The heavy doors groaned as they swung open, revealing the vast expanse beyond. My footsteps echoed in the silence as I stepped inside, swallowed by the immense space. The air grew colder with each stride, a chill that clung to my skin, seeping into my bones.

Compared to the last time I’d been here, the air and sense of grandeur it gave off was on another level.

The throne room was cavernous, stretching impossibly far in every direction. High, arched ceilings disappeared into darkness, only the faintest glimmers of light catching on intricate carvings etched into the stone.

Columns loomed on either side like silent sentinels, their massive forms casting long, jagged shadows across the floor. The walls, rough and ancient, seemed to pulse with an oppressive weight, as if they had witnessed centuries of secrets.

Every detail was designed to overwhelm, to impose. And it worked.

There was no warmth here, no sign of life or comfort. Only cold, hard stone and the suffocating sense of being watched, as if the room itself was alive—waiting. The air was thick with an unnameable tension, something ancient and foreboding.

It pressed against my chest, making it harder to breathe the further I walked in.

At the far end of the hall, towering above everything else, was the throne. It was a massive, looming structure of dark iron and obsidian, jagged and unwelcoming. The light from the flickering torches barely touched it, casting it in shadow, making it appear more like its own entity, rather than a throne.

Its form was twisted, sharp edges catching the faintest glint of light, like the blade of a weapon waiting to be drawn.

And in that moment, as I stood there, the silence thick around me, I could feel the weight of it all. The history, the power, the ominous sense of something greater than myself lurking just out of sight. I was an intruder here, in a place that didn’t belong to me, in the presence of, far more dangerous than I could ever comprehend.

It was so strange to me. I was sure I’d met the Baron before, and I wasn’t stupid enough to forget being in the throne room. So just why was I feeling this way? What was making me so fearful?

My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in the hollow vastness. The weight of the throne room pressed down on me, as if it were testing me, measuring me, waiting to see if I was worthy of standing inside it.

But I kept walking, drawn forward by a force I couldn’t quite understand, unable to stop even if I wanted to. A large and imposing figure waited for me at the end of this long, dark hall.

And I had no choice but to face it.

Vincent took the initiative and took a knee. Though my heart was about to beat outside of my chest, and my whole body was about to shut down from fear, kneeling down was not something I could do. Though I wasn’t stupid.

I bowed fully, keeping my head down, waiting until the Baron spoke, or until Vincent stood up.

“I can’t say I’m not surprised to see you again, but then again with the prowess you showed in the tournament, it’d be disappointing for you to become just another face in the crowd.” The Baron began, their voice low and dark, a large weight fell on me as the words reached my ears. I could not afford to mess up right now, I had to make sure they didn’t suspect a thing.

“Though, I wouldn’t say you received a mission that correctly tests your abilities. So, I’ve decided. To truly earn your status among our ranks, you must show the true extent of your abilities.” Loud footsteps accompanied the Baron’s voice, their figure moving forward. A march of doom in my eyes.

“And uh- how do I do that?” I tried my best to sound confident, or to at least sound like I wasn’t about to piss myself out of fright, but somethings were just too hard to do.

“Oh it’s quite simple. What say you and I, have a friendly spar?” Their figure finally came into view. The woman before me donned no robes or mask, now simply dressed in the same red armour as everyone else. Her face covered in scars, her red hair buzzed short enough to reveal the tattoos underneath. The most grotesque feature however, was her left eye socket. Sitting empty and ugly.

The Hunters had been right about the Baron’s gender after all, not that I’d ever admit that to their smug faces. Now, staring into her face, that reality was burned into my mind as the image of her unsettling grin seared behind my eyes. Her sharp words finally settled in. A friendly spar?

‘Infra, do you know how strong the Baron is?’

‘Which one is that again?’

Yeah, right. That was her polite way of saying she wanted to beat the living hell out of me and see how much I could endure before crumpling. Truth be told, challenging her to a fight had always been my plan, though when I’d said it, but my plans ahead of that weren’t the greatest. But here we were, walking straight into a nightmare I’d willingly walked into.

“Well? What do you say?” Her voice still had that unsettling calm, but her hairless brows lifted in a way that made it clear she was growing impatient. Annoyed, even. I needed to answer, fast.

I hesitated, tilting my head slightly in Vincent’s direction, silently begging for some sort of signal. Anything. But his head remained bowed, eyes glued to the floor as though he was trying to avoid drawing any more attention to himself. Useless. I was on my own. My mouth went dry. This was happening whether I wanted it to or not. God, I really needed to start putting more thought into my plans.

“Of course. I’d be happy to,” I forced the words through gritted teeth, past the lump of dread lodged in my throat. Every syllable felt like a lie. She wasn’t giving me a choice. Refusing would probably get me killed just as fast as the fight itself.

Her thin lips stretched into a smile that made my stomach churn, revealing a jagged set of teeth that could’ve belonged to a feral animal. She tapped me on the shoulder—lightly, but it sent a shudder down my spine all the same—and began striding toward the exit. The sound of her heavy boots echoed ominously in the grand, empty throne room. I stood and followed, my own steps quieter but just as heavy with the weight of what was to come.

I stole one last glance back over my shoulder. Vincent had finally looked up, his gaze meeting mine with an attempt at reassurance. He tried to offer me a faint smile, but it was weak, and we both knew it wouldn’t be enough. I could already see the defeat in his eyes. He knew as well as I did that lasting longer than a few minutes with the Baron would be nothing short of a miracle. I turned back around, bracing myself for what felt like a death march.

The air in the hallway felt heavier as we moved. It wasn’t just the oppressive atmosphere of the castle; it was the weight of knowing that every step brought me closer to a fight I couldn’t win. My mind raced, heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat of panic. I needed a plan, anything to survive this. But what could I possibly do against her?

Now would be the perfect time for a distraction.

I glanced down, trying to act casual as I looked at Slime, who trotted beside me, its fuzzy body ruffling as it walked. It noticed my gaze, and I gave it a small nod, praying it remembered what I meant. It responded with a slight wobble, its equivalent of a nod. Good. At least someone was still in my corner, even if it was a blob of goo.

I inhaled deeply, steadying myself. The smallest mistake, the slightest misstep, and I’d be a smear on the ground. I needed to stay sharp, to think fast. But gods, the pressure was suffocating. My legs felt weak beneath me, though I forced them to keep moving.

We passed through another set of grand doors, the heavy wood creaking as we entered a smaller room containing a battleground. This would be the arena, less grand than I imagined, but more dangerous for it. The floor was worn, scarred with marks of previous battles, dried bloodstains in the stone. Weapons of all kinds hung from the walls, their cold steel gleaming under the dim torchlight. This wasn’t just a place for training. It was a place for testing the limits of pain.

Just from sizing her up, I could tell the Baron was as powerful as some of the top fighters from the Underground. But of course, someone as secretive as her, who kept even her gender hidden, wouldn’t be showing me her full strength. No, that was a privilege saved for those who wouldn’t live to talk about it. I wasn’t fighting for a win here, I was fighting to survive.

If I could make it out of this “friendly spar” with my life, that would be a victory in itself. Maybe it was time to reconsider taking on any more of these damn missions, no matter how much they paid. If I lived, boycotting would be at the top of my list.

The Baron’s voice interrupted my thoughts, unexpectedly soft as she began to speak.

“You know, Jai,” she started, her words almost nostalgic. “When I was a young girl, I used to love watching the sky.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I blinked. Was this really the time for storytelling? I could feel the weight of the battleground drawing closer with every step, the anticipation building. But if I so much as hinted at how little I cared about her childhood memories, I’d probably be dead in seconds. So I stayed silent, gripping my sword tightly as she continued.

“I could spend hours lying on my back, just watching the clouds drift by. Laughing with my siblings about what each one looked like.” Her voice faltered, just slightly, as if some hidden pain was buried deep beneath the surface. “Some days, I wouldn’t move for hours, just basking in the serenity of it all.”

Her tone was distant, and for a moment, I almost thought I heard a crack in her voice. Was that sadness? No. It couldn’t be. The Baron? Sad? I must’ve imagined it.

“In fact, I loved the sky so much that when it changed colors one day, I didn’t even question it. The beautiful blue turning to scarlet red. To me, it didn’t matter. I was just a child. As long as I could watch the clouds, nothing else was important.”

We stepped onto the grounds then, and the tone of the fight shifted. The battlefield was nothing like the technological arenas I was used to from the tournament, no sleek platforms, no cold metal beneath my boots. Just rough, unforgiving dirt and sand. It felt raw, primal. This was no sparring ring; it was a graveyard waiting to claim another body.

“But I couldn’t watch anymore,” she continued, her voice hardening. “The day the sky returned to normal, I was alone. Completely alone. The clouds weren’t the same after that. From that day forward, I swore that nothing—nothing—would ever come between me and the ones I care about. Not even the thing I once loved most.”

She took a few more steps ahead, her boots crunching in the sand, then stopped. The air thickened with the weight of her words, a tangible shift in the atmosphere. Slowly, she turned to face me, and her presence seemed to darken. Her aura exploded into life, swirling around her like a storm, suffocating, dangerous.

“I don’t know who you are,” she growled, her tone now laced with venom, “and frankly, I don’t care. You will die today, Jai. And your grave will serve as a warning to anyone foolish enough to challenge me. The Ukorin will not fall. The Baron will not fall.”

With a primal roar, she lunged.

I barely had time to react. My hands fumbled for my sword, yanking it from its sheath in a desperate attempt to defend myself. Her speed was blinding—too fast, too much. My sword came up, but it was pathetic. I might as well have been holding up a twig against a hurricane. Her fist collided with the steel, and the sheer force of it reverberated through my bones like an explosion.

I flew backward, crashing into the ground, my breath leaving me in a painful rush. The impact rattled my teeth, and for a moment, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears. Stars danced in my vision as I fought to stand, my legs trembling beneath me.

‘How the hell does she know?’

“You bastard! How dare you try to fool me!” She roared once more, dashing faster than I could see, her fist raised high.

The force of the impact rattled my bones as I staggered backward, barely able to keep my footing. My sword felt like dead weight in my hand, my grip slick with sweat and blood. Every breath burned, each gasp a struggle. She was coming at me again, unarmed but moving with a lethal grace, faster than I could track. Her eyes locked onto mine with a cruel intensity. She wasn’t just trying to beat me, she was hunting me.

I swung wildly, desperate to keep her at bay. My blade cut through the air in a clumsy arc, aimed at her chest. But she was already moving, sidestepping with terrifying ease. My sword struck nothing but empty space. Before I could recover, she was on me, too close, too fast. Her fist slammed into my ribs with a sickening crunch, the shock of it rippling through my body.

I gasped, the wind knocked from my lungs, pain exploding in my side. My legs faltered, but I forced myself to stay upright, stumbling back as my vision blurred. I lifted my sword again, more for comfort than any real hope it could protect me. She smiled, as if she knew just how futile it all was.

“Wait! Hold on! I don’t even know what you’re talking about!” I cried, gasping for air.

“Lies!”

She came at me again, this time with an elbow that caught me on the side of the head. My world spun. I stumbled, tasting blood as a sharp sting split my brow. My sword felt even heavier now, a burden I could barely carry. I swung again, weakly, wildly, anything to keep her from closing in.

But she was relentless.

She darted in, her hand like a vice as it clamped around my wrist. I screamed as she twisted, and the sword fell from my grip with a clatter that felt like a death knell. My only defense, gone. Panic flooded my mind. I barely registered her next move before he lifted me off the ground, her hand closing around my throat.

I choked, my legs kicking uselessly in the air, vision narrowing to a tunnel of fading light. Her grip was iron, cold and unforgiving. I clawed at her fingers, but it was like scratching at stone. My chest heaved, desperate for air that wouldn’t come. My heart pounded in my ears, my mind spinning. This is it, I thought. This is how I die.

In a final, wild act of desperation, I kicked, my boot grazing his side. She didn’t even flinch. She just tightened his grip, a sneer twisting her lips, her eye flashing with cruel satisfaction. Then, with effortless strength, she hurled me into the ground.

The impact knocked every breath from my lungs. My head slammed into the cold stone, and the world became a blur of pain and light. I lay there, gasping, my body refusing to respond. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I could barely hear over the ringing in my ears. My hand scraped against the ground, fingers curling in a desperate attempt to find my sword. But it was out of reach.

No matter what I tried now, it would be pointless. My aura would offer a futile boost in the face of my opponent. But I had to wait, just a bit longer.

I could see her now, standing over me. Her shadow loomed, her breath calm, collected. She crouched down, her hand flexing as if savoring the kill.

I tried to move, tried to crawl, to fight back. But my body refused to obey. I was spent. Broken. And she knew it. Her fist came down toward me, the final blow. And I was powerless to stop it.

“NOW!” I screamed, using every last ounce of strength in my battered body.

For a moment, I thought I was dead, the Baron’s hand was about to finish me, her strike descending like the hammer of fate. But then, with a sickening thwack, blood splattered across my face. I blinked in shock as her hand flew back, pierced, the force of it sending her staggering. A puddle of thick crimson pooled on my chest, mixing with the sweat and grime.

“Stupid slime,” a familiar, exasperated voice echoed in the chamber. “A few more seconds and we could’ve killed two birds with one stone.”

I twisted my head, fighting to stay conscious as Artemis, Suiko, and the silent duo stepped into view. They had surrounded the Baron, their weapons gleaming under the dim, ominous light of the throne room. The Baron, despite the sudden cut of her hand, stood tall, her face a mask of fury and disbelief.

“You guys did it?” I muttered weakly, my voice trembling as I tried to push myself off the cold stone floor. My arms were like lead, and the effort sent jolts of pain through my bruised body. I coughed violently, spitting blood onto the ground.

“Your plan actually worked out pretty well,” Artemis chuckled, her bow still trained on the Baron. “Surprising, really.”

The Baron’s eye narrowed, her cold gaze scanning the group. She wasn’t even looking at her wound, as though the missing hand didn’t faze her. “Who are you people? How did you get in?” Her voice was calm, almost too calm for someone who’d just been ambushed and mutilated. A wave of unease crawled up my spine. I had underestimated her.

I gave a weak, mocking laugh. “While you were preoccupied, trying to kill me, which, honestly, I hadn’t expected, my gooey little associate here and the rest of them were, pulling your men away from the castle,” I rasped, stopping to cough up more blood. Every word felt like dragging glass through my throat, but I had to keep talking, and had to buy us time.

“What are you talking about?” The Baron’s aura flared, a palpable wave of malevolent energy surging through the room. It pressed down on me like a physical weight, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. She could explode at any moment. I could feel it.

“Oh, nothing.” Artemis’s voice was nonchalant as she gave a casual shrug, her lips curling into a smirk. “We just drove a ship right into the heart of the city.”

“What!?” the Baron and I both shouted at the same time, disbelief coursing through us like an electric shock.

I struggled to stand, my limbs shaking with exertion. “Artemis! I set the coordinates for the castle! How, why the hell would you send it into the city!?” I roared, my voice breaking as panic and rage warred inside me. “There are hundreds, no, thousands of innocent people living there!”

The plan was foolproof, or at least, it had been. Simple. Effective. I had set the coordinates long before this fight started. All they had to do was follow through. The clone slime left in the cockpit was supposed to start the ship and follow the route, hitting the castle as a distraction while we handled the Baron. Simple. Easy.

So how the hell had things gone so catastrophically wrong?

“How did this turn into genocide!?” My voice was raw from the shouting, my heart pounding against my chest. The horror of what they had done, it was unbearable. Innocent lives.

Gone.

Artemis didn’t flinch. If anything, she looked bored by my outrage. “Oh, shut up,” she snapped, rolling her eyes. “Do you really think your plan would’ve worked? You know how fortified this place is? The guards would’ve scrambled to find the Baron first, then moved out. This way, they’re all too busy trying to secure the city to notice what’s going on here. We improved your plan.”

“Improved?” I felt my rage bubbling over, nearly choking on it. “Why? How? What did those people ever do to you!? They’re not the target, Artemis!”

“They’re not important,” she snapped back, her tone cold and unyielding. “You think your pet slime is the only one capable of cloning itself? I knew what you were planning, so I had Klein,” she pointed to the silent figure beside her, “leave a clone of his own in the ship. He changed the course. And who the hell are you to decide what the mission is and isn’t? You’re just fucking bait!”

My hands clenched into fists, trembling with fury. “You... you... bastards!” My vision blurred with the sheer force of my anger. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I wasn’t supposed to be part of something like this, something so mindlessly cruel. I had been willing to risk my life, but not the lives of innocent people. Not for this.

“Are you two finished?”

The Baron’s voice cut through the air like a blade, cold and sharp. My stomach dropped.

She stood there now, blood still dripping from her pierced fist, now, she held twin swords, wicked, curved blades that gleamed menacingly. Her aura flared, a terrifying wave of energy that crushed the air around us. I staggered under the pressure, collapsing back to my knees as it pushed me down like a force of nature.

“You people... broke into my castle,” the Baron hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “Tricked me and my people. Plotted to kill me. And now you’ve killed my people. I don’t care who you are, or who makes the decisions. You will all be buried here today.”

The air around her seemed to hum with violent energy. If what I had felt before was fear, then this, this was terror incarnate. Her presence was overwhelming, her power suffocating. A god of carnage stood before me, and for the first time, I realized that escaping with my life was no longer a possibility.

She wasn’t just going to kill us. She was going to annihilate us.

I swallowed hard, the metallic taste of blood still lingering on my tongue. My body trembled, but I forced myself to stand, to tighten my fists. My knees shook, but I wouldn’t go down without a fight.

No matter how hopeless it was.