Chapter 443 A Visit?



POV The First Thief:

The aged adventurer opened his eyes, the pain in the back of his skull still weakly sending jolts to his neck. The metallic clatter and resonant chimes reverberated throughout the dimly lit chamber as he made a feeble attempt to shift his position, only to discover his extremities securely ensnared by unforgiving restraints, rendering him utterly immobilized.

"Where am I?"

Everything was dark and damp. The stone brick walls and the bars were so close that they made the entire room cramped and claustrophobic.

Heat radiated from every surface, transforming the enclosure into an inferno akin to the depths of hell itself. The searing touch of the scorching walls seeped into his very bones.

The air was thick and suffocating, making breathing a laborious task. As beads of sweat cascaded down his grimy skin, they traced along his neck, saturating his tattered garments,

The narrow gaps between the bars barely allowed for a glimpse of outside light, further intensifying the stifling atmosphere within.

A beautiful feminine laugh pushed back all the gloom, "Hahaha."

The steps quickly approached the cell until a mesmerizing woman in a knee-length red dress embroidered with golden thread, flowing black hairs with few red strands stopped outside.

"You have screwed up... you have robbed someone you shouldn't have. You have stolen gold that was sacred to us." Her two red eyes with reversed slits pierced through the darkness.

'Those eyes...so similar to those golden eyes from my dreams. So this is truly about that gold.'

"I robbed nobody. It was just lying there!"

"Heh, foolish mortal, as if entering someone's house and taking their stuff just because they lay there isn't stealing."

He couldn't refute it anymore as the words were true, he was a thief, murdered, and someone who sold his companions.

With a flick of her pale wrist, the barred cell doors opened while creaking in their hinges.

"Now, please tell me where you hid your portion of it and the names and locations of your accomplices."

Usually, he would be happy to see the beautiful woman approaching him, but now he felt only subtle emotions of dread and the impending danger, 'She is not a woman. She is a monster.'

Her previously small and gentle-looking hand twisted and warped, red scales replacing her skin with long claws looking like hot metal growing out of her slender wrist.

His eyes dilated in fear as he realized why she was there, 'She is my torturer.'

"You have a strong will. At least for a mortal worm. So luckily for me, before the mind magic starts to affect you, we need to break your will." With a crooked smile, she unhurriedly strode straight to him, her grotesque hand and red eyes making him lose control over his body. The chains bounding him clanged as his body trembled.

Her smile deepened even more as she leaned toward him. Her claws slowly moved closer and closer, the hot air radiating out, making his skin turn red. His eyes dilated as they approached his face.

The moment they touched his skin, an audible sizzling accompanied the searingly hot pain.

"Ahhhh!"

POV Vesuvius:

'Still no movements. That is suspicious.' The dragon observed his minions at work, building tall defensive walls. However, his mood was gloomy as there was still that silence.

The enemy didn't even move. There was no angelic army knocking on his doors or attack of the gods.

'Thy can't ignore me now. So the only option is that they are building up their forces for a large and concentrated attack. Maybe a preventive attack from my side?'

The dragon looked toward the horizon, the mountains, cities, and the ocean standing between him and the nearest stronghold of his enemies.

'Yes, it is time to visit them. Just to allow them to gather their forces in peace would be a bad move.'

He flapped his wings and shot toward the horizon. He leisurely flapped his wings, silently flying over the farmlands.

POV Knight Veneomius:

Green light shone in the twisting dark tunnel, with Venenomius slowly descending deeper and deeper into the cave.

"Venenomius! Why have you come here." A deep voice came from the cave's depths, making the venomous dracowyrm stop.

"Their draconic lordships have new orders for you."

Laughter made Veneomiuses flames burn brighter out of the anger, "Haha, why are you acting like their dog? Have some pride."

'Another fool that refuses to do what is necessary for the good of our kind. Yet, they dare to insult me.'

"You are a fool, Gausius as you have forgotten to respect the hierarchy!"

"If they want me to move, they should come personally instead of sending their lackey."

'This is the reason why we lost. Out of the four races we are the one with the lowest level of organization. Thanks to those blind fools enemies will pick us one by one., again,' The longer Venenomius observed the great dragon lord, the more he disdained the lethargy of his kind.

'Just waiting in our caves...'

"You should be more grateful. You have more territory and minions than a mediocre adult wyrm like you could ever dream of."

"How dare you!"

Venenomius opened his mouth, and the green glowing flames ignited in his throat. The next moment the bright green light lit up the cave as the wave of fire rushed down the dark tunnel.

The stone melted, and the clouds of toxic fumes filled the entire space. The flames vanished just as suddenly as they appeared, leaving magma and poison dripping from the ceiling behind.

"Grraaah!" A painful growl made boulders fall from the ceiling. However, there was no counterattack, only the silent and pained moaning.

"You, Gausius, when the lord requires you to do something, you will do it. Look at you. You can't even resist the power I was rewarded."

'It was such a long time since there was a dragon lord. Most of us don't even remember those times, and we forget to respect them.'