Salvation

"That will be all. Does anyone have questions?" James lazily stared at the crowd below the dais. His eyes shifting between confused workers below. He had finally revealed his identity as the master of the manor. His declaration caused an uproar within the hearts of the slaves. However, they could only stare at him in stunned silence.

"It seems there are no questions. That will be all. You can continue your duties now." James waved dismissively. However, no one left. It was common courtesy to leave only after their master had left. Wasting no time, he turned to Finley who stood behind, saying, "Who is the head stableman again?"

"T-That's Billy. The man with the goatee," he said. Finley pointed towards a middle-aged man wearing a plain, but dirty ash tunic. Those besides him constantly covered their noses while subtlety distancing themselves from the plump man.

James didn't bother to turn his head. Instead, he continued, "Tell him to wait behind. Leave with the others. I'll send for you if I need anything else."

"Yes, Master."

Within minutes, the hall turned desolate. Only James and Billy remained. Silence enveloped the hall. With each passing second, Billy felt his heart tightening. 'Why isn't he saying anything? Did I make a mistake? Did that limp say something bad about me?' Billy couldn't calm his tensed heart. Although a significant difference existed between them in age, size and experience, he knew he couldn't afford to offend the young man before him. He had seen how fellow slaves disappeared for no just cause. It was ingrained in their bones not to challenge their Masters.

'I can't take this silence anymore. I should say something...' Billy slowly lifted his head, sneaking a glance at James. 'Huh? What's wrong with him? Why does he look like he's in a trance?'

While Billy gathered his thoughts, James stared at different system notifications. He didn't have time for someone as insignificant as Billy.

'He has recovered already? That's interesting. The template is better than I thought.' The captain class Moonlight wolf had reported that Theo had recovered, along with several notifications on the status of James's staff and the current whereabouts of the men from the church of Balaa and the brotherhood.

James turned his attention to another system notification. The merged damned souls relayed their journey path in great detail. Coupled with the reports of the captain class Army of the Fallen exploring the surrounding forest.

'This place is deceptively bigger than it looks. No wonder they're able to accommodate thousands of people over the years.' A playful smile hung on James's lips. 'I can't wait to see it myself. I might as well finish up my business here.'

For the first time, James turned his attention towards Billy. The moment their eyes met, Billy froze. He subconsciously clenched the hems of his robes. His instincts screamed at him. Telling him to flee, however, he couldn't move. He had seen a lot of things in the last three decades and served a lot of masters, but he had never seen eyes which embodied death like James's. He felt himself being slowly submerging into the abyss. An icy palm gently caressing his soul.

"Billy I presume?" James called out.

"Huh? Y-Yes Master." Billy answered in a daze. Cold sweat covered his body. He had lost himself for a moment.

Unconcerned with Billy's unease, James continued, "Prepare a Stallger for me. I would like to visit the town."

"Y-Yes Master. I will do that." Billy answered without pause. 'Isn't that too dangerous? He could lose his life to those barbarians if he goes alone.' Billy shuddered as he recalled the group who plagued the roads leading to James's destination. Although he didn't know a lot about Kynar, he was certain of two things. Those who had their own manor in the village were ridiculously strong. However, another group existed who had to fend for themselves in the village. They were a plague to all slaves. He had seen many female and male slaves who had been raped and brutally murdered. They had feasted on some while they had used others for inhumane experiments.

He hesitated for a moment, before saying, "Master, may your lowly servant offer a suggestion?" Billy lowered his head. He had no right to speak unless spoken to.

James chuckled. "What is it? Speak." He didn't understand why Billy was terrified of him. He could only imagine how Billy would react if he saw his Grim Reaper form.

Billy sighed inwardly. He took a deep breath, as he said, "Master, the path leading to the town is not safe. It's best to ride the carriage to avoid the dangers of the road."

James's eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh? Tell me more. What kind of danger plagues the road?"

"Murderers, rapists and cannibals have turned it to their abode. But they wouldn't dare to touch anyone within a carriage." Billy explained in a low voice.

James's eyes only brightened. 'He must be talking about the others.' Billy's words filled a hole in Bronwyn's explanation. "So how do you and the others avoid them?" James asked.

Billy awkwardly scratched his head, as he said, "Master, we don't..."

James's brows creased. "What do you mean?" His stern gaze landed on Billy, only making the fat stableman more nervous.

"Master, once a slave is assigned to the manor, we don't leave. Only slaves in the region close to the town are vulnerable to those barbarians. Everything we require is provided by the Caretakers." Billy explained. He only wanted to gain James's favor, not his ire.

James nodded. 'Bronwyn mentioned something like that. It seems he wasn't lying.' He slowly recalled the conversation with the caretaker. Just then, Billy's anxious voice filled his ears, "Master, should I prepare the carriage?"

James snapped out of his pensive state, meeting Billy's wandering gaze. "No. Prepare an obedient Stallger for me. I'll be there at noon. You can leave now." James ordered.

Billy's jaw dropped. His words hanging in his throat. He didn't dare to advise James further. "It will be ready by then, Master."

James nodded, but said nothing. He strolled out of the hall humming a little tune. Meanwhile, Billy wiped the sweat off his forehead while sneaking glances at James's back. 'Are we going to have a new master so soon?' He had never seen someone willing to forgo their life. He shook his head. 'If he dies is none of my business. I should hurry to the stables. It's a shame that brat went missing. I would have had him prepare the Stallger in my stead.'

***

The galloping of hooves ruptured the tranquility as a lone stallion dashed through a narrow forest path. The chilling wind brushed its mane into the air like flames; after all, it was a flame-colored chestnut. its muscles puckered from under its freshly brushed pelt and its robust legs. They propelled it forward and kept it going as it powered over the wetland. Ignoring the soaked leaves staining its luscious fur with icy water. The faint howls and the constant chirping of birds and crickets echoed within the background.

James casually observed his surroundings as he tugged on the reins of the Stallger. Adjusting its speed when necessary or slowing it down when something caught his fancy. The rays of the noon sun filtered through the lonely path, barely illuminating the winding trail. Thirty minutes had passed since he left his manor, yet he hadn't encountered man or beast.

James suddenly pulled on the reins of the Stallger, bring it to a halt. 'I should be close. In twenty or so minutes I should be there.' James mused as he stared at his surroundings. The towering trees covered in mesh-like vines surrounded him. Nothing had changed.

'I thought some of them would have attacked by now.' James shook his head while sighing. After Billy's explanation, he hoped someone would ambush him along the way. After all, was there a better way to farm for free test subjects and Exp?

'System, perform another scan.' James ordered. It was his tenth scan in thirty minutes. 'Don't tell me about the birds or animals this time. Just people.'

User's preference saved (permanently!).

Scanning...

Scanning Completed!

Signs of Life detected within a 15km radius.

{Race}

— Ogres [10].

— Humans [5].

The user's Level is too low to search above 15km.

A sinister smile flashed across James's lips. 'System, what's their location? Hurry.'

5km Northwest of the user's position.

With a flick of his wrist, James turned the Stallger towards the direction the system revealed. With a gentle kick with his heels and a slight shout, the Stallger broke into a race.

***

Deep within the forest, in a region dominated by red oaks and withered pines, screams echoed through the air, drowned by the cheers and cackle of drunken Ogres. In pairs, they mounted five young ladies, who had their limbs twisted to awkward angles while deep cuts lined their bodies. Their screams echoed as their body convulsed in pain and sickening pleasure, each ogre taking turns in ravaging their bodies.

"Little human, enjoy Kligork power. Little human, best." Kligork smiled as he pressed himself on Laira, who looked as if in her mid-twenties. She motionlessly lay on the ground. Dirt, leaves, and body fluids covering her battered body. All she could see was the sickening sight before her.

All she wanted was to escape the miserable land which had turned her to a slave. Tears streaked down her cheeks as memories flooded her mind. "Cayson…" she muttered. He had promised to lead them to a path where they would escape the misery that was Kynar. Each of them paid the steep price of laying with Cayson and his brothers. They didn't mind. All they wanted was their freedom. No price was too high. "Cayson…" Laira muttered, her teeth sinking into her lips.

"Who Cayson? I, Kligork. Me not Cayson." Kligork smashed his fists on Laira's stomach. She spewed a mouthful of vomit while writhing in pain. The other Ogres cheered Kligork on, and a few mimicking his actions.

"Someone please save me. Anyone… plea…" Laira was on the verge of passing out. It would be her fifth time. She knew no one would hear her. Even if they did, there was no guarantee they wouldn't do something worse. However, the flames of hope still burned in her heart.

Her pitiful pleas only excited Kligork and his brothers. It had been too long since they pleasured themselves with humans.

"Me hungry. Brothers, me tired. We eat." Trig declared.

The ladies sunk into the depths of despair. They knew all too well the Ogres wouldn't let them be after ravaging them. They had all heard about the cannibals in the forest. None of them believed a day would come such a fate would befall them. They couldn't scream, and mercy was out of the question. They could only silently curse their desperation and the man who sent them to death's door.

"Brother Trig, hungry too? Hahaha… Kligork hungry too."

One after the other, the Ogres made their intentions clear. They couldn't pass up the treat that was human flesh. Only a fool would pass up such a rare delicacy. Adjusting their hemp lower robes. They towered over the ladies. Drool fell from their mouth as they smacked their lips.

"Brothers. I, Kligork, eat heart. We share—" Kligork suddenly paused. His ears and that of his brother twitched slightly. They faced each other, each nodding with a knowing glance. Saying nothing, they rushed into the surrounding bush. Laira, who was barely still conscious, wondered what was happening. 'Why did they run?' That the Ogres granted them mercy did not even cross her mind. 'Is someone here to save us?' As ludicrous as the thought sound in her mind, Laira couldn't help but hope.

A few minutes later, she could hear a low thud drumming closer, accompanied by the rustling of leaves. 'A Stallger?' Despair gripped her heart. If it had been a carriage, there was still a chance. But for a Stallger, it only meant its owner had abandoned it in the forest. A moment later, a young man riding a dashing Stallger burst into their path.

"Be care—" Before Laira could finish her pitiful warning, Kligork appeared from the bush behind. Decapitating the Stallger and the young man in one motion. Laira felt a rain of warmth on her body. Her nose filled with a sweet coppery smell. 'He died.' Her listless eyes quivered. All flames of hope extinguished.

Kligork's laugh echoed. "Human. Weak. I, Kligork, strong!" Kligork spat on the decapitated man. He turned his gaze to the mount, "Stallger. Kligork favorite. Me want heart!" He declared. No one argued. One after the other, they lay claim to their favorite parts of the corpse.

They turned their attention to the unconscious ladies. Salivating with greed. "I…" Kligork's words trialed off. Mist like darkness had surrounded them. The Ogres stood back to back, staring at the rapidly approaching darkness with their hands tightly wrapped around their weapons. None of them had detected the mist.

"Who there? Who there?!" Kligork bellowed.

Silence followed.

"Who—?" Kligork suddenly felt a touch on his shoulders. Trig's voice followed, "B-Brother, see…" he pointed towards the decapitated corpses. Kligork and the other Ogres followed Trig's finger. They wondered why Trig of all people would be so frightened. Kligork observed the Stallger's corpse. However, he found nothing out of the ordinary. He then turned towards the young man. At that moment, his eyes widened, shaking ever so slightly. Purple patches covered the young man's body. His severed head and neck crawled towards each other, seeking to form a whole once more.

"What this?" Kligork muttered. He subconsciously retreated while staring at the Stallger once more. However, its corpses remained unmoving.

"Brothers. We get out of—" Before Kligork could finish his statement, the mist suddenly sped up, covering the Ogres before they could react. And then a chilling voice echoed within the darkness, saying, "I have heard your cries. Worry not, for salvation has come."