THE GUARDIAN OF MIDGARD

CHAPTER 5

"I'm sorry, Ria." Jayd said, as he rushed forward.

"You don't have to apologise," she replied weakly, shaking her head. "You came back. That's all that matters." Speaking was taking a lot of her strength but she was willing to do it just to make sure her brother didn't take all the weight.

“The fault lies with Kraden even if you want to be angry.” She continued

The chains binding her wrists snapped apart the moment Jayd's fingers touched them.

And before she could lose her balance, he caught her and gently lowered her onto the cold stone floor.

"Easy," he said softly as he knelt before her. "You're safe now, I'm really sorry."

Ria forced a weak smile despite the pain coursing through her body.

"I told him." she whispered, struggling to keep her eyes open. "I knew my brother would come."

Jayd couldn't help but smile back. "You've always been stubborn."

Ria closed her eyes, allowing herself to lean into him, "I learned that from you."

They shared a quiet chuckle, but it only lasted a moment.

Jayd's expression quickly became serious as he examined her injuries. Deep bruises covered her arms, several cuts had become infected, and dried blood clung to her torn clothes.

She even had a broken rib, and seeing this made anger course through him again. If he had been late, Ria would have died.

His hand began to glow with a warm golden light.

"This may sting a little."

"It can't possibly hurt more than what I've already been through," Ria replied, trying to sound brave.

The golden light spread across her wounds, easing the swelling and slowly closing the smaller cuts. Colour gradually returned to her pale face.

Watching the scene from behind, Kraden's fear turned to hatred. He had given himself to the curse because he hated being weak.

But here was someone who had utterly trashed him, “Curse you, bastard. If I'm going to die, then we will die together.”

His breathing was ragged, and his entire body screamed in pain. Yet his trembling hand slipped beneath the remains of his shattered armour.

Hidden there was a short black blade, and its edge shimmered with a sickly green sheen.

The Poison Fang. Kraden looked at the blade, “Thank you Master for such a gift. With this, I would kill this bastard!” His killing intent focused entirely on Jayd.

A weapon coated in the venom of abyssal beasts, created for one purpose–to kill people who had any inch of divine energy.

A cruel smile spread across Kraden's bloodstained face.

"Your biggest mistake was letting your guard down.”

He rose as quietly as he could, masking the sound of his footsteps beneath Ria's faint breathing. His grip tightened around the dagger.

Jayd never looked back. Every ounce of his attention remained on healing his sister. If he didn't complete her healing at such a crucial state, she would end up dying.

“I'm almost done.” Jayd said when Ria grimaced in pain. In fact, he was impressed at how she was handling it.

What had his little sister been through that made her so pain resistant?

Kraden launched forward, with all his strength, “Die!”

The poisoned blade pierced straight through Jayd's back, emerging through his chest.

Ria's eyes widened and she trembled, "Brother!"

“Don't move!” Jayd harshly whispered, he wasn't going to stop the process. He continued the healing, blood flowing down from his lips.

Seeing this, tears appeared in Ria’s eyes, but she followed his instructions, keeping her body still.

Kraden burst into crazed laughter as he twisted the dagger deeper into the wound.

"You arrogant fool!" he shouted. "Strength means nothing if you're careless! That blade is coated with the deadliest poison from the Abyss. Even a god will rot from the inside once it enters the bloodstream!"

Jayd coughed, blood escaping his lips. His healing light flickered, and his fingers trembled. This was truly a strong poison.

Kraden staggered backwards, laughing despite the blood pouring from his mouth.."I wondered if you were some untouchable god, but in the end, you're just another fool.”

He sneered, “The Poison Fang was forged from the venom of Abyssal horrors. Once it enters your body, it devours your organs, your veins, and even your soul."

Ria's face turned pale and she stared at her brother, “Big Brother, you should—”

Jayd interrupted before she could continue, "It's alright," he said quietly, a small smile appearing on his face. “I'd be done now.” He continued and the healing light glowed even brighter.

Ria took in a sharp inhale, and realised all the pain had left her.

“You are alright now,” Jayd spoke, then a golden bell appeared in his hands, “Free the others and ring this bell, anytime you need help. I'd be busy now.” He gave a playful grin, before rising to his feet.

Kraden frowned. "You! Why are you still standing?"

Jayd turned to the man, then touched the tip of the blade sticking out of his chest.

"I spent three years fighting monsters whose poison could dissolve divine steel within seconds. Do you really believe a blade coated with this weak venom is enough to make me fall?"

A golden rune appeared in front of his chest and turned, causing a golden mist to surge through his body.

From his chest, black veins were spreading towards other parts of his body, and as soon as the golden mist surrounded him, the poison hissed, black smoke coming from the wound.

Kraden's eyes widened. “There's no way. What the heck are you?" His lips trembled, and he clenched his fists, unable to believe his eyes.

Jayd reached behind him and pulled the dagger from his body, and the wound began to close.

"The weapon was well made," Jayd said coldly, crushing the black blade "Unfortunately, I was your opponent.”

"This can't be happening." Kraden said, stumbling to the floor in fear. The next thing in his mind was to escape.

So he crawled back, fearing for his life.

But karma was never forgiving and Jayd appeared before him.

"Please.” Kraden begged, “I'm sorry. I'd change. I'd turn a new leaf.” His voice came out, with tears in his eyes.

"I was following orders!" he cried desperately. "Everything I did was because of my master! He was the one who wanted the women! He was the one who told me to open the Abyss! I only obeyed him!"

Jayd remained silent, his gaze hardening with every word that fell from Kraden's mouth.

Kraden quickly continued. "If you spare me, I'll tell you everything! I'll tell you where he came from, what he's planning, everything!"

"I don't need it.” Jayd said, raising his golden sword, “In your next life, live better.”

The sword was about to land when Kraden screamed at the top of his lungs.

"My Lord! Please save me!”

Instantly, the energy in the room shifted, an icy wind swept through the corridor, carrying with it the foul scent of decay.

Jayd’s frown deepened and even Ria felt her body shiver.

A soft laugh drifted through the darkness.

"My, my. It seems I arrived just in time."

Footsteps echoed across the stone floor, and each of them happened without rush.

A tall man walked from the shadows, dressed in flowing black robes embroidered with silver symbols.

His pale face looked almost handsome at first glance, and his grey eyes carried a deathly feeling.

Under his hand, was a black crooked staff that hit the floor when he moved.

Kraden immediately crawled across the floor until he reached the man's feet.

"My Lord Naj!" he cried, clutching the hem of the robe. "Thank goodness you've come! This madman attacked us without warning. He slaughtered our soldiers, destroyed the fortress, and wants to take your sacrifices away!"

Naj didn't even look at him. His attention rested solely on Jayd.

The smile on his face deepened.

"So. You're the man who ruined months of preparation."

Jayd's eyes narrowed, he didn't say anything because he was slowly observing.

The cursed energy flowing from Naj was unlike anything he had sensed since leaving Valhalla. In his years of training, the times he had come in contact with soul energy could be counted on one hand.

Especially something as deathly as this, this man had no sense of life.

Only one race possessed such energy.

"A Lich."

The word escaped Jayd's lips almost unconsciously.

Kraden looked between his master and Jayd, wondering what was going on.

Surprise appeared across Naj's face, and his smile got wider, that he almost burst into laughter.

"How unexpected. It's been centuries since someone recognised my true race at a single glance." He said, lightly tapping his staff against the stone floor.

"I was beginning to think humanity had forgotten us.”

Annoyed that he was being ignored, Kraden pulled the hem of his master's coat again.

“Kill him, Lord Naj! Look at what he did to me. We were just about to send in the women and–”

His sentence was cut short as Naj slightly hit his black staff on the man's head.

“How annoying. You don't interrupt me.” Naj said and almost immediately, Kraden's head exploded into flesh and blood, spilling across the floor.

With his eyes still on Jayd, Naj burst out in a grin. “What do you say about joining me, and being my right hand man?”