Chapter 72: Lady Antoinette Berus
“RRRRRRRRRRRROAR!” The blighted Minotaur screamed, swinging its club, the ten-foot tall half-bull matching Antoinette Berus in size and strength. Covered in blood, the Judicator Captain raised her armored gauntlet, catching the blow with her armor, her pupils unblinking as she clenched her fist and delivered a jab in return.
The mass of muscle and testosterone staggered, eyes wide, its head shaking in disbelief. Berus immediately capitalized on the opening. Utilizing her own strength, she wrapping her left arm around the monster’s wooden cudgel, her muscles bulging as they locked onto the crude weapon.
“Die. Scum.”
Berus’s calf and thigh muscles tightened on her left leg. Her glutes, core, chest, and back muscles initiating a turn before her hip flexor brought her large armored greave up and her quads delivered a simple… kick.
Beneath the Judicator, the stone floor cracked, the walls shook, and the air kicked up with dust as the woman’s leg struck the creature’s furry pus-ridden chest.
The minotaur was sent reeling, skidding across the ground, its body forced to ragdoll with the monster unable to realign itself until it found a wall.
*BOOM*
Berus walked into the darkness, her low level darkvision picking up the battered and bruised creature embedded in a stone, the monster’s breath coming out ragged but still audible to her ears.
She reached down, grabbing the monster by its horns before yanking, removing the creature from the wall, and tossing it to the floor.
Bloodied and beaten, the minotaur began to crawl, a futile attempt at self-preservation from the monster following it.
Berus stepped atop the broken creature, her boot planting it into the floor where it let out a low whine. She straddled the monster’s back, her large arms wrapping around its scabby neck and head before she began to squeeze.
Immediately, the minotaur started to wheeze, to choke, the creature’s body shaking as the Justicar removed the monster’s ability to breathe.
The struggle lasted for five minutes with Berus taking extra care as to not break the monster’s neck. Finally, the creature’s chest no longer moved, and its body became flaccid.
Berus let out a cold breath, standing up, the sound of applause and cheering ringing out from the spectators that were her men and women.
The judicator furrowed her brow, scanning the area ladden with monsters of all kinds and various traps that were unnatural to the biome.
So far she had lost three men under her direct command and a scout team to ambushes, traps, and coordinated attacks that were unlike those commonly found within dungeons.
Someone had taught these monsters. That much was sure, perhaps a low-level demon so weak it hid itself from her senses? Or one so powerful it could mask its presence?
Doubtful. The poisonous blight that coated the land was dangerous to all sentient beings with the more human-like they were, the more damage it caused.
But something was definitely suspicious.
“Captain Berus.” Sergeant Lasky said, a lightly armored man snapping a salute alongside a group of three dragging behind a large flat wagon.
“Report Sergeant.” Berus said, sheathing her blade.
“Pink Firefly has presumably found the remains of Green Hatters.”
“Presumably?” Berus said, raising a bushy brow. “Show me.”
“Yes ma’am. Shall I have the men take back the specimen you’ve captured in the mean time?”
“Yes. Do that.” Lady Berus ordered as the capture team moved to load up the minotaur.
****
Standing in a hallway littered with cracked tiles, Berus leaned down, inspecting a spotless pitfall trap and the nearby area that was littered with corpses, stained flooring and most oddly, a statue of a duck of all things.
“Pink Firefly stumbled upon the goblins cleaning the floor and dragging away the bodies.” Sergeant Lasky said, the man pointing over at a trail of blood where a man lay.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“I see.” Berus replad, walking over to the corpse and inspecting his injuries. From the wounds, there were several puncture marks on the man's legs. Marks that matched the pitfall trap nearby. Yet, the trap was clean, and so far none of the scouts had spotted any new ones.
Berus cast her eyes to the side, noticing a discoloration of the floor next to yet another talisman of a rubber duck she'd been seeing carried by random goblins.
“Interesting…”
“Ma’am?”
“It seems whatever we're dealing with is extremely intelligent.” Berus said, rubbing her chin.
“How so?”
“This man’s injuries are from that spike trap. Judging from the severity of the tears, he died from blood loss. Yet the trap is spotless. Cleaned. And despite six bodies here, there is a significant lack of blood.” Berus replied, pointing at the areas of whiter stone. “And do you see this discoloration on the stone floors here? And on the walls? As well as the placement of the statue?”
“Yes ma’am.” The sergeant said, shifting, his gaze affixed to the statue nearby that from an angle, drew the viewer’s attention to it and not the cave that lay nearby obscured in shadows.
“This place was being cleaned.” Berus rubbed her chin. “Which explains why we haven't found bodies or traces of others. And this chalk line…”
“Someone is using our chalk system against us.”
“Correct. And with the placement of the statue to divert a party’s focus, whatever we’re dealing with is devious…” Berus rose, scanning the darkness and her soldiers spaced out in a security formation. “Corporal Sam!”
“Ma’am!” A brunette archer in green robes said, giving the Destina salute.
“Take three and return to Captain Donut. Inform her that our chalk system has been compromised and that the enemy is using it against us to ambush our men. Urge her to exercise extreme caution. Our foe is extremely cunning. They may be a demon directing these monsters after all.”
“As your grace commands. It is my duty to serve.” The corporal said before spinning and beckoning to three knights.
“What's our next move mi’lady?” Sergeant Lasky asked.
“Recover our dead. Give them proper burials according to their customs. We shall set this place as a checkpoint for future teams. I want guard routines created and an active supply chain and purifier set up here for camp.”
“Yes, you’re grace.” Sergeant Lasky said, bowing before he took off to give out orders.
*****
In the Lord's chamber of exaltation, Gobledo stood at the ready, spear in hand, fully armored. His steel armor augmented with spider silk, chitin, and bones, turning the green humanoid into a viable tank. Beside him, the Royal Guard, goblin knights who had all sworn an oath of blood to protect their liege.
Ahead of him, Lady Zorin, the four-armed reptile holding their lord with Mistress Ayaka sitting atop him, the tiny drider sucking on the great yellow one’s head.
A strong foe was approaching, this, they all knew. They could feel the enemy advancing through the catacombs, the presence of a strong human.
To this, the Lord had gathered his army. Consolidating his forces to create an action plan.
“My lord. If we may, would it be possible to speak to them? I believe I may know the human approaching.” The pale-skin known as Lhikan said, standing beside the lord.
Gobledo listened intently, his transformation giving him an understanding of the strange man's language. A secret he kept to himself of course.
Through the orifice of the chosen speaker, Mistress of Web, Ayaka spoke, relaying the grand master’s words.
“Oh? If you can speak to them by all means. Contrary to my master's bloodlust, if we can solve this peacefully, he would prefer less bloodshed. Can you tell us more about this human?”
Gobledo didn’t understand the master’s desire for peace. Their purpose was to die. To kill. To eradicate life so that life could spring eternal.
But his place was not to question the Lord. But to worship him. To follow his commandments. And if the Grey Yellow One desired peace, then peace it would be.
“From the outburst of power, I believe it is either Judicator Donut or Judicator Lady Antoinette Berus. Both of these paladins hail from the Church of Destina. Lady Antoinette Berus is a former-noblewoman from the Gracemia region close to the dwarfen mountain expanse. She is a half-dwarf with unparalleled physical strength that has earned her the respect of her peers and I believe in a direct clash of physical might, it would be a battle we'd lose. I had expected the church to send a competer overseer, but I admittedly did not expect them to send Lady Berus.”
“I see…”
“Fortunately I am well acquainted with Lady Berus. If possible, I would like to speak to them and perhaps persuade them to our cause.”
Silence took the chamber as Gobledo observed.
“...The fact that there are others as strong as the Commander is concerning. If you believe you can limit the amount of mini-bosses we'll have to fight, by all means.”
The human male clenched his jaw, his eyes shifting to the other humans and female short-thing.
“It is important to note sir, that there can be no witnesses. If word of my being here were to leak, those associated with me and my companions may be in danger.”
“Ok? So leave no witness?”
“Yes. However, I believe Lady Berus would not be so… tolerant if we were to begin massacring her soldiers. She shares the same sentiment against the church as I, and if you wish to enter the capital, she, as a former noble would be a great asset.” The Human said, kneeling on one knee. “If possible, I would beseech your direct aid. To capture and render her soldiers immobile. Lady Berus cares greatly for those under her command and her soldiers care for her. It is by this bond the Church keeps her in its ploy. And it is a bond we can exploit to remove her from the equation.”
“How certain are you that she can be persuaded?”
“I swear on my Oath. Lady Berus is a woman of honor. A former noblewoman who rejected her noble heritage to serve as a military officer first then an investigator before joining the Judicators to hunt demons.” The old man reported.
“Fine. The Lord shall aid you. But know, the consequences of this endeavor shall fall upon your head. Should this prove to be a wasteful venture, your companions may find themselves without heads.”
At the words the human guests tensed up, with the teacher-woman clutching her neck.
“Yes. Of course Sir. I will see your will done.” Lhikan said as the a pair of bones wrapped in silk stepped out of the shadows.