CHAPTER SEVEN: "Captured"

Elias’ POV:

As I emerged from the gateway, the splendor of Elysium unfolded before my eyes—a realm of unparalleled beauty and wonder. But before I could fully take in the sights, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, my body succumbing to the strain of my recent battles. Collapsing to the ground, darkness enveloped me.

When I awoke, I found myself bound in chains, confined within a cramped carriage alongside other captives. There, In the dimly lit carriage, the other captives huddled together, their faces etched with fear and uncertainty. Two women, their eyes wide with apprehension, clung to each other for comfort. Their clothes were tattered, their hair matted and unkempt. As I glanced at them, "Nature's Insight" revealed their feeble stats, confirming their vulnerability in this dire situation.

Beside them sat a young boy, no older than ten, his eyes darting nervously around the cramped space. His small frame seemed dwarfed by the heavy chains that bound him. Despite his youth, his stats were pitifully low, marking him as an easy target for any would-be assailant.

Nearby, a middle-aged man sat with a defeated expression, his shoulders slumped in resignation. His weathered face bore the marks of hardship, and his tired eyes spoke volumes of the trials he had endured. His stats offered little in the way of defense, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.

Beside him, a man in his twenties exuded a sense of quiet determination, his jaw set in a firm line as he surveyed his surroundings. Though his youthful vigor was apparent, his stats told a different story.  

None of them seemed noticeably special. They were all normal people – prisoners in this cruel world, their lives hanging in the balance. Curious, I started a conversation with them.

Elias: "What's going on? Why are we here?"

Prisoner 1: casts a wary glance "They took us... from the forest... brought us here..."

Prisoner 2: nods in agreement "No idea where 'here' is... just know... it ain't good."

Elias: confused "The carriage stopped?"

Man with Chains: gruffly "Shut your mouth, boy! You're nothing but cargo now. Best keep quiet if you know what's good for you."

Elias: activates "Nature's Insight" and sees the captor's stats "Pathetic! Did I really get kidnapped by such small fry?"

Man with Chains: growls "What did you just say? Small fry? You think you're tough, do you? Well, let me tell you, boy, you're in for a world of hurt if you don't learn your place."

Elias: meets his gaze unfazed

Man with Chains: sneers "You bastard!"

As I conversed with the man with chains, two other armed men suddenly appeared, their presence casting a shadow of uncertainty over the cramped carriage. Their voices rang out in confusion, demanding to know what was happening. A tense dialogue ensued between the man with chains and the newcomers, their words laced with overconfidence.

Armed man 1: “What is it Ron? Messing with the cargo again?”

Man with chains: “Kukuku. We seem to have picked an interesting one. The brat we found lying unconscious in the middle of the road seems really cocky”

Armed man 2: “Oh! Drag them out. Seems the merchandise needs a little education! Kekeke” 

Man with chains: “Get out you pieces of shit!”

Chaos erupted as the captors attempted to drag out the prisoners, they yanked the chains binding us and pulled us out, however, their efforts was thwarted by the unyielding chain that bound me. I watched with a mix of astonishment and apprehension as they struggled in vain, their frustration palpable in the air.

Suddenly, the situation took a turn for the worse as the captors lashed out with their swords, their blades glinting menacingly in the dim light. In a desperate bid for freedom, two of the prisoners – the young man and one of the women – made a break for it, their eyes filled with determination.

But their fleeting hope was swiftly extinguished as one of the captors gave chase, his weapon striking them down with brutal efficiency. The sound of their demise echoed in the air, sending shivers down my spine and eliciting gasps of horror from the other captives.

Meanwhile, the remaining captors turned their attention back to me, their faces twisted with rage and desperation. They launched a futile assault, their swords clashing against my impenetrable defenses. But their efforts were in vain, as I easily overpowered them with my superior strength and speed.

Man with chains: “W-who the hell are you?”

Elias: “You're asking that question too late”

Man with chains: “Spare me”

As they begged for mercy, I met their pleas with a steely gaze, my resolve unshaken by their pitiful cries. I flicked one of them on the forehead and sent him hurtling through the air, his body crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud.

The other two fled in panic. I turned my attention to them and moved with lightning speed, appearing before them in an instant. With a surge of lightning magic, I incapacitated one of the captors, leaving him writhing on the ground in agony. Grasping the other by the neck, I lifted him off the ground, my voice low and menacing as I interrogated him for answers.

Elias: "Who are you people? What do you want with us?"

Man: struggling to speak "We're just... just merchants, that's all! We... we take people and... and sell them in the market!"

Elias: disgusted "Sell them? Like cattle? You're nothing but scum."

Man: pleading "Please, we were just following orders! We didn't mean any harm!"

Elias: gritting his teeth "Orders? Whose orders? Who's behind all this?"

Man: frantic "I-I don't know! They never told us names! Just gave us coin and said to bring in the prisoners!"

Elias: seething with anger "You expect me to believe that? You're all the same—greedy, heartless filth preying on the helpless."

Man: begging "I-I swear, we're just small-time traders! We don't know anything about the big players!"

Elias: coldly "Then you're of no use to me." drops the man to the ground

The man cowers on the ground, whimpering as I turned away.

Approaching the remaining three prisoners, I felt the weight of their captivity heavy in the air. With a firm grip, I grasped the chains binding them and, with a swift motion, broke them off with my bare hands. Their stunned expressions mirrored the disbelief I felt at my own strength.

"You're so strong!" exclaimed the little boy, his voice filled with awe.

I offered a reassuring smile before turning my attention to the others. "Aren't you going to kill them?" demanded the middle-aged man, his tone laced with anger and desperation.

"They are no longer a threat," I replied calmly, maintaining my composure despite the tension in the air.

The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed as he picked up a sword lying on the ground. In a sudden burst of rage, he plunged it into the chest of one of the captors, his face contorted with fury.

"Stop! What have you done?" I exclaimed, rushing forward to intervene.

The middle-aged man turned to me, his expression defiant. "I couldn't let them live, not after what they've done to us."

"That's not justice. That's revenge," I countered, my voice steady but firm.

The young woman nodded in agreement. "He's right. We have to focus on finding help and getting out of here, not sinking to their level."

As the middle-aged man ignored my pleas and proceeded to end the lives of the remaining captors, a sense of resignation washed over me. Despite my best efforts to intervene, his thirst for vengeance consumed him, leaving me powerless to stop him. With a heavy heart, I watched as he declared his intent to go his own way, leaving us behind without a second glance.

Turning away from the scene, I prepared to leave.

Little boy: "Please, mister, can we come with you? We don't think we can survive on our own."

Young woman: "Yes, please. I don't know what we'll do without your help."

Elias: sighs "Alright, but where do you plan to go?"

Little boy: "I'm from Oaksville, sir! It's a lovely town, not too far from here. Can you take me home?"

Elias: nods "Of course. I'm Elias, what's your name?

Young boy: My name is Kai.

Elias: Alright Kai. I'll make sure you get back safely."

Young woman: "My name's Lily, and I... I don't really have a destination in mind. Nowhere feels like home anymore. If you don't mind, can I stick with you for a little while longer?"

Looking at Lily, I found myself struck by her beauty, a delicate contrast to the harsh realities of our surroundings. 

Elias: offers a reassuring smile "Well, you're welcome to come with us, Lily. We'll figure things out together."

With our impromptu group assembled, we set out on our journey, each of us carrying our own burdens and secrets, yet united by a shared sense of hope and determination.