Knossos.
[Dix Perdix- Lv5]
HP: 4270
MP: 1360
Despite my happiness at finally getting a lead, I couldn't help but question its difficulty... It was only after an hour or so of looking for the apparently suspicious people, I managed to find exactly what I was looking for.
Dix is a tall, muscular dark-haired man wearing rather simple and retiring clothes: a battle cloth and smoky goggles to hide his eyes. On his hip was a short sword.
However, that observation wasn't really the most important as of now.
"Stop SCREAMING!" Dix bellowed at the cages that were being carried by his companions. He even went as far as to punch their black iron bars in anger. The bars didn't break, surprising, considering the strength of a level5. They must have been made of special material...
Despite his casual show of relaxation, Dix's eyes foretold otherwise. His head would turn left and right to search for anything out of order.
Alas, that would amount to nothing. I dare say I am the best magic item maker in the entire Orario as of this moment.
My invisibility potion and cloak combination rendered all people's awareness to the level of Skyrim guards. I could literally sneak right beside their noses, and they'd have no qualms about it.
There were other precautions that could be taken… maybe scent and sound reduction for high-level beast kin would do good, yet the use of shapeshifting did enough in that regard for now.
I kept following Dix and his companions for a rather long amount of time.
"We've arrived." I suddenly heard someone announce.
"Is that so? Thank you for informing me." Dix paused, "I couldn't have, possibly, lived without knowing. It's not like I know where it is…." sarcasm virtually dripping from his voice.
All that he received was an eye roll from the companions. It seems that was a regular occurrence.
Dix muttered with a low voice after a while, shaking his head, "Dumb fucks…."
I had to agree with the mister companion here, however.
To me, it looked like the usual straight alleyway we have been walking into. In fact, I could even see it continue further.
I naturally knew something was off about this whole thing. But that comment made me sure. My assuredness was further augmented by Dix's next action.
Dix took out his necklace, and on it was some sort of key. He put that key forward and inserted it into the supposedly empty air.
*Click*
A massive door suddenly came into existence the moment he put in the key. The door slowly opened until it would allow the passage of the entire company— and me. But they didn't need to know about my presence.
There was a moment of hesitation that took me by the hands when the reality of what I was doing struck me.
Should I actually go through with this, the 'timeline' would get screwed beyond repair. However, that remark was entirely irrelevant at this point.
The moment I landed here, there would be no more 'timeline.'. Never mind the actual changes that I directly had on the 'story'. I'm sure there are a lot more indirect ones to uncover. No matter how small the action, it will surely have unforeseen consequences. So I might as well not mind it at all.
Small ripples make big waves, as they say.
There is also a possibility that this multiverse that I am in is only one of many. But thinking about such grand prospects while stalking some second-rate criminals is rather...
Dix was about to enter the room after the door opened, but it seems he had in himself another remark for all to hear.
He mock-bowed and grandly opened his arms when he got up.
"Welcome to the grand man-made dungeon… But I guess you already know that, don't ya?" he commented the last part with a higher voice. Some kind of payback for earlier, maybe?
I faintly smiled.' Well, he's at least somewhat entertaining…'
One look at his companions that carried the cages of drugged up and chained Xenos made me think that they thought otherwise.
Sadly, it was too late for me to give an ounce of care about the Xenos at this point. It would be too hypocritical... I had already made my stance perfectly clear on that matter.
I was right behind them as they entered.
The Knossos left the Dedaleus street in the dust in regard to complexity and intricacy. I was quite sure it would be impossible for me to have a meaningful trip had I not entered along with these fine gentlemen.
After the initial entrance, there was another straight path to follow, But after it.... That was when things started to get dizzy.
On each fork way, there were upwards of five paths to choose from. And all of them had magic stone lamps on them, so there was no cheating by going with the lit-up path. The issue was that numerous of those paths would not only lead to a dead end, but the end leads to monster trapped rooms or poison chambers…
However, that wasn't the entirety of the problem. The Knossos wasn't entirely straight, thus those fork ways would change along; they were not only in one direction. There were times when there would be at least three fork ways at each crossing point.
'This shit is needlessly complicated… I know that their ancestor was supposed to be some kind of perfectionist…' I grumbled.
It was taking me quite a lot of concentration to remember the way this bastard took. It was that complicated.
I guess the descendants must have some way to instinctually know their way around it.
*Click*
Another door was opened, and I immediately hissed when the pungent and putrid smell of rotten flesh assaulted me. Multiple Xenos hung down from the ceiling by their ankles as their blood pooled on the stone ground.
They didn't even use normal shackles, instead opting to use big iron hooks instead to hold them in place by piercing their Achilles' tendons.
That was without the mention of their state… It was horrible. Their skin was flayed and festered from the apparent whiplash traces.
Drool was dripping from their mouth and onto the floor to mix with the pool of blood beneath them; a despondent look riddled their half-monster faces. They must have surely been driven to madness by the torture.
If I found that scene gory, then the Xenos found it horrifying; as they should.
*Rattle* *Rattle*
The cages rattled and shook from the Xenos' despaired movement. Even the previously drugged up ones managed to at least choke out a sob or two. Their futures looked grim.
"AMIRA!"
A scaly hand seeped through the black iron bars. I looked at the voice owner, and it was a Lizard-man Xeno. His eyes widened, and his neck muscles bulged, registering the sight that lay in front of him.
That shout seemed to snap the poor Lamia Xeno awake. She was barely able to mutter "Manu…"
A tear slowly strained her humanoid face, but soon mixed with the blood decorating her disfigured expression.
Manu and Amira locked eyes for the longest moments. They didn't say anything, just dearly looked at each other. They seemed to communicate with their eyes.
That heartfelt scene seemed to elicit a peal of deep laughter from Dix. "Hahaha... Such a touching reunion."
He slowly went to the cage and grabbed the lizard Xeno's hand that stuck from the cage bars, as the poor Manu cried and grit his fangs in pure frustration.
Dix made sure to look him right in the eye. He licked his lips, with his right eye glowing bright red." Don't worry, you'll be next to her soon enough."
*Swoosh*
A stream of blood grimed Dix's goggles. He had cut off Manu's fingers that reached over the cage bars...
"Aaagh!"
That wasn't enough for him, apparently. He went for the wrist of the other hand this time.
*Thud*
"M-manu..." the lamia weakly responded; her vocal cords were already too ruined, but her complexion showed great grief.
'It would only get worse if you scream.' Amira wanted to say. Lamentably, she could not. She herself has screamed too much to combat the pain of the torture. Her ruined voice cords were a direct consequence of that.
The scream of the Manu turned even sharper. He grabbed his wristless arm with his fingerless one in hopes to apply pressure. Sadly, it wouldn't work.
"W-why do y-you DO THIS?" Manu shouted in pure rage.
"Yes… Just like that. SCREAM for me!." Dix didn't seem to even register his bloodied goggles. He relished in the Xenos' suffering.
I regret ever looking at his crotch… A small tent could be seen.
----------
[Akagi Ken]
Level:5
HP: 7700
MP: 3850
Unallocated Stat points: 156
Valis: ~10mil
-Strength: E420
-Endurance: D530
-Dexterity: D580
-Agility: D580
-Magic: E410
Skills: Gamers Mind - Gamers Body - Instinct - Mind's Eye (True) - Mage - Mystery- MasterSmith- One-Handed Sword Mastery - Rejuvenation - Shapeshifting - Mixing- HeadPatting- Luck- Endless Libido- Battle continuation- Mana Burst.
Magic: Ele magic - Non-Ele magic - Inventory- Space-Time magic.
If you have to help me out, have any ideas or want to read advanced chapters ahead: patron.com/MunirSM