I could feel my head hurting terribly as I slowly opened my eyes.
This felt familiar...
Far too familiar.
I found myself once again chained to a wall in a cell. My hands were held above my head in magic suppression cuffs.
"What...where am I...?" I managed to say.
I started having flashbacks to Cassandra's dungeon and fear began rising on my chest.
"Darling! You're finally awake!" Alice said as she stood up from a chair in the corner.
"Alice...what's going on here!? What did you do to me!? Where's Isabella!?" I said fearfully.
"Relax, dear. Tyranus wanted me to torture you to death but I want to show my love for you instead. Isabella is down the hall. She'll be enjoying some of the men who have had their eyes on her for a while now. You needn't worry. She won't disturb us this time," Alice said.
Isabella!? No...you can't! Anything but that!
Alice put her arms around my neck and pressed herself against me.
At that time I realized that I was in my underwear.
Alice leaned close and kissed me on the lips.
You...BITCH!!!
"I did it! I kissed you! Now I'm yours as well! Let's have fun together, darling!" Alice said with a psychotic smile.
She started feeling my chest and licking my neck. Moments later, she began massaging my crotch.
I tried to resist, but my arms were cuffed with power restraining shackles... Just like the ones Cassandra put on me in the past...
I could feel my anger building steadily as Alice continued touching me.
Then I heard it.
"What's...going on here...? Why am I in my underwear!? Who are you people!? Where's Mizik!?" I heard Isabella shout.
"Glad you finally came around, beautiful. Watching you cling onto that piece of shit really got us going all week. But now that you're awake, we can finally have fun!" A man's voice said.
"What!? No! I belong to Mizik! Get away! GET AWAY FROM ME! MIZIK, PLEASE HELP ME!" Isabella screamed.
At that moment, my mind went numb.
Then I heard a small voice in the back of my mind speak.
[It is time to hunt. The prey is near. I humbly request that you call upon me, Mizik. Let us drink the blood of these sinners and tear them to pieces.]
What can I do!? She took my sword!!! I'm trapped!!!
[You are the uncaged beast! NO ONE CAN HOLD ME! You have the tools to slay them all. Use your power and call upon me. I WILL HAVE VENGEANCE!]
As I heard Isabella screaming for the men to get away from her, Alice had lowered herself and was licking my chest.
I pulled up my status menu and found almost every skill I possessed had been grayed out due to the power suppression cuffs.
All except one.
A skill that I couldn't use before.
'Wrath Possession'
The requirement was not of mp, but of anger. Where its mp requirement was, I saw the words: the user must be in a state of extreme rage to use this skill.
It seemed like this skill was usable now.
I was beyond pissed right now...and that was an understatement.
I wanted to save Isabella before she was raped and I didn't want to be violated, myself...
Very well...let's make a river of blood!
"Get off of me, you bitch!" I shouted at Alice.
"D-darling!? Why would you say such a thing to me!?" Alice said as she stood up. "Maybe you're...still out of it... Yes, that's it... You're still dizzy from the sedative."
"LISTEN TO ME, YOU BASTARDS TRYING TO TOUCH ISABELLA! IF YOU LAY A FINGER ON HER, I'LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!!!" I screamed.
"MIZIK!!! HELP ME!!! I DON'T WANT THEM TO VIOLATE ME!!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!" Isabella screamed.
Alice took a few steps back and glared in Isabella's direction.
"You bitch...he's mine! Just die..." She hissed.
"You've forced my hand. I don't know what's going to happen here, but don't say I didn't warn you..." I said.
Alice looked at me curiously.
"What are you..."
"WRATH POSSESSION!" I shouted.
Immediately, I felt a pulse run through my body. Pulse after pulse after pulse... My heart was beating harder. Red lines began glowing all over my body and arms.
["Much better..."] My voice said.
I shattered the chains holding me and extended my hand at the surprised Alice.
["VENGEANCE! COME TO ME!!!"] My voice said.
There was a flash as Alice's inventory opened behind her.
Vengeance shot out like a razor blade and decapitated her. I caught the hilt in my hand.
I slowly walked over and grabbed the bars on the cell with my free hand.
Then I pulled and they gave way. I tore the cell door off it's hinges and threw it at the wall in the cell.
["Freedom...it is time to hunt..."]
As I turned my head, I saw several guards running for me.
I smiled.
["More blood to sate my endless thirst..."]
The guards attacked me but I expertly dodged their attacks and sliced them to ribbons. Each time a guard would get close, I would cut them down with ease.
Eventually, a crowd of them stopped in front of me with spears extended. They intended to skewer me in the narrow hallway.
["Adorable."]
Just before they charged forward, I threw Vengeance sideways and it flew forward like a spinning saw.
The result was an explosion of blood. The guards were unable to escape my sword in such a narrow hallway.
Moments later, after the guards had been evicerated, Vengeance flew back to me and I caught it effortlessly. It was dripping with blood and bits of flesh.
The sword pulsed as the blood began to sink into the blade.
I could feel my rage beginning to drain, but with each shout from Isabella, it would increase ever more.
I continued walking towards Isabella's cell where she was still struggling. Fighting tooth and nail to resist them before they could violate her.
"You're a feisty one, aren't ya? Wait...whats going on over there!?" One of my prey said aloud.
["Death is upon you, sinners. I will drink your blood. I will feast on your bones. I will have Vengeance!"]
"M...Mizik...?" I heard Isabella say.
Eventually, I reached the cell.
I had slaughtered at least twenty people on my way over here and was covered in blood.
I smiled at them and watched their eyes go wide in terror.
"Who...what...what the hell are you!?!?" One of the prey said fearfully.
["I am your new god. The god of Vengeance. I am the Overseer. The Omni-weapon. Bow to me and offer your souls as tribute. I will feast upon the flesh of those who have wronged me and my allies."]
"You can't get in here!!! The door opens with a key and we have it! So why don't you just enjoy the show?" One of the fools stated pointlessly with a mocking smile.
["Irrelevant."]
I reached up and took hold of the cell door. I tore it off its hinges once again.
Then I threw it down the hall.
As I did so, the weaklings dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.
"Please! Have mercy!! Don't kill us! We were just doing like we were told! I DON'T WANNA DIE!!!"
"AHHHH PLEASE NO!!!"
I saw them. Their emerald eyes. These men were family once. Now they were degenerates. Meat and blood for my sword to feast on.
["Mercy? Like you were going to show this one's beloved? I am not 'Mercy'. I am 'Vengeance'."]
After I spoke, the blood began to flow. I swung my sword and two of them died. Their blood washed over everyone. I grabbed one by the head and crushed his skull. The last one tried to flee and I threw my sword into his spine.
He fell helplessly to the ground just before I stepped on him.
"PLEASE NO!!! OH GODS WHY!? I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!! I'M SORR-"
I stomped on his neck and crushed his throat with my foot. After that, I continued stomping on him until his head was a bloody meat puddle.
Then I turned to Isabella.
I slowly walked towards her and stopped just in front of where she hung.
She was chained to a wall just as I was. Her hands were above her head. She was partially covered in blood from the massacre that I had just committed.
Her clothes had long since been removed, but her underwear remained mostly in place.
It appeared as though I reached her before those monsters could harm her.
"Mizik...? Are you okay...?" She said somewhat fearfully.
Her gaze was adorable. Somehow, I cherished it. A mixture between fear, awe, and reverence.
This was my vanguard. The wielder of Bravery. I adored her so very much.
[Exactly as my wielders should be. In fearful awe of my might!]
I placed my hand on her chin and leaned close.
I smiled.
["Rejoice, beloved of my wielder. For he cares deeply for you. His rage allowed me to rescue you. Continue to bring him joy so that all who harm you can taste my blade. I will drink their blood and feast on their bones for the sins they have committed. I am Vengeance."]
Isabella stared in relative shock.
"Umm...hello Vengeance... Thank you... Can I have my husband back? Please...?" She said.
["You will watch as I slaughter our prey. Then you will be free to continue serving me, wielder of Bravery. You are doing well. Do not disappoint me."]
"H-huh...?"
More footsteps were approaching.
A crowd of guards came around the corner and tried to kill me. All in vain.
I dodged their attacks and cut them to ribbons without effort. They couldn't match my swordsmanship. I threw my sword into the crowd of enemies and watched it evicerate them.
["SUFFER! BLEED! PERISH!"]
Each time I ended one of their miserable lives, I felt my power grow. My sword devoured their blood as I bathed it in their broken bodies.
Eventually, the guards in the back became fearful and tried to run. I was too fast for them. I cut the cowards down and crushed their weakling skulls.
Once they had all perished, I returned to Isabella.
["My purpose has finished. My vengeance is sated. Give yourselves time to prepare, for our prey waits above. I will feast upon the blood of Tyranus, false wielder of Justice."]
I slashed the chains holding her up and caught her in my arms.
"Isa...bella..." I said as I felt a powerful force leave my body.
"Mizik! She said as she leaned against me, not caring about the fact that I was drenched in blood.
Isabella wept loudly as I held her against me.
"Mizik...I was so scared... Thank you for saving me!" She wailed.
"They didn't...hurt you...did they...?" I said.
It was difficult to be in control again after that...
My mind still felt a bit fuzzy, but I was becoming more aware of my surroundings, quickly.
"No. They touched me, but that was it. They never got the chance to...to violate me..." She said.
Isabella stood up shaking and looked at the cuffs on her hands.
"I want to help you get out of here, but I'm no use to you like this. I need to get these off," she said.
At that point, I realized that I still had mine on as well. Wrath Possession seemed to be able to ignore power suppression. But now that I was normal again, I felt weakened by these things.
"Let's get these cuffs off. I'm sure one of the guards has a key," I said after finally regaining my composure.
Strangely enough, my body didn't feel sore. I wasn't angry anymore, either. It seemed like that skill was a much more extreme version of 'Rage of Iratus' that used my own anger as payment. It gave me an idea of sorts...
Maybe I could use Rage of Iratus and then activate Wrath Possession on demand?
"Mizik, are you okay? What was that?" Isabella asked me.
"I'll tell you later. First, let's get out of here. And don't worry, I'm fine."
Isabella nodded and we searched around for a key.
Our search led us to my cell and we walked over Alice's body. I could see a ring of keys on her hip.
"Hey Mizik...what did she do to you?" Isabella asked.
"...She kissed me. Licked my chest...touched my crotch...pressed herself on me... That sort of thing. I'm sorry, I feel disgusting after-"
Isabella kicked Alice's head into the wall.
"Damn you! Damn you for defiling my Mizik!"
"You're not upset with me?" I asked.
"Why would I be? It wasn't your fault. And based on her corpse, you obviously didn't enjoy it. Right?" She replied.
"Yeah...right..." I managed to say.
I picked up the key ring from Alice's waist and unlocked Isabella's cuffs. After that, she helped me with mine.
As soon as they fell to the ground, Isabella smiled at me.
"Now, let's get ready for battle. We probably shouldn't fight in our underwear..." Isabella said
"Yeah...I think we could use a bath, too," I said.
"Agreed. But we can do that later. We have a tyrant to kill."
* * *
After a few minutes, Isabella and I managed to get our armor on.
She pulled out Bravery and readied her shield.
"Mizik, Bravery isn't really suited for narrow hallways, it seems. I'll be relying on you to kill enemies. I'll defend you, though. No worries."
"Got it. I'll attack and you defend. Let's show these bastards that we won't be underestimated."
Isabella and I made our way forward.
We walked through the narrow halls with cells on either side. As we passed by, we saw rotting corpses and skeletons of people unlucky enough to be brought down here.
We passed by a few more cells that had still-living people on them, but when we opened the doors, the people inside just looked at us fearfully.
"You can go. Leave this place, quickly!" I said.
None of them responded. They just stared at us with lifeless eyes.
These people were already broken inside.
We continued onward until we discovered a much wider hall.
A group of guards ambushed us, but Isabella expertly defended me while I slaughtered them.
These people were no match for two legendary sword wielders.
Eventually, we began to feel like we were wandering around in circles.
"How are we supposed to get out of here?" I asked.
"Would it be possible to take a hostage?" Isabella asked. "We could...torture them, I guess..."
That wasn't something I expected her to say. Cassandra? Absolutely. But not Isabella.
"You feeling okay? That's not normally something you'd suggest..." I said.
"I'm fine... My mind feels a bit...off... But I'm okay. Everything happening lately has been slowly driving me crazy, I think..." Isabella replied.
"You're not going to torture me, are you?" I asked.
"Of course not, Mizik! I would never! Although, I wouldn't be opposed to tying you up and...ah I'm sorry. This sword is messing with me again..." She said as her face turned red. "Ignore me...or you can tie me up instead..."
I stared at Isabella.
"I'm not convinced that you're okay, Isabella. What's this about being tied up?" I asked.
"N-nothing! Let's just find someone and get information out of them!" She said quickly.
Soon after that, another group of guards came at us.
We slaughtered all but one of them and dragged the last guard into a cell.
Once we cuffed him, I began beating the crap out of him until he agreed to tell us how to get out.
It went quite well, actually.
Once we were done, I killed him and we were on our way.
No loose ends.
If Bravery was affecting Isabella, Vengeance was definitely affecting me.
The two of us made our way to the exit, ready for the hellish battle that awaited us.