Sera and Aermo walked through the winding corridors of the underground. Aermo's ears twitched nervously, eyes darting around as they moved deeper into the labyrinthine passages.

"Boss, is Alpa really here?"

"Yes, she’s definitely here. Just keep looking."

As they rounded a corner, Sera spotted a familiar figure partially hidden in the shadows. A beastkin woman with long, black hair stood with a tense, alert posture. She wore a simple tunic, the fabric worn but clean, and despite her unassuming attire, her presence radiated strength and resilience.

Sera pointed towards the woman, "I believe that's her."

Aermo's breath hitched, his heart pounding so loudly he thought it might echo through the corridor. He took a hesitant step forward, his eyes never leaving the woman. "Alpa?"

The beastkin woman turned slowly, her eyes widening as they met Aermo's. Recognition dawned on her face, and she stepped out of the shadows, the tension in her posture melting into relief. "Aermo?"

Immediately, Aermo closed the distance between them. He reached out, hands trembling as they cupped her face, his thumbs gently brushing against her cheeks. "Are you okay?"

Tears welled up in Alpa's eyes, spilling over as she nodded. "I’m fine now, but what about you? Are you hurt?"

Aermo shook his head, a smile breaking through the tears that now streamed freely down his face. "I’m okay, and I’m never letting you go again."

Alpa's hands flew to cover his, her fingers tracing the contours of his strong, familiar hands. She pulled him into a tight embrace, burying her face in his shoulder as sobs wracked her body. "I was so scared. I thought I'd lost you forever."

Aermo held her close, his own tears mingling with hers. "I’m here now, and I'm glad you're here too."

Sera watched them for a moment longer before stepping closer. "Sorry for interrupting you two, but what do you both plan on doing now?"

Alpa pulled back slightly, just enough to look at Sera while still keeping a hand on Aermo's arm. Her fingers tightened around his sleeve, the fabric bunching slightly under her grip. "I'll go wherever Aermo goes."

Sera nodded, turning her gaze to Aermo."And what about you?"

Aermo's brow furrowed in thought, the weight of their future pressing heavily upon him. He sighed deeply, the sound carrying the burden of his uncertainty. "I'm not sure," he admitted.

His eyes flickered to Alpa, searching for strength in her presence. "But… could we stay in the dungeon, Boss? Indefinitely, I mean. We don't have anywhere else to go."

Sera considered his request quietly in her mind. I don't really see any reason to deny his request. It gives me more hands to help with the dungeon and Alpa could even make those succulent donuts that I saw before.

Finally, Sera spoke with a decisive tone. "You are free to stay, Aermo. Both of you. But you must continue to help maintain and protect the dungeon."

Aermo nodded, relief washing over his features. He turned to Alpa, a questioning look in his eyes. "Are you okay with that, dear?"

Alpa smiled softly, her hand squeezing his. "I'll get by."

Sera glanced around the underground corridor. "For now, I need you both to stand by in another location."

Alpa thought for a moment before suggesting a spot. "What about the old bar in the lower level? It’s quiet and usually empty."

Aermo's ears perked up. "Will there be more Black Eagles there?"

Alpa shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "There’s actually been a lot fewer of them around lately. I think we’ll be safe."

Sera chuckled softly at their exchange. "Very well. Head there and wait for my instructions. I'll see you both at the designated place soon."

Aermo and Alpa nodded, their hands still intertwined as they began to make their way to the old bar. Once the two disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, Sera turned to a quiet corner of the underground passage.

Taking a deep breath, Sera closed her eyes and concentrated. She focused on the connection she shared with Zoha, the demoness bound to her service. The air around her began to buzz, a faint hum growing louder until it became the unmistakable sound of a swarm of flies.

"Mistress," Zoha greeted. "What do you need?"

Sera opened her eyes, meeting the demoness's gaze. "Have there been any issues with the dungeon?"

"None, Mistress. Everything is as it should be."

"Good. Now, we have a new objective. With Vittorio and Vega dead, this is the perfect opportunity for me to seize control of the Black Eagles and utilize them for my purposes."

"What is your plan, Mistress?"

"I need your help to gather the remaining Black Eagles in one location. We must bring them together and show them that we can offer stability and leadership. Once they are assembled, I will formally seize control of the group."

Zoha's smile widened, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Consider it done, Mistress. Where should I gather them?"

Sera thought for a moment, weighing the options. "The prison complex where Vittorio's corpse is, I believe it should be a floor below here, but you'll know it when you see it."

"I will start immediately. It won't take long to locate them and bring them there."

***

Hours later, Sera stood in the cold, oppressive atmosphere of the prison complex. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and unwashed bodies. Vittorio's corpse hung grotesquely from the ceiling, still impaled on the icicle she had conjured, blood had frozen into dark icicles, hanging from the wound

Before her stood the remnants of the Black Eagles, around two dozen members, their faces a mix of fear, confusion, and defiance. Their eyes flickered nervously between Sera and the macabre display above.

Sera took a deep breath, the cold air filling her lungs. "I am Sera, and as of now, I am in charge of the Black Eagles whether you like it or not."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in, the silence in the room growing heavier. "I suppose you might be wondering why you should listen to me. Let me make it clear. I am the one who single-handedly took down dozens of your so-called comrades. Your friends, your allies, reduced to nothing but corpses at my feet. They dared to defy me, and they paid the price."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

A murmur ran through the group, the uneasy shifting of bodies and the scraping of boots against the stone floor. Sera paced around lightly as she continued speaking "I killed Vega with my own hands in his own quarters."

She pointed to Vittorio's corpse, still pinned grotesquely from the ceiling. "And I did the same to your leader, just like that."

The room fell into a stunned silence, the remaining Black Eagles staring at Sera with a mixture of horror and awe. She took a step forward, her presence commanding and unyielding.

"You have two choices. You can either fall in line and serve me, or you can end up like your former leaders. The decision is yours.

A murmur ran through the group, the uneasy shifting of bodies and the scraping of boots against the stone floor. A few bolder voices rose above the rest, their words tinged with anger and disbelief.

One of the men stepped forward "Who do you think you are?" he spat, his voice echoing off the walls. "You think you can just walk in here and take over?"

Soon, a few others joined in voicing their dissent and hurling insults. It seemed as though a riot might break out at any moment, the simmering anger of the mercenaries threatening to boil over.

Sera remained unfazed, and leaned slightly towards Zoha. "Remove them."

Zoha's form shimmered as her body dissolved into a swarm of flies.,The swarm expanded, each fly a dark speck against the dim light of the chamber, until it completely enveloped the dissenters.

Panic erupted among the Black Eagles. Their eyes widened in horror as they swung their arms wildly, trying to fend off the relentless onslaught of insects. The flies were everywhere: crawling into mouths, ears, and eyes, making every breath a struggle. Amid the chaos, the swarm began to lift the troublemakers into the air, their bodies flailing helplessly.

In a horrifying display, the swarm consumed them alive, tearing at flesh with a ferocity that defied nature. Within moments, the screaming ceased, replaced by an eerie silence as the swarm retreated, leaving nothing but a few bloodstained scraps of clothing in their wake.

The remaining Black Eagles stood frozen, faces pale and eyes wide with shock. Their defiance had been utterly quashed, replaced by a palpable fear that hung in the air. Meanwhile, Zoha reformed beside Sera, her eyes gleaming with a faint smile playing on her lips.

Sera stepped forward and spoke again. "Does anyone else have any complaints?"

The room remained silent, the only sound the faint, lingering buzz of a stray fly. Sera's gaze swept over the group, each member avoiding her eyes. Finally. Now, all I need to do is to break them in a little bit more.

Satisfied with the lack of response, Sera took a step back. "Form lines and clean this area. I want every inch of this place spotless."

The Black Eagles hesitated for a moment, their eyes flicking nervously between each other. There wasn't a single piece of cleaning equipment nearby.

“Move!” Sera barked, her voice slicing through their hesitation like a whip.

Instantly, they scrambled into action, their movements frantic and disjointed. They snatched up rags, discarded cloths, and any scrap of material they could find. Their desperation was palpable, each of them driven by a mixture of urgency and dread, their eyes constantly darting towards Sera and Zoha, fearful of provoking either of them.

As they scoured the chamber for anything useful, their search grew increasingly desperate. They tore at their own clothing, ripping off sleeves and hems to create makeshift cleaning tools. Sweat beaded on their brows as they used their bare hands to scrub the stone floor, the rough texture scraping their skin raw.

“Sort these stones by size and color,” Sera demanded next, pointing at a chaotic pile of rocks and rubble.

The Black Eagles at each other with bewildered expressions. The absurdity of the task hung in the air, but Sera's piercing gaze left them no choice. Reluctantly, they bent down, picking through the debris with trembling hands.

Their fingers bled as they sorted the stones, the jagged edges cutting into their flesh. Each stone was meticulously examined and placed into piles, the sound of clattering rocks filling the chamber. The lack of proper equipment made the task torturous, their hands quickly becoming numb.

“Now stack them in the shape of a pyramid,” Sera commanded.

Once again, The Black Eagles exchanged confused, weary glances but obeyed nonetheless. Their hands moved with mechanical precision, placing each stone on top of another, forming an ever-growing pyramid.

But, one lean man carried out each task without saying a word and without any sign of complaint. He sorted the stones quickly, stacking them precisely as instructed. Sera noted his diligence and dedication.

"What's your name?" she asked, stepping closer to the man.

"Kiran, ma'am," he replied, standing at attention.

Sera nodded approvingly. "Kiran, you have followed my orders without question. From this moment on, you are a group leader. You will be assigned people to work under you."

Kiran's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly masked it with a nod. "Thank you, ma'am. I won't let you down."

The other mercenaries watched the promotion unfold, eyes flickering with envy. Subtle shifts in their expressions betrayed their thoughts; clenched jaws, narrowed eyes, and twitching fingers. The raw emotions simmered beneath the surface, their hesitations melting away as they startedto carry out Sera's commands with a newfound enthusiasm.

"Move those crates to the other side of the room," Sera continued, pointing to a stack of heavy wooden boxes. The crates were old and worn, their surfaces marred by countless scratches and scuffs, the wood darkened by years of use. The mercenaries hurried to comply, their movements now more coordinated and efficient, muscles straining as they lifted the cumbersome loads.

Yet, soon, Zoha leaned in close to Sera, her breath warm against Sera's ear as she whispered softly, "Mistress, is this really a good idea? These tasks seem... trivial."

Sera's eyes remained fixed on the Black Eagles as they labored. "I know," she replied quietly. "I won't get the best of the best this way, but right now, I'm more concerned with loyalty. These tasks are a test of their willingness to follow orders without question."

Sera continued her meticulous process of observing and assigning tasks, her sharp eyes missing nothing. She evaluated each mercenary's performance with a keen intensity, noting every falter and hesitation. One by one, she tested their obedience and determination, each task deliberately designed to challenge their willingness to comply.

As the mercenaries grew more accustomed to Sera's commands, a second candidate emerged. Mira, a tall, muscular woman with short-cropped hair, stepped up with quiet efficiency.

"You," Sera called out, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. The room fell silent for a moment, all eyes turning towards Mira. "You are now a group leader. Stand by for further instructions."

Mira straightened "Yes, ma'am," she replied crisply, stepping aside to join Kiran.

Sera continued her assessment, her eyes scanning the remaining mercenaries. Another promising individual, a wiry man with quick reflexes named Jarek, distinguished himself through his resourcefulness and ability to anticipate needs before being told.

"Jarek," Sera said, her voice commanding attention. "You are the third group leader. Stand by with the others."

Jarek nodded before joining Kiran and Mira. The group of Black Eagles watched with growing respect and wariness, understanding that their future in the organization depended on their performance.

Finally, a young woman named Elara caught Sera's attention. Despite her slight frame, Elara moved with a quiet grace and displayed a keen intelligence in her tasks.

"Elara," Sera called out, her voice firm. "You are the fourth group leader. Stand by with the others."

Elara's eyes widened with surprise but quickly regained their focus. "Thank you, ma'am," she said, joining the other leaders.

Sera stepped back, her gaze sweeping over the assembled mercenaries. "You have proven your loyalty through your actions today. I expect the same level of dedication moving forward. For now, you are dismissed."

The Black Eagles nodded before they filed out of the room, leaving the four new group leaders standing together, awaiting further instructions.

Sera watched as the four newly appointed group leaders, Kiran, Mira, Jarek, and Elara, stood at attention. The cold atmosphere of the prison complex seemed to weigh heavily on their shoulders, but they maintained their composure.

"Now, I need to know if any of you have information regarding Vittorio's experiments." Sera said.

The leaders exchanged uncertain glances until Kiran stepped forward. "Ma'am, we don't know much about Vittorio's experiments. He was always secretive about his work. Only Vega knew the full extent of what he was doing."

Sera's expression hardened as she sighed involuntarily. Regret flickered briefly in her mind as she recalled the moment she killed Vega. If only I'd kept him alive a bit longer.

But she quickly pushed the thought away, focusing on the task at hand. "We need to find Vittorio's research. Does anyone know where he kept it?"

Kiran nodded. "I do, ma'am. I can take you there. I also know my way around the Black Eagles' facilities if you need a tour."

Sera's eyes narrowed as she appraised Kiran. His initiative and knowledge were precisely what she needed. "Thank you, Kiran. Your help will be invaluable."

Then, Sera turned to face Zoha. "Watch over the other leaders. They should stand by for now."

"As you wish, Mistress."