"Bring Crestia over and let her sit, and you take a seat too," Alad commanded Cirris, his tone carrying an air of lazy authority. His smirk widened as he pointed at , his eyes gleaming with malice. "And you, sit as well."
The atmosphere in the room was suffocating, the walls of the enclosed space seeming to press in closer with every passing second. I reluctantly followed his order, lowering myself into the chair with clenched fists resting on my thighs. Crestia was dragged forward by Cirris, her bound form trembling. My heart sank at the sight of her vulnerability as Cirris sat her down roughly beside .
"As I ntioned before," Alad began, his voice dripping with mock politeness, "this ga is simple. There are three rounds of punishnt, and you will choose who will take the punishnt." He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. "However, rember that if you choose yourself over Crestia, the punishnt triples. Do you understand? Then let’s begin."
His grin widened, the sheer delight in his cruelty sending a chill down my spine.
"For the first punishnt," he announced, his tone theatrical, "it will be a strike from Werk’s interdiate sword skill, Snake Bite!"
Werk stepped forward, the wooden sword in his hand glinting faintly under the dim light. His movents were deliberate, his stance practiced, like soone too eager to demonstrate their skill.
"Hehe, it’s an order, so I can’t help it," Werk said, his tone mockingly apologetic. His lips curled into a sinister grin as he added, "Please understand that I’m just following his orders. Don’t hate . HAHAHAHA!"
He laughed maniacally, spinning the wooden sword as if preparing for a performance. The sound of the blade slicing through the air added another layer of tension to the room.
Is everyone in Alad’s crew like this? I thought, my gaze darting between Alad, Werk, and Cirris. From Alad’s smug deanor to Werk’s sadistic glee and Cirris’s betrayal, it felt like they were all under so twisted spell.
"What is wrong with them?" I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible.
"I’ll give you a minute to decide," Alad interrupted my thoughts, his voice sharp. He snapped his fingers at Cirris. "Cirris, remove that gag from her mouth; let her speak."
Cirris moved swiftly, pulling the gag from Crestia’s lips with little regard for her comfort. She coughed slightly, her throat dry from hours of restraint, but the mont she regained her voice, she spoke up, her tone filled with desperation.
"I’ll take it! I’ll take it!" Crestia exclaid, her eyes locking onto mine, pleading.
Her words struck like a hamr, but I couldn’t let her bear the pain. "What are you saying? That’s an interdiate sword skill. I can’t let you experience that. I’ll take it," I replied firmly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest.
Crestia shook her head violently, her eyes brimming with tears. "Will, let take it. You’d endure three tis the punishnt if you choose yourself. I can’t bear to see you suffer like that," she said, her voice trembling but resolute.
Her concern only fueled my determination. "Heh, three tis wouldn’t hurt at all," I said, forcing a smirk even though fear churned in my stomach. I couldn’t let her see my hesitation. "Who do you think I am? Let take it; I can’t bear to see you hurt anymore."
The room seed to hold its breath as we stared at each other, the weight of the decision pressing down on both of us.
"Ding, ding!" Alad’s mocking voice broke the silence, his laughter echoing in the room. "Ti’s up! So, who will take the first punishnt?" His eyes glead with excitent, his sadistic enjoynt of our predicant more apparent than ever.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as I answered. "I’ll take it."
Crestia’s expression twisted in anguish, but before she could protest, I spoke again, my voice softer this ti. "Crestia, it’s okay. You’ve been through enough. Let handle this."
Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she nodded reluctantly, her voice barely a whisper. "Will, thank you, but... I don’t want to see you hurt for my sake. I’ll take the second one"
Alad clapped his hands together, his grin growing impossibly wide. "Wonderful! What a touching display of selflessness. This is why I love gas like these!"
If I refused her here, it might complicate things further. Crestia was already terrified, and any further argunt might only worsen her distress. I could only hope the second punishnt would be less severe than the first.
"Okay," I said reluctantly, eting her tearful gaze. "I’ll leave the second punishnt to you."
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice soft but trembling, as though even agreeing to this was tearing her apart.
"All right!" Alad interrupted, clapping his hands together with twisted glee. "So it’s Will who will bear Werk’s Snake Bite—not once, but thrice! Can he endure it? Let’s find out. HAHAHAHA!"
Alad’s laughter echoed in the enclosed space, each note digging into my nerves like a blade. His enjoynt of the spectacle made my stomach churn, but I held my ground.
Werk stepped forward, gripping his wooden sword with a flourish. The way he carried himself made it clear he took pride in his skill, his smirk widening as he approached . His eyes glead with a cruel spark, and for a mont, I wondered if he’d enjoy this punishnt more than Alad himself.
"Stand up," Werk ordered, motioning for to rise.
My legs felt heavy, as though they already knew the pain that awaited , but I complied, forcing myself to stand tall.
"Snake Bite!" Werk bellowed, his voice filled with dramatic intensity as he activated his skill.
Snake Bite was no ordinary technique. I’d seen it in action before—a combination of speed and power, blending the swiftness of ’Sharp Nail’ with the devastating force of ’Single Shot’. It wasn’t sothing ant to be endured lightly.
I barely had ti to brace myself before the strike connected.
The wooden blade slamd into my stomach with an unnatural force, as though it were made of solid steel rather than wood.
"AAAARRGGGHHHHH!" The scream ripped from my throat before I could stop it. The pain was overwhelming, radiating through my entire torso and leaving gasping for air. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving floor.
"Will!" Crestia’s voice cut through the haze of pain, sharp with worry.
Her cry snapped sothing inside , and I forced my trembling body to respond. Gritting my teeth, I pressed my hands to the floor and pushed myself up. The ache in my stomach throbbed with every movent, but I couldn’t let her see like this. I couldn’t let her think I was weak.
I staggered to my feet, wobbling as my knees threatened to give out again.
"Will?" Crestia’s voice was soft now, full of concern. Her tear-streaked face twisted with anguish as she looked at .
I forced a smile, though my face felt like it might crack under the strain. "Don’t worry," I said hoarsely, my voice barely audible. "It didn’t hurt at all."
Her lips trembled, and I could see she didn’t believe , but I didn’t care. I’d endure this pain for her sake, no matter how much it hurt.
Why am I going this far? I wondered, the question nagging at the back of my mind. Is it because she’s my friend? My ally? Or... is it guilt?
I shook the thought away. It didn’t matter why. What mattered was that I had to protect her, no matter the cost.
Werk smirked, clearly unimpressed by my attempt to stay standing. "Ready for round two?" he sneered, raising his sword again.
Before I could respond, the next strike ca.
The blade slamd into the sa spot on my stomach, the force even more punishing this ti. My knees hit the floor hard as the air was knocked out of again. My vision blurred, and for a mont, I thought I might black out.
"Will!" Crestia cried again, her voice breaking.
I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms to anchor myself. Get up, I told myself. Don’t let her see you like this.
With a guttural growl, I forced myself upright again. Every muscle in my body scread in protest, but I stood, swaying slightly.
Werk raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he masked it with a smug grin. "Impressive," he said mockingly. "But let’s see how you handle the third strike."
The third blow ca faster than the others, the force so overwhelming that I didn’t even have ti to cry out. My body hit the ground with a dull thud, and for a mont, I couldn’t move. The pain was unbearable, a white-hot agony that radiated through my entire body.
"Wow," Alad said, his voice dripping with mock admiration. "You did great! I didn’t expect anyone to remain conscious after receiving three Snake Bites from Werk. Did you hold back, Werk?"
Werk shrugged, twirling his sword lazily. "No, I didn’t. He’s just a bit more resilient than your average student. But look at him now." He motioned toward with the tip of his sword. "He can barely stand and might pass out at any mont."
I gritted my teeth, forcing my body to push through the pain. Slowly, I rose to my knees, then to my feet, each movent excruciating. My vision swam, but I refused to let myself collapse again.
"Will!" Crestia’s voice was laced with desperation now. Her wide eyes filled with tears as she watched struggle to stay upright. "I’m so sorry," she whispered.
I turned to her, my breathing ragged. "Don’t be," I said, my voice rough but steady.
Her face twisted with guilt, and she shook her head vehently. "No, Will, I promise—I’ll take the next punishnt. I can’t let you suffer anymore."
Her words struck a chord in , and for a mont, I wanted to argue, to tell her I’d handle whatever ca next. But the determination in her eyes stopped .
She ant it.
"Okay, without further ado, let’s move on to the second punishnt!" Alad announced, his voice brimming with sadistic glee.
The room seed to darken with his words, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on us like a weight. Alad’s smile widened as he revealed the next trial.
"The second punishnt is... receiving ten lashes!" he declared, his excitent undiminished.
My stomach churned at the announcent. Ten lashes wasn’t just a punishnt—it was torture.
"So, as you both agreed, Crestia will be the one to take it, right?" Alad said, his gaze shifting to Crestia like a predator eyeing its prey.
Crestia froze under his scrutiny. Her lips parted, but no sound ca out at first. Then, finally, she stamred, "A-ah, n-no... p-please, anything b-but that." Her voice quivered, her usual composure shattered.
Her reaction shocked . Crestia had been firm and determined just monts ago, but now she looked as though she might break at any mont.
"What’s wrong?" Alad asked, feigning innocence. "Weren’t you willing to endure it to prevent Will from getting hurt?"
He leaned closer to her, his wicked grin widening. "Oh, right! I rember using this on you in the past. Did those mories resurface?"
Crestia flinched as though he’d struck her. Her hands clutched the edges of her seat, trembling visibly. Her wide, frightened eyes darted toward , silently pleading for help.
It hit like a bolt of lightning—this wasn’t just fear of pain. This was sothing deeper. He’d used this thod of torture on her before, scarring her in ways that weren’t just physical. The realization made my blood boil.
So that’s it. He’s exploiting her trauma to break her.
The rage bubbled inside , threatening to consu my thoughts. Alad wasn’t just a sadist; he was a monster. My fists clenched tightly, my nails digging into my palms. If we ever made it out of here alive, I swore I’d make him pay for everything he’d done.
"I’ll take it," I said suddenly, my voice cutting through the tension in the room.
Alad turned to , one eyebrow raised. His smirk remained firmly in place, though, as if he’d already anticipated my defiance.
"Huh? But didn’t you agree that she would bear the second punishnt?" he asked mockingly, tilting his head to the side like a cat toying with a cornered mouse.
"Shut up!" I snapped, my voice echoing louder than I intended. The raw anger in my tone made Alad flinch, his smug expression faltering for just a split second. "I said I’ll take it, right? Stop with your nonsense and just get it over with!"
The room fell into stunned silence for a mont. Even Werk, who had been grinning in the corner, paused to exchange a glance with Alad.
"Wow, that’s surprising," Alad said, recovering quickly. His smirk returned, though his eyes glead with amusent at my outburst. "Did you lose your temper? That’s a rare sight."
"Will?" Crestia’s soft voice called my na, trembling with a mixture of relief and guilt.
I turned to her, eting her tearful gaze. She looked so small, so fragile in that mont, that my resolve only hardened.
"Crestia, don’t worry," I said, forcing a smile despite the tension in my body. "A few lashes are nothing compared to the Snake Bite. Let handle this."
"But—" she began, her voice breaking, but I cut her off.
"You’ve been through enough already," I said firmly. "I won’t let him do this to you again."
Her lips quivered, and she dropped her gaze to the floor, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I’m so sorry, Will," she whispered. "I promise I’ll take the third punishnt, no matter what it is. I’m really sorry, Will."
Her apology felt like a knife to my chest. I didn’t want her to bla herself for this—it wasn’t her fault. None of this was.
"It’s not your fault," I said quietly, hoping my words would reach her through her guilt.
"How touching," Alad interjected, clapping his hands slowly. "This little display of selflessness is so entertaining. But enough chatter—Werk, prepare the whip."
Werk moved to the side of the room, retrieving a coiled leather whip from the wall. He unrolled it with a flick of his wrist, the sharp crack of the whip echoing in the room like a harbinger of pain.
Alad was a truly cunning man, a manipulator who thrived on chaos and suffering. His gas were more than re cruelty—they were works of psychological warfare, each move designed to divide and tornt. In this particular ga, the players might easily turn their ire toward Crestia. After all, I had already endured the first punishnt, and now I was being chosen for the second. Crestia had yet to suffer any of Alad’s twisted punishnts. It wouldn’t be impossible if others see her as unfairly favored, perhaps even complicit.
But Crestia wasn’t the enemy. No, the true villain was Alad himself. He orchestrated every move, every word, to redirect the bla away from himself and sow discord among us. His masterstroke in this ga was exploiting Crestia’s past trauma, using it as both a shield and a weapon. He knew that by forcing to suffer, he could isolate her further, making her feel responsible for my pain. He was a master of deception, a sadistic puppeteer pulling strings with precision.
And I vowed, silently and fiercely, that I would make him pay for it.
Alad’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.
"All right, for the second punishnt, Will will take it once more!" His tone was far too jovial, as though he were announcing the winner of a grand prize instead of condemning to another round of torture.
Alad raised a hand, commanding silence before continuing. "To be clear, as you will bear the second punishnt, it will be tripled. You’ll endure thirty lashes."
Thirty lashes. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stand tall even as my mind raced. I had barely recovered from the first punishnt, and now I was expected to endure three tis the pain.
But I wouldn’t give Alad the satisfaction of seeing falter. I wouldn’t let him win.
As I steeled myself for what was to co, Alad smirked, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. He raised the whip, its leather coils glinting ominously in the dim light. I braced myself, muscles tensing in anticipation.
The first lash ca without warning, striking my left arm with a sharp, stinging force that made gasp. The pain was imdiate and searing, spreading like fire beneath my skin.
"That’s one! Twenty-nine more to go!" Alad crowed, his voice dripping with mockery. He sounded as though he were counting off points in a ga rather than inflicting real, tangible pain.
I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, determined not to cry out. But with each lash that followed, the resolve I had so carefully built began to crack. The whip struck again and again, each blow landing with cruel precision. My back, my arms, even the backs of my legs were targets for Alad’s rciless strikes.
By the ti he reached twenty, I could no longer hold back the cries of pain. The sounds escaped unbidden, torn from my throat as the whip bit into my flesh over and over. My vision blurred with unshed tears, and my breaths ca in short, ragged gasps. Still, I refused to beg for rcy.
Alad, of course, reveled in my suffering. He paused between lashes to taunt , his voice dripping with mock concern. "Oh, co now, Will. Surely you can handle a few more, can’t you? After all, you’re the hero here, aren’t you?"
The only voice that broke through Alad’s taunts was Crestia’s. She stood off from her seat, her eyes brimming with tears as she watched the punishnt unfold.
"I’m sorry, Will," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I’m so sorry."
She repeated the words over and over, like a mantra, as though saying them enough tis could sohow lessen my pain. Her guilt was plain to see, and it only fueled my determination to endure. I wouldn’t let her bla herself for this. This wasn’t her fault—it was Alad’s.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the thirtieth lash fell. My body scread in protest, every nerve ending alight with agony, but it was over. Alad stepped back, admiring his handiwork with a satisfied smirk.
"You see it now?" he said, addressing the room as though delivering a lecture. "Punishnt is an important part of the ga. It keeps things... interesting."
I sank to my knees, my breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. My entire body ached, and the sting of the lashes was a constant, burning reminder of what I had endured. But even as pain threatened to overwhelm , I kept my head high.
Alad might have hurt , but he hadn’t broken . And he never would.
Crestia rushed to my side, her hands trembling as she tried to assess the damage. "Will, I—"
"Don’t," I interrupted, my voice hoarse but firm. I t her tearful gaze and forced a small, reassuring smile. "It’s not your fault, Crestia. None of this is your fault."
"But—"
"None of it," I repeated, more forcefully this ti. "Don’t let him make you think otherwise."
Her tears spilled over, but she nodded, biting her lip to hold back a sob.
As she helped to my feet, Alad watched us with a smug, self-satisfied grin. But beneath the pain and exhaustion, a spark of resolve burned bright within .
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. Alad might think himself untouchable, but I would find a way to bring him down.
For now, I would endure. But one day, I would make him pay for every ounce of pain he had inflicted.
And I would make sure that he never hurt Crestia, or anyone else, ever again.
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