The biting wind swept across the grassland like a razor, slicing through the silence before dawn and bringing with it a bone-chilling menace.
In front of a freshly cleared and bordered patch of bare earth, several HoundGuards' Geomancers and workers were bustling under the glow of Artifact lanterns, moving hefty black-grey logs to their designated spots as per the sketches they held.
As various spells were chanted in succession, the earth opened like the jaws of a colossal beast, swallowing the black-grey logs deep into the ground to serve as foundations. The skilled workers quickly laid planks over them, which the Geomancers then secured with neatly aligned stone nails. This process repeated several times, and soon, the empire-standard temporary court and execution platform began to rise from the empty pasture.
Not far off, a patrol of cavalry paced back and forth. Among them, several older members of the HoundGuards cast doubtful glances towards the robust middle-aged man at the forefront, Kenneth, who rode a horse with fiery red mane.
"Vice-Captain, if I may ask... is all this really necessary?" one of them finally ventured to speak.
Though the grassland outside the eastern gate showed few signs of dangerous species or elemental beast activity, it was still beyond the walls of Ironwood. The extravagant use of costly black ironwood to build a temporary execution site seemed unreasonable — not only was it costly, but it also required constant scouting of the surrounding forests.
"The Wolf Execution hasn't been used for over a decade, all for these two white rats..." another chimed in, his gaze landing on the two Nivians, Hati and Skoll, locked up in a cage, barely conscious and clad in tattered robes.
At this moment, the brothers' bodies were pierced and bound by Spellbane Alloy chains designed to disrupt mana flow, with every fingernail pulled out and their bodies covered in barely healed wounds and burns.
No matter how resilient they were, they were just two young men in their twenties, inexperienced with the world and unable to withstand the relentless interrogation by the HoundGuards' professional tormentors. After a night of non-stop torture, both their spirits and bodies were at their limits. Had it not been for Kenneth's orders to provide them with medical treatment from the HoundGuards' medics, they would not have lasted this long.
"Vice-Captain, even if it's to ambush that Nivian child with strange powers, is it worth your earnestness?" the leader of the scout squad asked, sensing the gravity of the situation.
Facing his subordinates' confusion, Kenneth seemed unconcerned. He simply raised his hand to signal silence and then turned his head, his lips curling into a meaningful smile.
"So that's why I always say you lot are a bunch of country bumpkins," Kenneth, ever dismissive, berated his underlings. "Let me tell you a little secret: there actually aren't any real wild game in the imperial capital's royal hunting grounds."
His words sparked a flurry of confused murmurs. The younger members of the troop, clueless, looked around, while several seasoned veterans furrowed their brows, sensing a deeper meaning.
The royal hunting grounds, a unique subspace located at the entrance to the imperial capital, were commonly used as a training ground for the nobility's scions and a place for hunting elemental cores. It was said to be home to a plethora of dangerous species capable of destroying villages and even cities, including dangerous elemental beasts commonly seen everywhere and many mythical extinct species and rare creatures.
For the members of the HoundGuards who had scarcely left the domain of the Blackthorn Duke, the Royal Hunting Grounds existed only in the tales of passing merchants who inflated their prices. They had never heard the kind of secrets about it that Kenneth was now alluding to.
“Ferocious beasts, arcane monsters, and bizarre elemental creatures—” Kenneth continued, his face lighting up with evident excitement, “the knights slay the mother beasts in front of their young, who witness everything, only to throw them into the royal hunting grounds. There, they grow up in the most perilous environments, harboring extreme hatred for humans and fighting each other... ”
He paused, breathing deeply, the thrill of recounting such savagery palpable in his voice. “become the prime of their species, the most challenging and excellent game. Every part of their bodies is of top quality, and even their souls, corroded by hatred, can serve as superb ingredients for potions.”
As Kenneth narrated, the young members of the HoundGuards couldn't help but gasp, their respect for their seemingly indifferent Vice-Captain, usually bored in his office, growing immensely.
“Harbor hatred, set traps, and wait for the prey to walk into the snare, letting them lash out in their endless fury, pushing them beyond their limits. It's best when they're desperate enough to aim their fangs at my neck—only then does the hunt truly become exhilarating!” His robust muscles under the dark red uniform quivered as if reliving those moments of life-and-death struggle.
“But... won't they just run away?” a young subordinate asked, puzzled.
“Run? They? HAHAHAHAHA!” Kenneth burst into loud laughter, his booming voice causing pain to the eardrums of those standing nearby.
He laughed until tears nearly formed, then stopped to catch his breath, pulling a cigar from his belt and placing it in his mouth.
“No, no, no, they are Nivians, descendants of the Frozen Revenant, a people who value their kin above all else,” Kenneth said, casually lighting the cigar with a flick of his fingers. “Those little ones will come. Especially the one who killed Karl. He'll come, filled with rage and hatred, right into this trap, just like those cubs rushing towards the hunter who killed their mother.”
In Ironwood, there weren't many places where Kenneth could unleash his full might and simultaneously use as an execution ground. Therefore, setting the stage here was essential for this particular hunt.
"Don't underestimate those kids; they have potential..." Kenneth glanced over the nearly completed execution grounds, "As for the boy who killed Karl, maybe I'll let him go for now—he's too young, his hatred isn't ripe enough, and he hasn't grown enough to be at the peak flavor for hunting."
The subordinates exchanged glances, remaining silent. Although they felt uneasy about such tactics, they couldn't say much since it was an order from their leader, Kenneth.
As the pale yellow dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, the firelight from several lanterns appeared on the horizon, along with a troop of fully armed individuals. About a dozen people, mostly young, dressed in thick leather armor and carrying bows or crossbows.
Leading them was a scar-faced middle-aged man in a fur cloak, the oldest but most spry of the group. His old boots tread confidently over the thick grass without hindrance.
Trailing at the end of the group was a large iron cage, seemingly containing live creatures, rolling along on its wheels without any visible pull from man or beast, following the footsteps of the troop.
image [https://img2.imgtp.com/2024/04/22/3jTnwq0Y.webp]
The sudden appearance of this armed group walking straight toward them caused some tension among the workers still constructing the execution grounds, halting their labor momentarily.
"Don't worry, those are the hunters I've commissioned. I've asked an old acquaintance to come and help with the preparations," Kenneth announced, easing the tense atmosphere. The construction quickly resumed in full swing.
Kenneth then kicked his fiery-maned steed, sending it trotting towards the group of hunters until it stopped in front of a scar-faced, grey-haired man.
"Victor! My old pal, you're as punctual as ever," Kenneth said, his brow raised slightly, his smile more mocking than warm. "Sometimes I wonder if you haven't secretly implanted that beloved Artifact clock of Professor Hans into your own brain."
Victor, the director of the Hunters' Association's Ironwood branch, shared a complex relationship with Kenneth despite both being influential figures in the city.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
On one hand, their teams often needed to collaborate on issues like managing beast populations and the regular tribute of hunting taxes to the Imperial Capital; on the other, they frequently clashed over the distribution of wild resources and other benefits. Coupled with personality differences and past incidents, their acquaintance was far from pleasant.
"Don't act like we were friends, Kenneth. I've completed the urgent commission you requested," Victor said bluntly, waving a lantern to signal his team to halt and pointing his thumb towards a large cage at the end of the procession.
Bathed in the morning light, the true forms of the groaning shadows within the cage gradually revealed themselves.
It held three huge wolf-like beasts piled together, unconscious. Two of the beasts, gray and white forest wolves, appeared quite similar, like siblings, while the third was notably larger with a patch of orange-red coarse fur, indicating a mix of elemental beast lineage, though far from awakened.
"Here are the wolves you wanted, starving and subdued by sleeping pollen, whose effects will wear off in two hours," Victor explained, gesturing for the young hunters behind him to wrap up their work.
After issuing his orders, the young hunters with the cage of wolves moved toward the site of the temporary execution ground, while Victor and Kenneth, mounted on his horse, remained.
Once the young hunters were far enough away that their conversation couldn't be heard, Victor spoke again.
"The next time you dare let your lackeys threaten my boys to take on such dangerous urgent commissions while I'm away, don't blame me for turning hostile," Victor said, his eyes flashing threateningly.
"I don't recall ever issuing such orders. Don't you know me better by now?" Kenneth shrugged, deflecting the responsibility entirely.
"Cut the crap. Triple the price for the urgent commission plus my personal involvement, and not a coin less. I want brand new silver Gaiar delivered to the Hunters' Association by tomorrow."
"Still pinching every penny, eh? What's the rush? Saving up for your daughter's dowry?" Kenneth quipped, drawing on his cigar.
Victor had no interest in bantering with him; his gaze was sharp as a blade, carefully scanning the pasture, the setup of the execution site, personnel arrangement, and choice of location.
"Wolf execution? You really know how to invent reasons to cover up those 'hunts' I wouldn't compliment," Victor concluded after a while. "Don't forget, Ironwood isn't your personal hunting ground. There are plenty of eyes on you in this city."
"I just see it as a necessary risk for a proper hunt," Kenneth responded nonchalantly. "Besides, I'm also maintaining public order, aren't I?"
"For old time's sake, I'll offer you some advice,"
Kenneth raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised at the middle-aged hunter's offer, but quickly his expression returned to normal. "I'm all ears."
Taking a deep breath, Victor continued earnestly.
"Kenneth, since we met at the age of twelve, you've always been this way."
"You always think you're like a spider, a hunter, and everyone who falls into your web is prey."
"Classmates, teachers, lovers, comrades, and later, the people of Ironwood... Think about it, for the thrill and excitement of your so-called hunts, how many webs have you spun? How many preys have you consumed without leaving a trace?"
"I don't know the number, and I can't be bothered to tally it with you, but I do know that the spider is weaving its web bigger and bigger, the threads getting longer and longer..."
"If this continues, one day—and my instincts tell me it won't be long—the spider will find that what's hit its web isn't some little bug, but a raging eagle."
"When that time comes, a spider that can only boast of its tiny fangs, what do you think its fate will be?"
-Break-
With the combined efforts of the workers and the HoundGuards, the execution site was quickly constructed, and a large patch of solid, grassless earth was cleared for spectators to witness the execution process.
In remote places like Ironwood, entertainment was often scarce, as not everyone had the spare money or time to frequent taverns or arenas daily. But public executions were different. They provided free, thrilling spectacles of bloodshed without being counted as truancy, drawing large crowds each time.
Before the execution, the procedure typically involved a detailed recounting of the crimes, followed by a trial and sentencing, all for public viewing. This led to the final, most exciting part: the execution itself. Hence, around the execution site, many merchants, smelling opportunity, prepared early to make a good profit, bribing the HoundGuards' underlings with mere twenty copper Gaiars.
As dawn approached, the area around the execution site was bustling with early-rising vendors marking their territories on the grassland, setting up their stalls and transporting goods, ready for the influx of spectators.
"Vice-Captain, are you listening?"
Snapped back to reality by his secretary's repeated reminders, Kenneth realized he had been zoning out while sitting in the judge's chair.
"Getting old, one tends to recall things from the past..." Rubbing his forehead, Kenneth stretched languidly. "It seems catching up with old acquaintances isn't always as delightful as the poems suggest—what were you reporting just now?"
"All potential vantage points for targeting or ambushing the execution ground, including the forest canopy and marsh areas, have been thoroughly searched, and no suspicious individuals were found," the secretary reiterated the scout team's report.
Kenneth sighed heavily, as if mourning the diminished excitement, "Alright, call the judicial officers to take their seats after sunrise, and have the physician revive those two and the three wolves."
No sooner had he spoken than a sliver of sunlight pierced the horizon, announcing the grace of the world's supreme magnificence, set to bless the earth anew today.
But the moment of sunrise brought with it an unexpected twist.
From the west of the execution site, near the Ironwood city gate, another dazzling light shot up, faintly illuminating the still-dim sky.
*Boom*
Following that, the sound of an explosion rocked the gates, with sentries screaming in horror, and the dull thuds of loosening bricks from the city wall playing in concert.
Before people could react and investigate what had happened, another, even more violent blast resounded!
*BOOM—!!!*
Under the watchful eyes of all, the sturdy gate was engulfed by a furious blaze of black and red flames, exploding the gate and part of the wall into countless scattering debris.
The ruins fell,
completely burying what was once the city gate. Then, from the ruins, a blaze brighter than any before spread forth like an unmatched sword, slicing through the quiet, dim western sky with a light that soared heavenward!
In an instant, it was as if twin suns had risen from both the east and west, simultaneously casting an unbearably brilliant light over the darkened land!
This scene, reminiscent of myth reborn, left all onlookers wide-eyed in awe. Some devout followers even fell to their knees, bowing in reverence to this second radiant sun.
However, the light akin to a second sun gradually faded, allowing everyone's focus to finally converge on one spot—the dust-filled ruins at the eastern gate of Ironwood.
Who could be responsible for this? A powerful hermit hidden from the world? A formidable, sinister rebel force? An enemy lurking in the shadows? Or... could it truly be the gods, silent and unseen for so many years?
Countless speculations flashed through the minds of the onlookers, but before they could piece together evidence for their theories, the answer to the mystery emerged on its own.
A frail-looking boy in tattered robes, flames of ominous black and red licking his body, emerged from the ruins. A massive basket filled with scorched, twisted weapons was strapped to his back, and he gripped a half-burnt sword, its tip scraping the ground, sparking flames — who else could it be but Julius?
With every step, he left behind burning footprints and swirls of black smoke tinged with red light, trailing behind him like a sinister cloak, advancing toward the execution grounds.
Stepping into the rising sun, Julius's ominous white hair, a symbol of his race, became starkly vivid under its glow. At that moment, the onlooking citizens felt an indescribable sense of oppression.
The HoundGuards, especially those who vividly remembered their own unsavory deeds, felt a deep-seated fear as they recognized the boy's race. As he drew closer, the once strict order of the execution grounds began to unravel.
Kenneth, however, stood up with a satisfied smile, his gaze sharpening instantly as he appraised the young man who had suddenly appeared before him as if evaluating a fine meal.
"Uninvolved parties, stand down immediately," Julius's voice was not loud, but it was enough to pierce the deathly silence of the execution grounds. "Kenneth, the Ashwarden, step forward."
Hearing this, the surrounding HoundGuards quickly reacted, nervously adjusting their weapons and the mana within them, ready to handle any conflict that might arise.
Kenneth stood up, his eyes sharpening instantly as he evaluated the young man who had appeared so unexpectedly.
"Ha, you really came." Kenneth drew a new cigar leisurely, lighting it and taking a deep drag, the smoke swirling in the air. "Bring your fury and hatred, just as I expected."
"I said... STEP FORWARD!"
Julius's mouth was suddenly enveloped in black-red flames, his normally calm speech turning into a roaring beast of burning fury, an irresistible pressure exploding outwards, making those present who were not mages struggle for breath.
"STEP FORWARD! FACE YOUR JUDGEMENT!" Another wave of oppressive force made even some low-tier First-Ringed mages clutch at their throats in agony.
"Good, very good, excellent!" Kenneth, powerful as he was, remained unaffected by the pressure but he willingly took a few steps forward, "You indeed satisfy me."
As the distance between the two closed, the HoundGuards' mages immediately summoned arcane rings, aiming their hands at Julius. However, Kenneth gestured for them not to attack just yet, his gaze locked tightly on Julius, as if waiting for a more opportune moment.
"So? For your so-called judgement, you came alone?" Kenneth's voice carried a provocative tone, as if testing Julius's limits.
"Not alone." The black-red flames receded, and Julius's voice returned to calm, "Here, standing before you, are the ironclad evidences of the twenty-eight sins you have committed, and the twenty-eight judges who will soon pass sentence upon you."
He violently threw the basket on his back into the sky, the charred weapons inside falling like leaves, yet seeming to be controlled by some invisible will, they plunged into the ground around Julius, tips down, like a series of dark tombstones.
image [https://img2.imgtp.com/2024/04/23/ZTrhs0jw.webp]
"Now, step forward, and face your judgment."