Tales of Undeath: The Von Virtus Chronicles

XXXV. Penning the Severline

As the cobblestone streets trembled beneath their relentless march, those who had no desire to be part of the uprising hastily sought refuge in their homes. They cautiously peered through the dusty windows, watching with trepidation as a tumultuous assembly of armed citizens surged forward.

Jargen: Your heart pounding too, Punjo?

In the vanguard, Virno, Rel, Punjo, Jargen, and Ballo led the charge, their determined footsteps echoing like a war drum. Behind them, the restless mob followed, a seething mass of fury and desperation.

Punjo: Ya can be damn sure it is... Can't rightly believe this day is finally 'ere.

Jargen, his eyes fixed on the looming conflict ahead, nodded in agreement.

Jargen: That makes two of us, buddy. That makes two of us...

Approaching a desolate corner of the slums, where Cabdan's notorious ring held sway, they encountered a concerning obstacle. Men armed with makeshift weapons—bats, knives, and crude instruments—emerged from the shadows, forming a defiant barricade before the advancing mob. An imposing figure among them, their de facto leader, stepped forward, his voice dripping with menace.

Armed Leader: Alright... You have one single chance to turn around and leave. Whoever does will be spared.

Jargen, undeterred by the threat, boldly stepped up, lifting his visor to reveal his unyielding resolve.

Jargen: You stole our line.

A guttural scream erupted from one of the armed men, a man with a mutilated tongue and a torso wrapped in tattered bandages. It was the same man Jargen and Punjo had interrogated not long ago. Recognition flashed in Punjo's eyes.

Punjo: Oh hey, 'tis that guy! How're ya doin'?!

The man's screams pierced the air as he pointed accusingly at them.

Armed Leader: So. It was you guys who did that to him, huh?

As the echoes of the man's agonized cries reverberated through the narrow streets, more men emerged from the dilapidated buildings, united in their determination to confront the approaching threat.

Armed Leader: I'm taking what I said back. Seems like a bloodbath is in order.

With a malevolent grin, the armed leader reneged on his offer for peace. He swiftly launched a cruel assault, his boot connecting with Jargen's chest, sending the warrior sprawling backward. The resounding clash of metal against stone signalled the beginning of a gruesome spectacle.

Jargen: ... TEAR THEM DOWN!

Jargen, recovering from the forceful kick, regained his footing. His warhammer gleamed menacingly as he squared off against the armed leader, their faces etched with shared enmity. In the unforgiving daylight, the other fighters clashed with boundless ferocity. The cacophony of clashing weapons and cries of pain echoed through the dirt streets, as the combatants wrestled for supremacy. Blades and fists flew with deadly intent, painting the cobblestones with a vivid tableau of crimson. Blood flowed freely, and the air hung heavy with the metallic tang of violence itself.

Ballo: Follow my lead!

Ballo's battle-hardened leadership propelled a small group forward, effectively cleaving through the opposing force. They pressed on relentlessly, ultimately reaching and securing the entrance to the gloomy prostitution ring. Outside, a vigilant group of men maintained their post, a human barricade against any potential reinforcements, while the core group of four ventured further within.

Rel, shaken and gasping for breath, grappled with the dreadful reality they had just traversed.

Rel: Holy shit... Holy shit...

Punjo, offering reassurance, gave Rel's back a series of light taps, aiding him in regaining composure. It was a harsh truth to accept that they had navigated what felt like a nightmarish battlefield.

Ballo: We aren't in the clear yet, young man. Keep your eyes and ears peeled...

As they ventured deeper, an unsettling silence clung to the surroundings. They passed by a series of seemingly vacant rooms, yet an ominous unease prevailed. The pungent scent of sex lingered, and the air hung thick with warmth, a disconcerting sign that these chambers had recently been occupied by debauchery.

Virno: This isn't right... There had to have been people here not long ago. If there were men here, they may be fighting outside now... But what of the girls...?

Suddenly, a heart-rending scream pierced the silence, emanating from behind two imposing double doors at the end of a dim corridor. Without hesitation, Virno surged forward, the others close behind. As the doors swung open, a nightmarish tableau greeted them. Several young girls dangled from the building's ceiling, their fates divided between the living and the dead. Their garments had been cruelly torn from their fragile bodies, and the cords that suspended them seemed to be fashioned from a viscous, tar-like substance.

Punjo: What the fuck...

In the dimly lit room, a man concealed in a sinister shroud of black armor occupied a foreboding chair at its rear. His gloved hand moved with an eerie grace, as if orchestrating a grotesque symphony of suffering. With a subtle clench of his hand, he tightened the black strings that bound several young girls, constricting their limbs further. Blood, like a macabre fountain, spurted forth from some of the girls, their life's essence staining the air and the floor. Their anguished cries blended with the eerie silence that enveloped their tormentor.

Dark-clad Man: So... I take it you're the ones spearheading this sad little parade. See, I'm a showman myself... Welcome to my humble circus.

With a malevolent flourish, the dark-clad man rose from his ominous throne. The room shuddered with a perverse anticipation as he released some of the strings, causing the lifeless forms of several girls to plummet unceremoniously to the cold, unforgiving floor. The sound of cracking bone echoed throughout.

Dark-clad Man: My name is Lacerbus. I am a servant of Nox, answering directly to the illustrious Spymaster Lunalus.

The man's voice held a chilling reverence as he spoke, his eyes closing briefly, seemingly entranced by his own words.

Lacerbus (Dark-clad Man): I know these names mean little to you, but you should know who it was th-

Before he could finish his sentence, Virno, swift and decisive, reached for a spherical device at his belt. With a deft twist, he hurled it towards Lacerbus. The device erupted in a blinding explosion, searing the man's flesh, yet it did not succeed in moving him. Instead, a sinister tar-like substance swiftly covered his wounds, mending them with a grotesque, unnatural speed.

Lacerbus : Ah. Ignorant worms... I suppose I waste my time on introductions. Let us move straight for the final act...

Ballo, Virno, Rel, and Punjo seized their weapons, their faces set in grim determination as they readied themselves for the impending battle.