Chapter 12: 012 – Node base 2/4

I can feel the cold steel, a small movement is all they need to cut my throat open.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” A bald man with a goatee threatens me. “Let’s make this easy for the two of us, go back into the cell.”

*Gulp*

I certainly didn’t expect that!

Ok, ok, what can I do here?

I slowly go back into the cell through the door hole.

It’s not very high from the ground, but since I’m pretty short myself it’s not really a problem.

“See? Things are easy when we are reasonable.” The man sighs, “You can try and act tough all you want, but it’s clear as day you’re in no condition to fight.” He leans back into a wall while maintaining eye contact.

It doesn’t look like he’s going to stop watching me…

*Sob* *Sob*

Makoto is still crying, you’d think he’d get tired of it eventually.

But I can work with this!

I sit down at the back of the room, as far away from the hole as I can without touching the wall. “Who are you people? It seems you brought these locust monsters here, they’re definitely not from here, are they from the Walkman expanse?” 

*Sob* *Sob*

The man smirks but doesn’t answer my question.

“I have to say, you have exceptional skill with that sword, you got that thing right up to my neck, but I don’t have a single cut.” I praise the man’s skill, he’s absolutely no slouch, but I don’t think he has a pattern of change, if he had there would be no reason to threaten me in such a way, simply releasing his pressure would’ve been much more effective.

Well, it’s not like I can prove that.

But I think that makes enough sense!

Yeah…

*Sob* *Sob*

I also doubt someone with a pattern of change would be in the middle of nowhere playing jailer to a bunch of people with patterns of magic.

That’d be so wasteful, I can’t even imagine what kind of organization could afford to do that.

It would also be kinda cool though…

…

Focus Octavius!

*Sob* *Sob*

The man laughs. “Of course I have, I take pride in my skill, I polish it day and night, and not only that, but this is a technique that has been passed down in my family for generations, whatever country bumpkin techniques your clan might have can’t compare, my <Phar-.” He coughs loudly. “Hah! You almost got me talking right there, for a country bumpkin you sure aren’t an idiot.”

Ok, so he’s clearly from the Walkman expanse.

*Sob* *Sob*

Someone from there in a place like this can’t be anything good.

It’s a bad thing, actually.

I think I have an idea of why I’m here, I’m being taken as a political prisoner.

*Sob* *Sob*

I’m the young master of the Paprika clan, one of the 5 pillars of Epice, I might not have a lot of authority in the clan but I should have value as a hostage.

Of course, I can’t assume I won’t be killed just for that, that locust WAS going to kill me after all, so I imagine that it’d be nice to keep me as a prisoner, but I’m not a priority to them.

I also don’t know what happened to the others, I can only pray for their safety.

*Sob* *Sob*

I’m just speculating though.

I have no idea what’s going on!

But it’s so cool!

*Sob* *Sob*

“So why did you guys capture us? Were you aiming for me? Or was it because we stumbled into that one locust? Did you fuck up and one of the locusts got out too early?”

His expression turns ugly. “I’d be more than happy to give you a firsthand demonstration of my skills.” He readies his sword. He’s not attacking just yet, but I can almost feel his killing intent. “Just keep running your mouth, I dare you.”

*Sob* *Sob* *Sob* *Sob*

*Sob* *Sob* *Sob* *Sob*

It seems like Makoto got really scared by that.

Let’s go further!

“So I was spot on, I hit the nail on the head, as they say.” I try to put on a cocky grin, but I think my face stays the same, expressions are hard… “You guys made a big mess and are desperately trying to cover it up.” 

Any moment now…

I take a deep breath.

“You brat!” His voice is full of hatred. “I gave a country bumpkin like you too much credit, you must have a death wish!”

*Sob* *Sob* *Sob* *Sob*

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*Sob* *Sob* *Sob* *Sob*

Makoto is crying his lungs out, I’m surprised he hasn’t dehydrated already.

“Argh! Death! Both of you deserve death!” He screams, clearly having run out of patience.

“NO!” Makoto screams and curls himself further into a ball.

The man starts opening the door.

But before he can open it, I lunge at him, hitting his torso with my palm through the hole in the door!

<Flame bolt>!

An explosion comes out of my hand, knocking him into the floor and throwing his sword.

Kh! That hurt!

But I can’t waste any time!

I manage to jump through the hole and on top of him to grab his throat! 

His face is full of hatred, it’s a vicious look no one has directed at me before, one that I didn’t even know was possible, and I feel him gulp, he knows what’s going to happen.

<Flame bolt>!

I explode his neck, killing the man instantly and drenching me in his blood.

I…

I did it!

…

I puke.

Holy hell. 

I killed a man.

I may be feeling more alive than ever, but he sure as fuck isn’t!

My uniform is now stained in sweat, vomit and blood, I’ve never been so filthy before…

…

I can’t stop now.

I have to keep moving, I don’t know if his comrades are going to come or if the fighting might attract more locusts, I’m not in a condition to fight more enemies by myself, I had to gamble with my life just to deal with this guy.

There are 5 iron doors in this hallway, counting my cell, 4 are evenly spaced on a wall, with the last one being at the end of it.

I hope the others are safe in these, and it’s not more locusts or something just as dangerous.

I search the body of the guy, and find a set of keys on his left hand. He was using it to open the door to my cell.

I grab it and open the nearest door.

Antonia and her dad are inside, she’s in a fighting stance and almost lunged at me, but she noticed just at the last second. “Octavius! You look horrible!” She sounds genuinely concerned and looks horrified.

Just as I open my mouth, two more locusts come into the room.

“Cover me! I’ll free the others!”

She nods and runs toward the locusts.

I open the next door, and find Marceline and Makina inside. “Antonia is holding back some monsters, help her in any way you can!” 

I don’t wait for their responses and I rush to open the last door, Timotei is inside, but unlike everyone else, he looks beaten up, barely better than me, and he’s been chained to the wall. “Are you awake? Can you walk?” I’m trying different keys on the chain lock, but none of them are working.

He snorts. “These are but flesh wounds, the real issue is these chains, I can’t muster any strength thanks to them.”

I nod. “None of these keys are working, just wait, we’ll get out of here!”

“Be careful! There’s at least 3 people here, a swordmaster, the songstress who knocked us out, and a jester.” Timotei warns me. “Not only that, but they have some sort of technique that allows them to control the locusts.”

“Very well!” I hurry to the other’s side in order to give whatever support I can.

I can probably cast <Fire bolt> one more time at best, my good arm is in shambles, and just moving it normally is a huge task, casting <Flame bolt> too many times put a huge burden on it, if I try casting it again I’ll probably break it. 

There’s no need to talk about my other arm.

That thing just plain doesn’t work anymore.

It hurts too! I’ve been trying to ignore it, but this pain is really unbearable.

But crying about it won’t help me, I just have to grit my teeth and bear through it!

Marceline and Antonia are fighting the locusts, with Makina and Anton staying on the sideline.

Marceline grabbed that guy’s sword and is mainly blocking the attacks of the locust with it, cutting chunks out of it every time any opportunity to do so appears. It's a very defensive way of fighting, but it’s also surprisingly efficient, making short work of the locust.

Antonia on the other hand is religiously sticking to the side of the locust, kicking it and leaving deep indents in it, eventually she gets a good kick in and throws the locust to the floor, promptly stomping on it and killing it.

And so, the two locusts were dealt with before I had a chance to do anything.

I still have a long way to go.

Sigh…

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