A sinister laugh echoed through the cold, damp dungeons, reverberating off the stone walls like a cruel symphony. Luo Fei, the most powerful sorcerer in the land, hung suspended on a wooden cross, his arms stretched wide and bound by iron shackles. His golden eyes, sharp and unyielding, glared at the figure before him with a hatred that burned brighter than the torches lining the dungeon walls.
Fiery red hair clung to his bloodied face, strands sticking to the sweat and grime that marred his once-pristine features. His lips curled into a smirk, defiant despite the crimson streaks trailing down his body. The iron shackles bit into his wrists, and the sound of dripping blood punctuated the silence like a metronome of despair.
"Listen, General," Luo Fei growled, his voice hoarse yet laced with venom. "I will never agree to help your pathetic excuse for a country. You think I'll save the empire that betrayed me? That locked me up like an animal for your petty grudges? Like hell I will."
His golden eyes locked onto the general's, unflinching. "And for this," he spat, blood staining his lips, "for chaining me here, for whipping me like a beast, I swear I'll have my revenge. When I'm free, you'll all burn."
The black-haired general, Zi Hao, stood a few paces away, his whip still gripped in his hand. His expression was unreadable, though a flicker of frustration crossed his features. He had been ordered to break the sorcerer's will, to force him into submission, but Luo Fei's stubbornness was unyielding.
"You're a fool," Zi Hao muttered, tossing the whip aside with a sharp clatter. His sky-blue eyes narrowed, irritation bubbling beneath his stoic demeanor. "Your pride blinds you, sorcerer. This empire is the only thing standing between you and chaos. Yet you'd rather let it fall than lend your power?"
Luo Fei let out a low chuckle, his head drooping forward as his hair obscured his face. "Chaos?" he repeated, his tone mocking. "Your emperor is chaos incarnate. A tyrant cloaked in silk and gold. If his reign ends, it'll be a mercy to the world."
Zi Hao clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. He took a step closer, his voice lowering to a harsh whisper. "Do you think I want to be here, sorcerer? Do you think I enjoy begging for your help? I know what kind of man the emperor is. But refusing him doesn't just doom you—it dooms us all."
Luo Fei raised his head, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Then perhaps you should've thought of that before locking me in this hellhole."
Zi Hao's patience snapped. With a growl of frustration, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the dungeon, the heavy door slamming shut behind him. The sound echoed through the stone halls, but Luo Fei's laughter followed him, cold and mocking.
As Zi Hao ascended the winding staircase back to the surface, his mind raced. He had failed. The sorcerer's refusal would not only seal the empire's fate but his own. The emperor was a tyrant who showed no mercy, even to his most loyal subjects. And Zi Hao had no illusions about what awaited him when he delivered the news.
By the time he reached the imperial palace, the weight of his failure pressed heavily on his shoulders. A servant met him at the gates and led him through the opulent halls, their polished marble floors and gilded walls a stark contrast to the filth of the dungeons.
When they reached the throne room, Zi Hao paused to steady himself before entering. The massive doors creaked open, revealing the emperor seated upon his golden throne. His crimson robes flowed like blood around him, and his piercing red eyes bore into Zi Hao as he approached.
Zi Hao knelt, bowing his head low. "May your reign be long and prosperous, Your Imperial Majesty," he began, his voice steady despite the fear coiling in his chest. "I humbly apologize for my failure. I could not convince the cursed sorcerer to exorcise the curse that plagues you."
The emperor's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. "Zi Hao," he said, his voice cold and sharp, "you disgrace the empire. You cannot even sway a broken man to serve his betters. Do you understand the gravity of your failure?"
Zi Hao clenched his jaw, his sky-blue eyes shutting tightly as he prepared for the verdict. "Yes, Your Majesty," he replied.
The emperor leaned back on his throne, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "Fifty lashes," he declared. "Let this be a lesson in obedience and competence."
Zi Hao's heart sank, but he swallowed hard and forced himself to respond. "Understood, Your Majesty."
As the guards moved to escort him away, Zi Hao cast one last glance at the emperor, his mind already racing. The sorcerer's defiance had doomed them all, but the seeds of doubt had been planted. Perhaps it was not the sorcerer's pride that would destroy the empire—but...