As Fenrius descended from the plateau of Mount Gronoa, he looked out at the boundary wall of the Kingdom of Atria, where the war between the three kingdoms was raging. The thunderous sound of cannon explosions reverberated through the land, like meteor strikes tearing through the once-fertile landscapes, staining them with the blood of countless lives. The smoke of war cast a dark shadow over the skies of Runeverse, and beneath it, armies clashed, their existence reduced to mere instruments of destruction.
Of all the wars Fenrius had witnessed, this one was the most devastating. The heat from the current skies had even melted the buildings and slums that had been frozen by the Ice Dragon. Moments later, the Atria troops successfully repelled the combined forces of the enemy alliance, Xina, and Falenas. They declared victory, boasting superior defenses within their own territory.
However, Fenrius's greatest fear arose as he witnessed the aftermath of the conflict. The Atria troops marched through the forest that surrounded Nightville Village. Upon their arrival, they enslaved the peaceful villagers, subjecting them to cruel treatment and implementing a system of forced cultivation to sustain the relentless demands of the armies. Unable to bear the weight of such oppression, Fenrius hastened his descent into the plains.
From a distance, Fenrius saw the lifeless bodies of villagers who had dared to defy their captors, their corpses serving as gruesome warnings against rebellion. He moved stealthily across the rooftops, listening to the grievances of the villagers toiling in the fields.
"Damn it! The continent of Ardaenor has once again descended into chaos! What in the world has happened this time?" one of the villagers exclaimed.
Another villager responded, "They say the Great King of Atria unleashed his war cry, turning against his two rival kingdoms that had long been embroiled in conflict. He tore apart the fragile peace treaty and mercilessly slaughtered their envoys!"
A third villager chimed in, saying, "And this is the result: years have passed, and the Rune Wars persist, depleting their ammunition supplies and causing the death toll to rise ever higher. If this continues, Nightville's presence will vanish from the Runeverse world map!"
The villagers fell silent as Atria soldiers passed by, barking orders, "Everyone, gather at the center of the village!"
Fenrius leaped onto one of the rooftops in the slum area, almost slipping and falling due to the slippery ice. He observed his hidden dwelling in the covered culvert, which appeared to have escaped the scrutiny of the soldiers. He jumped onto the roof of a shack that overlooked the central area of the village, and from there, he witnessed hundreds of soldiers wrapping up their fallen comrades who had succumbed to a disease outbreak after daring to venture into the slum area.
"Ah, after winning the war, I regret coming here!" complained one of the soldiers. "Honestly, I'd rather fight as a soldier than be a street investigator!"
"Lieutenant Jack! I entrust this village to you," commanded a General of Atria. "You can take some of them for your entertainment!"
"Understood, General Riggs!"
The number of soldiers dwindled from hundreds to dozens as they could not bear the stench, disease, and toxins that permeated the slum. Meanwhile, the villagers, still crying in fear, carried the memories of the monsters' attacks from the mountain. The ongoing war between kingdoms had only deepened their wounds, erasing any remnants of love or hope for a better era.
After the Atria troops under Lieutenant Jack gathered all the villagers, they subjected them to interrogation. Those who resisted faced severe punishments, including twenty lashes or even immediate execution. The soldiers demanded answers about the missing royal supplies and the true identity of the Witching Night Boy, but the villagers remained united in their ignorance.
"Please forgive us, perhaps the supplies were stolen by mountain bandits," suggested one of the villagers.
"That is the last straw," said the lieutenant.
The Atria soldiers were consumed by rage because the villagers kept giving them the same answer. The reason for this was that Nightville had always been the designated trade route for the royal wagons, and in recent nights, the cargo had been mysteriously snatched away. While it remained uncertain whether the culprits were bandits or not, one soldier claimed to have spotted a thief who vaguely resembled a Hobbit—a small and agile figure. With no substantial leads, they initiated a forceful investigation, scouring every house and searching each villager's dwelling one by one.
"But, sir, we have nothing left..." a villager pleaded.
"Silence! It's preferable to losing your life!" barked the soldier.
The Kingdom of Atria, representing the Black Hydra—one of the Independent Kingdoms resisting the Empire—found itself facing a grave dilemma. The king's fury escalated with each instance of their royal supplies being pilfered by unknown culprits, prompting him to issue immediate orders to his troops to address the matter swiftly.
The Atria troops were outfitted in jet-black armor, prominently displaying the emblem of the Black Hydra on their chests. Their distinctive Hydra helmets featured a wide-open design, depicting a roaring Hydra, and left their faces exposed. These helmets served the dual purpose of providing protection and symbolizing the kingdom's philosophy that even if one head was severed, others would rise to take its place.
After thoroughly searching the outskirts of the slums, the soldiers found no trace of a storage area for supplies. However, at the end of a dead-end alley, they encountered a beggar boy dressed in tattered clothes and a worn-out hat, pleading for gold coins.
The lieutenant lost his temper and approached the beggar boy, reprimanding him, "Hey, boy! What are you doing here? The villagers should be gathering at the front!"
Fenrius, disguised as the beggar boy, responded respectfully, "I apologize, sir, but I just learned that today was raid time. If you're looking for something specific, you may ask the caravan located at the end of the village."
"Is that so? They say if you truly want to know something, you should ask the beggars. They have eyes and ears throughout the villages, knowing all the little secrets of the villagers' daily lives!"
"I'm not that kind of beggar, sir. I only eat the scraps that others discard. They toss me a coin so they don't have to ponder my plight for too long."
"Stop wasting my time!"
The lieutenant's face flushed with rage as he grew increasingly convinced that the villagers had stolen something precious from him. Especially when he saw a little boy, who knew nothing about the world, smiling at him like that. A pitiful but proud-looking little beggar, the lieutenant yearned to wipe the innocent smile off his face and show him the harsh realities of life.
"Listen, kid, if you continue pretending like this, there will be consequences!"
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're implying. I have been a beggar, just as I am now," Fenrius calmly replied.
In a fit of rage, the lieutenant snatched a box containing gold coins from Fenrius. However, his grin quickly transformed into a look of horror as he witnessed the unwavering smile on the boy's face—a smile that held profound meaning. The lieutenant sensed that something was amiss, something he couldn't quite comprehend.
"Why are you smiling, kid? Shouldn't you be saddened by the loss of your treasure?"
"Not at all. Those are the gold coins I've been collecting for a whole month. You can have them," Fenrius replied, maintaining his serene smile.
It was the first time the lieutenant had encountered such philanthropy, especially within the confines of this den of thieves. As a soldier, he knew that this rare occurrence would be etched in his memory more deeply than the numerous battles he had fought.
"What if you starve to death? Runeverse is too cruel for a kid like you, huh?"
"It's alright," Fenrius replied with a genuine expression. "Runeverse is temporary; true life lies in the hereafter."
The lieutenant took a step back. He was no longer seeing an ordinary brat, but a brave frontline warrior. As the boy continued speaking, the lieutenant found himself unable to bear the thought of extinguishing the genuine happiness radiating from the boy's face. The boy's actions were commendable, and his pure-heartedness was on another level.
Other soldiers began to arrive from around the corner, their hands empty.
"Lieutenant Jack! Did you find it there?" they asked.
Lieutenant Jack returned the boy's treasure box and walked away, stating, "No, there is nothing here...!"
On the bustling streets of Nightville, the Atria troops grew dissatisfied with the villagers' responses and started punishing them one by one with twenty lashes as a display of frustration. The soldiers didn't want to leave the slum empty-handed, so they demanded that the villagers provide concrete information the next time.
The youths groaned in pain, while the elders and children wept in fear, as they witnessed the increasing number of deaths. The anguished cries of the villagers troubled the soldiers, leading Lieutenant Jack to make a resolute decision. He issued an order, demanding the sacrifice of one person as a means to appease his anger.
"One victim?! Are you serious?!" exclaimed one of the villagers.
"Don't argue! It's better than us destroying your village! Quickly choose! One victim, young or old, it's up to you!" threatened Lieutenant Jack.
Restlessness consumed the minds of the villagers as they didn't know what to do. They thought about the previous actions of the rebels, who had stood united and fought for the village's survival rather than surrendering one of their own. However, a black-haired beggar boy stepped forward, breaking the silence and defying the odds.
"I'll do it!" Fenrius declared.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"You?! The beggar boy from earlier?" asked Lieutenant Jack incredulously.
"Yes," replied the boy with a determined look. "Since I no longer wish to endure this suffering, I don't mind if fate claims my life sooner."
Fenrius' selfless act touched the hearts of the villagers, but the boy received no reward; only a lifetime of punishment awaited him. Most of the soldiers acknowledged the boy's resolve to die for their cause, but Lieutenant Jack remained skeptical, questioning whether such a young and frail boy could endure the punishment he had in mind. The idea of someone being that innocent seemed implausible to him, prompting him to devise a plan to break the boy and expose his hidden selfish tendencies. Despite his doubts, Lieutenant Jack chose to allow the boy to proceed with his sacrifice, hoping it would serve as a powerful lesson for the villagers.
"Alright, come with us!" Lieutenant Jack handcuffed the boy's hands and escorted him away, leaving the slum residents to mourn the boy's sacrifice.
Fenrius felt that he had completed his mission, as this could be his chance to escape his miserable existence. He held onto only fragments of his life's memories, which included the kindness and compassion that his friends and the villagers had shown him.
"Fenry... that beggar boy saved us once again..." the villagers whispered, tears welling up in their eyes.
Their hearts overflowed with sympathy and longing, mirroring the shining sun's intensity as it erased Fenrius' presence and silently urged them to avert their gaze. Only his worn-out hat lay on the ground, a poignant reminder of his existence. Unbeknownst to Fenrius, this fleeting glimpse of daylight in Nightville might be his last.
***
Escorted by the Atria soldiers, Fenrius made his way through the winding woods, facing an uncertain future and unaware of where his path would lead. Fear gripped him as he listened to the torment that awaited him from their mouths. Nevertheless, he longed for an end to it all, to be reunited with his friends summoned by the Palandria Heaven, and to escape the suffering endured in the Runeverse. After a long walk, they arrived at the confines of the wooden dome, which served as the Atria military base nestled deep within the forest.
Lieutenant Jack led Fenrius to a massive pond stretching three thousand meters. He removed the handcuffs from the boy's hands and asked, "Hey kid, can you swim?"
"No. This is the first time in my life."
"Very well! Hey, guys! This kid wants to learn to swim! Release the sharks!" the lieutenant commanded his subordinates.
The soldier pulled a lever, and without a second thought, Lieutenant Jack tossed Fenrius into the pool. Despite his lack of swimming skills, Fenrius thrashed about and managed to stay afloat. A cage at the bottom of the pool opened, and several sharks swiftly swam toward him. Rather than accepting death, he was gripped by sheer terror as he witnessed a razor-toothed shark charging at him like an arrow. The mere thought of those teeth tearing his skin apart filled him with overwhelming dread.
Defying death's grasp, Fenrius swam fiercely to outpace the pursuing sharks and reach the safety of the shore. Relief washed over him as he finally reached land, only to shatter when a shark clamped onto his left leg, causing excruciating pain. Unfazed, the soldiers watched in awe as Fenrius displayed incredible resilience, fighting back with all his might and kicking the shark into the water despite his bleeding limb.
"Didn't you say you no longer wished to live in the Runeverse? What changed your mind?" asked the lieutenant.
"I'm sorry, it's not that I fear death, but I fear what my friends will do without me," Fenrius replied, lying to himself.
"Regardless, you cannot return to your village. You are now our commodity."
"Do as you will. With one of my legs injured, there is no point in resisting if I am destined to die," Fenrius resigned, half regretting his decision and half hoping that they would grant him a painless death.
"Good. Let us proceed to the field."
The Atria soldiers were determined to test Fenrius's mental toughness further. They wanted to see remorse on his face and make him cry for what he had done. They placed the crippled Fenrius in the vast field and closed the fence behind him. Instead of dwelling on what might happen next or what the soldiers' plan was, he picked up a lot of stones for his ammunition, just in case.
Jack posed another question to Fenrius. "Have you ever played a game of chase?"
"No, sir," Fenrius replied, trying to hide his fear. "We never had the time to play. Most of my friends were killed by monsters and war."
"Excellent," exclaimed Lieutenant Jack. "Hey, guys! This poor boy has never experienced a game of chase! Release the lion!" The soldiers promptly carried out his command.
A lever was pulled, and the gates of the lion's enclosure swung open in the field, freeing the mighty king of the jungle. The lion drooled with anticipation as it fixated its gaze on the small prey. The boy's heart sank as he beheld the approaching beast, which emitted a thunderous roar.
As a beggar, Fenrius wished the Atria soldiers had given him a sword to survive instead of leaving him defenseless. He knew, however, that was unlikely. The soldiers took pleasure in his suffering and wanted him to meet a gruesome end. The deafening roar of the massive lion sent chills down his spine as he fled from it, his limbs feeling weak and lifeless.
"Kid! If you can last for up to five minutes, then I will give you a reward!" Lieutenant Jack shouted.
Fenrius evaded the lion's claws, although not without incurring multiple wounds on his feet, which were now oozing blood. Despite the scratches covering his body, he had managed to cheat death. Gasping and groaning in pain from the deep bite on his right leg, he desperately searched for a weapon and seized a stick from the ground. He thrust it into the lion's eye, causing the beast to stumble back in confusion and blindness. Seizing the opportunity, Fenrius pelted the lion with stones before making a daring escape.
The sight of blood running down his legs only fueled his fighting spirit, which had been honed in previous battles against monsters in Mount Gronoa. He hurled stones and unleashed fierce screams, which finally succeeded in intimidating the lion.
The soldiers, enthralled by his resilience, applauded his audacity, finding amusement in his primal instincts to elude being torn apart. After what seemed like ten minutes, they opened the fence, allowing Lieutenant Jack to enter the field and coax the lion back into its cage.
Wearing a malevolent grin, Lieutenant Jack approached Fenrius and uttered, "Impressive! You're more agile than that lion. Thanks to your hard work, I'll give you a little present, brat."
Feeling lightheaded, Fenrius inquired, "What kind of present?"
"A wretched urchin like you from Nightville must never have received a gift, unlike those noble boys from the kingdom who slumber peacefully, cuddling their teddy bears. While they sing songs of the twinkling stars, you've witnessed rivers of blood and countless casualties. Would you fancy a toy as your reward from us?" taunted Lieutenant Jack.
Fenrius hesitated, aware that accepting anything from the Atria soldiers would only invite further trouble. However, he also feared that declining their offer would stoke their anger, leading to more cruelty.
"Actually, I'm grateful just to be alive. But if you insist, I suppose I can accept," he reluctantly replied.
The lieutenant smirked, "You heard him! This kid wants a teddy bear! Release the bear!"
The soldiers dragged a medium-sized wild bear, bound by chains, and thrust it into the field alongside Fenrius. The fence was closed once again. The soldiers cheered and reveled as they observed the spectacle featuring the Nightville boy. With his left leg injured from a shark's bite and his right leg wounded by a lion, he was incapable of running or evading any longer. He had no choice but to engage the bear in a wrestling match, relying solely on his hands to fend off the formidable opponent.
"Why are you just sitting there, kid?" taunted Lieutenant Jack.
"Have a jolly good playtime! And don't forget to give the bear a tight hug!" jeered the soldiers.
As Fenrius witnessed the bear lumbering toward him, his heart sank. He knew he had to act swiftly, despite his injuries. Taking a deep breath, he charged at the bear with outstretched arms and tackled it to the ground.
The bear roared and thrashed, but Fenrius clung on, using his weight and momentum to keep the powerful animal pinned. He couldn't afford to lose this match, for not only was his own life at stake but also the lives of his fellow Nightville villagers who awaited his return.
Fenrius' sudden maneuver of bringing the bear down caught everyone off guard. He sprang back up and launched repeated charges at the bear, relying on his agility and quick movements to keep the bear off-balance.
The struggle between them felt like an eternity, neither side willing to yield. They rolled in the sand, grappling for the upper hand, battling not only each other but also the gusts of wind. Despite the searing pain in his muscles and the pulsating ache of his injuries with each maneuver, the boy managed to repeatedly bring the bear crashing to the ground.
Finally, with a resounding roar, the bear went limp, and the Atria soldiers yelped in astonishment as the boy forcefully pushed the beast to the ground, forcing it to concede and leave him be.
Gasping for breath, Fenrius stumbled backward and collapsed onto the ground, overwhelmed with relief that he had once again survived another ordeal. The soldiers opened the fence and took the bear away, but the boy barely noticed, consumed by his exhaustion.
The Atria soldiers burst into applause, thoroughly impressed by the boy's extraordinary performance. They realized that not every child had the resilience to endure the trials of the monster arena, and the more they tested him, the more astonished they became. Despite facing countless challenges, he emerged victorious once more.
Lieutenant Jack approached Fenrius and congratulated him, saying, "Now we're getting somewhere. Your will to survive is truly commendable. What's your name, kid?"
Fenrius rose to his feet but remained silent. His eyes held a vacant stare, and his body bore the marks of blood and scratches. The fresh wounds inflicted upon him were sharp and agonizing, hindering his movements and causing his muscles and joints to ache. The ceaseless battles had not only taken a toll on his physical well-being but also on his spirit. He felt unsure about how to convince them to set him free.
"Speak, kid!" the lieutenant snapped, drawing his sword.
With no other choice, the boy replied, "Fenrius..."
The lieutenant sheathed his sword. "Good! Fenrius, how is it that such a little kid like you never cries or loses it when faced with dangers, like sharks, a lion, or a bear?"
"You've misunderstood. I'm actually known as the biggest crybaby among the rest," Fenrius responded.
"How can that be? You're so brave and wise! You never shed a tear! When I first encountered you, you willingly gave up your money, and you were prepared to sacrifice yourself for that impoverished village. That's why I hate your noble deeds!" exclaimed Lieutenant Jack.
Fenrius understood that it was futile to expect these soldiers to comprehend his perspective. The daily struggle for survival had become his norm, and he no longer found their lack of understanding surprising. With sincerity, he revealed the truth about his transformation to Lieutenant Jack.
"You are correct, sir. But in the past, I cried because I was always alone and had nothing. I cried out of fear when people taunted, threatened, or abused me. I cried when monsters ravaged our village, and I cried when my life hung by a thread, surrounded by death and blood. However, now..."
Tears streamed down Fenrius' face as he knelt before Lieutenant Jack, his voice filled with desperation. "I am willing to cry and plead before you. Please, set me free!" He bowed his head, touching the ground with reverence.
A heavy silence fell over the group. Then, laughter erupted among the soldiers, spreading like a contagious disease until they were all jeering at Fenrius' plea. Not a shred of pity could be found among them. Fenrius felt like an idiot. He had supposed to know that these merciless soldiers would not be moved by tears or words alone. He had seen it with his own eyes when they had killed Sister Elle and the other villagers for fun in broad daylight.
"Set you free? Ha! By sacrificing yourself for that village, you're as good as dead!" mocked one soldier.
"Yes, tomorrow we shall subject you to even greater torture!" added another.
"Hey, what if we added weights to his hands and feet?" suggested a third.
"That's an awesome idea! I'm so stoked to see him go down!" chimed in a fourth.
The soldiers' cruel laughter rang in Fenrius' ears, shattering his spirit. His mind swirled with conflicting thoughts: should he resort to violence and attempt to defeat them all, or should he find a peaceful means of escape and start anew? He cursed himself for his act of thievery against the kingdom, knowing that this was the punishment he now faced.
Alone and surrounded by his captors, Fenrius wept silently, his tears like a helpless kitten surrounded by ferocious dogs. From that day forward, he resolved to remain silent, refusing to speak even when the soldiers tried to provoke him.
The following day, the Atria soldiers subjected Fenrius to the same cycle of torment: they tossed him into the crocodile-infested pond, confined him within the tiger cage, and placed him in the den of venomous snakes. This time, however, they added an additional cruelty: they fastened iron weights to his limbs, treating him like a slave. Day by day, the weight of the iron increased, and the shackles tightened, as the Atria soldiers had no intention of granting Fenrius his freedom.
Whenever Fenrius managed to regain his mobility, they hurled him into a ravine, forcing him to learn to crawl once more. "If he can crawl, then he can brawl," they said. Fenrius' life became an endless struggle, enduring torture after torture. Rain or shine, he toiled ceaselessly, his sweat mingling with blood, his body often adorned with bruises. He could only find respite when Maldrakar Hell froze over. Weeks turned into months, and time slipped away from him, unnoticed.