Arctic, the esteemed ruler of the Loctrum clan and the Commander of the fearsome army called the Reapers, could be observed in a state of serene repose upon his majestic throne, his eyes shut in contemplation as a sinister aura enveloped his entire being.
He was not alone in the throne room; his servants, the formidable Reapers, stood in pairs before the throne. Their eyes fixed on the ground, hands clasped behind their backs. Three heads lay on the ground amidst the Reapers, belonging to the Elites slain by their formidable master, Lord Arctic of the Loctrum clan.
"Shouldn't it be five?"His voice resonated throughout the room, prompting one of the Reapers to swiftly bow.
"I eliminated one, but another managed to flee,"the Reaper who had clashed with Yuri and Giyu moments earlier explained.
"How dare you?"Lord Arctic thundered, his fist tightening on the throne. This action caused black blood to seep from every orifice of the Reaper's body. "Find him."The Reaper disappeared instantaneously as a black snake slithered out of Lord Arctic's back towards his chest. He then calmed down and gestured with his hand.
Without delay, two Reapers vanished and reappeared with Lady Rose. The instant he felt her presence, his eyes snapped open.
"Greetings, My Lady,"he greeted with a sinister grin playing on his lips.
"What is your desire of me this time?"She inquired boldly, locking eyes with him. Recalling her failed attempt at compelling him previously, she decided to abandon the effort.
She flinched as she sensed his icy touch on her shoulders. 'Just a moment ago, he was seated on the throne, how did he manage to appear behind me so swiftly?' She couldn't help but question.
"Behold these,"he murmured into her ear.grsturing with his finger. "Are they not a sight of delight?"
A solitary tear escaped her eye as she beheld the heads of the Elites dispatched by her father, strewn helplessly on the ground. With no one left to come to her aid, the dire situation had indeed unfolded as she had feared.
"Do you recall our conversation from the previous night?"His voice reverberated in her ears, sending a shiver down her spine. He intended to claim her life following that of her father's men. 'Is he truly capable of such an act?'
"Yes, that is my intention,"she heard his voice once more, and her trepidation intensified. It was evident that he could discern her thoughts. Lord Arctic possessed more power than she had estimated, but she was not prepared to surrender without a fight.
"Elf magic: Thunderstrike invocation,"she intoned swiftly, unleashing a potent blast at Lord Arctic that propelled him backward until he came to a halt six feet away.
The two Reapers who had brought her forth made a simultaneous advance towards her, only to be met with a thunderous force that tore them asunder, emanating from her glowing blue eyes. Witnessing this, the remaining Reapers charged towards her, but Lord Arctic simply snapped his fingers, causing his subordinates to vanish instantly as Lady Rose turned to face him.
"It is gratifying to witness your prowess, My Lady, but you are nothing without Ellcrys,"he proclaimed, raising his fist in the air. The impact was so forceful that Rose was flung backwards, landing heavily on the throne. "You are powerless,"she coughed up blood, the aftermath of her magical exertion. "All of you are powerless,"he concluded, raising his fist once more, causing her to collide with the throne and blood to spill from her nose.
Struggling to rise, she found herself gasping for breath as he clenched his hand in the air, depriving her of air. Helpless, she collapsed back onto the throne. As her eyelids grew heavy, she felt a cold presence slithering across her body. It was the black serpent, winding its way into her attire, coiling around her chest, and slithering down her abdomen.
Lord Arctic smirked malevolently as a sinister idea entered his mind. "Would you take pleasure in engaging in intimate relations with my underling?"
Her eyes widened as she comprehended Lord Arctic's scheme, yet she was resolute in her refusal to comply. She couldn't bear the thought of surrendering her innocence to a black serpent.
She attempted to stand but discovered she was unable to budge an inch. Her limbs seemed to defy her will."No... Please, Arctic, refrain from this,"she cried out as the serpent slithered closer to her thigh. Her legs instinctively parted, allowing it to creep beneath her garment, awaiting its master's command. She felt the searing warmth between her thighs as she struggled to break free from his grasp.
"I am willing to comply with any request. Please spare me from this fate,"she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. A sly grin formed on his lower lip in response.
'She is willing to comply with any demand,' he mused repeatedly, unable to contain his malevolent laughter. What does he desire from her? What could she possibly offer him?
Abruptly, the door swung open, and two Reapers forcefully brought in Yuri, an Elite dispatched by Thalric, the General of the Elvarin Kingdom, acting under the orders of King Jade.
Yuri was compelled to kneel before Lord Arctic, whose smile was concealed beneath a facade of indifference. It was a moment of pure malevolence.
The serpent retreated, and she realized she had been released from his grasp, only to find a sword materializing in her hand.
'What is his intention?' She couldn't help but ponder as she rose unsteadily from the throne."You promised to fulfill any request,"he began, grinding his teeth as she looked at him with trepidation, awaiting his words. He gestured towards Yuri, whose eyes were fixed on the ground. It is unfortunate that he cannot rescue the Princess. "You understand my implication."Her eyes widened.
Indeed, she comprehended his request. He wanted her to eliminate Yuri, someone who had endangered his life to save hers.She approached him with a flurry of thoughts in her mind and the sword tightly grasped in her hand, yet all the while Yuri's gaze remained on the ground, resigned to his fate. It is a significant honor to perish at the hands of royalty, but also a profound shame to be slain by a woman.
"Please, My Lady, end my life. I am undeserving of your company,"Yuri pleaded as Rose lifted her sword. Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at the young man kneeling before her. She struggled with the idea of taking his life, unable to harm one of her own kind.
"You lack the strength to do so,"Lord Arctic sneered, and in an instant, Rose found herself seated on the throne. She pondered the nature of his powers and marveled at his speed. The sword that had been in her grasp now belonged to Yuri, who rose with eyes brimming with a dark intensity. She recognized the change that had come over him; he had been possessed and given a single command.
"Destroy your Princess,"Lord Arctic ordered, and Yuri obeyed, advancing towards the throne. Rose attempted to rise, but a black serpent coiled around her throat, nearly suffocating her.
She struggled to break free, but her efforts were in vain. The only recourse she considered was biting into the snake's flesh, yet she knew better than to attempt such a dangerous act. Aware of the snake's poisonous nature and her vulnerability to its venom, she hesitated.
Before she could formulate her next move, Yuri appeared before her, assuming a poised stance as he held the sword horizontally in the air, aiming for her heart. With a swift motion, he thrust the sword directly towards her chest, producing a sharp, piercing sound that reverberated through the air. Surprisingly, she did not cry out nor feel any pain.
"Ouch, that stings a bit,"Yuri heard a voice, his gaze following the sound. Looking up, he was met with the sight of a monstrous being standing before him – a Trolloc, a fusion of man and beast. It became evident that he had mistakenly struck the Trolloc's hand instead of the Princess.
Retrieving the sword, Yuri directed his next thrust towards the Trolloc. To his astonishment, the colossal creature anticipated his move, swiftly delivering a powerful blow to his face before he could execute his attack, sending him crashing into the wall with great force.
Princess Rose and Lord Arctic were both astonished, as were the two Reapers in attendance. "A Trolloc saved me?"she exclaimed, unable to contain her surprise. The Trolloc smirked, raising his fist triumphantly. The wound that had been inflicted upon him healed instantaneously, leaving the Reapers even more dumbfounded. Trollocs are not known for possessing the ability to heal themselves.
"How did you gain entry?"inquired one of the Reapers, eyeing the intruder while awaiting their Master's orders."Oh, that's a simple trick I recently acquired. Shadow movement,"he explained before vanishing and reappearing in Yuri's shadow just as he was about to attack, swiftly striking him on the back of his head and causing him to collapse to the ground.
"Stay calm, my friend,"he chuckled, but his expression turned serious as he looked up and saw the serpent looming overhead, preparing to strike at Princess Rose...The mere sight of it caused him to release a piercing scream, and to Lord Arctic's amazement, the Trolloc's arm extended even further, effortlessly grabbing the serpent's tail and pulling it towards himself before it could harm the Princess."You insignificant creature. How dare you?"he roared, sinking his teeth into the serpent's head and devouring the rest of its body.
"Wait... Has he truly devoured my beloved pet?"Lord Arctic mused, grappling with the unfolding events. The Reapers needed no instruction as they surged towards the colossal creature, ready to confront it.
The Trolloc stood firm, confronting the advancing Reapers with unwavering resolve. The ensuing battle was fierce, as the Reapers harnessed their sinister powers against the Trolloc's sheer might. Nevertheless, the Trolloc appeared to outmatch them, effortlessly dominating each opponent in turn.
Princess Rose observed in amazement as the Trolloc repelled the Reapers, defending her with a fierceness she had never before witnessed. She couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude towards this unexpected savior who had come to her aid in her time of need.
As the final Reaper succumbed to the Trolloc's strength, Lord Arctic's countenance darkened with fury. He realized that his meticulous plans had been foiled by this unforeseen twist of fate. The Trolloc had proven to be a formidable adversary, and what astonished him most was the creature's unexpected skill.
With a menacing gleam in his eye, Lord Arctic raised his hand, summoning a dark energy that crackled in the atmosphere. The colossal creature smirked as it sensed the imminent danger. "You couldn't even wait for an introduction?"it taunted.
"I don't know how you managed to slay my pet, but you will pay for it,"Lord Arctic declared as the ceiling above the Trolloc shattered, raining down debris upon it. Lord Arctic gestured with his hand, and the stone fragments coalesced into a sphere containing the Trolloc.
"It appears that you may not be well-versed in the concept of shadow movement,"the Trolloc questioned, stepping out from behind the Princess's shadow and startling her. In a split second, a powerful blast was directed towards them, but the Trolloc swiftly intercepted it with his left arm, knocking them both to the ground. "That was quite a formidable blast,"he commented as he got back on his feet and helped the Princess up.
"Go, Princess. I will handle him alone,"he directed, and she nodded before running towards Yuri while the Trolloc confronted Lord Arctic. "Get ready to experience the strength of my punch,"he declared, charging at Lord Arctic with full force. With a fierce battle cry, he swung, but Lord Arctic vanished and reappeared behind him. Quickly turning around, he attempted another strike, only to have Lord Arctic elude him once more and retaliate with a forceful kick to his face, sending him stumbling backwards until he crashed into a wall.
"His kick was remarkably strong... I should have been able to dodge it,"he muttered to himself as he looked up and saw a massive blast hurtling towards him. It was too late to avoid it, and he shut his eyes as the blast hit him with tremendous impact, tearing through the wall and causing him to slam into a pillar. Gradually, his body began to shrink until he transformed into an average-sized human. To be more precise, a human with fiery red hair.
ALEXA - NOTICE, THE SUBJECT LORD ARCTIC IS COMING WITH KILLER INTENT. SHOULD I ACTIVATE THE ALL CRUSHING SKILL?
"All crushing skill. That's the skill I got after mimicking the Trolloc the ultimate predator skill devoured." The redhead being said to himself.. "But that blast has affected me greatly.. I need to heal first." He raises his head a bit to see Yuri and Rose engaged with four Reapers and Lord Arctic heading towards them.
"Oh shit." He sighed and made to get up but a hand stopped him. He looked up to see Brakor and a smile appeared on his face.
"Rest Kael. Once you're heal, escape with the Princess. I'll take on Lord Arctic." He said and turned instantly to Lord Arctic.
"Hey Arctic.. Why not pick someone of your size?" Arctic turned to see one of his captives standing before him.
"It's great to see you standing before me Chief Brakor.. Let's dance."
"Chief?" Kael exclaimed
ALEXA: YES, BRAKOR IS ONE OF THE SIX CHIEFS OF ELVARIN KINGDOM. HE RULED OVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE KINGDOM WHICH WAS DESTROYED BY LORD ARCTIC.
A smile formed on Kael face as he gazed at the healthy looking old man, his mind flashed back to the event that happened in the Loctrum Cave.
To be continued..