Return of the Fallen Volume 13 Chapter 61
“HALT!”
The large armored knight stood around 10 feet tall. His two horns protruding from his helmet gathered a purplish-black flame between them as he showed clear hostility.
Kazuki was surprised. Though this power was weaker than Bodock Verick and Mefius, it was only off by a third or so. He had thought besides those three, there was no one else who could pose a threat but in actuality, there was a monster lying in wait in the basement.
(How strange I can sense his magic and strong aura but it seems wavering and unfocused. Almost as if this person is using his all just to hold it together.)
Editrix rolled his eyes and his long pointed ears twitched.
“Bearon…What is this? Why are you blocking my path?”
Kazuki had seen all of Editrix’s memories so he was already aware of who this person was.
(According to Editrix’s memories, this Bearon creature is a guard. Besides that, there is very little else. Editrix is also secretly terrified of Bearon even though Bearon also wears a slave collar.)
Kazuki could not see the collar and assumed Bearon wore it beneath his armor. With the metal helmet covering his face, one couldn’t even see whether he was happy or pissed. The only thing one could make out were the two glowing red orbs. His crimson eyes glowed constantly as he stared down at the arrival of the pair.
His tail pointed at Kazuki as he demanded.
“I know my orders and you should know yours. I’ve never seen this ugly creature before. Outsiders are forbidden from entering the room behind me. You already know this. So I say this one time. Take him out of here before I take both of your heads.”
Editrix looked uncomfortable and shakingly responded back.
“I cannot do that. These are Master’s orders. This fellow is new and is under my authority from this day forth. He is to go where I take him without you getti…blocking our path. Please step aside.”
Bearon stared at Editrix and his tail slowly lifted from the ground.
“So this is the bastard’s order.”
Bearon shook his head.
“He did not mention it to me so therefore I do not recognize such an order. Now are you going to leave or shall I make you?”
The purplish-black flame slowly floated forward arriving a mere foot in front of Editrix’s face. Editrix’s expression instantly soured and then contorted in fear. He stumbled backward a few steps and snapped his fingers.
Suddenly red lightning and blazing flames erupted beneath Bearon’s armor.
*TzzTTT FOOHSHHHH*
The red lightning and burning flames erupted through the gaps in the armor and spilled out through all the open gaps. Bearon in return released one small chuckle.
*HEH*
“Only the bastard can keep me down here, you worm. The collar burns but not enough to stop me from crushing you beneath my heavy boot.”
The purplish-black flame came ever closer until it was only inches from Editrix’s face. Editrix found his back pressed against the wall and he could retreat no more. His fear outweighed his power trip and he knew he could not beat Bearon so he screamed in a panic.
“MASTER PLEASE SAVE ME!!!”
As soon as this sound rang out, one of the floating crystal orbs observing these underground floors shone with red light, and a cold voice filled this long corridor with a haunting-like presence.
“Brother…why are you teasing my dog. Are you unsatisfied with your current role and wish for something a little more…challenging?”
It was Mefius’s voice that escaped from the floating crystal.
(So it is he who’s observing from the floating orbs. Does that mean he’s constantly watching these lower floors nonstop? Is there no time he takes a break?)
Kazuki was still gathering information about this underground floor when he realized he almost missed Mefius calling Bearon brother.
(How many fucking brothers are there!? Why are they so damn strong? This Bearon is a brother but wears a slave collar. The more I learn the more things make no sense.)
Bearon changed his focus to Mefius as he talked with no respect.
“What’s wrong little brother? You can’t go on without this miserable little cretin? Too afraid to come down here for a visit and face me? Maybe I should make a trip up there and say hello. Though I don’t think you’ll like my greeting very much.”
*BANG*
As soon as he finished his sentence, his tail snapped forward straight at Editrix’s head. Just before his tail pierced the small creature’s green skull a barrier formed around Editrix and Bearon’s tail deflected off of it and struck the wall behind the loyal dog.
The wall did not crumble. Several inscriptions along the wall lit up protecting the wall from damage.
Mefius’s laughter rang out from the floating orb which surprised Kazuki.
(I thought I understood Mefius to a certain degree. I was sure he would destroy this person for showing such disrespect. I guess since they are brothers
Kazuki’s thoughts came to a stop when the armor Bearon wore suddenly lit up. In an instant, thousands of metallic spikes formed atop the surface of the armor and bulged outward from every conceivable angle. The very next instant, these metallic spikes reversed and were turned inward, stabbing and penetrating deep into the armor.
*ARHHHHHHHHHH!*
A cry of agony rang out from within the armor and Bearon collapsed on all fours.
(So it’s not that he let him go, rather he was waiting to play with him like this.)
Kazuki saw the cruelty and once more this solidified his thoughts about what a brutal monster Mefius was.
“Hehe, brother, why do you do this to yourself? My collar doesn’t do much but in combination with that armor, there is nothing you can do yet you insist on annoying me. You know you have to listen to my commands, otherwise, well you already know the consequences. Now are you going to fall in line or do I have to make permanent arrangements.”
“DON’T!…I…I will obey. Don’t touch what is mine.”
“Mmmm, you see, I just don’t like that attitude of yours…BEG!”
Even through the sheering pain, Bearon made it to his knees and didn’t hesitate to beg.
“Please…Please don’t harm my precious gem.”
Kazuki was instantly shocked and confused.
(Is…Is he talking about Runa? Isn’t she Mefius’s daughter the phrase precious gem though…the way Beaorn says it, it is filled with emotion. The way Mefius sued it was almost condescending.)
Kazuki couldn’t be sure because they didn’t actually say Runa’s name. Not only that but he had no such information from Editrix’s memories.
(Surely Editrix would have put this together since they are speaking so openly about it.)
Kazuki looked over at Editrix and noticed the barrier was still surrounding him. Stretching out his aura, Kauzki could tell that all sound was blocked from the outside world. Editirx could hear nothing that was going on.
(Mefius is blocking Editrix from sharing what’s going on yet allowing me to hear and witness all of this. Is this a secret or not? Mefius see’s none as his equal. In his eye, I am nothing more than a slave, a bug. He must not care at all or believes I will not pick up on such clues. To him, I’m not even a person but a mere curiosity, a tool to be used, and nothing more.)
Kazuki did not know if he was looking for things that weren’t there or if this was the real deal. Either way, he began to see a path and the gears in his mind began to turn.
Mefius’s voice once more came from the floating orb.
“You see, now isn’t that better. Things are so much simpler when you just fall in line and obey me. How am I surrounded by so many fools? That human over there is one of my new toys. He is following Editrix, doing my bidding. You get in the way, you try and break my toys, it greatly annoys me and when I’m annoyed, I too tend to break things. Do you understand brother?”
“Yes.”
There was a bit of elation and playfulness in Mefius’s voice as he called out.
“Good good, now get off the floor, it’s quite pathetic and disgusting. Editrix, I’ve already sent some instructions, lead Kazuki well, and don’t disappoint me. Any more of these little games and I may just grow jealous that I wasn’t invited.”
With that Mefius’s voice disappeared and the spike in Bearon’s armor returned to normal and the slave collar glowed no more. Bearon slowly returned to his feet and stepped aside away from the wooden door behind him.
Editrix stood up and dusted himself off. He wore a hint of dignity on his face and his nose was slightly upturned as if he wasn’t just embarrassed and terrified. He walked forward and past Bearon without either making eye contact nor saying a word to one another.
Calling out to Kazuki he commanded.
“Follow.”
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