Free Web NovelChapter 92: Captured (2)
As consciousness slowly seeped back into Shinon’s battered body, he became aware of the dull throbbing pain that pulsed through every fibre of his being.
His eyelids fluttered open, revealing a dimly lit room with flickering torches that cast eerie shadows upon the stone walls. Confusion clouded his mind until the memories of the brutal fight flooded back, reminding him of his current predicament.
’My painful plan seemed to have worked...’ He thought. ’The ropes are tight, but it’s all good... ouch...’
Bound to a chair, his wrists tightly secured by rough ropes, Shinon struggled against his restraints but found no reprieve.
His body ached from the injuries inflicted during the skirmish with the bandits. Blood trickled from various wounds, staining his clothes and marring his once-proud appearance.
As he surveyed his surroundings, his gaze fell upon the imposing figure of Stephen, standing before him with a cruel smile playing on his lips.
The room was filled with an unusual crowd of bandits, their eyes fixed on Shinon, some filled with malice while others were curious.
Stephen’s voice dripped with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Ah, the mighty Shadowmancer. It seems you’ve finally awakened, and I have some questions for you, my friend."
Shinon’s lips curled into a wry grin despite his dire circumstances. "Questions? Oh, I do love a good interrogation. Do you have any snacks and a comfortable chair? Maybe some mood lighting to set the ambience?"
Stephen’s patience waned as he clenched his fists, the veins in his temples pulsating with anger. "You find this amusing, do you? Well, I assure you, Shinon, we have ways of making you talk."
"Oh, I’m all ears. Ask away. But I must warn you that my answers might not be what you expect, as I incline to use sarcasm in these situations." Shinon leaned back in his chair, adopting a calm posture.
"Fine then, have it your way." Stephen’s face contorted with frustration.
He motioned to his underlings, who promptly disappeared from the room. Moments later, they returned, dragging Selena along, her once vibrant eyes filled with pain and dullness.
Her body bore the scars of relentless abuse, and her spirit was barely contained within the chains that bound her. Shinon’s heart clenched at the sight of Selena’s suffering, a surge of anger fueling his resolve.
Shinon had mentally prepared himself to witness a similar sight, but now that he did, there was nothing more he wanted to do than rip out Stephen’s hands and shove them up his ass.
"What have you done to her?" he seethed, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"It was an assumption that you two knew each other, and I guess my hunch was correct," Stephen smirked, revelling in the anguish in Shinon’s eyes. "She refused to cooperate, just like you. Well, she still is, but that’s not the matter."
He continued, "With the two of you in our custody, your beloved Phoenixes would have a tough time getting rid of us. Honestly, I don’t know about your value, but she... I’m aware of the history between her and the Phoenixes share."
Selena’s eyes met Shinon’s. Even in her sorry state, she weekly smiled at him. The bandits didn’t like her smile, and one hit her in the jaw with the butt of his handgun.
Shinon clenched his fists and could not let his emotions get the best of him. However, the face of the man who hit Selena got burned in Shinon’s mind.
A fire ignited within Shinon, pushing him beyond the pain and despair that threatened to engulf him. With every fibre of his being, he resisted the urge to kill them right then. He locked eyes with Stephen, a defiant glimmer shining within his own.
"Congratulations, Stephen," Shinon retorted, his voice dripping with mockery. "You’ve managed to assemble the perfect audience for your little show. But let me assure you, my dearest morons, the real entertainment has yet to begin."
Stephen’s face contorted with rage as he realised Shinon’s unyielding resolve. He motioned to his underlings, commanding them to release Selena from her restraints.
The room filled with a charged silence as Stephen’s underlings exchanged uneasy glances. They had seen Stephen rage countless times before, and it was never a pleasant sight. frёewebηovel.cѳm
As the chains fell away, Selena struggled to get to her feet. But Stephen, being the gentleman he was, grabbed her by her hair and lifted her effortlessly before recoiling his hand, forming a punch.
"You got a loud mouth, Shadowmancer, and I don’t like it one bit," He sneered. "So, your friend here will pay for your mistake until you learn your lesson."
"It’s... fine... Shinon..." Selena weakly mumbled her smile her leaving her face. "Think of it... as getting... rid of me."
"Shut it, bitch!" Stephen roared as he threw the punch straight into her abdomen.
However, something weird happened at that moment. It appeared something was pulling his hand back, and Stephen turned to see which one of the bastards dared to stop him. But he couldn’t believe his eyes from what he saw next.
"How is this possible!?" Stephen’s eyes were wide from the shock he received.
The room was filled with a collective gasp as the bandits witnessed the extraordinary display of power. Shinon’s eyes glowed with an otherworldly radiance as he stood behind him. The air crackled with energy, and time seemed to stand still for a brief moment.
"How did he teleport right next to the Captain..." The bandit who had hit Selena mumbled absentmindedly as he recalled the scene unfolding before his eyes.
As Stephen’s clenched fist arced toward Selena, intense light emanated from Shinon’s eyes. His gaze blazed with a brilliance that seemed to defy the darkness surrounding them. His hand shot forward in an instant, intercepting Stephen’s punch mere inches from Selena’s face.
"What a way to ruin my plans..." Shinon sighed, shaking his head. "I was planning on capturing you, but now... I just might kill you for fun. What do you think about that, Stephen?"
