"Bring it, you mandible freaks!" Jinn exclaimed, planting his feet on the ground as he raised his fists—ready for a brawl.
Jinn's voice cracked inside the cell, like a whip—drawing the attention of every slave inside the room.
Heads turned and whispers followed afterward.
"Is that kid…insane?" someone murmured.
"He's fighting them…all alone?"
A familiar voice then pierced through the murmurs and whispers of the slaves.
"Jinn!" exclaimed Kain, his voice filled with concern.
"Stay there Kain!" replied Jinn, eyes still locked at his enemies. "I got this handled." His fists clenched tighter.
"You better listen to him—kid." one of the older slaves muttered, crossing his arms as he observed Jinn with sharp eyes silently.
The Throns before Jinn loomed—massive, scar ridden brutes with humongous razor sharp mandibles that clicked in anticipation as they circled around Jinn. Their steps were deliberate, slow, and predatory.
Breathing slowly, Jinn looked to his left and right as he waited for the Throns to make a move.
The Throns clicked their mandibles repeatedly as they continued to encircle Jinn, distracting him with sounds as they prepared for an attack.
Jinn stayed sharp as he held his arms high, his legs were loose yet his arms were tight and tensed. He continued this manner until the corner of his eyes caught a flicker of motion.
One of the Throns lunged at the right, its massive arm swinging with full force.
"Tssh!"
Jinn ducked flawlessly to the side as he exhaled. The Thron's punch created a whiplike sound as it completely missed Jinn.
"Damned rat!" exclaimed the Thron before pulling back his arm for another punch.
Yet Jinn already closed in the gap in a matter of seconds before dealing a powerful strike to the side of the Thron's body. The force from Jinn's synthetic arm created a crack on the Thron's exoskeleton.
"AARGH!' exclaimed the Thron as he put his hand on his injury, before he stumbled backwards.
"Ho?" smirked the old man standing beside Kain as he continued to observe Jinn. "Very impressive!"
"Come on, I ain't got all day!" Jinn exclaimed mockingly.
Still holding his injury, the Thron that Jinn just hit exclaimed as he pointed his hand towards Jinn.
"Motherfu—Kill him!"
"You're dead meat!" said another Thron as all of them lunged at Jinn, their long and colossal arms looked like tree branches coming right at Jinn.
"Grab him!" Another Thron exclaimed as he used his leg to try and trip Jinn.
Jinn successfully dodged the leg that was coming from down below by jumping but he ultimately got caught by one of the Thron.
"Good, let's fucking tear him apart!" exclaimed another Thron as he started to walk towards Jinn.
"Argh!" Jinn winced in pain as the grip towards his body was tight—crushingly tight.
The old man beside Kain narrowed his eyes, "I guess that's it" he muttered, stepping forward toward Jinn—only to stop mid-step.
"Urgh!"
Jinn gritted his teeth before using the thumb from his synthetic arm to plunge deep into one of the eyes of the Thron gripping his body.
A fountain of green blood flowed from the Thron's injured eye as it released a visceral scream—filling the room.
"Mama what's happening!?" screamed a child while crying.
The mother closes the eyes of her child. "Don't look dear!"
The Thron's grip towards Jinn's body loosened, allowing him to drop free—yet, another strike from another Thron was already coming his way.
Using his small frame, Jinn skids downward and slides between the Thron's spindly legs to dodge and ultimately escape the encirclement.
"Phew!"
Jinn exhaled as he wiped the sweat from his face, raising his arms once again to prepare for the next attack coming at him.
Yet before one of the Throns made a move—sounds of soldiers filled the surrounding as their footsteps echoed through the hallway.
"Shit! It's the Zeraf!" exclaimed one of the slaves, scurrying away.
Slaves scattered in fear as they returned to their respective places before the soldiers—silence once again filled the air.
"What's going on here!?" exclaimed the warden as he peered into the cell.
The warden's voice made the slaves flinch and shiver in fear as they remained silent.
The warden's gaze swept across the carnage that occurred inside the cell. The disgusting remains of the first Thron that Jinn had slain which was scattered throughout the wall—as well as the injuries from the other Throns that ganged up on Jinn.
The warden's eyes flickered in intrigue as Jinn was unscathed, yet what intrigued him even more was something else—something he knew the moment he got inside the dreadnaught.
And so he decided to investigate further.
"You—boy"
The warden raised his hand to point at Jinn. "You shall be punished for your misbehavior!"
"W-What…?" Kain's words stammered as he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"Carry the boy to my office!" With a flick of his wrist, the warden ordered his soldiers to open the cell and grab Jinn forcefully.
"W-Wait, the Throns started it first!" Kain exclaimed as he tried to negotiate with the warden.
"They were the ones stealing the bread from the others!" Kain continued as he blocked the way of the soldiers.
"Y-Yeah! It's those goddamned insects that started it!" exclaimed another slave, pitching in for Kain.
"They stole our bread!"
"Leave the kid alone!"
One by one, each slave voiced their concern for Jinn—explaining that the Thron were the ones to start the conflict first.
Yet they all became quiet as soon as they discovered that the warden wore a darkened and serious expression—something cold and cruel, that sent a cold wave of fear through the bodies of the slaves.
One of the soldiers then kicked Kain out of the way, his body stumbling across the stone pavement and crashing at the stone wall.
"You fucki—" Jinn exclaimed before he was hit at the back of his head, making him fall asleep.
"J-Jinn…" Kain muttered as he struggled to stand up.
Fortunately, the old man beside Kain earlier helped him up—his gaze lingering on Jinn.
"Don't worry kid—we haven't seen the last of that boy." the old man's brow furrowed.
With a loud bang, the soldiers closed the cell door before heading towards the warden's office while carrying Jinn's unconscious body.
After some time, Jinn began to slowly open his eyes before it widened in surprise to find himself in an unknown location—well, to be specific he was in the warden's office.
He scanned his eyes around the room to inspect it, The room was filled with crimson ornate designs and carved gold. There were also crimson carved serpents running down the pillars from the side to which accented the surroundings.
On the walls, there were multiple portrait paintings of individuals—to which all had crimson red hair, just like Venedix.
"Majestic aren't they?" spoke the warden, making Jinn flinch and shocked to see himself bound on a chair.
Jinn tried to move both his legs and arms but they were bound by a durable and tight iron—escape was impossible.
The warden walked near the portraits as he inspected each of them.
"House Sorellia—the house of blades!" he exclaimed while raising his arms in excitement—before chuckling.
"Famous for being brutally efficient, cold, calculative," the warden then walked towards Jinn. "And had a knack for turning slaves to cannon fodder!"
Jinn furrowed his eyebrows, "What do you want?"
The warden didn't answer—instead he walked towards his table. He then whisked aside multiple papers until he could bring out a document of some sort.
"For a boy that Venedix herself vouched," The warden turns the pages of the document. "You are a rowdy one eh?"
Jinn's eyes widened to hear Venedix's name—before narrowing in seriousness.
"Venedix? Never heard the name" Jinn replied with a scoff.
A subtle whack filled the room as the warden slapped his knees when he laughed.
"You're a funny one—Jinn."
He continued to scour his fingers through the document, turning pages before stopping.
"Mhm… Let's see here." The warden's eyes narrowed as he started to read the text on the page.
"Jinn—a Rinari orphan from the fallen city of Leran. Showcased great courage and even fought Venedix until his last dying breath!"
He then flipped the page to another. "Died at the hands of Venedix with a blade pierced through his stomach… and revived by her at the same time."
"Mhm" The warden hummed as he tilted his head.
"This is the first time the great lady Venedix herself had taken interest in someone," the warden paused for a moment before continuing. "In a few hundreds of years at least!"
"Are you finished?" Jinn's jaw tightened. "If you are—take me back to my cell. My friend and I have not eaten yet."
The warden chuckled.
"Oh you'll eat all right—after you answer my question."
The warden then once again flipped another page from the document on his hand.
"During your revival, the area emitted a bright red light. Tell me—did you perhaps see a 'red crystal' of some sort being held by Venedix?"
Jinn scoffed.
"Even if I did, why would I need to tell you" Jinn raised one eyebrow
The warden stood silent yet his face was apathetic—his eyes sharpened in reply.
He probably did not like that answer, Jinn thought.
"Why?" The warden then places his hand on the sheath of the sword attached on his hip.
"Because your life depends on it—child."
Jinn scoffed under his breath.
"Why don't you ask Venedix herself" Jinn gave a sharp glance. "Bastard"
The warden then fully unsheathed his saber from his hip, raising it in the air—seemingly primed up to strike Jinn from above.
Jinn's eyes narrowed as he clenched his fist—yet he was still bound.
"You must be a traitor of your kin to resort to this eh?"
The warden flinched to the words of Jinn before lowering the sword to unsheathe it.
"Mhm" The warden paused for a brief moment before turning to Jinn.
"Maybe—I am!" He exclaimed as he unsheathed his sword once again to deliver a strike towards Jinn's neck.
"Urgh!" Jinn tried to lean backwards but he was still bound to his chair—thus his range of motion is limited.
The warden's blade was already inches from decapitating Jinn—before being parried suddenly.
A loud clang filled the room as the warden's sword was parried.
Then, as if appearing out of thin air—a hooded assassin appeared behind the warden—thrusting her dagger deep inside the warden's neck.
"K-Krghk! W-What is this!?" The warden's word gurgled as the blood began to flow from his mouth.
The assassin then leaned towards one of the warden's ears.
"Lady Venedix sends her regards!"