Chapter 7: The Victory??

  In the main hall of the castle, a filthy laugh echoed, drowning out the roar of the storm outside. Hybris, a mountain of muscle over seven feet tall, loomed at the head of the table. Raising his blood-stained hands, he roared:

  Hybris: "Did you see that pathetic guard’s face? The sound it made when I crushed his skull with one hand... popped just like a watermelon! When I did that right in front of the King, they all shut the hell up! There isn’t a single soul left in that kingdom with the balls to stand against us. That place is our playground now."

  Beside him sat Peitho, bare-chested, his every muscle glistening like sweaty glass in the torchlight. He smirked, narrowing his eyes.

  Peitho: "I don't give a damn about lands, borders, or that idiot King’s treasury, Hybris. I only care about the women in those lands. Their trembling skin... that’s what gets me." He ran his tongue slowly over his lips with a sickening sense of pleasure.

  The depraved celebration was cut short as the massive iron doors groaned open. Metis walked in, her snow-white hair contrasting with her soulless, smooth face. She ignored them all, walked to the table, took a silver goblet, and took a cold sip. She stopped.

  A harsh, grating sound came from her throat: "Tih..."

  When she pulled the goblet from her lips, her voice was as flat as a grave.

  Metis: "They killed Gunner." Her fingers tightened around the silver. "Do any of you have any idea how much work I put into him? Into creating that masterpiece?"

  As she finished, she squeezed the goblet so hard the metal buckled and tore like a piece of paper. The wine spilled across the table like fresh blood.

  Hybris, trying to shake off the mood, interjected with a mocking tone:

  Hybris: "Guess you didn't build him well enough then, 'genius.' A few basic soldiers came along and turned your masterpiece into scrap metal."

  In the corner, Phobos, clutching his knees and biting his nails, stuttered:

  Phobos: "I-I don't think they were just soldiers, Hybris. They were monsters..."

  Aidos, the woman in silver armor, spoke through the metallic echo of her helm:

  Aidos: "This is trouble. We all saw Gunner’s power, but we need to watch out for that kid they call Sentry. He’s not some ordinary brat."

  Hybris slammed the table in anger:

  Hybris: "You’re all too damn scared! Some lucky kid beat Gunner by a fluke. Gunner must have screwed up, that’s all."

  Suddenly, a woman drifted out of the darkest shadow of the hall. Lyssa, with three glowing eyes and jagged teeth, her face smeared with fresh blood, whispered in a terrifying voice:

  Lyssa: "Who are we talking about? Is he interesting enough to catch your eye?" She finished with a laugh, dragging her tongue over her bloody lips.

  Phobos jumped in fright:

  Phobos: "Lyssa! There’s a terrifying kid! He killed Gunner!"

  Lyssa’s third eye widened with excitement:

  Lyssa: "Hmm... I wonder what his blood tastes like..."

  Peitho stood up and stretched.

  Peitho: "I’m out. I need to go have some fun."

  Hybris barked a laugh:

  Hybris: "Going to 'play' with more innocent girls again, are you?"

  Peitho smiled, his eyes narrowing with lust.

  Peitho: "I reckon so... they’ve brought in some fresh ones."

  Aidos glared at Peitho from under her helm, thinking to herself, 'Disgusting pig.'

  The veins in Metis’s forehead and neck bulged. Her eyes, shadowed by her white hair, burned with pure hatred. She turned slowly to Lyssa. Her voice was no longer just cold; it carried a command of pure savagery.

  Metis: "Go to that kingdom where Gunner fought. Those morons... the plan went to hell because they got scared of their own man and ran! Go. Kill every single person there. Wipe that kingdom off the map!"

  Lyssa shivered with excitement. She licked her lips again, her third eye dilating with a bloody hunger.

  Lyssa: "All of them?" she whispered, her voice like a blade scraping bone. "What about the c-cowards who ran? Should I rip their hearts out too?"

  Peitho leaned in, his voice shifting from a childish innocence to a seductive purr.

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  Peitho: "Metis... you’re sooooo meeeean. What do you want with those innocent girls? Why not leave them to me? It’d be such a waste of fresh skin..."

  Metis didn't give a damn about Peitho’s perverted whining. She fixed her gaze on the door.

  Metis: "Do whatever you want, Peitho. I don't care."

  As she walked out, she tossed one last command over her shoulder:

  Metis: "Call Kaelen. Tell him there’s a meeting tonight... Be there. All of you. No excuses."

  While the Kingdom celebrated, Sentry opened his eyes to a different kind of hell. This wasn't the infirmary. He was back in that endless field of corpses, but the liquid beneath his feet was no longer water—it was a heavy, clotted sea of blood.

  "Welcome back, Sentry."

  Sentry spun around at that ice-cold voice. It was him again. The bone-man with no lips, his teeth exposed, staring into Sentry’s soul with a single eye.

  Sentry: "You again, you bastard!"

  The man turned to dust and reappeared behind him.

  Bone-Man: "Easy, Sentry. I just want to talk this time."

  Sentry: "What’s there to talk about, One-Eye?"

  Bone-Man: "Do you know why you’re here? Gunner is dead. The war is over."

  Sentry: "How do you know that?"

  The man let out a hideous laugh. "I know everything..."

  Sentry: "If you know everything... how’s Leo?"

  The man tilted his head as if calculating.

  Bone-Man: "Hm... Leo’s actually okay. Even I’m surprised. He should have died the moment he took that hit, but I guess the doctors were good."

  Sentry: "Don't play with me! This is a dream, how can you know anything?"

  Bone-Man: "This isn't a dream, Sentry. This is your mind. That woman you saw... was she a dream? Did she feel like a dream when she touched your cheek?"

  Sentry’s throat tightened. "N-no..."

  Bone-Man: "Forget this place. We’ll meet again soon. Something big is coming, Sentry. Ostriga... the kingdom Gunner fought for... it’s being erased as we speak."

  Sentry: "Who’s doing it? Us?"

  The man gave one last sickening laugh as his body began to dissolve into the air.

  Bone-Man: "No. You lot stopped because you didn't want to fight anymore. I won't tell you who it is, but stay sharp. There is a massive threat in this world. Don't... don't surrender yourself to—"

  Everything went black. Sentry bolted upright in his bed, lungs burning for air. He was in the infirmary.

  A maid walked in, saw Sentry’s savage, predatory glare, and froze. She dropped her rags and bolted down the hall screaming: "Sentry’s awake! Sentry’s awake!"

  Viktor practically shouldered the door open, that cocky grin on his face.

  Viktor: "Damn! Finally back in the land of the living."

  Sentry: "So... we won, then? Leo!"

  Viktor: "Relax, he’s fine. He’s alive."

  Sentry leaned back. "What happened? How’d I go down?"

  Viktor: "Don't you remember? After we killed Gunner—"

  The door exploded open. Eris rushed in, hair a mess, gasping for air.

  Eris: "Sentry!" Before he could react, she buried her face in his chest, sobbing.

  Eris: "I was so scared... I thought you’d never wake up."

  Sentry froze, his hands hovering in the air like he was an alien. He slowly touched her shoulder with his fingertips.

  Sentry: "A princess shouldn't be crying like this... it doesn't suit you."

  The door was shoved open again. Alaric walked in, his gümü? z?rh gleaming without a speck of dust. He ignored Sentry entirely.

  Alaric: "My Lady... I’ve told you, protocol says you don't move without me. Your safety is my responsibility now. Let’s leave this gloomy... dusty room. The preparations are waiting."

  Sentry dragged himself to the edge of the bed, his eyes burning with rage. He whispered to Viktor:

  Sentry: "Viktor... did the palace get a new 'ornament' while I was out? I can’t even see the guy’s face through all that damn glare."

  Alaric stopped and turned slowly, a mocking smirk on his lips.

  Alaric: "Watch your tone. I am Her Highness’s new guardian. Show some respect, or the punishment will be severe. Though, looking at you now, I doubt you could handle a slap, let alone a punishment."

  Sentry took a predatory step toward him, but Viktor held him back.

  Viktor: "My Lady, if you’ll excuse us, I’d like to take Sentry out for some air?"

  As they walked down the hall, Sentry spat:

  Sentry: "Old man, why’d you stop me? You see that prick?"

  Viktor: "You just woke up, don't start a riot. Look at the bright side: while Alaric is chasing the Princess, you get a vacation. Enjoy it."

  They reached Leo’s room. Leo was propped up reading.

  Leo: "Sentry! You’re awake, you big bear!"

  Sentry: "You look like hell, Leo."

  Leo: "What can I say? I’m getting old. So... I heard Gunner turned into a monster. What really happened?"

  Sentry: "I’ll tell you... He had hundreds of arms, Leo. You’d cut one, and two more would sprout like weeds."

  Viktor: "And he was as tall as the sky. Derisi like plate armor. That bastard was going to bury us all."

  Later, at the grand ceremony, the King stood on the high podium with Alaric by his side.

  Advisor: "Charles! Viktor! Leo! And Knight Sentry! Step forward!"

  They marched to the center. The King hung a heavy, gold-engraved seal around Sentry’s neck.

  King: "You are the heroes who saved this realm!"

  After the ceremony, the King called Sentry to his study.

  King: "Sentry... I’ve put Alaric from the noble houses by your side. You’re still wounded. Let him be the shield while you rest. I’m asking this as a father, for Eris’s safety."

  Sentry bowed slightly. "If that’s your wish, My King."

  As Sentry left, Metis appeared in the shadows of the room.

  Metis: "Did you do it?"

  King: "Yes... I put Alaric by his side. What do you want with that boy?"

  Metis: "He’s strong. I just want to watch. Alaric is a fool, but he’ll be a good distraction. The best way to stop a monster is to trip him up with a fool."

  Sentry went back to his room, ripped the gold seal off, and tossed it onto the table like it was trash. He fell into a deep sleep.

  Before dawn, Sentry was already at Eris’s door. Alaric arrived later, half-asleep in his armor.

  Sentry: "Sünepe..." (Pathetic...)

  Eris came out, her face lighting up when she saw Sentry.

  Eris: "Sentry! You should be resting!"

  Sentry: "Duty doesn't wait, My Lady."

  They went to eat. Alaric immediately started stuffing his face while Sentry stood guard.

  Sentry: (Thinking) 'This idiot can't even protect himself, how’s he going to protect the Princess?'

  Suddenly, a maid rushed in.

  Maid: "Lady Eris, the materials you wanted have arrived!"

  Eris jumped up with childish excitement and ran toward her room. Sentry and Alaric followed right behind.