34 Chapter 33
After he's done with Caggo's group, he formed a plan to take out Denzo's group. Unfortunately, it was concentrated with officers who can resist Auron.
He grabbed a bow along with an arrow and head out to Denzo's location.
He spotted Denzo in the distance giving orders. He nock an arrow and aim it, taking a deep breath. Then he released the bowstring.
"Swooooooooooosh!"
"Tchuk!"
Headshot! The arrow embedded itself to Denzo's head sticking up the other end outward his right eye. He fell flatface to the ground which made the soldiers around him panic.
Since the one giving orders was taken out, he thought the rest would be easier.
He ran in another direction, so it would seem he came from Caggo's group. He wore the helmet of a fallen soldier to cover some of his face before he ran towards Denzo's group and acted terrified.
"Heeeelp! Brothers helpppp!"
The group relaxed seing he's wearing the same colors recognizing their uniform.
Auron stopped among them and said in a shaking voice.
"My group, we were slaughtered like a sheep. Captain Caggo's dead."
"What?! What are we going to do now? Captain Denzo was also shot dead just moments ago."
Auron pretended to be surprised and terrified at the same time.
"What?!! What are we supposed to do now? How about we go back to the leader and we spread out. Our enemy is alone, if we spread out, he wouldn't be able kill all of us while we retreat."
"No! If we spread out, the enemy can easily hunt us one by one." Books protested. He was a Volantene swordsman and likes to read.
"Which he can do even if we stick together, like what happened at my group. We're like a food to him, if we gather in one place, he's going to have a feast. If we spread out, at least more will be able to escape and retreat to the leader." Auron interrupted.
"He's got a point." Ginger Jack agreed.
Fortunately, the soldiers left weren't that smart so a little bit of suggesting a decision that sounded smart, they agreed subconsciously.
"I also agree, let's retreat and spread out. Group yourselves in pairs so you can at least have one to watch your back." said Lewis, the archer of the team.
As the majority made the decision, everyone followed. They began to spread out in retreat and Auron was paired with Old Bill Bone.
When Auron assessed that the distance was enough from other pairs, his hunting has begun.
He easily killed Old Bill Bone by with a stab on his throat.
Like a ghost, he was able to finish off one pair after another with just two to four slashes of his sword.
But there some pair with a tough but to crack. Like Lewis and Black Gerald. One was range and another was melee. He got careless as he was shot by an arrow from Lewis that hit his left shoulder resulting for another graze of slash in his left arm. Fortunately, no major arteries or bones were hit. With the help of his armor, the arrow barely buried itself in his flesh which can be healed with a proper rest and medication. But still it hurts him badly.
Eventually, he was able to finish them of with some effort.
He also got another shallow stab at his back done by Meris, the company's torturer as his last ditch effort to get even with him when he's on the verge of death.
As the officers were all almost dead, he speed up his killing by using Caggo's arakh. It was so sharp that he was able to cut the feet of a soldier who didn't realize he had no feet anymore. He just realized it when he saw his own body slid down and blood spurts out of the cut. Then the soul-eating pain came.
The last officer opponent he fought was Myrio Myrakis, a Pentoshi swordsman. He was able to resist him for more than five minutes. The moment he defeated Myrio, he felt another pulse coming from one of his rings. A strange feeling came, like a thin layer of fabric was ripped apart and he was able to understand a lot of things about the sword. As he wielded the arakh, it felt it became part of his limbs even more. It became a lot easier wielding his sword adjusting to its balance. If someone were to slash at him at the moment, he will be able to deflect it by counterattacking with a stab pointed at the opponent's sword path. A good way to defend while attacking. His swordsmanship has leveled up once again.
He relaxed a bit after the upgrade. He became fearless and he think he will be able to face the hundred remaining men who were with the Tattered Prince. Though tired, he can still finish what he came here for.
After ensuring no one escaped or pretending to be dead, he walk back to where Denzo's corpse was and picked up the lute from his body.
Now that he had the strength to face them head on, he's not going to sneak up anymore. He will let the enemy know his identity and he will came to them openly.
--
Meanwhile, the old Tattered Prince was still outside his tent with his hundred men waiting for Caggo and Denzo to come back. Although they hear an occasional sound of fighting and terrified screams in the distance, they still have their confidence that their brothers will come back victorious.
But suddenly, it turned quiet. It last for half an hour before they detected another sound that was so faint.
One of the soldier with a sharp ear perked up and looked around nervously.
"Did you hear that?" He said.
Gerris Drinkwater, also known as 'Drink' asked the soldier.
"What is it?"
"I hear something from a distance, it sounds like a lute."
At first, they weren't able to hear anything. But as time passes, they were able to hear the same sound. It was a song played in a very slow tune. Like the slow songs you'd hear from a horror movie.
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"It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight You see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream But terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze As horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed."
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"Who is that?" Another soldier asked.
The Tattered Prince frowned but he didn't answer, though he already have some guess.
"Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller!"
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From a distance, they a were able to see a silhouette of a man basking in moonlight slowly heading towards them.
The man stopped his singing but he continues to play the lute with the same tune. Then he switched to some kind of poem that sounded like a poetic prophecy of what is about to happen. His voice was deep and solemn. He looked at the soldiers as fear became visible in their eyes.
"Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hours is close at hand
A man saunters in search of blood
To terrorize you with a deathly chant
And whosever shall be found
Without the soul for getting down
Must stand and face the wrath of hell
And rot inside a corpse's shell
The foulest stench is in the air
With soil drenched of blood from thousand men
The hidden dragon who brings a song
Is closing in to seal your doom
And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver..
For no mere mortal can resist
The Herald of death, you'll cease to exist."
As Auron finished his Ode, he came into full view a few meters in front the hundred strong army.
When they saw Auron, he was like he came straight from hell. His body is full of blood but they knew most of them weren't his. He carries a foul stench of blood with him and he looked at them with a frightening look in his eyes. Like predator ready to slaughter a group of sheep.
The Tattered Prince finally realized who he is. The culprit who was responsible for the deaths of his men.
"I know who you are!" He suddenly said to Auron.
Auron kept being quiet.
"You are the Storyteller. The one who I heard so much about."
"Is that your last words? Tattered Prince?"
"We have never crossed paths before so why are you killing us?" Tattered Prince wryly asked.
"I told you, you have tolerated your men too much to the point that they offended me. They are now corpses in Pentos as I tortured them by cutting their dicks and shoving it into their own mouths. I skinned them alive as they beg for a quick death. A punishment they deserve."
The Old Tattered Prince smiled wryly. He didn't expect someone was mad enough to hunt them one by one, alone and was able to pull it off.
"Can I ask how did they offended you?"
"They raped a nine year old child."
"What's your relationship with her, is she your sister?"
Auron shook his head and said, "She have no relationship with me."
"Then why?"
"You see that's the reason why you will cease to exist. Your indifference to the cruelty of your men is the reason for your downfall."
"So you're their hero? You want to seek justice for them. You are too naive Storyteller! Hahaha in this world, might is right."
"No I'm not a hero, I'm not seeking justice for her. Well, maybe a little but I'm just doing what I want and it just so happens that your existence disgusts me, you are just a waste of air so I decided to wipe you out from the face of Essos."
Auron continued, "Besides, you will be my stepping stones in order to spread my name across the land."
"Then let's see if your are still alive to enjoy your glory." The old Tattered Prince sneered.
"Very well."
Auron didn't waste any more time, he charged forward with a sharp arakh in his hand as he slice through the hundred men standing before him.
