Liam stood over the fallen heroes, his heart still burning with fury over the death of his snake companion. Though they lay at his mercy, a flicker of disappointment clouded his expression. The failure of [Dominate] on these heroes was unexpected, but it hardly mattered now. They were trapped, and their fate rested in his hands. He scanned their faces-Caiser, Rizuard, Silvana, Keith, and Kanya-all of them were now powerless.
The dimly lit cave cast long shadows over the fallen bodies as Liam's eyes darkened, and he considered his next move. The light of the treasures from the adjacent room flickered, illuminating the tense scene. He exhaled slowly, anger still simmering beneath his cool demeanor.
Heroes..." Liam spat the word, his voice laced with contempt. "You came here to 'vanquish bandits,' and yet you killed my friend without even knowing what you were doing."
Caiser, the swordsman, groaned as he struggled to lift himself up, blood trailing down his lips. "We...we thought it was an enemy... We didn't know it was yours..."
Liam sneered at him, crouching down to meet Caiser's eyes. "That excuse won't bring my snake back." His tone was chilling, devoid of empathy. "I could end you all here. And no one would know the difference."
Kanya, the archer, who had been trying to heal Keith, lifted her head. Fear flashed in her eyes, but there was also a hint of defiance. "We didn't mean to hurt you. You don't have to do this."
Liam's gaze flickered toward her, his expression cold. "Do I?"
Rizuard, the tank, slammed his shield into the ground, trying to push himself to his feet. "You're no better than a bandit if you kill us now," he grunted. "If you want to prove you're not one of them, let us go."
Liam stared at him for a moment, considering the words. His instincts screamed for vengeance, but the logical side of him knew that killing a group of heroes would bring unwanted attention. He'd already done what he came for-cleared the bandits, freed the prisoners, and claimed the treasures.
Still, a lesson had to be taught.
"I'm not a bandit," Liam said finally, standing up. "But I'm not merciful either." His voice hardened, and he raised his hand, and says [Stain] . "You'll live...but you'll never forget this day."
With a flick of his wrist, a mark shaped like a star appears in the bodies of the heroes. Through the blood mark, he places [Mark] on each of the heroes, embedding his presence deep within them. The mark pulsed, sending a wave of discomfort through the group as they groaned in unison.
"This mark will remind you of your mistake," Liam said, his voice echoing in the quiet cave. "If you ever cross me again, I won't hesitate to finish what I started here."
The tension hung thick in the air as the heroes struggled to regain their composure. Silvana, still recovering from the [Paralyzing Domain], glared at Liam, but she said nothing. She knew they were outmatched.
Satisfied, Liam turned his back on them. "I'll leave you alive, but only because your deaths would attract too much attention. Consider this your second chance."
He began walking back toward the treasure room, his thoughts returning to the women and children he'd left behind. But as he reached the entrance, a faint tremor ran through the ground. Liam's sharp senses immediately picked up on the disturbance, and he froze, his eyes narrowing. Something wasn't right.
Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed through the cave. The walls shook violently, and cracks began to form in the ceiling. Liam's instincts kicked in as he turned back toward the heroes, still weakened from their fight.
Caiser, sensing the same danger, pushed himself to his feet, his sword trembling in his hand. "What's happening?"
Liam didn't have time to answer. His focus sharpened as the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air -heavy, deliberate, and inhuman. The ground trembled with each step.
A monstrous figure emerged from the darkness, its hulking form scraping against the cave walls. It was a towering beast, covered in jagged, black scales, with glowing red eyes that radiated pure malice. Liam's eyes widened as he realized what he was facing.
"A Corrupted Goliath..." The hero muttered under his breath. The beast, known for being near-unstoppable, must have been drawn by the bloodshed and commotion in the cave.
The heroes, still weakened from their encounter with Liam, stood frozen in fear. Rizuard raised his shield in a futile attempt to protect the group, but even he knew they stood little chance against such a creature in their current state.
Liam's mind raced. He could leave them to die-let the Goliath finish what he had started. But then he thought of the women and children waiting in the treasure room. If he didn't stop this creature, it would tear through the cave and slaughter them all.
His expression hardened as he stepped forward. "I'm the one it's after."
Without hesitation, he summoned his [Divine Shield], fortifying it with every ounce of mental strength he could muster. The translucent barriers shimmered in the dim light, stretching out to protect both himself and the heroes.
The Goliath roared, its voice shaking the very foundation of the cave, and charged at Liam with terrifying speed.
Liam's eyes glinted with determination. "You better not get in my way," he muttered to the heroes, before rushing forward to meet the beast head-on.
This was no longer about revenge. Now, it was a fight for survival.