Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Children Underground
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Ruby's eyes pierced the darkness, revealing the children inside the prison, but the children still couldn't see Ruby.
Pale ants guarding the passage fled into holes in the ceiling and walls at the sight of Ruby.
"Change your mind, Ruby! Serve Lord Gotran as your king. With your talents, you'll rise to my level—or even higher."
The Tyrant bellowed again, and the children fled to the corner of the prison in terror at the demon's voice echoing from the darkness.
"Shut your mouth. You're scaring the kids."
As Ruby drew near the prison holding the children, ants began slinking out from the holes in the walls and ceiling once more. From the largest hole, an ant the size of a bull crawled forth and took the lead.
Ruby recognized it at once and said,
"That's the guard captain here."
"He is the king of the underground, appointed by Lord Gotran himself! Surrender now, and I can plead for your life alone."
The Tyrant said.
"No thanks! I wasn't going to tell you about Batillan, but here's a little preview. Know why Batillan started the war? To protect the children!"
Ruby kept one end of the chain bound to the Tyrant while spinning the other end.
"It was the western kingdoms who struck first. Slave traders snatched Koon tribe children. Kids fetch a high price as slaves. Easy to train in all sorts of skills. So Batillan rallied the tribes and formed guard forces to shield the children."
Ruby hurled the chain, snaring the ant captain's neck. With a sharp yank, she smashed its head with a single punch. That one blow felled the 'underground king' the Tyrant had boasted of.
The other ants charged all at once to tear into Ruby, but she swept them aside in a flash with her chain.
"When the Koon resistance stiffened, the western kingdoms swelled their forces. Batillan matched them, building an army and founding an empire."
The children screamed amid the clamor of battle in the dark. To them, only fragments of ants flew about.
"Batillan never believed nomads who loved wandering could sustain an empire called Gran for long. But he knew that raising one like this and terrifying the western kingdoms would earn them respect forever. History itself would fear them."
One ant broke through Ruby's chain strikes and lunged for her throat. Ruby seized its mandibles with both hands.
"Of course, an elf must have taught him that tactic. Batillan was sharp—picked up anything in no time."
The ant clamped down to sever Ruby's neck.
Ruby wrenched the jaws sideways instead, shattering them, then drove the extracted mandible into the ant's skull. It thrashed with an eerie shriek.
A few more ants piled on, but once Ruby dispatched them, none dared attack.
"See, that's what I told him. Fight like that, and the western faith will brand you a demon. Woke up after five hundred years, and sure enough."
Ruby brushed off her hands and went on.
"But truth is, that's exactly what Batillan wanted. Even after his death, the western kingdoms never touched Koon children again. Why? Fear of sparking a second Batillan."
Ruby wiped ant ichor from her face with her knuckles and asked the Tyrant,
"What grand cause drives that goat? What makes you think you can claim me as a subordinate?"
The Tyrant stared at Ruby in frozen terror, speechless.
"No one in this world is worthy of my fealty as king."
Ruby tossed one last remark at the Tyrant and approached the prison.
The children huddled in the corner.
Ruby tugged the door. It caught on something and wouldn't budge. Up close, a latch too heavy for any adult lay across it.
Ruby lifted it one-handed and flung it away.
The latch crashed onto the Tyrant's head, pulverizing his already fractured skull anew. A scream pierced the darkness, but Ruby paid it no mind.
Ruby brightened the chain's glow, revealing herself to the children. In the Koon tongue, she told them,
"Your fathers sent me. Anyone here know Varshu, Chakan, or Hur?"
The children murmured, and two girls stepped forward.
One said clearly,
"Varshu's my dad."
"I came to save you."
"Ants guard the outside."
"I killed them all."
"Really? These ants don't die. Not even spear thrusts to the head."
"Spear to the head doesn't kill them, huh. But fists do. Want to see?"
Ruby crushed one of the ant head fragments underfoot.
"See? I'm flower-strong—even a thousand couldn't take me. That guy over there? One finger's enough."
Ruby pointed at the Tyrant.
Just looking at him terrified the children.
"That monster eats people."
Varshu's daughter said.
"Not anymore. I yanked all its teeth."
Ruby explained.
"But it's still glaring at us."
The Tyrant glared at the children until Ruby turned; then he whipped his gaze away.
"Want me to gouge its eyeballs so it can't glare?"
Ruby said.
The Tyrant slammed his eyes shut.
Ruby spoke gently to the children.
"See? No more worries. If he so much as cracks an eye, I'll pluck 'em out and pop them right here. Already smashed two of his eggs, anyway. Two more's nothing."
The Tyrant shuddered, eyes squeezed tight.
Ruby kept one chain on the Tyrant while offering the other to the children.
"Dark in here—everyone grab hold."
The frightened children lined up slowly, fumbling to grip it.
"If you're hurt, speak up. I'll carry you. Look after the one beside you. We're all heading home together. Nothing to fear."
Ruby soothed them, checking each child.
Once all held on, Ruby said,
"My eyes are sharp—I'll spot if you stumble. I'll stop then; you all stop too. Memorized every face. Not leaving one behind. No worries."
Ruby spoke steadily.
"This chain and shackles won't dim till we're out. Won't break. Won't let go. You'll trip about ten times getting free. Don't panic—find the chain, grab, stand, walk. Clear?"
The children nodded or murmured yes.
"Can we see Dad outside?" Varshu's daughter asked boldly.
"You bet. This is one hell of an adventure. When you're grown, exaggerate it a bit. One of you might even be Batillan's heir someday."
Ruby dragged the Tyrant roughly with one hand, led the children tenderly with the other, and pressed on.
"All right, out we go."
♦
Hunters Varshu and Hur galloped nearly straight.
Riding nonstop, Jade trailing endured agony once more. Her thighs numb where the saddle ground. But the stakes demanded she push on.
Saph kept pace effortlessly. Unlike Jade's white-knuckled grip on the reins, Saph scarcely held them—just enough to steady.
'Anyone watching would peg Saph for a cradle-to-grave plains nomad.'
As faint dawn crept from the east, the hunters eased speed and halted.
Jade rode up and asked,
"Tyrant's trail vanished?"
Varshu replied,
"Truth is, we never tracked the Tyrant. No plains hunter tracks hooves in pitch black."
"Then what led you?"
"Chain marks."
"Ruby?"
"Deliberate, like an invitation to follow. But they end here."
Varshu explained; Hur picked up.
"Noticed en route—this is near old Batillan village, Lamtel. Buried now; exact spot's lost..."
Jade asked, puzzled,
"Batillan's village? Wasn't Gran his city?"
"Westerners get it wrong. Gran came after the empire; Lamtel was his first outpost..."
Mid-explanation, barking dogs echoed from afar.
The horses shied; Jade nearly tumbled.
"That way."
Saph noted, casual as spotting a squirrel.
Jade spied dozens of hyenas closing in.
"This way!"
Varshu yelled, spurring ahead.
All followed—but wild horses now blocked that path. Easily fifty.
Varshu wheeled sharply, yet goats charged horns-first from other sides.
Jade tailed Varshu blindly until her horse spun circles; then she grasped it.
Plains beasts had them surrounded.
'Thought "wild animal army" meant sheer numbers. This drill-sergeant precision? Real army.'
Dawn-lit black shapes packed fore and aft: a hopeless, grotesque horde.
Sweat slicked Jade's rein hand.
A huge, grating voice boomed as a black shape lumbered near. Pig-faced with a potbelly pig body, yet upright on two legs. Short hind legs, spiked hooves—gait all wrong.
Man-height, but bulk made it loom larger. Pig's 'hand' clutched a spear; split front hoof served as fingers. Mismatched leather armor: looted from a Koon soldier.
'In daylight, solo? I'd scoff. Laughingstock.'
Hundreds loomed behind. No contest.
Varshu and Hur gaped, paralyzed.
Jade rode calmly toward the pig.
"Speak Rom or Pharens?"
The pig snorted.
"Rom reinforcements? Laughable. Just two—one a female! Who dares invade Gotran, king of the plains?"
"Name's Jade."
"I lead Gotran's First Legion: plains warrior, all-destroyer! Name alone terrifies plainsfolk... Pig!"
Jade stifled a laugh.
She glanced at Saph.
"No way its real name's Pig?"
"No name shows now."
Saph whispered.
"Low demon obvious. Had to confirm."
Jade coughed, then bellowed at the pig,
"No words for bottom-feeder demons like you. Fetch your king."
"Mortal scum demands audience with the emperor? Beyond insolent!"
The pig slammed its spear down and stomped forward bipedally.
Jade drew her book.
Pages flipped to the darkness-demon banishment verse.
Dawn too dim for text; Saph obligingly shone healing light from behind.
Pig advanced spear-ready.
"My task: slaughter every human. You first."
Jade dismounted, hand outstretched.
"Saph, steady light. If not darkness type, page-swap fast."
White radiance erupted from Jade's palm. Pig flew back spear-first despite no direct hit. It crashed steps away, staggered up—but snout-first, its face blazed.
"Gaaarrgh! What—kwiiieee..."
Seconds, and it charred to ash onsite.
Jade eyed her faintly glowing palm, muttering to herself.
"Light's packing more punch. That 'mage's trial' Ruby mentioned—mine now?"
Beasts recoiled in unison, ranks intact.
" Demon-slayer, eh."
Huge voice rang from the horde depths.
Jade scanned beyond: nothing. Side, rear: nada.
Beasts steadied at the voice.
"Then I handle it."
Voice rose from the ground.
A five-pace-wide door parted side-to-side; stairs yawned within. Beasts marched out in lockstep.
Dozens of sheep led, horns spear-thrust ahead. Behind, same number of horses: yellow eyes aglow, quadrupedal.
Guards framing a center path. Through it strode the plains' largest beast yet.
'Needs no intro. Gotking.'
Jade had pictured a big goat with mean eyes. Gotking went bipedal, neared double her height. Shoulders horse-broad; chest muscles boulder-crushing firm.
Wielded man-height poleaxe, blade bull-butchering wide. Head topped spiral horns thrusting skyward. Total: two Jades plus Saph.
Rearguard: more sheep, shoulders pumped like bodybuilders, bipedal.
Leopards, lynxes interspersed—all outsized.
One guard loose in Rom streets? Carnage. Yet beside Gotking, they'd pass for lapdogs. His menace dwarfed them.
"You kill Pig?"
Gotking's eyes fixed on Jade.
"Yes."
Jade replied evenly, though dread gripped her gut.
'Big trouble. Intimidation rivals Kroux or Beishuper—no, eclipses...'