolute. No matter how much the wardens bashed them, none of them let a grunt escape from their mouth.
Their resolves were shaken a bit when Kihet opened the cell door and the cold air he brought with him flooded into the room. Their new torturer wasn’t an insectoid which was alarming. He wasn’t as large as a Giant nor had horns like a Devil folk or Ogre. Before the prisoners were able to make out the shape of his face in the dark, Kihet fitted a wooden mask over his face in case any of them recognized him from a decade ago, escaping from Halsgrof.
Aten watched from the corner while Kihet twirled a knife in his hand and stabbed it on the table. His glared never left the enemy captains. Behind him, all sorts of deadly tools were at his disposal ranging from an executioner’s axe, saw, hooks, mallet, and plenty of stakes.
“You all get one chance. Lie to me, and I’ll make you guys experience the worse pain ever in your life if I don’t get the information I want.”
Before his prisoners retaliated, Kihet lifted a metal rod from a pit of burning coal, examining the temperature of searing tip which ultimately shut them up. Unlike the wardens tasked to keep them alive, this wasn’t a scheduled visit and their lives were potentially endangered.
“First question. You.” Kihet pointed the glowing orange tip at one of them. It was close enough where the Giant felt the hot air emitted from the metal onto his nose. “Who here has the highest rank?”
“…”
None of them spoke and without realizing their last chance was used before Kihet decided to not show any mercy.
“Then you. If you don’t want me to gut you, tell me who has the highest rank.” A knife gently ran over the Ogre’s stomach. The cold steel made a shallow cut which would be much worse in a few more seconds.
Kihet gave the captive ample of time to answer. The Ogre remained tight lipped which meant he was going to be useless. Kihet quickly flipped the knife and held it in reverse grip, about to tear out the captive’s innards.
Feeling the pressure from the knife spiked, the Ogre screamed. “H-him! On the far left!”
“Don’t you have the same rank as me?!”
“I have family! I have to get back to them!”
“Do you think he’d let us back after he’s done with us? Look at him! He clearly isn’t going to let us off the hook that easily! He has a look of a killer-! Hrk!”
“It’s not your turn to speak.” Kihet poked the other Ogre’s leg with the branding pole. “Please refrain from speaking until you are asked.”
“It’s going to take more than a burning stick to keep my mouth shut!”
“That must mean you’re eager to tell me information about Rozzosea.”
“Over my dead body. I’ll never betray Lord Eizan-!”
Upon chanting the name of his master, a hand grasp over his eyes. The Ogre felt the sides of his temple gradually being crushed, the veins under the skin bulged from pressure building up. He screamed as his skull slowly being crushed when suddenly the screaming seized when the back of his head was slammed into the wall. The body lifelessly leaned forward and pried its back off the wall leaving pieces of pulverized skull, a splash of blood and brains glued in between the stone cracks where the head had hit.
The Wardens shuddered not even to have thought to be as ruthless as Kihet. The remaining three captives gulped and shaken by one of their comrades killed off just from that.
“So, Eizan was the one who commanded this operation?” Kihet asked. “You, Giant. Tell me everything or you might suffer more than he did.”
“We…we wanted the minerals in the mines, that’s all!”
“And?”
“What do you mean and?! I told you what we were ordered to do!”
“I didn’t ask why you guys invaded Vivrus. I ordered you to tell me everything you know. What about Eizan?”
“I don’t know-! ARRRGH!”
Giant two felt a terrible pain as Kihet bent the prisoner’s index finger all the way back until a crack echoed through the cell. The other prisoners grew pale as they witnessed a person twice the size of their torturer had his finger snapped with ease even though the Giant initially had his fingers curled into a ball.
“You’re making this difficult on yourself. If you give me answers then I won’t hurt you. Simple as that.” Kihet reached for a saw. “By the way, next time I’ll take your right arm or maybe a leg so you can’t run even if you escape.”
“No, stop! Stop! I don’t know, I swear!”
“That’s too bad. I think you didn’t try hard enough.”
Kihet pushed the teeth of the saw into the Grant’s leg and waited until small blobs of blood grew from the wound before he began to gradually add pressure.
“Wait, wait! I-I really don’t know what that Ogre planned! He rarely leaves his laboratory!”
“Laboratory? Elaborate.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“He does research in there!”
“Have you been there?”
“Never! No, no! I never set foot near or seen the building! I don’t even know where it is, but I’ve only heard gossips from others saying that’s where he hides himself!”
“Hmm. I guess since you don’t know there’s no point in asking you anymore. You’ll just give me the same answer over and over.” Kihet tossed the saw across the floor and reached for the executioner’s axe. “It also means you’re worthless to me. It’d be merciful to send you to the beyond where you can be happily away from this world’s shit.”
The Giant let out a bloody scream as he powerlessly watched Kihet dropped into a swinging stance. He was prepared to die for serving Rozzosea, but not in a place humiliated by the enemy. He thought he would have the honor to fight and fall in a grand battle as his ancestors did in the past. There was nothing he could do to change his fate to be executed by his torturer.
He shut his eyes and powerlessly waited for demise but heard a clang. Instead of feeling a sharp pain from his body being chopped in half, he felt something step his shoulder and chest taking the impact for him. The Giant slowly pried his eyes open and discovered an insect, a humanoid insect, intercepted the axe with two pairs of sticks catching the shaft.
“I’m… s-saved?”
“Aten, what are you doing?”
Aten pointed to the ground to which Kihet looked and read his message. [Ask how cross border]. In that moment, Kihet regained his senses and realized the enemy --with their large numbers—somehow crossed the no man’s land that was heavily guarded by Tower monsters. On the other hand, Lily and he were constantly attacked even though they moved as stealthily as they could and had smaller numbers. Did Rozzosea somehow gained access to the Oracle’s powers? He remembered Eizan had a fixation of the Oracle sigil on his arms and even used it as a means of teleportation.
However, the method to teleport required Eizan to have previously visited the location and plant the mark. It wouldn’t be possible for those without the Oracle’s powers to cross the no man’s lands and back in one piece.
“I seem to be a bit rash in my decisions. Tell me.” Kihet wiped his sleeve over the slate and drew the sigil matching the ones branded on his arms. “Have you seen this symbol?”
“You know of it?”
“I’m asking the questions here.”
“It’s the Oracle’s mark, but it was also called the symbol of the worlds. That’s what Lord Eizan calls it.” From the other side of the Giant, Ogre two answered.
“And Eizan used it for teleportation, correct?
Ogre two eyes widened. “How- who are you? What country did you come from?”
“I’ll be someone chopping your limbs off if I don’t get an answer in the next few seconds. You somehow used its power to teleport here, correct?”
“W-we did.”
“But the cost of magic to maintain it would be immeasurable with how much people you sent over. I doubt Rozzosea would spend that many resources to send you guys here knowing there was a probability you would lose. How was it done?”
“I don’t know how they kept it operative, but we crossed a portal through the ring next to the world tree’s roots.”
“Y-yes! We took a portal here and it appeared after a Hero was chosen in Rozzosea.” The Giant quickly answered.
The prisoners expected to be asked about the hero but instead received a brief silent response, unable to read the expression underneath Kihet’s wooden mask.
“Hero from Rozzosea? You’re lying.” Kihet’s voice was filled with anger as the wooden mask ominously turned towards the Giant. “That would mean the Oracle would be in Rozzosea for a Hero to be awoken.”
“H-he did! The Oracle came to our country!”
“After what happened in Rozzosea twelve years ago? There’s no way he would have visited that place again. It looks like you didn’t take my warning seriously.” Kihet raised the axe again over his shoulder and aimed it at the Giant. “I’ll make you regret it.”
“I’m not lying! I’m not! GGAAAAAAHHHH!”
The head of the axe cleanly chopped off the Giant’s shoulder and cut halfway into the dungeon walls before the shaft broke. Blood poured on everything on the left side while the Giant thrashed around in pain. His arm flailed around like a fish out of water then silently hanged off the silk rope.
Kihet’s entire left arm was doused in the Giant’s blood and some droplets got some parts of his upper body.
“Aten, get the wardens to slap some bandages and healing ointment on his wound. Once he stops bleeding, I’ll come back and ask him again for the truth.”
[What if] Aten pointed as his other hands treated the prisoner.
“Do you seriously believe him? There was no way I went to Rozzosea and picked a hero. Not after what happened to everyone I knew back then!” Kihet roared and snapped his head back to the Ogre. “You, tell me the truth or I’m going to tear both your legs off!”
The sight of his torturer covered in his comrade’s blood from head to toe petrified Ogre. He let out a pathetic shriek when his neck was grabbed, feeling the splinters from the crushed axe handle of Kihet’s hands poking his skin. The ragged trousers he wore was strangely warm and wet, spreading to his thigh then to his legs that it began to stink of ammonia.
“W-was! The Oracle was in Rozzosea and took the Hero with him after defeating the monster in the Tower!”
“I’m not buying it.”
“P-please! I’m telling you everything I knew and saw! It’s the truth! Please believe me! T-the Oracle used something he got from the dungeon to open the portal!”
Before the prisoner’s windpipe could be crushed, Aten stepped forward and tugged on Kihet’s arm.
[Enough.]
“This is the second time you interfered. Why are you protecting them?”
[You.]
“Me? You saying you’re protecting me from them?”
Aten shook his head and tucked away his writing board. “You… are not… yourself.” He said, bleeding from his mandibles. The curse of the Shadow cut his throat each time he spoke. “Your appearance, will scare… devil folk, girl.”
As soon as Kihet thoroughly looked at his reflection off the Dragonfly’s compound eyes, he noticed blood all over himself. His hand was pricked with splinters with now the stinging after he saw them. His pupils slowly showed some color as his anger slowly subsided.
Everything the Ogre said was absurd. As he was the Oracle, Kihet never revisited Rozzosea after the incident from twelve years ago. Even though he was uncertain what conditions were there to bestow a hero’s crest on a worthy individual, he knew it couldn’t be done remotely. What the Ogre heard could be lies, but there was a possibility it was a lie Eizan spread to the masses to cover up the secret of maintaining the portal.
“You’re lucky.” Kihet growled, stomping out of the cell.
Aten quickly followed him until Kihet stopped at an intersection and found the closest bench. He saw Kihet drag his body over and slumped on it.
[Tired?]
“I don’t know. I feel like there are a whole lot more questions I got than answers from that.” Kihet sighed in defeat. “Ah man. I lost myself there. Thanks for snapping me out of it.”
He saw Aten’s antenna bobbed slightly, guessing it was the dragonfly’s expression of being relieved. The insectoid rummaged his pocket for another chalk, scribbling for a while before showing it to Kihet.
[Sometimes it’s best to take small bites rather than everything at once, else you’ll choke.]
“A friend told me about that proverb. Where did it come from?”
[Hunter saw monster choked death. From eating.]
“You serious? I’d never thought the saying was that literal.”
Aten nodded and flipped his board around. [Best clean yourself. Devil folk girl.]
“Yeah. I’ll hit the bath house before Lily sees me. You better get going as well. The children will-.”
The light flickered then shut off. The atmosphere was suddenly filled with a haunted mood.
Kihet instantly stood up, putting his back against Aten’s as walls of fog appeared at the end of each hallway. They heard bold footsteps echoing towards them until Kihet saw a silhouette down the one in front of him. At the sight of the person stepping out of the mist, he froze up. His heart stopped for a moment and held his breath with his arms trembling.
“Aten, I hope you carried a weapon with you.” Kihet enchanted his knife with the Oracle’s flame. Aten dropped into a defensive stance with a short spear.
Both recognized the giant guillotine the figure carried on its back. Unlike their first encounter the person was enveloped in black miasma, it was completely freed from the Tower’s grasp. Kihet saw its blond hair tied into a long ponytail. It wore pads of armor across over its jacket, but there wasn’t enough light to see their color. Its most distinguished feature was that it wore a mirror mask that reflected everything it faced.
The Headsman unchained the guillotine from its back and set the blade’s tip on the ground. It used enough force to punch a crater into the floor and caused a nearby vase to topple off the column and spilled its contents across the carpet. The mirror mask exhausted steam from the sides as it exhaled. Just as the fog covered its face, the sound of footsteps rushed towards it and the Headsman leaned its guillotine towards it without so much as looking.
Kihet kicked off the wall and thrust his fiery knife at its face but instead hit the pommel of the Headsman’s weapon. A surge of wind blew strongly on the opposite side as Aten attempted to flank it. The dragonfly aimed his spear at the Headsman’s torso.
With a click, the guillotine suddenly extended like a switchblade. One half of the blade sprung up and cut off the Dragonfly’s arms before Aten touched the Headsman. It kicked Aten away then threw a punch and knocked Kihet back to the intersection.
“Urgh!”
Kihet got back on his feet and glared at the Headsman. Before he charged at it again, the Headsman held up its thumb and two fingers, then snapped. Kihet’s body shuddered as he heard the hum of magic echoing down the hallway. Aten’s and his legs mysteriously gave out.
“Oracle, I am not your enemy at this moment. I have temporarily separated my soul from the Tower’s influence. I could’ve destroyed Vivrus if I had fully lost control. Thankfully, your companion was able to weaken the miasma that corrupted my conscience. Speaking of which, has your companion relayed my words to you?”
“Destroy the Sanctums and help your Master, was it?”
“Correct. The Towers are all linked to Sanctums, and I believe my Master may need your assistance to destroy them. Unfortunately, I do not know where it is located, but I am not here to discuss about that. I believe you will eventually find the answer to it.”
“Then what are you here for?”
“To give you direction.” The Headsman answered curtly. “I asked Elin to allow us to meet as soon as I gained control of my senses.”
“Elin…- Elenora-? Why isn’t she telling me this instead?”
“She remained in the Hallow to look into other matters. She’s taking her job seriously. You may confirm everything our discussion with her on your next encounter, but time is of the essence. The next country you must depart for, is Stusis.”
“Stusis…? Why?”
“I cannot say for certain. When my consciousness was returning, I sensed the towers were transferring large quantities of magical power towards Stusis. Something there also threatens the towers, and I am positive it may hinder your duty as the Oracle should it be left alone.”
“You want me to help the Towers?!”
“Even I wish the Towers to be destroyed. I am also aware a kind of yours may be there. He continues his own battles but if you won’t go, he will surely perish.”
“Draigh! He’s alive?!”
“That you would have to verify yourself, Oracle. I recommend your stay in Vivrus remain short and travel to Stusis with great haste if you wish to have your answer.”
“You tried to kill me twice and you killed Malth and Lemi. What makes you think what you’re saying isn’t a trap?”
“I could’ve killed you here and now.”
The Headsman took two quick swipes, engraving two lines on the walls beside Kihet from distance faster than he could blink. A drop of sweat ran down his cheeks as he knew he could not react to that. Now he realized how much the Headsman held back from the dungeon as he caught a glimpse of ethereal blades floating in the dark revert back to the mist surrounding him.
“Hm. As I recall, I faintly remembered your two friends who fought against me though I only saw glimpses of our fight. I inflicted a curse on one of them, didn’t I?”
Kihet’s eyes were bloodshot as adrenaline rushed through his body and silver flames erupted from his arms, burning away the magic that stole strength from his legs. The second he could stand, Kihet launched himself and lunged at the Headsman.
“As I said-.”
The Headsman saw three strokes of light in a rose curve pattern and immediately raised its guillotine to shield itself. The strength behind Kihet’s attack was able to force it a step back.
It then spotted Kihet from behind using [Crescent Moon Dance] to get around. It bent away from a knife thrown at its head then immediately ducked Kihet’s sucker punch. When its masked face the front, Kihet had already repositioned himself behind it again using the footwork technique. It pulled the guillotine over its neck and blocked a butterfly kick aimed at its back with the flat part of the blade without so much as looking.
“You should stop before I run out of time.”
As Kihet attempted his attack for a third try, a wall suddenly appeared in his view. He felt a strong impact and was thrown down the hallway. He bounced like a stone skipping on water and eventually laid supine on the ground. A magic circle emerged underneath him and the air pressed him towards the ground.
“Ugh! Dammit!”
“I had already said I have no intention of fighting. You best stay down too, insect. You may have the mist’s curse, but there’s a limit to your immortality. This fog is my domain.”
Aten was also sucked to the ground by a strong gravitational force. He powerlessly watched the Headsman crouch next to Kihet and placed something next to him.
“You forgot to take this after your group defeated the guardian of the dungeon. If you wish to travel across the world, you will need it.”
The Headsman stood up and began walking towards the fog.
“Wait!”
“In return for you to travel to Stusis, I will lift the curse off your friend’s body while I am in control. I wish to provide more aid, unfortunately, this is all I can do at my current state. Next time, you will encounter a husk of me that will surely kill you if you aren’t prepared. Farewell.”