Chapter 293: Hold On (42K First Chapter)

In the shadowy region, Maragas City.

"Fuck, those two fucking bastards! How dare they run away! Now I've been punished by the Master!"

Crack!

"Don't let me catch them, or I'll peel their skins off myself!!"

Crack!

"I told you before—didn't matter if they were cursed or not, they should've been whipped hard first, then starved for three days!"

Crack!

"Only then would they know who their benefactor really is!"

Crack!

The coarse voice, mingling with the crack of the whip, made the other slaves locked in the cage tremble involuntarily.

They glanced furtively at the guard captain, who was abusing the slave while cursing aloud.

Fear filled the slaves' eyes, but more than that—relief.

Not because the bloodied slave being whipped was their enemy, but because of the guard captain's current state.

At this moment, Guard Captain Karim looked utterly horrific—his right eye socket had split open into a bloody hole, the eyeball gone, fresh muscle twitching violently in the firelight.

Thick blood oozed from the socket, staining half his cruel face, making his appearance even more monstrous.

Due to negligence, he had allowed the two most important slaves to escape, and the caravan master had punished him severely!

The mysterious mage had personally gouged out Karim's right eye and cast a special spell on the socket, preventing the flesh from scabbing, forcing him to feel constantly the agony of his eyeball being slowly torn out.

The mage had also used Karim's own blood to tattoo a strange, crimson sigil across half his face.

This was punishment.

But also a gift.

The moment the crimson tattoo was complete, the guard captain—once only mid-tier—was upgraded to high-tier!

Moreover, though he lost his right eye, Karim gained a new ability—a new kind of sight.

The hollow socket saw no normal visual scene, yet it could now perceive magical traces previously invisible.

This was the caravan master's "blessing," meant to help him continue hunting the two escaped slaves.

Though the cost was heavy: one eyeball, and constant pain and rage.

But more than pain, what filled his heart now was fear.

Fear of death.

He knew the caravan master had given him his final chance.

If he failed again, death would be his only fate.

No, no, no—before death, he'd likely endure something far worse!

He'd be turned into a slave, his limbs broken, and thrown among the very vermin he'd once trodden underfoot.

What would those bastards do then?

Karim dared not imagine.

"Ha, ha…"

After venting his fury, Karim gasped for breath, his eyes blazing as he scanned the other slaves.

Seeing them all avert their gaze, he dropped the whip with satisfaction and spat on the "corpse" lying on the ground.

"Pah!"

He planted his heavy boot on the slave's chest and threatened the others: "Look well—this is the fate of those who disobey!"

"If you don't want to end up like him, spit out everything you know!"

Karim glared, roaring: "Speak! Where did they run to!!?"

His appearance was already terrifying; now, with one empty socket, he looked even more horrifying.

The entire cell fell deathly silent—not a sound stirred.

Not only did they not know how Teresa and the others escaped, but even if they did, they wouldn't tell this bastard.

They believed none of Karim's promises of rewards.

Believe him?

Better believe the gods would send angels to save them!

Karim would never grant them freedom anyway—so what good would betraying him do?

"Tch!"

Karim clearly knew his credibility was worthless; he gnashed his teeth in rage: "You won't talk, huh? Fine! I'll see how much you like dying…"

He turned toward the cage, ready to grab a new unlucky soul as an example.

But as he stepped forward, the "corpse" beneath him suddenly moved—grabbing his pant leg.

"Huh?"

Karim froze, frowning down at the nearly lifeless slave.

What the hell is this bastard trying to do?

"I, I…"

A weak, hoarse voice emerged from the slave, piercing the silence.

"I know…"

Karim:!!!

"You know?"

The brutal guard captain's expression jolted—he bent down, seized the unrecognizable corpse, and yanked him off the ground, shouting in excitement.

"Speak! Tell me everything you know!"

"Hurry up and talk!"

The slave himself had already been tortured beyond recognition, and now, violently shaken, he fainted without a sound.

Karim first froze, then frantically shook him again, his movements even more forceful than before.

"Hey! You! Wake up!"

He turned and shouted toward the guards standing outside the door: "Get medicine! Quick!"

He was desperate.

In fact, Karim had no choice but to panic.

This was the only lead they had now—if this man truly died, and died because of his own casual abuse…

When the caravan master found out, he'd likely lose his other eye too!

Fortunately, things weren't that bad.

Before the guard returned with medicine, the slave had regained consciousness and began coughing violently.

"Cough! Cough cough…"

After coughing, he forced open his eyes, stained with filthy blood, and struggled to fix his gaze on the guard captain before him.

"Quick, tell me—where did they run to?"

This time, Karim's voice was much softer, his movements a thousand times gentler, as he asked with extreme caution.

The slave looked at Karim's terrified expression, grinned, revealing his gumless, toothless mouth.

"Heh… they…"

"She's right…"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Karim's back, his smile radiating deep eeriness.

"There."

Karim narrowed his eyes, pondering the meaning of those words.

"There?"

Behind me!?

Without time to think, Karim whirled around, drawing his short dagger the instant he turned.

But behind him, there was nothing but his own shadow, cast by the firelight.

No—there was something else: the sneering glances of the slaves, fixed on him.

Karim's face darkened—he realized the truth.

He'd been fooled.

He'd been toyed with like a child!?

"You dare mock me!?"

Karim's expression turned ghastly; his rage made even more blood spill from his eyes, nearly staining half his body red.

"Good, good, good—I'll show you what this costs!"

He clenched his teeth, gripping the slave's throat with all his strength, whispering coldly: "You'll suffer for this."

"I'll make you…"

Just as Karim's hand was about to crush the man's neck, a flicker of shadow beneath his feet sent a cold blade piercing through his back.

Ssshh—

"Cough!?"

Karim froze in place, trying to speak, but blood flooded his throat.

The blade didn't just shatter his heart—it also pierced through his trachea.

Thud.

Karim's grip loosened, dropping the slave, already on the verge of death.

The slave crashed to the ground in a horrific posture, yet his eyes widened, straining to watch what unfolded before him.

The guard captain who had just brutally tortured him now knelt, collapsing heavily onto the ground.

That ridiculous posture… yes—just like a slave!

Seeing this, the slave's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he forced out a distorted, wheezing laugh.

"Heh… hahaha…"

Then, content, he closed his eyes and breathed his last.

He was dead.

But Karim had not yet died.

Intense pain surged through his chest; he wanted to turn and strike back, but his body wouldn't move—he could only kneel there in humiliation.

What the hell had just happened!?

As he thought this, a hoarse, mocking whisper came from behind: "Still alive? Heh… your life's tougher than I thought."

Quinna stepped from the shadows, pressing the dagger buried in Karim's back deeper.

Ssshh—

"Aaaahhh!"

Karim's face twisted in agony as he gasped: "You… didn't… escape…"

The rest of his words were choked off by a filthy rag stuffed into his mouth, reducing him to feeble whimpers.

Quinna looked at his pitiful state and sneered: "Why scream? If you're a man, endure it!"

She mocked him, preparing to deliver the final blow.

After dealing with this guy, she could free all the slaves here and go look for the hidden Teresa.

This city is too strange; she must change her plans early and leave with them.

"This infiltration mission can only fail—I hope you won't blame me… hmm?"

Quinna suddenly changed expression.

Because just now, she thought she saw the corpse of the slave on the ground twitch.

Click.

No, it wasn't an illusion!!!

Under her stunned gaze, the recently dead slave suddenly opened his eyes.

"Roar…"

The reanimated corpse rose with a twisted, arched posture and instantly lunged at Karim, biting down.

Ssshh.

But since his teeth had all been pulled out in life, he inflicted no real damage—only repeated gnawing motions against Karim.

"Bad!"

Quinna watched the reanimated zombie and the terrified Karim dodging, her mood sinking heavily.

She understood why she'd felt so uneasy.

Here, in this city… every dead creature was being transformed into an undead!

The city had been engulfed by a vast domain.

What did that mean?

It meant a powerful being had laid out a ritual array here, preparing to perform a massive ceremony.

Either a sacrifice to a deity, a special advancement ritual, or…

And regardless of what it truly meant, it all pointed to one thing.

A bitter smile curled her lips as she weakly withdrew the dagger buried in Karim's back, whispering: "Damn it, this is big."

"Teresa, we probably can't escape anymore…"

…

…

The Lord's Mansion.

In an opulent room, a noble lady, her entire face hidden beneath black veils, lay lazily upon a massive bed.

In her hand, she toyed with a thick bone, swaying it back and forth to amuse the black hound guarding the bed.

Thump. thump.

The door was gently knocked, and a respectful yet deeply fearful voice rose from behind it.

"Lady."

The lady's eyes beneath the veil shifted, glancing toward the door, and she chuckled softly twice.

"Hehe, what is it?"

The lady's voice dripped with seduction, saturated with endless allure and corruption.

Like poisoned honey flowing into the ear canal, then winding down the spine, making the body instinctively weaken.

Gulp.

The servant outside, hearing that sultry voice, instinctively swallowed hard, his eyes flickering with obsession—he wanted to raise his hand and push the door open.

But before he could lift his hand, he snapped back to his senses, biting hard through his tongue, controlling his frantic impulse.

He stood frozen, his voice trembling as he reported: "Foreigners have violated the taboo—they killed slaves within the city."

Seeing the servant resist, the lady sighed dismissively, not even lifting her eyelids, saying casually:

"You know what to do. Break the rules? Deal with them. Absolutely no exposure of the ceremony."

"Yes, understood."

The servant bowed respectfully, then hesitated slightly: "Lady, isn't it time yet? Many have already wanted to leave. If we restrict them further, others may notice."

Maragas had been sealed—entry only, no exits—for half a month; many who wished to leave had been secretly detained.

But such forced restrictions couldn't last—someone would inevitably notice.

Yet the lady remained calm, saying casually: "What's there to worry about?"

"Those who want to leave? Give them a reason not to."

"Wealth, slaves, power… whatever they desire, the Mor family of Maragas can give them."

The servant's expression shifted, then he nodded reluctantly: "... Understood. I know what to do."

After a respectful bow, the servant slipped away quietly.

In the room, the lady stretched slightly, murmuring to herself: "It's not time yet. My Lord still needs more Sacrifices."

She tossed the bone away, letting the hound eagerly snap it up.

The lady gazed at the hound's twin horns, a faint smile curling her lips.

"He needs more varieties of Sacrifices."

"He needs stronger Sacrifices."

She smiled, lowering her gaze to her palm, whispering softly:

"Not enough. Not enough."

"Just a little longer."

"Just a little more… just a little more…"

…

……

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to reach the temporary encampment where the slave traders rest outside the Dark Region."

At this moment, Herbert, posing as Lady Elisa the Great Slave Trader's personal attendant, calmly reassured the disguised cultivators:

"All of you posing as slaves, I know you are uncomfortable, but please endure just a little longer."

"Do not act against the other slave traders yet—we will rescue the slaves, but not now!"

"Our sole priority at this moment is one thing!"

"As long as we successfully infiltrate the Dark Region, we can gather all the materials we need in Maragas City!"

(End of Chapter)