SHADOWS AND SKULLS

Alistor's Throne Room was devoid of light. No one may enter except the King's most trusted aid. And those who tried to quench their curiosity about what was happening inside were now nowhere to be found.

For hundreds of years, the citizens and soldiers continued their day-to-day living, oblivious of the fact that the one leading them was no longer a human.

Eleven shadowy figures surrounded the King. Most of them towered over the throne while they stood in their full stature, while some only had half of their upper bodies on the floor, and the others perched like bats on the ceiling, except for one—Abandoned Hope. The Demon Assassin was on his knees before the King.

The King looked like Silas, except that he was not him. His facade was all an illusion, for his real name was Karcel Krown.

[Karcel Krown, Level 200, King Rank—Tier I, Demon Wizard (NPC).]

He and his Twelve Malignants—now, down to eleven—were the very reason no guild had still conquered the City of Alistor. Players, especially the members of Titans, would always fight against numerous human knights with enormous powers that betrayed the level and rank in their details. Karcel's dark magic made all these possible—the ability to create illusions that tricked the senses.

"The house was already empty when we returned, my Lord," Abandoned Hope said with head bowed low.

"Are you saying that we've just wasted Dark Surrender's death and that the ruby gemstone escaped? Is that it Abandoned Hope?" Karcel said. He then stomped the floor with the bottom of his staff. It pierced the icy silence and Abandoned Hope winced.

"And the woman escaped? Along with the bodies?" the King continued.

"Yes… my Lord."

Karcel's crooked nose flared. He then gazed at the corner where the only human in the room sprawled in his blood. Three of his left hand's nails were missing except for the middle and ring finger. "Santonio, child. Tell me. Where is the secret portal, and to where is it connected?"

Santonio whimpered. "Please, have mercy on me… I know nothing, my Lord. I'm just a servant in the Blood Siren; I knew no secrets about portals. I only know where the members live in the city. Please…"

"Cut both his hands, Doom," Karcel said to the shadow looming over Santonio.

"No! I've heard a story, but I'm not sure about it. Please, no! My Lord, please hear me out…" Santonio begged.

Karcel grinned. "I like stories," he said, "tell me, son. What did you hear, and who said what?"

"I heard it from Silas himself… when I was serving him mead. I-it's beneath the narrow stone bridge," Santonio said, his whole body quivered along with his parched lips, "Near Sisa's house… and it transports you to an orc's town… I forgot the name, but I heard bones and that it serves as the resistance's fortress against the Black Orcs."

"There, there, there, that's the stories I've been asking you all this time, son." Karcel smiled, pleased by what he had just heard. "Do you have other stories?"

Santonio frowned; he did not know what to answer. He already ran out of stories that would interest the King.

He was only a servant who loved to eavesdrop, but when Silas caught him, he transferred him to a tavern where his nasty gift was most useful. Unfortunately, he secretly listened to the wrong conversation—one of the Malignants. And it brought him to a worse place than Alistor's sewers. The place reeked of death.

"Should I lie," Santonio thought. With twelve pairs of hideous eyes glaring at him, he could not afford to make up stories that he could not prove. "No… that's all I know, my Lord." But when the words escaped his mouth, he immediately knew he gave the wrong answer. Either way, it would still lead to the same result.

Karcel smiled. He then nodded to the demon in charge of prodding the truth from the poor guy.

Santonio's cry for help echoed inside the chamber while the demon feasted on him. Eventually, the vastness of the place drowned his last struggle for breath.

"Very well. Broken Spirit, Shadow Greed, and Black Myth," Karcel said, referring to the three figures with half of their bodies on the floor, "I'm entrusting the three of you to join Abandoned Hope in this mission. Go to Lazybones and coordinate with the Black Orcs' leader, Brutus. I want the Rosarsio back at all costs. It's the only way to lure that stinking old man out."

"Yes, my Lord," the four demons answered.

"How about the one who holds the gem and the woman, My Lord? Do you want them alive? And Dark Surrender's corpse?" Abandoned Hope said.

"Do what needs to be done. And yes, bring Dark Surrender's corpse. I'll bring him back to life. But the stone must come first! If you know what I mean."

Abandoned Hope nodded. He and the other three then disappeared in the shadows.

…

The green liquid churned, and Aildrin lost his balance. Another pound from above followed, and the ceiling finally caved in. Bright light flooded the sewer.

Aildrin tried to crawl away, but the green substance was like glue—it was a long stretch to move. Then his eyes squinted, trying to adjust to the brightness. A silver mechanical hand thrice the size of his head then grabbed him out of the sewer.

[Brom, Level 200, Dark Gold Rank—Tier I, Orc Mechanic (NPC).]

Aildrin tried to resist, but when the warm mechanical arm grabbed him, his instinct told him he would die if he made another move. And the NPC's detail had just confirmed his gut-feeling. But hope was not yet lost because there was another figure standing beside his captor.

"Skulls! You caught an excellent fish, Brom! Now, we'll have a splendid dinner!"

[Papa Bear, Level 21, Bronze Rank—Tier II, Orc Charger.]

"Papa Bear… it's me!" Aildrin said while struggling for breath. The goo-like green liquid covered his entire face, so he was beyond recognition.

"Huh?" Papa Bear squinted his eyes. "The skull knows me! Haha! Cool! Please don't kill him, Brom! Papa Bear likes talking skulls!"

"Humans are not allowed here, young master," Brom said. "Human, how did you enter here, and what are you doing inside the sewer? Are you a spy from the Black Orcs? Speak!"

"I am Papa Bear's friend! My name is Ilidran!"

Papa Bear's jaw dropped. "Ilidran? What happened to you? Why did you turn into a fish and swam in Orcs' piss? My poor friend! Brom, we need to put him in a decent aquarium!"