Finally they entered a wide room plunged into the darkness, the magic lamps above turned off.
Cyril cautiously walked a few steps and cast a spell.
A bright orb of light appeared at his side that soon flew into the distance.
It revealed the medical beds and shackles on the wall, as well as many human figures.
Their faces were fatigued, their eyes empty, with not a single emotion within.
Their bodies were torn and bruised, some with internal organs showing, some only without skin.
"Gods," Myra mumbled as she took a few steps in. After a moment she hastily closed the eyes of the children.
Tears streamed down their faces as they tried to stay quiet.
"Humans can be cruel." Jack's whisper rang clearly in Cyril's ears.
Maybe demons are more to blame?
"I say this place is a collaborative effort of both."
As they stood admiring the sights, suddenly the lights above them were turned on.
With a loud bang the door they came from shut on its own.
The double doors on the other end of the room sharply opened.
Through them dashed in a group of ghouls, or what looked similar.
Their bodies lacked the usual reddish tint of ghouls, their form less deformed.
What remained similar were the bestial looks on the faces, with fangs visible and claws on their arms.
Running in a wobbly way, they sped to the nearest source of living flesh.
"Tsk." Cyril looked around him for the closest weapon but found nothing suitable.
In the end he outstretched his arm and prepared to cast a spell.
However, before he could make a move, Selene once again came in front.
With one arm behind her back, she thrust the other forward. It suddenly glowed blue, the glow soon gathering into a long snake-like creature.
With a deafening hiss, the shining snake shot forward, tearing through ghoul after ghoul at a speed hard to follow.
Eventually the snake exploded, sending a shockwave all around it.
Cyril braced himself, his eyes widened.
He stared at Selene. She stared back at him, her golden eyes still calm, though they somehow appeared smug to him.
"Do you wish to learn?"
"No."
Cyril snapped with a frown. Selene's face remained unresponsive.
A pained cough nearby suddenly caught his attention.
From what remained of the ghouls, a figure shakily stood up, a vague shield covering their body.
It was a bald man in leather armor, which was now torn, revealing his bulging muscles. He breathed heavily as he glared at the group.
"Viper, you wanted to blend in with the ghouls and strike? Hehehe, that's too bad." Jack gloated with a wicked smirk.
That's Viper... Someone in charge of this place?
"Jack! You bastard! Did you bring a knight in here!?"
The barrier around him disappearing, the man glared at the thief with hatred before switching to Selene.
"...I suggest you don't make any hasty moves. There are more people in the rooms behind me." The man pointed to the double doors.
"If something happens to me, my men will execute them."
Myra clenched her teeth, the children near her starting to cry harder.
Selene remained unresponsive. Her golden eyes carried a contemplative shine to them.
Soon, that shine turned to realization, and she suddenly stared at the Viper, startling him.
"I will not interfere. I am not the one who is interested in this place. Your business is with him." Selene pointed towards Cyril.
Huh?
A bad feeling came over him.
Viper stared at her with confusion before switching to Cyril with a frown.
"What's this about?"
Just as he stood confused, Myra went past the bald man as the wind, right through the double doors.
"Damn it!" Viper's face paled as he failed to stop her and hurriedly created a magic circle.
Not letting go of this opportunity, Cyril dashed close and shot a punch at his chest.
Surprisingly, the man managed to twist his body in time, only getting grazed in the process.
Still, he stumbled a few steps behind him, the spell interrupted.
"Fuck!" He cursed before glaring at Cyril.
"You are dead meat!"
The butterfly flew in the air around them, her antennae twitching with excitement.
The kids huddled in the corner, holding back tears as they hid.
While Selene stood near them, her hands behind her back.
"I will not interfere unless it's something to do with my disciple."
She calmly stated and nodded to herself.
Outwardly she looked the same as ever, but Cyril somehow got the impression the atmosphere around her became a bit more smug.
He turned towards Viper and readied his hands, his glare getting colder.
"I don't need anyone's help."
"Does she think we'll struggle against some pitiful bald guy in the middle of nowhere? Ha! The delusion!"
If only I had a spear...
Cyril went over the room again, trying and failing to find something suitable.
Whatever. This will not be an excuse.
"We don't need a weapon to deal with a human."
Viper breathed in and out, soon calming down.
He gripped a dagger in reverse and lowered his body.
Suddenly, he shot forward, swiping with his dagger.
He is fast...!
Cyril rolled to the side, evading the blow.
Then his vision was immediately obscured by a knee.
"Hmph!"
"Fool!"
He met the blow with his hand, grabbing the leg.
Viper suddenly felt as if his knee was stuck in some steel trap, not being able to budge even a little bit.
Cyril clenched his hands with all his strength, and a loud tear echoed in the room.
"Ahhh!"
Enduring the pain, Viper cast a spell, and a small explosion enveloped them, forcing Cyril to let go.
"You freak! Some magically altered noble? Tsk, what rotten luck."
Viper's voice was heard through the resulting smoke, then a gulping sound.
"I will not be careless anymore..."
A whooshing sound went through the air as something soon reached Cyril.
He reflexively deflected what turned out to be an empty vial.
Soon, from another angle, Viper returned with a ferocious expression, dagger raised high.
Cyril only had the time to block with his other hand.
The blade soon met flesh, leaving a bloody wound on his arm.
With that, Viper immediately retreated a certain distance, a smirk now on his face.
"Still too young, haha! Most likely some noble's kid, right? Delusions of becoming a knight led you here?"
The smoke disappeared, revealing Viper playing with the dagger.
Cyril observed the wound on his arm before calmly gazing at him.
"No matter how high your talent is, or how many resources you have, you'll never beat experience!"
Viper heartily laughed, as if finally proving something.
Rhamn materialized at Cyril's side, staring at the thug with pity.
"What a moron."
"There was poison in that blade, but I fixed it. The wound is left for visual purposes." She nodded to him with pride.
Thanks.
Cyril clutched his arm, frowning in the process.
"Feel anything different? Oh, young master?"
Viper mockingly glared at him as he began walking around him.
"...As if a mosquito bit me, I feel somewhat annoyed."
Cyril mumbled, trying to sound a bit weaker.
"Hahaha! Good! We'll see how long that lasts!"
Viper made another circle, his gaze never leaving Cyril.
Children in the corner hugged each other, their eyes somewhat calm despite everything.
Selene stood near them, her serene eyes locked on Cyril.
Jack was nowhere to be found.
Need to do something else...
Make my skin paler.
Cyril shakily knelt on the ground, the skin on his face slowly becoming sickly white.
"That's right!"
Viper yelled, before glancing at Selene nearby.
"You promised not to interfere. I won, so will you leave now?"
Her golden eyes switched to him.
"It's not over until it's over."
Viper's eyes widened before he smirked.
"Indeed. Well, allow me."
He leisurely walked to Cyril.
Standing in front of him, he reached with his hand.
Suddenly, Viper's face quickly twisted as pain assaulted his stomach.
Cyril threw a quick punch, while his other hand grabbed onto Viper's back.
Like this, Cyril made a magic circle at the point of impact.
Soon a fiery explosion enveloped Viper, sending him flying in the air.
His body crashed into the stone wall, where it slowly slid down to the floor.
Cyril shakily made a few steps back and waved his arm, getting rid of the smoke on it.
The sleeve of his shirt was torn, but, strangely, his arm was in perfect condition.
He turned towards Selene, his cold eyes narrowing down.
Now what?
In response, her thin lips spread into a slight smile.
"...!"
Cyril tilted his head, a dagger flying right past his face.
A tear appeared on his cheek as some blood briefly flowed.
He turned to look where Viper landed with a frown.
The man stood still, his leather armor completely destroyed.
On his neck was a necklace that glowed brightly. In a moment it was broken, dropping to the ground with a quiet clang.
"You pompous shit! Think I will be done in that easily?"
Viper yelled through gritted teeth, his face deathly pale.
"There is not much left in him. Whatever tricks he has left, it will be over soon."
Cyril stood tall, his cold blue eyes locked on the desperate man.