Chapter 30: Retribution

Inside the dark hole, Killian was floating in the air, his incubus form in effect. His red eyes darted above, showing no emotion in his face.

"I knew they were idiots, but not this kind of idiot," he said, shaking his head. "Rearm."

Killian's clothing transformed into Zero's, his face hidden in a metallic mask. With a single swing of his wings, he flew up at a terrifying speed.

On the other hand, across the bridge, where there were no people passing by, Finel's muffled screams echoed but were heard by no one.

"Let go of me! The guild will know about this!" Finel threatened them despite being overpowered by five male adventurers.

"Believe me, they won't. There's a good reason we never caught yet, even doing this multiple times now," Zimf said with a meaningful smile. "The secrets inside the dungeon will remain inside the dungeon."

Zimf's dagger slowly traveled across Finel's stomach, opening her clothes and revealing her stomach.

"Zimf, this girl is the best we have so far," the other adventurer said.

Zimf stuck his tongue out as he rubbed his palm on Finel's stomach. "You shouldn't have separated yourself from your party. They were the only thing stopping us from getting you, Finel." He chuckled. "I will enjoy this."

"No!" Finel screamed.

Finel tried to struggle, but a punch in the stomach completely immobilized her, rendering her powerless and dependent on the mercy of the five adventurers—but their eyes showed none.

"Now, let's begin," Zimf announced. "Just like usual, I will be the first one."

However, they were interrupted when low sounds began to echo through the walls of the cave. Sounds of heels walking towards them.

"I think someone is coming," the other adventurer said, looking at the direction of the sound.

"Why now? This area rarely has people wandering around," Zimf asked, his eyes narrowing upon seeing the silhouette coming in their direction.

What was revealed was a person covered in a metallic mask, hood, and brown fabric all over his body. The person's red eyes darted on the five; killing intent could be felt by just staring at his position—the person was none other than Zero.

"Oy, oy, who are you? Why are you here?" Zimf asked, immediately taking a battle stance.

"So, you five are responsible for the mysterious disappearance of women adventurers in the dungeon, huh?" Zero said, slowly revealing himself from the shadows. "Rearm."

A pair of katanas appeared on Zero's hands; the reflection of very little light circulating around made the katanas shine menacingly.

"I don't. I don't know what you are talking about," Zimf denied, his eyes shivering. "Tell us your name, or we will be forced to attack you."

Zero's eyes darted to Finel, who immediately sat as the five male adventurers focused on the person in front of them. Finel's eyes immediately showed recognition.

"Those horns... and tail." Finel's eyes widened. "It could be that you are... Zero?"

"Shut up, you red-headed bimbo! Don't joke with me! There's no way that person is Zero!" Zimf screamed, his eyes shivering.

"You should have begged for my mercy the moment you heard my name; I would have given you a swift end." Zero began to walk towards them. "But you just blew your chance away."

"Wha—what—what are you four waiting for? Attack him! Don't fear that guy!" Zimf screamed, but he himself walked back in fear.

"But, Zimf, that guy claimed himself as Zero! The legendary mage!" screamed one of the adventurers, his sword shivering in fear.

"Do you really believe that lie? Attack him!" Zimf ordered, but his eyes immediately looked around for any room for escape, using the other to buy him enough time. "If this person is really Zero, I need to get out of this place," he whispered to himself.

The four adventurers jumped into Zero, waving their weapons. But before they could even get close, a combination of swift and fatal slashes occurred. The four bodies were split into countless parts, their flesh falling to the ground in a state beyond recognition.

Zimf screamed, seeing how the four were easily defeated. He fell on the rock floor and could no longer move in fear.

Zero stood next to Zimf, blood dripping from his katanas. "Any last words?"

Zimf raised his hands. "Wait! I am begging you, don't kill me! Let's talk about this!" He chased his own breath. "I am the son of the head of the noble family of Koward; my family is wealthy. I can give you whatever you want! You want gold? I have many! Power, I can get you!"

"It's funny that the one offering power has none." Zero sounded a sadistic laughter. "Do you know what kind of fate cowards like you deserve?"

Zimf shook his head, tears coming out of his eyes. "Please. I don't want to die."

"Then you won't. You will live for eternity," Zero said, pressing his index finger into Zimf's forehead. "Eternal Torment."

Zimf fell to the ground, immediately died, and all of the parts of his eyes turned pitch black. From an external perspective, it was instant, but from Zimf's perspective, he experienced all the known kinds of pain for eternity. An eternal torment with no end—endless suffering without a way to get out—was a true hell.

Zero then darted his eyes to Finel, who was hugging herself to cover her torso. She didn't have even a hint of fear in her eyes; instead, what could be seen was admiration for Zero.

"Shadow Devourer," Zero said, and all the bodies of the adventurers who tried to assault Finel were devoured by the darkness, leaving not even a hint of their traces. "Nothing happened here. You didn't encounter these people, and no attack occurred." Zero faced Finel. "Why have they suddenly disappeared? You don't know because you have seen nothing. Speak about this to any soul, and I will come for you and your healer friend."

Then, in an instant, Zero disappeared in the shadow, leaving Finel behind. Finel's eyes showed admiration as she watched Zero vanish into nothingness. But her expression instantly changed upon remembering something.

She immediately ran in the direction of the massive hole. "Killian," she said with worry in her eyes, praying that Killian was safe.