Chapter 199 49. Mr. Lehan and the Wolf
The underground palace that Darkus once visited in the manor on the outskirts of Kalonde was re-excavated.
"I will do my best to get rid of you, devil!" Malus said as he took out the scabbard and walked into the underground palace.
"Of course you will, you will do many terrible things. Before you are done with me, Black Blade, this is your destiny." Zakhan said with a smile.
"Destiny! I decide my destiny, devil. For better or for worse, the path I choose in this world is my own." Malus said after spitting at the wall.
"Believe in your wishes. In the end, the result will be the same."
"Stop playing your tricks." Malus growled.
"There are forces swirling around you, Malus. Even now, they are exerting pressure on you, shaping the course of your fleeting life, and turning a blind eye to them does not necessarily make them disappear." "
I can now Suicide, no one can stop it. If I can do that, what does the illusion of fate mean?" Furious, Malus pulled a serrated dagger from his belt and pointed the tip of the blade at his own throat.
"A good question, let's test your theory and kill yourself!"
In the stairwell, every meter you pass a narrow alcove embedded in the inner wall of the stair. The edge of the alcove is inlaid with gold. , with exquisite runes engraved on it. In each alcove stood a dried corpse, hands clasped, head hanging on the chest, seemingly praying for eternity, eyes open, staring at the corridor of the spiral staircase.
But there are more Druchi who fall dead everywhere. These Druchi died under the terrifying black magic, and their faces still have the frightened expression before death. Maybe they died not long ago, maybe half an hour ago, or a thousand years ago?
"What?"
"You heard it, Black Blade, stab the dagger into your throat."
"I, I don't want to die, devil, that's not the point." Malus hesitated and said.
"Yeah, that's exactly the point. There's nothing in the world that can make you kill yourself because it's not your destiny."
"No, now you're misinterpreting my argument, I don't want to kill myself because I want my family to be there for them Suffering for the insult I have done. I wish to gain the title of Valahar and more, I have ambitions, demonic, worldly ambitions." Mallus retorted, kicking the body away from the ground and pausing to catch his breath, Then he forced a smile and said, "It would be very inconvenient to die now."
Malus finally finished walking up the stairs, and what appeared in front of him was a marble circular room.
"Let's talk about something else, Black Blade. Someone came here in advance. The important thing is that the soul dagger is not here."
Malus walked over and turned over the body that fell to the ground.
"I have to remind you that there is a black magic trap in front of you. You'd better avoid it, otherwise..."
"Shut up! Devil."
Malus didn't react until he turned over the eighth and ninth bodies. Coming over, he studied the face of the man he had just moved, a chill running down his spine.
"I know this bastard." Malus said with some fear.
"Isvar! Malus knelt among the corpses, thinking about the meaning. Who else could gather so many druchi and know that Malus was interested in this soul dagger? After a moment, the answer was obvious.
" Do you suspect your other brother?
"Of course, he has enough money and influence to form such a team, and he has good reasons to oppose me. " Malus nodded thoughtfully. He was also certain without a doubt that the leader of the Slaanesh sect, Hagrid Grave, was none other than his second brother Isvar. Although Isvar escaped from the sect, of destruction, but he left a horrific wound on Isvar's throat.
"He knew that I had been to the temples in the north, and that I was your servant, and it is possible that he also knew of these magical items and the power they unleashed in you .
"Your logic is unavoidable. The question is, what would you do? " There was a hint of sarcasm in Zakhan's voice.
"Obviously, it was a mistake for me to challenge Isvar and his men alone." "Malus saw the familiar sword hilt on the floor. He pulled away the body of Druchi that was pressing on the blade. He picked up the blade and then said, "I have to go back with him. No matter what price he wants, I have to pay. The price was to get the soul dagger back from him. It would be great if the sorceress was still there. "
An expensive but prudent plan. Of course you are joking. This joke is not funny. I want to remind you that the sorceress is not as simple as you think." "Zhakan said approvingly.
"Of course, I will knock him down like a fox and hang his ears on my belt. If he gives me the soul dagger, I may let him die intact. Malus said gloomily.
"It's exactly as I expected." "
It was almost daybreak when Malus emerged from Elariel's tomb. Repeated walking had pushed his battered body to the limits of endurance, and even beyond. As he stumbled along By the time he reached the empty square he was a haggard, shambling druch, his limbs working solely on burning hatred and nothing else.
Malus had been delirious with fatigue all day, The showers came and went, alternating with the leaden sunshine, barely a trace of warmth. Often, he would suddenly wake up from some blank reverie, and then realize that he had gone a long way and he knew nothing about it.
As night fell, the rain stopped for the time being.
The Blackridge Mountains turned black and red against the setting sun, as black as pig iron.
Although Malus felt weak and empty, the thought that his prey was finally within reach made him His heart beat faster.
A full moon shined heavily above the horizon, and the cold wind continued to blow, hissing.
The sounds in the manor camp could even reach the place where Malus was hiding, and the group of Druchi Talking and cursing during the dice game, or a group of Druchi sitting around the campfire discussing something. He even heard the craftsmen of the manor starting to repair the armor and weapons of the visiting Druchi, and the sound of hammers hitting steel. , and the horses neighed nervously in the corral.
Malus roughly calculated that there were at least eighty people camped in the square of the Druch Manor. These were probably ordinary soldiers and waiters and guards of the manor, serving as nobles. The guests made room. Only one flag of the powerful Krakarond family was flying in the manor. As for the visiting Druchi, he did not see the flag. This was an unusual practice, but not unheard of. His second brother Isvar, who was suspicious of him, did not want to make the operation public.
"You were on the steps, Malus. Will you take the decisive step? I can feel the Soul Dagger's presence in the manor. "Zhakan said with a cold smile.
"Shut up, devil! what are you saying?
"You were angry when I didn't tell you about Elariel and his prophecies. " There is also a prophecy here, do you want to hear it? "Zhakan was silent for a moment and suddenly said.
"Do you know what will happen if I go in? "Marus clenched his fists.
"Oh~ yes. The threads of fate have been woven, Black Blade. It was a twist of fate that brought you to this point. "
It doesn't matter. No matter what you say, without the dagger, my soul will be gone!" Malus said sharply.
"Destruction, here, all your plans will be cancelled." Zakhan's reply was a whisper, like the intimate voice of a lover.
"Shut up, devil! You are lying!" A chill spread along Malus's spine. For a long time, he was shocked and speechless. After a long time, he finally said.
"Why did I do this? Did I lie to you? Black Blade, I'm giving you a gift, warning you of the cliff ahead. If you want, you can turn around and save yourself." "You know
I can't! Tonight I We must attack!" Malus roared with rage.
"Then you must accept your fate. As prophesied, the stage has been set. Black Blade goes and plays your role." Zarkhan
's laughter echoed in Malus's mind, and he broke free from the bushes. Sneaking through the shadows towards the manor. Every step felt like a noose tightening around his throat, but he kept going. At the edge of the camp, Malus crouched and studied his route through the camp to the interior of Belt Manor. Fortunately, there were almost no Druchi wandering around. These Druchi thought it was safe here and were all eating, drinking, having fun, and enjoying the hospitality of the manor owner.
Malus stared at the twin moons above him, their light flickering as the clouds passed by. After a moment, the camp fell into shadow. When it was time, he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. He pulled his hood over his face, drew his dark cloak tight around his shoulders, and crawled forward. He moved through the camp like a ghost, his steps so light that they were lost in the hiss of the wind.
Most of the druchi in the camp didn't notice Malus at all, and a few caught a glimpse of a dark figure moving at the edge of their vision, but when they looked away from the food or the dice and looked up, they watched. All that arrived was darkness.
Malus moved quickly and silently and came to the back door of the manor. He could vaguely hear the sounds of carnival inside. He put his grimy hand on the dark wooden door and pushed, but when he didn't push, the back door was apparently locked from the inside.
Malus's limbs shook with the exertion as he climbed three flights of stairs to the large window. Summoning the last vestiges of his bitter hatred, he drew his blade, and he could see the main hall below, its outline blurred. There were figures sitting there, eating or drinking wine. At the end of the table, a figure stood up from a chair, holding something high. The voice of the figure filled the hall and reached his ears vaguely.
"The legendary Soul Dagger is ours!"
The cheers made Malus furious. He kicked open the blinds and jumped into the hall.
There were exclamations and the collision of chairs in the hall, and the Druch sitting at the head of the table turned to face Malus, his expression full of shock and anger.
Lehan's eyes met Malus's.
Malus felt like a cold knife stabbing into his heart.
"Who dares to break in here?" Lehan roared, glaring at Malus.
"I do!" Malus said in a growl of pain, suppressing his frustration. He just wanted to escape from the crowded hall, but it was too late now.
"Are you a Kane assassin?" Lehan's eyes widened and he looked at the sword-wielding Druchi in front of him.
"Soul Dagger, I spent months looking for it, only to find that you had snatched it away." Malus paused and frowned. Then he realized what he looked like, a gaunt figure covered in layers of dried blood and dirt, and pointed to the dagger in Lehane's hand.
"Give it to me now!" Malus put away his sword and took a step forward, extending his hand.
Lehan looked at the soul dagger, then at Malus' outstretched hand. When he saw the thick black veins under Malus' skin, his eyes widened, and when his eyes fell on the dimly shining ruby on Malus's index finger, a trace of shock flashed across his face.
"Wait, I know you now!" Lehan said suddenly. After that, he looked more carefully at Malus's face behind the mask. His expression turned into an expression of extreme anger and roared, "Marus ! Malus! What are you doing here? Stop him! In the name of Kane, stop him!"
The subordinates drank with their faces flushed, overconfident in their numbers. They thought Malus would give in as they approached, but Malus pounced on them like a wounded wolf. The first guard barely raised his blade in time before he was knocked aside by Malus, who plunged his sword into the neck of the other guard.
Blood spurted out from the wound, and the servant fell to the ground, choking on his own fluid, and finally drowned in the blood.
Malus howled crazily and fought with Lehan's followers. His shoulders and cheeks were already wounded. He turned around and raised his sword to block when Lehan swung his sword blade towards his chest. .
"May the Night Mother take you away, you piece of trash!" Lehan roared, his sword blade still hit Malus's right arm, and found an unprotected hole between the arm armor and the shoulder armor. gap.
Malus could barely feel the blade cutting through his flesh, and he jumped back, trying to avoid the blade's range.
Lehan let out a roar of pain and lunged at Malus again, his blade held in both hands above his head. The movement pulled his breastplate up, revealing a narrow gap.
Malus didn't even think about it, and rushed forward with all his strength. The moment he was about to make contact, he slid to his knees, and the tip of his sword sank directly into the gap in Lehan's armor.
Lehan groaned, fell to his knees, and the sword he raised in both hands fell heavily to the floor.
Malus, numb with despair, pressed his boot against Lehan's chest and drew his sword, dark blood pouring from the wound.
"Why, Malus, why?" Lehan asked in shock.
"I do what I have to do, goodbye, father!" Malus said painfully.
Lehane's body fell to the floor.
Malus stared at his father's body and tasted the blood that flowed into his mouth. How many times had he longed for and fantasized about such a moment? In his dreams, this scene always played out as a triumph, not the tragedy it was now.
"Father? Malus, did you just kill your own father?" Zarkhan asked, with false and false shock in his voice.
Malus bent down and pulled the Soul Dagger from Lehan's belt, and he had the magical item in his possession.
"I got what you wanted, didn't I?" Malus roared in pain, almost vomiting with anger and frustration. No choice, he thought fiercely, I have no choice!
Malus saw a guard whose arm was cut off by him staggering downstairs, trying to go to the camp to tell those that Lord Druch had been killed.
"Devil! Lend me your power, now!" Malus cried, letting out a bestial roar as reason battled despair.
"You are so greedy, little Druch! My touch has already turned your blood vessels black. Do you want more?" Zakhan replied.
"Devil, enough of your taunting! Will you give me what I want?" "
It doesn't matter to me."
"I have three of the five items in my hand, you damn devil ! If I die here, this mob will claim them and they will scatter again! You are playing with not just my life, but your own freedom. So help me! Otherwise you will have to live with it no longer A thousand years of imprisonment!" Malus snapped.
"It's two! Two! Malus, someone has tampered with destiny. We have been played with. This dagger is fake! Fake! We have been deceived! Fooled!" Zhakan suddenly shouted angrily at Malus. echoed in Si's mind.
"What? False? This is impossible!" Malus roared, his face full of confusion and sluggishness, and he then roared, "I broke the law! Demon! I killed a Witch King who accepted his fate. Laharl, it turns out that the soul dagger is fake? How is this possible? This is impossible! Is this the prophecy and destiny you said?" "
Get out of here first!"
At the same time, a cold energy spread across Malus's limbs The pain spread in his heart, his strength was restored, and the world quickly returned to focus. He stumbled all the way to the place where the resentment stayed.
"Where am I going? Where can I go? Once Lord Hagrid Grave and the Witch King learn what I have done, there will be no city in the entire Naggaroth that can shelter me."
In Naggaroth, life is cheap , any Druchi could die at the hands of others, except those chosen by Malekith himself. This includes every Night Governor and Valahar, as well as those immortal beings, and perhaps now also includes Darkus of the Hell Calamity Family? Their life and death depended on Malekith and no one else, and to let them bleed and die would be to incur a blood feud against Malekith and even the entire Druchi society.
"Maybe I'll let Zarkhan and Malekith fight for the right to torture me, who knows? Maybe they'll destroy each other and I'll take Nagorund for myself?" Malus' lips curled up. With a wry smile, he was now in a state of despair, and he didn't know where to go next.
Zakhan stopped talking after giving Malus power. No matter how Malus called, there was no movement. Zhakan was still in shock, thinking crazily. He couldn't think of why this fake soul dagger could deceive his perception and tamper with his destiny, or was it the master behind him who did all this?
A hunting horn came from the south and reached Malus's ears.
A new round of hunting begins.
(End of chapter)