Alice was trembling with fear and apprehension as she faced the formidable figure of the elder, who was none other than their revered queen. Despite her overwhelming trepidation, the queen persisted, urging Alice to respond to her pressing inquiry. Summoning every ounce of courage and resilience within her, Alice rose to her feet, determined to provide an answer. With measured steps, she approached the queen, extending her trembling finger towards me, and uttered the words, "Jordan is responsible."The shock and disbelief that coursed through me were palpable, causing me to exclaim, "What?! How? When?" Suddenly, the memories of what had transpired between me and Elfin in our cell came flooding back. It dawned on me that it was not Elfin who had committed the act, but rather Alice. She had orchestrated the deed and employed Elfin as a scapegoat to conceal her own wrongdoing.In a mix of astonishment and anguish, I couldn't help but confront Alice, questioning her motives. The crowd aro
"Sadly," she replied with a heavy heart, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Dairo met his tragic end in the devastating explosion caused by my husband." Tears welled up in her eyes, cascading down her cheeks. Determined, she rose from her seat and made her way towards a table situated on the far side of the Hall."You must be incredibly proud of your husband's bravery," I exclaimed, my admiration evident in my voice. However, she shook her head in response. "No, a truly brave man wouldn't enter a battle knowing it would cost him his life," she replied, her voice tinged with grief, as she reached for a handkerchief from the table to dry her tears and wipe her nose."Rest assured, ma'am, I vow to avenge your husband," I assured her, my sincere concern etched across my face. "I trust you, Jordan, and I'm relying on you," she replied, her sadness palpable.As I turned my gaze towards the door through which we entered, I noticed a beautiful woman peering at me from the side. Instantly, her fac
As the voice reverberated through the air once more, its words echoed in my ears, "Feeble, pitiful, just like your ancestors. Now I understand your desires, 'a disgrace' hahaha." In that very moment, my husband's mouth was forcefully pried open, allowing a sinister cloud of darkness to seep inside. My husband recounted that it was all a blur from there, as he found himself suddenly immersed in a fierce battle with Dairo within a grand arena. The sight was nothing short of awe-inspiring; Dairo fought with the prowess of a deity, his every move a testament to his otherworldly skills. However, amidst the chaos, my husband's instincts began to whisper something peculiar. It seemed that Dairo, in truth, was no longer among the living, but rather harbored a malevolent demon within him.Seeking clarity, my husband called out to Dairo, his voice filled with uncertainty, "Hey, Dairo! What is the meaning of this? Why are we locked in combat?" To his astonishment, Dairo responded with a chillin
Then she began speaking, her voice filled with sorrow. "Once, we led a joyous and idyllic existence in our enchanting realm known as Labatas. Our valiant men, the greatest blessing bestowed upon us, would bravely defend us from harm. Their sole purpose was to father our children. However, amidst the virtuous, there always lurks an evil presence, and that was Dairo. Consumed by envy and jealousy, Dairo, devoid of a wife, child, or siblings, believed he had nothing to lose. Thus, he embarked on a quest for power in the realm of the unknown. He sought the ability to impregnate a woman, but little did he know what awaited him in the abyss.On a radiant morning, Dairo ventured deep into the forest, accompanied by my beloved husband, Ruka, whom I yearned for dearly. They delved into the heart of the woods, ostensibly in search of a remedy for Dairo's plight. Yet, unbeknownst to Ruka, Dairo's true purpose was to uncover 'inora'—the power to achieve the impossible."My husband, a mere mortal
Elfin POV: "Jordan! Jordan, wake up," I called out softly, gently tapping him to rouse him from his slumber. He slowly opened his eyes and whispered, "Elfin! Let's go, it's already midnight." I nodded, my heart heavy with the knowledge that we couldn't escape the ropes binding us. "I wished I could help you, Jordan, but these ropes are the strongest thing in the world," I explained. He looked at me, confusion etched on his face. "Wait, what do you mean by the strongest thing in the world?" he asked. I took a deep breath before responding, my voice filled with sorrow. "Only the elder's blade can cut through it," I revealed. His eyebrows furrowed as he questioned me further. "Huh! How many times have you been tied up?" he asked. I paused for a moment, knowing the weight of my answer. "You don't want to know, trust me," I assured him, my voice tinged with sadness. And then, the words spilled out, filled with sorrow and blame. "It's all your fault, Jordan. We shouldn't have been here, but
Elfin, with her short-gun raised, used her intimidating presence to ward off the guards. The leader of the guards confronted her, questioning her actions. Undeterred, Elfin boldly responded, "I'm ready to blast anyone who dares to approach me." Her gun remained pointed directly at the guards' leader.Recognizing Elfin's determination, the leader of the guards decided to negotiate. She calmly addressed Elfin, signaling her subordinates to lower their weapons. "Alright, young one, I hear you. Let's talk. Tell me what you want."As the pretty lady opened the cell gate and approached me to untie me, Elfin turned her gaze towards us, ensuring my safety. But in a sudden and unexpected turn of events, a gunshot pierced the air. It was the guards' leader, who skillfully shot Elfin's gun from her hand. Without wasting a moment, she lunged towards Elfin, delivering a forceful blow to her neck. Elfin crumpled to the ground, unconscious.The female guards swiftly took control, capturing both Elfi
My heart pounded in my chest as fear mingled with a newfound sense of purpose. Amidst the chaos and danger, a realization washed over me like a wave crashing against the shore. It was as if a voice deep within me whispered, urging me to rise above my own fears and become the protector my friends needed. With a determined gaze, I turned to Elfin, my voice filled with conviction. "Take them to safety," I said, my words carrying the weight of my resolve. "I'll hold them back."Elfin's eyes widened, her voice laced with concern. "Are you insane, Jordan? You don't know what you're up against. Those monsters are ruthless, merciless. They'll tear you apart."But I couldn't ignore the fire burning within me, the sense of duty that demanded action. I met the gaze of the old woman who had guided us to this point. "Are you a man?" she asked, her voice filled with wisdom."Yes," I replied, my voice steady. "I am a man.""Then it is our duty to protect," she declared, her words echoing with convic
As if out of nowhere, a deafening series of gunshots echoed through the air, reverberating in our ears. The monstrous fish let out a gut-wrenching moan, its pain echoing through the depths. Curiosity consumed me, and I cautiously peeped to catch a glimpse of the source. To my astonishment, there stood an elderly woman, her weathered face etched with determination, cradling a small girl in her arms. In her right hand, she firmly grasped a formidable double-barrel shotgun, its weight a testament to her resolve. With a solemn yet resolute voice, she entrusted the young girl with a gleaming dagger, urging her forward with the words, "Go, little one, and cut out its heart." My eyes remained fixed on the scene as the courageous child approached the wounded creature, her small hands gripping the dagger with unwavering determination. With a swift and precise motion, she plunged the blade into the beast's chest, extracting its still-beating heart. The old woman's gaze shifted towards our hidin
I tumbled and ended up right smack in a trashcan, grappling and wriggling to free myself from its clutches. But no matter how hard I fought, escape eluded me. Then, like a glimmer of hope in the darkness, I spotted a hand reaching in, extending its aid. Without a moment's hesitation, I seized the hand and hoisted myself out of the trash can. And there she stood before me, a young maiden of exquisite beauty, her raven-black tresses cascading down. In her left hand, she held a sawn-off short gun, a symbol of both danger and protection. With her right hand, she pulled me up, rescuing me from my predicament.As I cast my gaze around, a profound sense of disorientation washed over me. The landscape before me was nothing like the world I had fallen from. Though it bore a resemblance to my familiar realm, with its towering cities and grand houses, the devastation that lay before me was undeniable. The structures stood in ruins, their once majestic facades now reduced to rubble and debris. It