Chapter: 19, Next Steps_2
In the throne room of the Dark Castle, Everyone was silent after hearing the absurd words from a person who appeared out of nowhere. Some of the people actually recognized him to be someone who came to the City about a month ago.
When they saw all the red things that the man called 'Shadows', most of them were convinced that he can actually defeat the crimson terror alone.
The bright lord Gunlaug, who was silent up until now, finally spoke "Why should we believe you? What if you have some ill intentions towards u-"
Jin cut him off and said "What if I have ill intentions towards you? I could've just cleared the citadel and gone to the Waking world without you, that's what you are trying to say, right?"
"Yes, I am asking that because we all know that nothing valuable in this world can be given for free. Even the Spell gives us a flaw along with our powers. I want to ask you, what is your intention on giving us this opportunity?"
"You're right. I have something I want from the dreamers of the Dark City in exchange to get you out of this hell." Jin said truthfully.
Everyone who heard his words became weary, what could a person who can literally kill all of them with his servants would want from them? It has to be something significant, for which they might need to pay a heavy price.
Jin said flatly "I want all of you to form a group that will directly be under the direct descendant of the Immortal Flame clan. That will be named 'Fire Keepers'"
Gunlaug heard these words and laughed, "Why do you think we would agree on serving someone we don't even know can lead us or not?"
Jin narrowed his eyes "After some time, if anyone thinks that she isn't worth serving, they can leave whenever they want, I won't interfere. But I want you people to at least try. And I don't need the Handmaidens to join the fire keepers"
Gunlaug laughed again and said "Why should we? What benefits will we receive if we join you?"
Some of Gunlaug's men also started to shout. They thought that Jin needed a large amount of people for something that might be important for him. If they can receive some benefit from returning to the Waking world.
Jin finally lost his temper; he was doing a favor by not killing them all to reduce the work it would take to lead an entire army of people to the waking world. But now this bastard who he wanted to kill from the start is protesting against him with his lackeys.
Not wanting to waste his time Jin flatly stated "I am not going to drag this out. Whoever is dissatisfied with my offer, just raise your hand and whoever agrees to take my offer just don't move?"
Hearing his declaration, Gunlaug and his 30 lackeys raised their hands. Seishan and the handmaidens didn't move since they are literally offered freedom for free. Kai, Effie and most of the dreamers didn't move.
The people who raised their hands were mostly the strongest in the entire City. But why would Jin care about that?
"Okay, so you've made your decision?" He asked one last time.
Gunlaug, seeing that most of the strongest people have raised their hands, became smug and answered without hesitation "yes, we have made our decision."
Jin shook his head a few times. He was amused to see the sheer audacity of these fools. He raised his right hand to the sky, and snapped his fingers.
With a click sound, Blood splattered everywhere. When the people came to their senses from the shock, what they saw horrified them. All the people who raised their hands were now covered in blood, their memories turning into shining dust and disappearing into the air, their heads gone. All of them were still standing, meaning they died instantly, without them even knowing.
Jin used [arise] and turned them into shadows, manual labor is needed after all. The others, watching those people coming back to life, were even more horrified. They realized that this person can just turn them into his servants, so there actually was never the need to negotiate.
Jin turned around, taking the old and new shadows into his own shadow and left saying only one sentence "Pack everything you need within a month, we're leaving after a month."
Everyone nodded, but even after Jin left, they didn't dare move.
Seishan looked at the way Jin left, and something came to her mind "Just who is this person? First scion of the Eternal Divine Clan, if a descendant is this strong, how strong would the patriarch be?"
She shivered, not daring to think further.
***
In a place inside the Dark City, someone was holding a woman hostage and asked "You have a Memory named Shard, right? Give it to me and I will give you an Ascendant one in exchange."
The woman who was resisting a second ago, perked up after hearing that and she quickly touched the man's arm and transferred the memory. The man confirming the memory gave her an Ascendent memory in return.
Within the Dark City, two more people were offered the same.
Outside The dark city, some of Noir's clones got two other memories by slaying nightmare creatures.
*
Within the Dark city, inside the ruined cathedral, Jin met with Noir, who just finished off the Forsaken knight and received its echo, a memory named [Forsaken Blade] and its core.
He stored them all and looked at Jin "So, finished there?"
Jin replied annoyingly "Huh, don't mention it, you know what happened there. This is the last time I am going to deal with a crowd, unless it's to commit genocide."
Jin sat on the nearby bench that was there for who knows how long and asked looking at him "So, did you get everything you needed?
"Yes, you have the dawn shard and Sunny has the midnight shard. We have all the oath keys." Noir replied.
"I also got Saint, so there are very few things we need to take care of." He added.
"Are you sure it's her?" Jin asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You know, sunny isn't the type to do what she did, you know?"
Noir darkened his face and said 'We'll know when she arrives."
To be continued…