THE GUARDIAN OF MIDGARD

CHAPTER 3

Deep in an underground chamber, the stench of blood and rotting flesh filled the air.

Inside cages with thick bars were different young women, their faces were stained with fear, holding the look of despair.

A man clothed in black, held a terrifying aura, and his gaze was held in stone.

His heavy footsteps echoed through the prison.

“Simply wonderful.” Commander Kraden strolled with his hands behind his back, his lips curled into a pleased smile as he admired the terrified faces before him.

"Another successful hunt," he said with a satisfied chuckle. "The boss will be very pleased with this batch." His deep voice echoed as he stared into the eyes of every one of the young ladies.

Then his eyes landed on a lady.

Kraden stopped in front of another cage.

Unlike the others, she stood at the bars located near the door of the cage

There was not an iota of fear in her eyes.

She was badly hurt with her torn clothes and her bruised arms, but she couldn’t stop staring at him.

He took time to examine her and then laughed, “I see that you are the defiant girl who has been causing me problems.”

Ria kept silent, but her smile broke out and then she spit on his face.

The room fell silent as all the cries and whimpers abruptly came to a halt.

He wiped the saliva from his cheek as he stopped smiling. He waved his hand at a guard, who then unlocked the cage and let him in.

“You little whore,” he said as he finally looked at her properly.

His palm cracked across Ria's face, throwing her against the iron bars. If not for his boss’s request, he would have made all his guards have their way with her.

Right now, all he could do was clench his fist in anger.

Blood was coming out from her mouth, but her smile stayed. “You are making a huge mistake.”

Kraden frowned, the ugliness showing in his face.

"My brother is coming," Ria went on as her eyes stayed on him. "And when he comes, you'll beg for mercy while he tortures you to death.”

There was a pause before Kraden burst into laughter.

"Your brother? Let him come, and then he will watch as I tear him limb from limb, while you both watch me feed it to him.” He growled, punching the bars, instantly creating a dent.

Ria lifted her head, there was still no fear in her eyes, “You can start counting your days.”

Kraden's eyes turned cold. "Throw her into the inner cell. I'll deal with her personally after the boss arrives."

___________________

Meanwhile, sitting on the remains of a wooden chair, Larissa clutched Jayd's cloak, wrapping it tightly around herself.

“They took her." Her voice trembled.

Jayd stood silently beside her, he appeared calm but he was suppressing the anger that threatened to spill from his body.

"It happened a few weeks ago. Kraden's men raided what was left of the city. They took every young woman they could find." Larissa said, lowering her head, as she remembered every detail of the clash.

"I tried to stop them. I really did, but I wasn't strong enough. They dragged Ria away, while she kept screaming your name. Kraden’s orders were to take away all the young virgin ladies. I was raped by a guard so…”

Silence followed, and Larissa shut her eyes tightly, not wanting to remember the scenario.

“I'm sorry.” Jayd responded, clenching his fist. If he had come here earlier, none of them would have gone through this. He blamed himself heavily.

And even now, he wanted to stay, because leaving her here felt wrong.

“I wish I came here earlier.” He said as his jaw clenched.

He was conflicted and every second he delayed, Ria remained in enemy hands.

Larissa noticed the trouble in his eyes. She wiped her tears, "Go after her, Jayd. I'll be alright.”

Jayd looked at her. This was the woman who had saved them many years ago, and now she was doing the same thing.

His heart tore as guilt ripped through it.

A faint smile appeared on Larissa's face. "I've survived this long," she continued softly. "Besides, you've already saved me. Ria needs you far more than I do.”

Jayd nodded, there was no denying what he needed to do. He gave her a respectful bow.

"Thank you."

Golden light wrapped around his body, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished.

Larissa was awed, and she couldn't help but wonder, how strong had this young man gotten over the years.

The wind rushed past Jayd as he crossed the ruined lands at an astonishing speed.

His thoughts remained fixed on Ria, and his wrath was fixated on Kraden as he thought of different ways to make that bastard pay.

At that moment, a deafening roar shot across the sky.

Jayd's brows knitted together. "Impossible." He came to a stop so fast that the ground beneath his feet cracked, his eyes fixated on the borders of the city.

He knew that sound. He had heard it countless times during his years in the Abyss.

“I'm sorry Ria.” Jayd whispered an apology, as he turned to the direction of the roar.

The scent of blood quickly filled the air.

Moments later, the battlefield came into view.

Dozens of soldiers desperately fought against towering monsters pouring from a crack in space. The creatures resembled twisted bears covered in white scales, their crimson eyes glowing with endless hunger.

Jayd's eyes sharpened. These were frost beasts, he thought, floating in the air.

It was impossible.

He had personally slain the Abyssal Lords, and sealed the gateway with divine power before leaving.

So why? What went wrong in these few years?

The frost beasts ripped through armour like paper, and soldiers were being bitten in half, and torn into pieces. Each claw of the beasts was as thick as a human’s head.

Jayd frowned. "I sealed the Abyss myself. So what is going on? Why are they coming here? ”

His sword appeared in his hand, and a burst of golden light exploded beneath his feet, as he streaked across the battlefield like lightning.

One beast lost its head and another was divided from shoulders down.

The soldiers watched in disbelief as the tide instantly shifted, but yet they couldn't see the face of the man.

He was moving way too fast for their mortal eyes.

Then the ground shook.

A towering bear emerged from a crack, its white scales had grown longer, forming frozen stalagmite on its back, its head had six crimson eyes, and a roar alone sent a shockwave across the battlefield.

Jayd looked up calmly. "So you're the one leading them.".In spite of all these, there was no change in his expression.

With one powerful leap, he soared into the air.

The frost giant beast swung a claw large enough to flatten a house, but Jayd slipped past it effortlessly.

His sword shone with a golden light, and it increased in length. To anyone else, it would have looked heavy, but to Jayd, it was light as a feather.

“Valkyrie Retribution.” The giant sword came down in a single move, going through the monster's body.

Jayd didn't care that he was being watched, in fact he didn't have enough time. Ria was still waiting for him.

The frost giant separated in two, each part evaporating instantly.

Jayd raised his free hand, ignoring the fleeing beasts.

Golden runes spread across the fractured space, weaving together into an enormous seal, and the abyss shuttered violently, and then it closed, and the entire space returned back to normal.

The remaining monsters vanished, turning into tiny golden dust.

The sword in Jayd's hand vanished and he stood, producing the aura of an untouchable god.

The surviving soldiers stared at him in shock, while the commander stepped forward in disbelief.

"Thank you for saving us, but who are you?"

Jayd ignored the question. His gaze remained fixed on the place where the Abyss had stood. "Who broke the seal and opened the Abyss?"

The commander swallowed. "Commander Kraden. He possesses the curse of a corrupt god. He used that power to break the seal."

Jayd's eyes turned cold. It was this same man.

He didn't turn back to face the commander. For now, he was going to keep his identity hidden. "And where is this so-called commander?"

The commander pointed towards the eastern mountains

"Blackstone Fortress. He rules from there, and he has a large army that does his bidding—"

Before the man could finish his sentence, a gust of wind appeared, and the soldiers covered their faces.

By the time they opened their eyes, Jayd had already disappeared.

They all wondered who on earth could this man possibly be.