Chapter 3: Pursuit of Despair.
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The footsteps of a wolf rapidly approached the cave. On one side stood a devious old man with unclear intentions. On the other side was another man who had been chasing them for days.
With every step the old man took forward, Natalie's and the Princess's hearts raced faster. As their tears dried, sweat covered their faces.
'What should we do? What can we do?
Mother.... please'
"Natalie is wounded and exhausted, we have been running continuously for the past 13 days."
"With no rest, no food, we have reached our limit." The Princess broke into tears.
"Shhhhh.... shhhhh.
Don't cry...
Your pursuer is not far. What if he hears you?
The distraction you made for him was very clever...
Only if you hadn't met me...
He..he..he...
But what can I do, it looks like this is what fate wants...
he he he he he...." his snake hissing on his hand.
Natalie struggled to stand. "Lily, we need to walk out of here, we can't let this bastard have his way."
"I would rather die fighting than fall into their hands." She glared at the old man with hatred.
"Oooooo... look at these kitties, full of fake determination.
Don't tell me...
You really think I will let you leave.
He he he...
I have been struggling for the past few months, and now today I finally have you...
You who will become payment for my debts...
I wonder how much I will get when I sell you in the slave market.
He..he..he," stopping a few steps away from them.
"Ahhhh... that busty magnificent body of yours, and the other one with a slender frame,
those amazing curves,
those withered flower like lips,
those radiant eyes full of hope and life, those divine breasts peeking from your dress...
aaaah....
aaaaah... I want to devour them myself.
He..he..he..."
drooling, and then emptying the bottle in his hand.
He threw the bottle on the ground, and it shattered.
Gasping in fear, they took several steps back.
"No, no, no.
No need to fear.
I won't devour you.
Beauties like you will fetch a good amount from the nobility.
He..he..he..." again walking towards them.
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Lily, the Princess of Elves, belonged to a noble race living deep in the forests, away from worldly affairs.
Gripping the wooden stick from her waist, she pointed it at the old man. "Don't you dare take another step forward.
Otherwise...I'll blow this whole cave, burying you along with us," she threatened, her voice trembling with fear, her eyes desperate for a chance.
"He... he... he...
Don't try to fool me, flower.
It is indeed true that you both have strength like tigers, but in the condition you're in, with your mana core depleted and her aura core shattered.....,
you are nothing more than barking puppies," he sneered, glaring at them with his single eye, a snake hissing on his hand.
Lily and Natalie ran out of the cave together.
'He can tell that Natalie's core is shattered? Even though he was meters away from us... He is dangerous.'
Lily ran with all her strength, providing support to Natalie while strategizing.
'O... Great One, please send us help...please don't abandon us. The princess is the only hope the Elves have for rebuilding our home.' Natalie prayed silently.
Light hit them hard as they exited the cave, only to find a massive drooling wolf standing in front of them. A middle-aged, bald man in a brown, muddy robe with bloodstains mounted the wolf.
"See? Didn't I tell you, you have nowhere to go," the voice from inside the cave called out, pulling all their attention.
"You cunts, how dare you make me chase you for two weeks!" the bald man snarled, dismounting his wolf in anger.
"Don't you dare lay your filthy hand on them, you piece of shit.
They are mine," echoed a voice from the cave.
"Haaaah...
I tried to ignore you once, and now you're getting ahead of yourself.
Stop speaking from the darkness, come out and face me if you have the guts," the bald man roared, gazing into the cave's darkness.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
Natalie and Lily stood frozen, exhaustion and fear etched on their faces. The wolf glared at them, drooling. The old man slowly emerged from the cave, his snake gone.
"Those are some bold words for a young man who has lost all his hair," the old man mocked, glaring at the bald man.
Irritated from chasing Natalie and Lily, and now these venomous words, the bald man exploded with rage. He drew his sword and pointed it at the old man.
"I was wondering what to feed my baby. A single-eyed old bastard might be tasteless, but you are more than enough to fill his belly," the bald man said, pointing at his wolf.
"He... he... he...
Put your sword away, baldie.
I'm in a good mood today.
I've got two beauties to sell.
Leave now....don't make me kill you,"
the old man taunted, his gaze fixed on Natalie and Lily.
"I've been chasing them for two weeks. After crossing the Malty River and fending off ferocious monsters, you think I'll let them go so easily?" The bald man yelled, fury in his eyes.
He raised his sword in rage. "Become food for my baby..."
"Wait... wait... wait... Are you talking about that baby?"
the old man interrupted, pointing toward the wolf. The bald man turned to see his wolf being strangled by a white snake.
The wolf struggled, trying to shake off the snake, but the snake tightened its grip. The wolf used its claw to tear the snake in two.
"Ha... ha, you underestimated my baby, old man," the bald man said proudly, pointing at his wolf.
"I don't think so,"
the old man replied mockingly, pointing at the wolf again. The wolf had collapsed on the ground, taking heavy breaths, its eyes rolling back as it howled in pain.
The bald man ran to his wolf.
"No. No. What have they done to you?" His voice was full of anguish as he tried to comfort the dying beast.
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