Chapter 26: An Unfortunate story
This chapter contains depictions of blood, hunting, sexual abuse, multiple instances of strong language, and graphic content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised ⚠⚠⚠
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The towering raid leader raised a hand, making a subtle yet commanding gesture. One of the raiders responded immediately.
A man draped in a denim jacket over a gray t-shirt, his shoulders and elbows reinforced with iron plates. Long, messy black hair framed his ominous eyes, partially obscured by the gray surgical mask he wore.
Without hesitation, he raised his bow.
Not arrows.
Poisoned darts.
Thwip
Thwip!
THWIRP!!!
Three darts pierced their targets—The Gothic mage, the pastel-blue haired woman, and a short brown haired man in leather gauntlets.
They staggered, eyes widening in confusion before their bodies collapsed. Blood spilled from their lips, their veins darkening, their eyes turning a sickly shade of red.
Ray stood frozen. His body refused to obey.
The raid leader stepped forward, towering over the writhing victims. A cruel smirk twisted his scarred face.
"These two girls… they're quite beautiful. Our clients will be pleased."
The woman with fiery orange hair chuckled, shrugging off her cloak. Beneath it, she wore a skin-tight red bodycon dress, her arms crossed just below her chest.
"Kill the man. Cut the women's ankles."
The three poisoned raiders could barely breathe, choking on blood and stomach bile.
The ginger haired man crouched, pressing his palm to the ground. A faint glow spread beneath his hand, forming jagged spikes along the stone floor.
The raid leader grabbed the poisoned man, effortlessly hoisting him up, then slammed his body onto the glowing spikes.
Nothing much.....The spikes didn't pierce through. Then the raid leader lifted his foot, and stomped down on the man's face.
CRUNCH!!!
The spikes erupted through his skull—brain matter splattering as his eyes burst from their sockets.
The woman in red exhaled a plume of smoke, flicking ash from her cigarette.
"Now, the beauties."
Her lips curled into a smile as she turned to the remaining men.
"Dear boys, enjoy your prey."
Four raiders moved in....Three descended upon the Gothic mage, while the raid leader loomed over the pastel-blue haired woman.
The women,paralyzed, choking on their own blood—could only cry in silence.
Torn clothes. Unrelenting kicks. Slaps that cracked against their bruised skin. Torment, Agony. The kind of punishment no soul deserved.
Ray screamed inside his mind. But, his body wouldn't respond. Even his own eyes refused to shut. He was forced to watch everything.
"Why…!"
The thought barely formed before the world Again collapsed into darkness.
Another sudden Flash!
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Ray found himself inside a tavern like den, the air thick with cheap alcohol and sweat. Men laughed, drank, and fought, smashing bottles against wooden tables.
Around the edges of the room, women lingered, their gazes hollow. Some sat on laps, others were pulled away into private rooms.
A row of closed doors lined the far wall—silent.
Except for one...
From behind it came the soft, broken sound of crying. Ray's body moved on its own, drifting toward the door.
Inside, the room was dim, lit only by a few flickering lanterns. The sight made his stomach drop.
The pastel-blue haired woman sat huddled in a corner, arms wrapped protectively around a small child.
A Girl...no older than six,shared her mother's hair. Both of them were crying.
Ray's eyes darkened.
"Is that… your child?"
Then the door burst open. The raid leader strode in, shoving aside the women offering him beer. One of them touched his arm...
He punched her in the gut, sending her crumpling to the floor. His gaze locked onto the unfortunate woman with that child.
Without a word, he grabbed her by the throat, hoisted her up, and drove his boot into her stomach.
Again.
Again!
AGAIN!!!
She vomited on the spot, The man didn't stop. His fists and boots slammed into her body over and over until the tavern grew silent. The brutality had gone beyond spectacle—now even the onlookers were unsettled.
Then, a voice pierced through the chaos.
"LET HER GO, GILOBERT!"
That woman stepped forward, the same one from the raid.
That slut!
Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at the man.
"She's the most valuable one here. If anything happens to her, I'll make sure you don't live to see another day."
Gilobert scoffed but loosened his grip slightly. Meanwhile, Ray stood frozen, his eyes clouded with bloodlust.
"Gilobert…"
Ray whispered, his voice dark, his gaze Bloodthirsty. Gilobert's head snapped toward him.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!"
Without hesitation, he smacked the child. The little girl gasped, then coughed up blood.
"DON'T HURT MY SIENA!!!"
The blue haired woman threw herself over the child, shielding her despite her injuries.
Gilobert grabbed a nearby chair and smashed it against a door, making the entire room flinch. He stormed inside, yanking a woman and a customer out and throwing them onto the floor.
The woman,the Gothic mage. She was unfortunate as well.... Both of them were naked before the stunned crowd. Then Gilobert seized the woman by her throat, dragging her back inside.
The door slammed shut.
Screams.
Grunts.
Then—
Again, everything went dark.
Another sudden flash of light.
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The pastel-haired woman ran through the same dungeon, cradling the child in her arms. Her breaths were ragged. Her legs, weak.
Behind her, Gilobert and his men pursued relentlessly. An axe soared through the air. The blade buried itself into her back.
She fell forward...
Blood...
The child slipped from her arms, rolling across the cold stone. The goons pounced, pinning her to the ground. Forcing her to look ahead.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN!!"
Gilobert snarled.
"YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A FUCKING SLUT!"
He stomped toward the child, grabbing her by the arm.
"NOW WATCH AS I RAPE YOUR DAUGHTER IN FRONT OF YOU!!"
He lifted the girl.
...
"…WHAT!!!"
Confusion twisted his face. The girl's limbs hung limply. Her body—lifeless. Gilobert's eyes widened.
A puppet.
Laughter bubbled from the woman's lips—low, hoarse, unhinged.
"YOU'LL NEVER TOUCH HER, YOU SICK BASTARD!"
Gilobert's face twisted in fury. He kicked her in the head.
Again.
Again.
Yet, through bloodied lips, broken ribs, and burning pain—
She still laughed.
"HIT ME ALL YOU WANT, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!"
Gilobert's patience snapped.
"SPIKES! FORM THE DAMN FUCKING SPIKES!"
The same ginger-haired man from the raid placed his hand on the ground, Glowing spikes emerged.
Gilobert grabbed the woman by her blood-soaked hair—and slammed her skull against the jagged points.
Darkness. Again. For the final time.
"Gilobert…"
Ray's voice echoed through the void.
His face....dark.
His eyes glowing, flickering between from Violent green then back to red.
Then, another flash.
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Ray gasped, collapsing to his knees. His hands trembled. His mind was racing.
"Raaayy"
A voice snapped him back. Professor Waikatsu stood ahead, calling for him.
"Quick, we still have six more floors to clear!"
Ray looked up. Professor Waikatsu, The other students are waiting for him. Then, a gentle pat on his shoulder. Master Baiyun. His wise eyes studying Ray's shaken expression.
"You must have seen a terrible story."
Ray exhaled.
"No…"
He muttered. His gaze distant... Cold.
As the others moved forward, Ray trailed behind, glancing one last time at the spot where he stood.