Free Web NovelChapter 199: Fear Me (1)
The car came to a gentle halt as Shinon eased his foot off the accelerator. He and the girls stepped out, the tension in the air palpable. The location they had arrived at was desolate, a barren expanse that seemed untouched by the undead.
Even then, the wind around them carried the scent of the undead, as if the zombies were lurking around, waiting for their prey to commit their final mistake.
"Stay close to the car," Shinon instructed the girls, who nodded and followed his command. ƒreewebɳovel.com
While the girls made themselves comfortable, Shinon looked around the surroundings, possibly coming up with backup plans in case things went south. However, he only had a little time.
"He’s here..."
Shinon’s gaze was fixed ahead, his retinal map displaying signs of hostile movement. His senses were on high alert, every instinct telling him that danger lurked nearby.
In the letter, it was said Aric would arrive there with a handful of guards. But Shinon saw at least a hundred hostile markers heading towards him, along with a few undead and some neutral people. All in all, at least three hundred hostiles were approaching them.
"Stay close, just like we practised, alright?" Shinon mumbled.
The girls, Lily, Mia, and Emily, huddled close to the car as Shinon slowly backed up to the vehicle, their trust in Shinon unwavering.
They knew their lives hung in the balance, and they had placed their faith in his ability to protect them. After all, it wasn’t the first time they had been saved by Shinon, and they believed as long as they followed his instructions, they’ll be safe.
As they waited in silence, the atmosphere grew heavy, and the stillness was broken only by the distant sounds of approaching footsteps. Shinon’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the source of the movement.
Soon enough, the figure came into view, and a surge of anger and fear coursed through the girls. Aric had arrived there.
The cruel ruler sat upon a makeshift throne, a hideous display of power and cruelty. But it was just the beginning of Aric’s sadistic nature.
The throne was carried by the backs of barely dressed women, all chained together, their faces etched with fear and submission.
Aric lounged upon the platform as if it were his rightful place, his arrogance radiating from every pore. Around them were dozens upon dozens of guards, each holding on to a chain.
At the end of the chain were... zombies. Roughly about a hundred of them, eager to tear everyone to shreds. The most disturbing thing was that the guards were using the undead as a leash to keep the women moving forward, or else they’ll be attacked by the zombies.
The sight infuriated Shinon, and his grip on the hilt of the Blade of Chaos tightened. He longed to charge forward, to unleash his wrath upon Aric and his despicable entourage.
At least now he knew why Marcus and Aric got along. Both of them had similar tendencies; it was just that there were others to keep Marcus in check, while Aric, being left unchecked, had entirely devoted himself to sadism, and the rest of it was right before Shinon’s eyes.
’Not yet...’ Shinon thought, easing his grip on his trusted sword.
He knew attacking Aric hastily would be a reckless move and would be a grave mistake. Despite how Aric was, he was not to be underestimated, and charging headlong into his presence would only lead to disaster.
Shinon bit his tongue, but even then, Aric kept testing the limit of Shinon’s self-control. Shinon had a plan, a strategy that would allow him to confront Aric on his own terms, but for that, he needed the patience of a monk.
Shinon glanced at the girls standing behind him, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear, and yet they weren’t backing down. They were relying on him, and he would not let them down.
Just then, Aric’s voice rang out, a cruel laugh that echoed across the desolate landscape.
"Well, well, if it isn’t the saviour of these pitiful girls. I must admit, I didn’t expect you to have the guts to show up here all alone," Aric made a childish face while still sitting on his throne, looking down at Shinon.
He continued, "Now, the sooner you’ll hand over my possessions to me, the sooner we’d resolve everything."
Shinon’s jaw clenched, but he remained silent. He wouldn’t give Aric the satisfaction of a response. Instead, he observed, biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Your possessions? Are you sure that’s what they are?" Shinon scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You seriously think you’re some king, don’t you?"
"Think?" a nerve appeared on Aric’s forehead. "I don’t need to think anything because I AM A KING!"
"The only thing I think you are is a brat throwing a tantrum-"
As Shinon said those words, he felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder, and only then he realised that he had been shot by a sniper. He looked around and immediately found the shooter. But that was the extent of what he could have done as he fell to his knees.
The pain was immense. The girls rushed to his side, but Shinon raised his hand, stopping them.
"Oh my, what a touching scene!" Aric continued, his words dripping with malice. "You see, Shinon, I’ve been looking forward to this meeting. You’ve cost me dearly, and I plan to make you pay for it. Ah yes... I know everything about you-"
"You think Marcus knows me enough to tell you shit?"
Suddenly Shinon raised his hand, and the girls behind him disappeared inside a portal and out came Shadowfang and Darkwing. Aric’s eyes were left wide open as he couldn’t believe what had happened before him.
Aric looked at his advisors, but even they shook their heads. No one knew where the girls had disappeared or where they were. All they knew was that Shinon had more tricks than what Marcus told them about.
