Chapter Sixty Five

"Okay, this is odd." The shielder muttered, his tone carrying mild surprise.

Kitti glanced at him, then at the massive gates before them, which stood wide open. "What are they doing?" she asked warily.

"They're… letting us through?" Shade mused, gripping his claymore tightly. Despite the apparent invitation, he couldn't shake the unease of being surrounded by so many Cyclops.

Right as they reached the threshold, the towering gates had swung open of their own accord, revealing an army of Cyclops beyond them. Unlike the ones they had encountered before, these creatures were far more imposing, clad in pristine armor and wielding finely crafted weapons. Yet, despite their overwhelming presence, they did not attack. Instead, they silently parted, creating a clear path for the group, leading, presumably, to their leader.

"This is an obvious trap, right?" Jean ground his teeth, his frustration evident. "We don't have to follow them. Shielder, you and the twins can just slaughter them all and be done with it. We can't keep letting more people die when you have the power to end this right now."

The shielder fell into thought, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he exhaled heavily and turned to Alice. "I'm guessing this leads to the final boss?"

Alice tilted her head slightly. "I am unsure of that term, but this path leads to the one who has taken control of this dungeon since my fall."

The shielder gave a firm nod. "Then we're going in."

Jean's hands curled into fists. "What? You just admitted it's a trap! Are you really willing to watch more of us die, you bastard?"

The shielder sighed, but his gaze remained resolute. "You heard Alice. The final boss is right there. We take them down, and we're home free. This is the last stretch—I'll get us out of here. And if it is a trap..." The air grew noticeably colder as his voice dropped, carrying a dangerous edge. "I'll protect all of you. With all my power."

His gaze flicked toward Kitti.

Her breath hitched, eyes widening. 'He's going to use his power? In front of everyone?'

The group was led through a series of halls, each distinct in design, with various rooms branching off from them.

One hall radiated an intense heat, hotter than the dungeon's usual oppressive warmth. Inside, rows of blacksmithing forges blazed as Cyclops artisans hammered away at molten metal, shaping weapons and armor with practiced precision.

Another hall housed towering racks of weapons and armor, each piece massive, clearly designed for the Cyclops' immense stature. Some weapons were longer than a man was tall, their edges gleaming under the dim light.

Further along, they passed through a vast training hall, where Cyclops warriors honed their skills. They sparred with massive weapons, their movements surprisingly disciplined despite their sheer bulk. The thunderous clashes of steel echoed through the chamber.

Cyclops, training. The thought alone was terrifying.

Eventually, their escorts led them into a colossal arena, a vast colosseum teeming with large gatherings of Cyclops.

No. Calling the gatherings "large" was an understatement.

Daisy's breath hitched. "Oh my Gods…" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

Jean's hand trembled as he murmured under his breath, voice thick with unease. "Walk into the trap, he said. We can defeat the final boss, he said. I'll protect you, he said." The only reason his sword hadn't fallen from his grip was because it was tied to his hand.

Bekhan wasn't faring much better, whispering frantic prayers. "Great Suho, help us."

Shade swallowed hard, a cold pit forming in his stomach as he took in the sight before them. "So… many. Even a dungeon break doesn't release this many monsters," he muttered.

Before the adventurers, seated in tiered rows, was an overwhelming sea of Cyclops, each towering over seven meters tall. Their deep red skin and sheer numbers made them look like a restless ocean, growling and grunting in a chorus of eager anticipation.

The air trembled with their presence, and the weight of a thousand unblinking eyes fell upon them.

Kitti stood frozen, fear and despair clawing up her spine. A sickening dread coiled in her gut, and for a brief, humiliating moment, she felt the urge to soil herself.

Then she saw them…

Yui stood firm, her white hammer resting on her shoulder. Her gaze was unwavering, her stance unshaken, there wasn't a single trace of fear in her eyes.

Mai, on the other hand, wore an expression of pure, cold-blooded fury. Her fingers tightened around the hilts of the two crystal hammers at her sides, her knuckles white. Kitti understood her rage, being possessed by a ghost, forced to watch as you nearly killed your own sister… That was a nightmare no one should endure.

Behind them, Alice remained eerily composed, her expression untouched by the overwhelming sight of countless Cyclops. She gazed at the monstrous horde with quiet indifference, as if they were nothing more than a minor obstacle.

And then there was the shielder.

Kitti's heart pounded as her eyes fell on him.

He was grinning.

A feral, almost predatory grin, one that spoke not of fear, but of excitement.

Her face ached, and only then did she realize she was grinning too.

'Heh. A force like this is meaningless against a necromancer. Especially when you can't kill the necromancer.'

It was easy to see why he was smiling.

'You idiots…' Her thoughts dripped with amusement. 'You're just giving him an army.'

A deep, guttural horn sounded, its bellowing echo rolling through the colosseum like a thunderclap. The Cyclops roared in response, their grunts and bellows merging into an ear-splitting cacophony. The sheer force of their voices sent vibrations through the ground beneath the adventurers' feet.

Then, the crowd began to part.

From the far side of the colosseum, a figure emerged. Unlike the other Cyclops, this one was very different, far taller, broader, his presence alone suffocating. His armor was adorned with intricate engravings, polished to a dark sheen, and in his hands rested a hammer so massive it looked like it could crush an entire building with a single swing. His single, yellow eye gleamed with intelligence and malice.

This was no mere warrior. This was no mere Cyclops.

"Shit," Jean hissed, gripping his sword tighter. "That thing is even bigger than the rest of them. What the hell is that?"

Alice stepped forward, gazing up at the towering Cyclops with her usual eerie calm. "That is Gorgath, the son of the Tyrant of the One-Eyed Legion who took control after my fall. He is… strong."

A heavy pause followed those words.

Then Gorgath spoke.

His voice rumbled like distant thunder, his words thick and guttural, yet strangely articulate. "You are the outsiders. The ones who have defiled my father's domain. And yet, you have reached these halls." He lifted his hammer, resting it against his broad shoulder. "Tell me, invaders… do you come as warriors? Or as prey?"

The shielder took a step forward, his grin gone. "Warriors? Prey? Don't flatter yourself. We're here to clear this dungeon."

The Cyclops roared in response, laughter rumbling through their ranks like an approaching storm. Gorgath, however, merely tilted his head, considering the words. Then, with deliberate slowness, he raised his free hand and gestured toward the arena floor.

"Then fight. Prove your worth."

The ground trembled.

From beneath the colosseum, enormous stone slabs shifted and rose, forming a battlefield. At the same time, massive iron gates groaned open along the edges of the arena, and from their depths, more Cyclops warriors strode forth, each one clad in heavy armor, weapons already drawn.

Jean's face twisted in horror. "You've got to be kidding me… he's throwing an army at us?"

"Not an army," the shielder corrected, rolling his shoulders as he stepped forward, his stance relaxed.

His face darkened as he raised his hand.

The air grew cold.

A pulse of grey energy rippled outward from him, barely visible but thick with power. The shadows beneath the colosseum deepened, stretching unnaturally as if something beneath the ground had just awakened.

And then… the dead began to rise.

From the earth itself, giant centipedes burst their way free. Fallen, forgotten Cyclops warriors, rose at their master's call. Hollow eyes flared with grey light, weapons materializing in shadowy hands as they assembled in perfect formation.

Kitti felt a chill crawl up her spine, but she couldn't suppress the laughter bubbling up inside her.

'Heh. You're really doing it.'

The Cyclops in the stands fell silent as they watched the impossible unfold. Their comrades, those they had once fought beside, now stood as the enemy.

Gorgath's massive eye narrowed.

"Necromancer."

The shielder tilted his head, his face covered by shadows, as two grey lights peered through. "Tyrant."

A beat of silence.

CLANG!

---

He didn't know how long he had been kept in that cage. The days blurred together, each one bleeding into the next, indistinguishable in his suffering.

All he knew was that at regular intervals, two figures would visit him.

One was a woman, her dark hair melting into the shadows, making her seem almost spectral. She was always grinning when she appeared, her expression one of twisted delight.

The other… he shrank back at the thought of the other. A man, strong, far stronger than him. Strong enough to pin him down with ease while the woman did her work.

The work…

Sharp tools sliced into his flesh, carving intricate patterns into his body. No two markings were ever the same, their shapes shifting with each new session.

The pain never faded. It burrowed into him, gnawed at him, digging deeper every time he began to adjust to it. He could never grow numb. The agony simply evolved.

And all the while, he could do nothing. The man held him down, the woman carved, and his world became an endless cycle of torment.

Days passed. Weeks. Months. Years.

His body changed. Once red with black stripes, now he was black with red stripes. The tattoos had spread, merging into a near-solid mass of ink-like patterns across his skin.

Then, without a word, they would leave, abandoning him to the searing pain.

Left alone in the silence, all he could do was think.

---

This time, only the man came.

Without ceremony, he was dragged from his cage and led through unfamiliar corridors.

Then, suddenly, he was shoved forward into an open space, vast, roaring with noise. He stumbled, his senses overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sound. All around him, people stood, packed into towering stands, their faces twisted with excitement. They screamed, cheered, jeered.

He didn't understand.

A gate on the opposite side of the arena groaned open.

From the shadows, another figure emerged, a human, clad in armor, wielding a spear and shield.

The crowd erupted into even louder cheers.

The human charged.

A spear flew through the air.

Pain.

His tattoos flared.

And then… he saw red.

---

When he came to, he was bound in chains. Around him, the scent of blood was thick, heavy, suffocating. The ground was slick with crimson, strewn with the remains of what had once been living beings.

A battle had taken place here.

A massacre.

And he had been the cause.

Dragged back to his cage.

Then out again.

This time, it was a team of humans. They charged him, weapons raised, and before his tattoos could compel him, he moved.

He met their charge with his own.

He was victorious.

The crowd cheered.

Again, he was taken back to his cage. Again, he was dragged out. Another team. Another slaughter.

It became routine.

Until this time.

He stepped into the colosseum of his own accord, already resigned to what would come next.

Odd. Only one opponent today.

A single human male.

"Whoa! That thing is huge!"

He froze.

The words, he understood them.

"Wait… can you understand me?" the human asked, his tone laced with surprise.

He tilted his head, confused.

"So you can." The human let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "I'm not surprised these bastards capture intelligent species and force them to fight to the death. I mean, this place is called the Empire. Any nation that calls itself that is never the good guys. At least in movies. And this world only cements that belief further."

The human sighed, then gave a small shrug. "Oh well, I guess it comes with the territory, finding myself in another world and all." His gaze softened as he looked at him. "Don't worry, my friend. I'll save you… eventually."

He tilted his head again. More confusion.

And then,

His tattoos burned.

Pain flared.

Red.

---

When he came to, he expected chains. Expected the weight of shackles and the familiar ache of restraint.

Instead, he heard a voice.

"You okay there, buddy?"

Slowly, he turned his head.

The human male was still there, looking at him.

Alive.

His body ached, pain rippling through his limbs as he lay sprawled on the ground.

Why?

Why was the human still standing?

Why was he the one on the ground?

Had he… lost?

Footsteps approached. Guards. He would be taken back to his cage soon.

The human exhaled. "They're coming to take you. Just hang on, okay?" A firm gaze met his own.

He felt something passed to his hand, a locket. He wasn't sure how he knew that.

"We'll meet again. And someday… I swear I'll save you."

---

From the crystallized bone necklace around 'HIS' neck, a small locket hung, swaying gently with each step as 'HE' moved through the dimly lit halls.

A Cyclops rushed toward 'HIM', urgency in his heavy steps. "My lord," the warrior rumbled, bowing his massive head. "It's your son. He has defied your orders and taken the prisoners to the colosseum."

'HE' exhaled slowly, the weight of the words settling over 'HIM'. A flicker of something unreadable passed through 'HIS' eyes before 'HE' spoke.

"He is a fool," 'HE' murmured, 'HIS' voice carrying neither anger nor surprise, just weary resignation.

'HIS' fingers brushed against the locket for the briefest moment before he straightened. "Lead me to him. Before he gets himself killed." 'HIS' tone hardened, finality settling in.

"I will not lose family again."