Chapter 117: Nightmare Grasp

Chapter 117: Nightmare Grasp

Jacek watched as hundreds of his soldiers returned across the siege line from the citadel. He stood with his arms crossed thinking to himself, “Each and every soldier unharmed and released. Xenia has kept her promise. I’m impressed.”

A commanding officer ran up to Jacek and reported in, “Lord Heraklinos, sir!”

Jacek turned to him, “Report commander.”

The commander saluted Jacek and began his report, “Master Heraklinos has received word from General Magnus that the rebel attacks in the Saber Province have all but vanished as of late bringing the border attack crisis to a close, for now.”

Jacek frowned and looked at his commander with a look of suspicion but said nothing. The commander continued, “Similar attacks have also been successfully warded off in the Sage Empire and Starfallen Empire.”

Jacek couldn’t help himself but to express his suspicions, “Rebel attacks in three separate empires all coming to a halt at once? I don’t like that commander. I don’t like that at all. Rather than a victory, I see it as the rebel forces displaying coordination far beyond anything we have seen previously.”

“Should I relay your concerns to Master Heraklinos, sir?” The commander agreed with Jacek but had no authority to express it to an audience who could act on the matter.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

Jacek shook his head, “No. It is good news for now. And we have our hands full here for the moment.”

The commander nodded, “Very good sir. In more good news, unequivocally good news that is, the ki stones from Master Sage have arrived in pristine order.”

Jacek smiled and unfolded his arms, “Now that isgood news.”

The commander smiled along with him, “Three stones have arrived, and they are currently in your office being held safely with soldiers on guard at all hours.”

Jacek simply smiled knowing that Erika had sent them the strongest reinforcements they could ask for. He thought to himself, “I’m sure she has improved even more, and last time I was able to best Gladiator Champion Nero with the aid of her ki stone.”

The commander finished by saying, “And lastly my Lord, Master Sage requests you call her at your earliest convenience.”

Jacek nodded and replied, “I’ll call her now. Thank you commander.”

The commander bowed and left his Lord’s side as Jacek continued to watch the soldiers pour in and past the siege line. Jacek drew his cell phone and called Erika. The phone rang several times before a voice answered.

“Jacek! How did the negotiations go?” Erika was thrilled Jacek had called her so soon.

He smiled at the sound of her voice and answered, “They went surprisingly well. Suspiciously well.”

Erika replied, “Hmm, she didn’t try anything off limits or scandalous did she? That woman is an incorrigible harlot.”

“She tried. But I stood my ground.” Jacek didn’t consider telling Erika the truth of what happened for a second.

“And she had no qualms with you refusing to hand President Davis over to her?” Erika was somewhat surprised given his importance and skill as a politician.

Jacek sighed a breath of relief, “No qualms at all really. She moved on quite fast after being informed. I think she already prepared herself for the news. She seemed to have a firm grasp on the understanding that both St. Michael and Arthur Davis are moving further and further from her influence.”

“Well. She isn’t an idiot. As much as I hate to commend her, she has always been very sharp and aware of the shifting sands of the world around her.” Erika replied.

“Thank you. Now what is it that my mother has sent you here for.” Xenia asked him as they walked into her private quarters.

She leaned against her desk, and he respectfully stood with his hands clasped together, “I’ll cut to the chase. A liter of your blood. And... your heart.”

Xenia rolled her eyes, “Fine. But she is lucky I have a penchant for pain. What did you call me... a freak? She’s lucky I’m a freak.”

She then looked to Ashrok and said, “Well, how would you like to gather it?”

Ashrok gathered a layer of ki around his body and said, “Without mess if you don’t mind.”

She grimaced, “Without mess? That doesn’t sound painful. If you are going to take a liter of blood at least let me enjoy it.”

Ashrok realized he had underestimated her predilection for pain and responded, “Very well. By dagger then.”

She smiled and gave a low rumbled growl of pleasure, “Do to me as you like then Ashrok.”

She opened her arms and leaned against the desk waiting for him. He quickly slashed at her chest with his dagger making a deep wound and held a large glass bottle out as he collected blood from the largest stream that poured from her body. It was a messy catch as the ground below soaked with fallen blood.

Xenia breathed heavily and moaned from the pain. Ashrok thought to himself, “How do you fight an opponent who thrives on being attacked? She will be unstoppable one day if she isn’t already.”

As the bottle filled to the top, he corked it, “That is all for the blood.” He then watched her wound heal right before his very eyes as he came to the realization, “You’re healing is far beyond that of your mother’s. To extract your heart while you heal would be a tall task.”

She smiled, “But one I’m up for.”

Ashrok corked the bottle and placed it on the desk surface and said, “I will use a different method to take your heart. Don’t worry. I’m told it’s quite painful by the dying words of those who have suffered from this technique.”

Xenia threw her head back and shouted, “I’m ready!”

Ashrok stood a foot from her and concentrated a layer of nightmare ki around his hand and yelled, “Nightmare grasp!”

He reached for her chest with an open hand. His hand crossed through her chest and rib cage as it entered her body unobstructed by physical barriers. He then clenched his hand around her heart and yanked it out whole. He even felt a few residual beats of her heart as he stood before her with her heart clenched in his grasp.

Xenia let out a soft, “Wow, what an amazing feeling.” She fell to her knees from the momentary low blood pressure secondary to the absence of her heart; however, as her ki worked overtime to rebuild her heart, her blood pressure slowly resumed to normal.

She coughed up a spat of blood and stood to her feet as if nothing had happened after just one minute.

Ashrok gazed at her in astonishment, “Truly incredible. You and your mother are by far the most gifted ki users ever known to this planet.”

Xenia put her arm around him and said, “Ashrok, you are welcome to compliment me any time. I just love it. I don’t suppose you have time to torture a few prisoners together before you must leave do you?”

Ashrok laughed, “I might have a few minutes to spare if you’d like.”

The two walked off to the holding cells together laughing and enjoying each other’s company.