Chapter 30 - Retribution

"Wait, you guys know my mother?" I responded in surprise.

"Well, yeah, she trained us! Haven't seen her in over fifteen years though, it's been so long!" Grinned Phyurio, his face lighting up.

"Not long enough. She trained us, and was one hell of a taskmaster, I still have nightmares," Sighed Gior warily, before adding, "Not that I care or anything, but how is she?"

I felt a twinge of pain in my chest, my gaze shifting downwards as a lump in my throat appeared.

"She's-...she was killed. By the Knights, led by Duralles, after which I was restrained with the Enslavement Collar and brought here...," I informed them grimly, clenching my fists as I recalled the torrid memory.

"H-huh? No way...that's not true, is it?" Stuttered Phyurio in shock, stumbling back.

"That's impossible! She'd never lose to the likes of the Knights, there's just no way!" Snapped Gior, as he grabbed my collar and raised me up...not very high, since he was just a couple of inches taller than me.

"You think I'd joke about it? But, well, you might be half right...she probably would've survived if she hadn't been protecting me."

"That's-...no, it's not fair to blame you, you're just a kid. Do you have any siblings?" Gior asked me somberly.

"Yeah, an older brother. He was away when the Knights attacked our village," I replied with a frown.

"If it's okay, do you mind telling us what exactly happened? Do you know why the Knights attacked?" Phyurio inquired gently.

I then explained everything I knew and what I remembered about what had happened back then, which meant I had to reveal that Rhyle is Royalty, but there's really no point in keeping it a secret.

"Huh. So that loser was a Prince. Go figure," Remarked Gior in bemusement.

"You knew my father too?" I asked him.

"Yeah, we do, he's the one who got big sis Lycia to quit being an Adventurer," Grumbled Phyurio saltily.

Ah, so that's how they see him. It sounds like they idolized Lycia, so it makes sense.

"Tell me, Larrk, what exactly do you plan to do after you deal with the Duke and his family?" Gior asked me.

"Hm? Well, I have three objectives. The first two are to find my father and brother. And the third...is to hunt down every Knight who was involved in the massacre of my village, and kill them all," I remarked with a grimace.

"Revenge, huh? That's a dangerous path to take, kid," Responded Phyurio warily.

"Fine by me. If the alternative is to let them continue living and doing as they please, then revenge is my only choice. I can't live in peace if I know that those bastards haven't received the retribution they deserve," I surmised firmly.

"Yeah, well, I'm still not sure we should let you do this, taking on the Duke and his family alone. You can't underestimate the Knights," Frowned Phyurio grimly.

"It doesn't look like he's totally unskilled. He's in good physical shape, and he used a Light Spell without an incantation. That's the only reason I agreed to it. But like I said, we will intervene if it looks like you're struggling, which I fully expect to happen. Additionally, we won't let you kill any of the young children," Added Gior.

"Fine. But just so we're clear, where do you draw the line? How young counts as too young to be killed?" I inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Huh? Oh, uh...I guess, like, under fifteen, maybe?" He responded uncertainly, after taking a minute to mull it over.

Hm, the youngest of those who have been torturing me is sixteen, so that works for me. He has twenty-four children, and seventeen of them are above fifteen, with the oldest being thirty-one. Of those seventeen, fourteen have tortured me.

Duralles never mentioned his own age, but he looks like he's in somewhere between the range of late forties to early fifties. Well, whatever, it doesn't matter, he's the one I need to kill the most.

I'll kill all six of his wives too. As for the remaining seven kids, one of whom is Prysm...I suppose I can spare them. None of them have ever tortured me, after all. But I still plan to kill all his older children, even the ones who never tortured me. They were complicit, after all.

Hm, but I need Duralles to see me cut down each and every one of them...unfortunately, I won't have the luxury of taking my time with killing them. There's little doubt that I'm weaker in a direct, head to head confrontation, they're likely stronger and more experienced as well. If I get careless, I'll only end up giving them a chance to turn the tables on me.

I can't afford that. I won't go back to being their punching bag, which means I have no choice but to give most of them quick deaths. They should count themselves lucky...that's far better than they deserve.

"Damn, that's some bloodlust you're seething out, maybe you should calm down," Spoke up Phyurio nervously.

"Huh? You can sense stuff like that?" I responded in surprise.

"It's a pretty basic concept. But the only way to gain a sixth sense for things like that is with experience," Explained Gior with a sigh.

"Is that how it works? Well, anyway, let's go. I have no idea when they'll be back, so we should hurry," I suggested, as I headed for the door...in all the time since I was brought here, this'll be the first time I walk out of this basement.

"I'm guessing your plan is to ambush them when they return and try to kill them while they're caught off guard?" Surmised Gior, as the two of them followed after me.

"No, not quite. In the main hall by the entrance, there's a staircase, if I remember right. I'll sit right there as I wait for them to return," I responded as I felt a murderous rage start to well up inside me.

"Huh? No offense, but that's not very smart," Chimed in Phyurio warily.

"I've got a plan, so chill out. Feel free to intervene if my plan fails," I shrugged indifferently.

"So, what exactly is you plan?" Inquired Gior in response.

"Oh, you'll see soon enough," I replied with a smirk, as I fleshed out my plan in my head.

As we got to the front hall, I headed for the windows and drew all curtains shut, before switching off the lights. Woah, that's pretty dark...perfect.

While I wait for them to return, I'll let my eyes get used to the darkness. And it shouldn't be a problem when they open the door leading into this hall, it's pretty late now, and it wouldn't matter even if it wasn't.

Because there's a corridor beyond the door that leads in from the main entrance, where some of their slaves are posted. I'm guessing it's a measure taken to keep intruders from easily sneaking in quietly.

The fact that these two managed to get in means that they probably defeated the combat slaves in the corridor...that might make Duralles and his family put up their guards when they see that the corridor is empty, but that's fine.

Having them feel some tension could work in my favor, they won't expect a direct attack the instant they enter the hall. Alright, everything's set up, looks like Gior and Phyurio have gone and hidden somewhere. And now, all that there's left to do...is wait...

...

Hm? I hear something from beyond the door up ahead...is it them? Have they returned?

"Initiate Skill: Super Hearing," I muttered to myself, before closing my eyes and focusing.

"...an absolute disgrace to our family! How dare you do this us!?" I heard Duralles' voice, sounding infuriated.

They're walking through the main entrance, and heading down the corridor, several sets of footsteps. Hm, but one of them sounds a bit off...like they're being dragged instead of walking on their own.

"I-I didn't do anything, i-it's not something I can contr-...agh!" Came Prysm's voice, before a noise echoed out, sounding like a slap.

"We should've known this would happen, the way she always questions Nobility," Scoffed one of the older sons.

"Ugh, I've never felt so humiliated in front of the Royal family! To think that I share the same blood as one with the Light Attribute!" Gasped one of the older daughters in disgust.

Ah, so that's how Prysm's appraisal went, huh? Too bad for her. Hm, but on another note...have they not noticed that their slaves who are assigned to guard the corridor are not there? That works for me.

Alright, then, here they come. They're almost at the second door, they'll be walking in here any second now. Right on cue, the handle twisted down and the door creaked open, the footsteps echoing out louder.

"Huh? What's this? Why's it so dark?" Came Duralles' voice, sounding confused.

"And where are all the slaves?" Added one of his wives in perplexity.

"Yo. I've been waiting for you...Light Attribute: Illumination," I remarked icily, as I formed a ball of light in my right hand, illuminating the hall, before swiftly chanting as their bewildered gazes fell onto me, "Now, Light Attribute: Flash Grenade!"

"Wh-what the hell are you doing out here!? You little shit, you're a fucking Heretic!?" Exclaimed Duralles, as several panicked cries rang out as I blinded them.

I could've used my Light Grenade Spell right away, but I needed to be able to see clearly for a second...now I know exactly where each of them are standing!

"Elemental Earth: Sand Trap!" I snapped, as I slammed my palm onto the floor, turning the spots on the floor beneath some of them into deep pits of sand, alarmed cries echoing out as they sank down.

I then cracked my whip across at full force while rapidly extending it, before the sound of flesh being torn apart rang out with brief screams of pain, followed by the sounds of thuds and blood splattering across the floor. Hm, I didn't get all of them...

I formed another orb of light and flung it up to the middle of the ceiling, lighting up the entire hall. Gasps of shock and horror then echoed out from the survivors, as they witnessed the result of what I just did.

A total of twenty-one bodies sliced clean in half were laying on the floor, blood pooling around them. I used the Sand Trap Spell to get the young kids and Duralles to sink down low enough that I'd miss them with the swing of my whip.

I made sure that the Spell didn't affect the older children and his wives. All six of his wives had been struck by my attack and killed, but of the seventeen others I'd targeted, two of them had managed to evade my whip.

"N-no, this can't be-...y-you, wh-what the hell have you done, you fucking Commoner scum!?" Exclaimed Duralles in fury and despair.

"Instead of wasting time, asking questions to which you know the answer to...you should get ready to defend yourself. Because you're next, you rotten bastard," I responded coldly, as I stared down at him like the piece of shit that he is...

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