CHAPTER 108 – TORTURED

LYSANDER FARADEISS

How long had it been since I’d been captured? Countless days and nights blurred together, each one a relentless cycle of agony. Suspended like a slab of dried meat, the ropes around my ankles bit into my flesh, rendering sensation a distant memory. My vision swam in and out of focus, a haze of pain and exhaustion clouding my mind. Was it the blood congealing in my brain or the relentless torment I endured that caused this disorientation?

The dungeon door creaked open, revealing three figures: Gazelle Lockwood, Johnny Wolvesbane, and Johnny’s new dragonoid companion, Meike. Gazelle, the architect of my suffering, stepped forward with a chilling smile.

“Good evening, Lysander Faradeiss,” he sneered. “Ready to talk?”

I couldn’t help but scoff. “With three of you here, you have enough company. Go chat amongst yourselves.”

Before I could brace myself, Gazelle’s draconic appendage struck with lightning speed, driving the breath from my lungs. Blood trickled from my mouth and nose, the metallic tang a familiar taste in this hellish place. Yet, despite the pain, a twisted grin crept across my face.

“Enjoy your little games, Gazelle,” I spat, teeth stained crimson. “But mark my words, I’ll hunt you down. I’ll start with your head.”

Another blow landed, this time shattering bone. Yet, even as my ribs protested, I remained defiant. It was a cruel irony that our shared heritage as Dragon Lords offered no protection from each other's brutality.

Johnny's stare bore into me, a fiery testament to his lingering wrath over Maggie's death. He relished my suffering, I could tell.

Meanwhile, Meike's wide-eyed terror mirrored my own defiance. Despite her fear, she possessed a kindness that clashed starkly with the cruelty surrounding us. She often intervened when Gazelle's torments crossed the line.

Gazelle's voice sliced through the tension like a blade, dripping with malice. "You talk big for someone hanging like a piece of meat. Remember, I can end you whenever I please, Regressor. Your suffering brings me joy." He gestured to Johnny, a silent promise of retribution. "But Johnny here will deliver the final blow for his vengeance."

"Fuck you!" I spat, my defiance unyielding.

With a swift kick, Gazelle struck my jaw, the impact jarring my senses. I bit down on my tongue, blood splattering against the dungeon walls. Meike's horrified shriek pierced the air.

"Supreme Leader, please, no more!" she pleaded.

Gazelle's rage simmered, replaced by a chilling calm as he seized my hair, forcing me to meet his gaze. His crimson eyes bore into mine, the black sclera a haunting reminder of his power.

"Tell me," Gazelle demanded, his voice a low growl. "Where did you learn Regression Magic?"

I couldn't help but laugh, despite the pain. "Why don't you search up your own ass?"

Gazelle's grip tightened, his fury palpable as he prepared to unleash further torment.

Suddenly, Johnny materialized behind Gazelle, his presence a silent rebuke. Gazelle turned, meeting Johnny's gaze as the werewolf shook his head in dismay.

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"This is a waste of time," Johnny declared, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Let me end him, and be done with it."

Gazelle's response was measured, his tone betraying the weight of their shared history. "I understand your thirst for justice, Johnny. But we must first uncover the source of his knowledge of Regression Magic. Our accomplishments mean nothing if everything is undone, as it was in the previous timeline."

I concealed my surprise beneath a mask of indifference. Gazelle had always been suspicious of me, recognizing me as a Regressor capable of manipulating time. He understood what I was, yet remained ignorant of how I achieved it. His quasi-omniscience was both unnerving and intriguing.

I harbored a theory regarding Gazelle's Eye of Deus, rumored to possess the ability to peer across dimensions and timelines. Though the intricacies eluded me, Gazelle's possession of such a relic painted him as something beyond human—an eldritch enigma.

As Johnny advanced, his glare bore into me with cold intensity. "Make it easy on yourself, Lysander. Share the secrets of Regression Magic, and I'll grant you a swift, painless death. I'll even ensure your head finds a proper resting place in Hiraya."

With a mischievous glint in my eye, I concocted a plan more fitting than divulging my secrets. Concentrating all my energy, I unleashed a thunderous fart that reverberated through the dungeon, followed by an unexpected and equally vile surprise in my pants. Grinning like a madman, I reveled in the chaos I'd caused.

"Fucking cunt," Gazelle spat, recoiling in disgust before storming out of the dungeon.

"That's what you get for messing with the Dynamite Diarrhea, you bastard!" I crowed triumphantly, relishing my victory.

Meanwhile, Johnny, his sensitive nose assaulted by the foul stench, ushered Meike toward the exit. "Let's get out of here. Let him wallow in his own shit."

"I'll clean up," Meike insisted, her sense of duty prevailing over her disgust. "It's my responsibility to care for him, after all. Besides, let me play the role of the good cop for once."

"Fine," Johnny relented, still holding his nose. "But if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, I'll end him."

"Understood!" Meike saluted with a smile as Johnny and Gazelle departed, leaving behind a lingering silence.

Armed with a mop and air fresheners, Meike set to work, determined to rid the dungeon of my mess. Despite the noxious odor, she tackled the task with unwavering resolve, determined to maintain some semblance of cleanliness amid the chaos.

As the minutes stretched into silence, a pang of empathy stirred within me for Meike. Despite her gentle nature, she faced the daunting task of cleaning up after my grotesque display.

"I'm sorry for the mess," I offered, genuine contrition coloring my tone.

Meike waved off my apology with a resigned smile. "Don't worry about it. Cleaning up after others was practically second nature to me. I spent years as a nurse and caregiver back in Scrap Town."

With practiced efficiency, she set about restoring order to the dungeon, her Healing Touch magic knitting together my battered body with gentle precision. Her ministrations offered me a reprieve from the relentless torment, yet I couldn't shake the realization that her ability to heal me indefinitely meant an eternity of suffering lay ahead.

As the room regained its semblance of cleanliness, Meike hesitated, her next words hesitant yet brimming with curiosity. "Um, Lysander... Can I ask you something?"

My guard relaxed at the prospect of a non-threatening conversation. "I will not talk about my Regression."

"It's not about Regression Magic," she assured me. "I'm curious about Johnny. Specifically, the Johnny from the previous timeline."

I leaned back, a sense of relief washing over me at the innocuous inquiry. "Sure, I can tell you about him. Ask away."

"So, how was Johnny back then?"

Listening to Meike's inquiry about Johnny, memories of the past timeline flooded my mind. "Honestly, he hasn't changed much from who he was before. Serious when needed, but he had a goofy side too. And yes, he carried his burdens with him, even back then, though they weren't because of me in that timeline."

Meike's eyes brightened with interest. "Johnny mentioned you were his best friend on that timeline. Is that true?"

I nodded solemnly. "He was the best friend anyone could ask for. He proved it by sacrificing himself for me in the previous timeline, giving his life so I could activate the Regression Magic."

A warm smile graced Meike's lips, and before I could inquire, she spoke. "Despite everything, I wish there was another way for you two to be reunited. But I guess that's just wishful thinking."

Her words stirred a pang of unexpected emotion within me. Despite the enmity between us, Meike's empathy touched something deep within, a longing for a reality where Johnny and I could find peace together. But in this cruel world, wishes often remained just that—fleeting desires against the harsh backdrop of reality.