Reborn As A Slave: The Fallen God's Revenge

Chapter 04

Edrick fell silent for a moment.

Staring intently at the face of God Mervous with a gaze full of doubt.

"Are you serious about what you're saying, Kayrus? Leave? I mean... run away? We're going to escape from this place?"

Edrick's voice sounded trembling, as if he couldn't believe the words he had just heard. He repeated the same question, making sure that his hearing wasn't wrong.

God Mervous stared sharply, full of conviction. "I'm very serious, Edrick. Aren't you tired of all this? Don't you want to experience true freedom?"

It wasn't without reason that God Mervous was so insistent on inviting the man before him. His heart was moved by Edrick's suffering—working without rest, without wages, continuously tortured and forced. The man who had cared for him sincerely deserved to breathe the air of freedom.

"I'm doubtful, Kayrus." Edrick shook his head slowly. "They will find us quickly. Besides, there are guards at every corner of this place. We have no chance to escape."

"I can take care of all that." God Mervous answered with full certainty. "As long as you know which path we can take, which exit is hidden, I guarantee those guards won't be able to catch the two of us."

God Mervous's gaze was so intense that Edrick seemed hypnotized, not knowing what to say. There was a strange power in the eyes of the man named Kayrus—something different from an ordinary slave.

"You're my friend, aren't you?" God Mervous continued in a softer but urgent tone. "Aren't you tired of all this torture? I know, you also want to be free. So, let's go together. Let's get out of this cursed place."

God Mervous kept trying to convince the man.

He was very sure Edrick must know the ins and outs of this place better than anyone. This man must have heard about security gaps, about places that could lead them to freedom.

Therefore, God Mervous didn't stop coaxing.

"There's the air of freedom we can enjoy out there. We just need to unite, support each other, and then get out of this place together. Come with me. Come on, Edrick." God Mervous extended his hand with full hope.

God Mervous's convincing gaze locked Edrick's view. The man could only nod slowly, as if hypnotized by the conviction radiating from Kayrus's eyes.

"Alright." Edrick finally let out a long breath. "I will come with you, Kayrus."

Finally, after long consideration, that decision came out of Edrick's mouth.

With a victorious smile, God Mervous then pulled Edrick's hand to help him stand.

"Follow me. Let me show you our safe place." God Mervous whispered. "Soon the guards will return to enslave the others. We must find a special place if we don't want to be caught by them."

It turned out, God Mervous could see that this man might have previously planned an escape.

It was too obvious how Edrick knew the safe places. It seemed this man had also been looking for information for a long time to escape from this place of torture.

"Have you ever planned an escape before?" asked God Mervous with a crooked smile, full of investigation.

At this moment, they both entered the bushes that managed to conceal their presence. No one would suspect their presence behind the bushes that were adjacent to two large and fat trees.

"No, I never have." Edrick shook his head quickly. "I'm not as reckless as you, Kayrus."

"But you know everything." God Mervous grinned. "You know where we should go and what we should do. It's impossible for someone who never intended to escape to know that much detail."

God Mervous's crooked smile made Edrick unable to hide the truth any longer.

"I'm also tired," Edrick finally confessed with a soft voice. "I want to leave. But, in the end I could only come back again. I'm too afraid to face everything alone."

God Mervous smiled with satisfaction. His gaze on the man never missed.

He then raised his hand, patting Edrick's shoulder lightly but meaningfully.

"No need to be afraid." God Mervous looked into his eyes deeply. "You will become strong when you see things as challenges, not as obstacles."

"Don't be weak because those people will increasingly destroy you. You must be strong so they can be defeated. You're already immune to torture—facing them isn't a big problem."

Edrick nodded, his heart moved by his friend's words.

"Then, which way should we take? I don't see an exit here at all."

God Mervous, who was already impatient to leave, kept turning his head left and right, looking for clues. For a moment, Edrick fell silent, trying to remember.

"I once heard that the cave over there can show the way out of this place. It's just that the dark and steep place makes anyone afraid to go there. Some say there are many guards there. If there are guards, clearly that place can show the way out."

The memory of when he accidentally eavesdropped on other slaves when not being watched by the guards flashed through Edrick's mind.

"I know." Edrick finally spoke up. "Follow me."

Edrick walked in silence, letting the bushes that injured his hands pass without complaint.

Until finally, he stopped his steps when he found a cave not far from their bush hideout.

"Look at that." Edrick pointed with his chin.

"Over there. I once heard there's an exit, that's why there are many guards there."

God Mervous stared at the two guards in front of the cave entrance.

"Let me take care of everything."

God Mervous rolled up his long sleeves to align with his elbows, preparing to fight.

"But, Kayrus. You..." Edrick said then fell silent. "He even left immediately without hearing the end of my words."

Meanwhile, God Mervous now walked without hesitation toward the two guards.

Although he didn't possess godly powers, God Mervous felt very confident that he could finish off the two guards. This mortal body might be weak, but the fighting experience of thousands of years never disappeared from his memory.

"Hey, stupid slave!" one of the guards shouted. "Get out of the way or you'll feel my wrath!"

God Mervous instead stepped closer with full challenge. The two guards with their shields and guard equipment then turned to stare at God Mervous, smiling as if belittling the figure who came empty-handed.

"You will die for daring to threaten us."

Thud! Thud!

With the strength he possessed and some knowledge of powerless warfare that he mastered, God Mervous incapacitated both guards in the blink of an eye. His movements were fast, precise, deadly—a legacy from his past as a god of war.

He looked at Edrick arrogantly.

"You... are very amazing." Edrick was stunned.

God Mervous looked increasingly haughty, enjoying the admiration in his friend's eyes.

"Let's go before anyone sees this."

He and Edrick entered the cave carefully. There were many dangers waiting for them inside.

Fortunately, the guards inside the cave weren't gathered together. There was only one person after another who was encountered and immediately incapacitated by God Mervous with efficient and silent movements.

"Watch out!" Edrick shouted, pulling his friend away.

A medium-sized rock that collapsed almost hit God Mervous. Fortunately Edrick was alert and immediately helped his friend.

Dangers kept coming as if testing their seriousness. By protecting each other, Edrick and God Mervous managed to get through the rampant dangers.

After sneaking through the darkness of the cave long enough, the two men finally found a bright light that indicated the end of the cave.

"Finally!" Edrick looked enthusiastic, his eyes sparkling. "Our freedom is now before our eyes."

This was the first time he had ever felt so happy. His heart pounded hard, full of hope.

However, like being flown as high as possible to the sky then dropped in a short time, that hope for freedom instantly shattered completely.

Instead of freedom, the end of the cave led them to a lake.

A vast lake, surrounded by steep cliffs. There was no way out.

Edrick was really confused at this moment, because as far as the man remembered, according to the information he got, this cave could lead them to freedom, not trapped like this.

"Damn it!" God Mervous hissed irritably. "This is all a trap, Edrick. You've been deceived. Now we're trapped here. I'm sure those guards have already reported us."

God Mervous chuckled in annoyance. How could he not have thought of this possibility before. He was too hasty, too confident.

"There's no way out here, Edrick. We're already trapped. We've already entered their trap."

Edrick felt guilty. This was all because of him that they ended up like this. "This is my fault, Kayrus. I apologize to you. I didn't know it would end like this."

A long exhale ended God Mervous's annoyance. Everything had already happened, there was nothing to regret. What mattered now was finding a way out of this situation.

Until not long after, a light blinded Edrick and God Mervous's eyes. They covered their vision, squinting because of the glare.

"You fools, no wonder you're slaves."

A commander came riding a horse, the gleaming shield turned out to be what had blinded their vision earlier.

Behind him, dozens of guards lined up neatly, weapons drawn, their faces full of victory.

"You both must be punished." The commander grinned cruelly. "King Libradon will surely be very pleased with this potential sacrifice."

Both were shocked. Especially, Edrick who now widened his eyes sharply, his face pale like a living corpse.

Faintly, Edrick's small murmur was heard with a face full of extraordinary fear.

"King... Libradon?"