At some point on its journey, the Corrupted Leopard had already accepted its own death.
It eventually realized the fact that its owner was truly the devil among devils. It didn't have any choice but to continue leading on and hope for the devil's words to be true.
It was only following the thoughts drifting in its mind. To lead the devil to that place.
But—something occured. A miracle. The devil was suctioned in some place, dissapearing so suddenly.
The Corrupted Leopard couldn't be any more happier. Not only was the devil gone, it was also free.
Oh freedom has never felt so invorigating in its years of existence. Tears, formed from euphoric joy, dripped from its eyes.
It was finally going to free and li—
At that moment, an arrow shot off. It was fast, blitzing through the wind, blinding even.
Tak—!
Before the Corrupted Leopard could even react, the arrow already pierced its head. It didn't even managed to process its own death.
"Good grief. It must be my own lucky day' scratch that, the Great End must've blessed me!"
A husky, rough voice echoed in the pathway.
"A human! Who could believe it?! A human is actually in here…!"
At the entrance of the temple, a small, dwarfish figure laughed incredulously.
"Even those old devils' in the Inner Sector won't believe it! Goddamn! Even I can't! A human… in Voidlands…"
The dwarfish figure eventually arrived in the end of the path, taking the arrow that was pierced onto the Corrupted Leopard's head.
"Aye! But where is he? Where is he?!"
The dwarfish man eyes turned red, its smile reaching further into its ears. Where could the human be in this broken down temple?
"No, no, no, no. A human! I can't lose it… that's a treasure trove! A piece of ragged wealth and power. I can't lose it. I can't. He's going to be back. He is. He is. Better than that, I'll report it. Yes, report it. To Chieftess…. Chieftess Zakaria."
The dwarf could already imagine it—he would report it to his Chieftess, obtain the human the very last second and get wealth. Power.
And by the Bonfire's protection, none can stand against him.
Even the old devil' Chief of Darklow would just give up! That was it… Repulse will have a new ruler. And it wouldn't be the Chief of Darklow nor would it be Chieftess Zakaria.
It would be him.
"HahahaahAhahahahHAHAHA!"
The dwarf laughed. Maddened he was.
***
"Do you want to die?"
Inside a dark, luxurious room, a feminine voice laced with murderous intent echoed.
"N-no..! You must believe me, Chieftess Zakaria!"
On the ground, the dwarfish figure earlier kneeled, sweating profusely. He raised his eyes slightly, peeking at the woman sitting in front of him.
At his front, an extremely attractive woman with venomous green skin sat authoritatively.
"Do you want to die?"
Zakaria repeated.
"I-i swwa-swear! Chieftess, I swear by the End, I really saw a human!"
The dwarf persisted, stuttering amidst his oath.
"Hmm…"
Zakaria's expression turned into a frown. To swear upon the End was the gravest oath… even her would think twice doing it.
"Bring me proof then."
"Pa-pardon…?"
The dwarf raised his head, his eyes hopeful.
"I don't need to repeat it twice. Bring me proof until a red moon cycle. If by that time there's still no proof…"
Zakaria's eyes turned cold red. Behind her, two massive snakes twisted and circled around the dwarfish figure.
"...I'll make sure that you'll regret ever fooling me."
The dwarfish man gulped—it had no doubt of the Chieftess words. Those two massive snakes were enough to endlessly torture his soul.
But regardless. He would gamble. Gamble. He always gambled in the Outer City, gambling with his life should not be so different.
"As yo-your subordinate, Curain, I swear to bring you proof until the red… moon cycle."
Zakaria closed her eyes. Her fingers lightly flicking.
"Then begone."
Woosh—!
At that moment, the dwarfish figure blasted through the door as his figure gradually vanished in the pathways.
"... A human… I can't believe that. That idiot dwarf must've been blind…"
Zakaria whispered, her eyes closing.
'Do you want us to mark him, Great Lady?'
A hissing voice echoed on her mind.
"No. Leave it be…"
Zakaria snapped her fingers, closing the doors of her room.
"Who knows—maybe there really is one."
***
"Ugh!"
The dwarf, Curain, choked as he felt intense dizziness and pain assault his mind and boy respectively.
"Th-that…"
Curain coughed, standing up from the ground.
"That damn bitch! I swear… I just have to persist a little more. That's right. Even that bitch wouldn't be able to do anything as long as I have that human. After that, I'll teach her something…"
Curain chuckled, thinking of something malicious.
"But how do I get proof…? I'll just kidnap the human. From what I saw, he doesn't seem that strong… yes, I'll just do that."
Curain with his dwarfish figure smirked. Now, before everything else, he must prevent the news ever reaching the Chief of Darklow…
If that happened—he might as well kill himself over losing such massive wealth. First things first is to come back where he saw the human.
The Ruination.
***
In the place where Lucas first woke up, a massive masculine figure covered toe-to-head with chains stood menacingly.
Behind him, several figures with similar chain fashion kneeled as though waiting for his ultimate command.
"I smell… a Human."
The Chief of Darklow—Chained Thalzar of the Repulse grunted with narrowed eyes.
"I'm not mistaken. In the past, I managed to smell one. The human's smell carved itself to my mind. Deeply so that I won't ever mistake it with anything else."
"That's right. This smell is a human. A human in Voidlands. It's an impossibility. But it can't be wrong."
Thalzar turned around, causing the chains around his body to shake profusely.
"Men of Darklow."
He called softly. Though quiet it sounded, the threat and authority within his voice was not lost.
"The time has come. Decades. We have planned, fought and battled against the Shattered' Zakaria. My goal—our goal remained the same throughout that. To wipe out every single faction in this territory and own Repulse."
Although not noticeable, the most loyal followers among the group could sense it—the shift of tone of their leader.
The immense excitement, thrill and fervor that their leader's voice contained.
"If we manage to find that human not only will we get to own Repulse… even entering the Inner Sector is not out of question. That human holds every single answer to our wishes."
"We will get that human and bring it to the Bonfire. The Bonfire will recognize our achievement and will bring us not only authority over Repulse, but endless troops."
The chained followers imagined it—their own sigil. Own faction. Ruling a territory for themselves and enjoying endless riches.
"As I repeat. Men of Darklow."
Thalzar smiled.
"Capture the human and Repulse will be ours."
Repulse will be mine, Thalzar repeated in his mind.
***
Elsewhere on Repulse, a wide and ancient chamber was situated.
Suffocating darkness covered the chamber almost in its entirety, save from the spreading luminescent light that faintly shone.
Despite this lack of light, the large ancient pillars surrounding the chamber could still be clearly seen.
Tall, sturdy and made from a foreign unidentified material. Shining scarlet red, akin to a blood filled demon, and its edges throbbing like a beating heart amidst the silence—the pillars were less than decorations, but more likened to monstrous relics.
A little above the demonic pillars, long divine chains could be seen. The chains stretched towards the middle of the chamber—as if binding something around it.
"Haa…"
Suddenly, the chamber shook, the chains lightly moved as a relieved sigh echoed. Towards the middle, where the luminescent light came from, a figure could be seen opening their eyes.
"The cog has finally moved… I'm waiting, Warlock."