The holding chamber was just a fancy name for a cell with better lighting. There were no bars, just thick stone walls and one door with a sliding panel.
I was shoved inside with some other slaves, mostly women.
They looked like they hadn't eaten properly in days.
I sat in the corner, back against the wall. The chain still hung from my collar which fucking hurts but I endure it. Just a bit more.
The man next to me leaned in slightly.
"You new?"
he whispered.
I nodded.
"Don't fight when you go out there." he said.
"Makes it worse. They like the obedient ones. The ones that fight..." He turned on the other side.
"You will know."
I didn't answer. He had no idea who I really was or why I was here. I wasn't just some slave dumped into this mess.
_______
Footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. Then the door clicked.
"Third unit. On your feet," someone barked.
I stood, keeping my head low. The chain was grabbed again and I was led out, past more guards, past heavy doors and halls. The auction room was just ahead.
* * * * * * * * *
The lights were brighter here. It was not sunlight but some kind of warm, yellow artificial shit maybe some sort of magic. It made everything feel fake.
The crowd sat in raised rows like in a theater, masks still on, their heads turning as I was dragged onto the stage.
I kept my expression blank.
A man in a gray suit—probably the auctioneer—stepped forward. "Lot number twelve. Male. Estimated age: late 10s. moderate build. Untouched."
He made it sound like I was a piece of furniture.
"Opening bid: five thousand gold crowns.", He said.
A hand went up almost instantly. A joker masked man with a cracked chin spoke.
"Six thousand."
Another hand. This one was a woman. Quite fat and ugly.
The numbers climbed.
Seven. Eight. Nine thousand.
They were arguing now quiet, competitive bidding, like they were buying art. I scanned the room without moving my head.
There she is.
She is almost ready for the ambush.
Upon her signal, I suddenly break my chains and punch the bidder almost instantly.
His nose was broken as he fell. Unconscious.
"Security to the stage!" someone yelled.
"Too late bozo."
It was Dawn. She knocked him out and threw my sword.
I grab my sword. Upon feeling it's master's hand, it glowed blood red.
A wide grin appeared on my cheeks as I keep on slashing everyone on my way. Be it a guard or any NPC.
"You all are sadistic sons of bitches. Taking out my monstrosity to you will cause me no harm. Ahahahahahahahaha...."
I laugh like a maniac as my sword keep getting nourished by them.
Dawn was also pretty skilled. She seems to use her dagger and is more assassin type than a brawler.
She silently keeps on killing anyone who tries to escape.
AHAHAHAHAHAHA
I enjoy killing them as I hack and slash their bodies taking out their guts and intestines.
I bath in blood until someone appears. Someone strong.
"Enough!"
He says as he unleashes an air blade that almost cut down my head.
Feeling malice I turn my attention to the man in the midst of chaos.
He was a tall bulky man who was almost 7 foot. Those long gray hair was styled in a ponytail. And also.... that unspeakable aura. A man who have almost reached phantasmal rank in air magic. One of the 7 commanders, Hardt Le Skyford.
"Keep killing them. Be sure to retrieve that record."
I shout. She knows whom I am talking to.
I take my fighting stance.
"Bloodrune 1st form, shadow rush 10 fold."
In the next second, my sword my almost cut his neck but he somehow dodged in split second.
"Not bad boy! An exile of bloodrunes I presume. Ran Bloodrune. H-"
"Quit your rambling and fight."
I say as I rush towards him again. My blood lust was at my limit. I want to kill something.
Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.
This is the only thing in my head.
I tried to stab him on his thigh however he bocked it and pressed his palm on my chest.
"Huh?"
He smiles confidently as if this attack is going to take me down.
"Air push."
He cast the spell.
KUGH!!
I vomit some blood and was pushed to the other side of the wall almost breaking it.
"This is your end boy."
He says and puts his palm on my chest again.
My ribs are shattered, my heart is beating crazy, my windpipe is almost broken, my liver is damaged, so there is no way I can avoid it this time.
Is this it?
I close my eyes to brace the attack.
However, it didn't hit me.
Something unexpected happens.
"Hmm?"
The man looks behind in surprise. It was Dawn.
She tried to stab him with her dagger but it broke due to his hard bulky stature.
"You are quite skilled young lady. I should probably make you one of my concubines."
He says and grabs her head. His hands were so big that her head was completely covered with her palm alone.
Gaining some time, I desperately try to stand up.
Come on Ran, you can't lose your face infront of a girl. You gotta protect her not be protected.
I push my limit and unleash my first blood sword technique.
"Blood sword technique, slash of the century."
My ribs are numb my chest is fucking hot. My Adrenaline is at it's peak and I lose my sense of sanity.
I aimed for his hand in breathtaking speed to free Dawn. Even though I failed to cut his hand, I kept on attacking him again and again.
"W-what type of swordsmanship is this?"
He shouts in anger not really know how to defend against it.
Ahahahahahahaha
"Die die die die die die Die die die die die die Die die die die die die Die die die die die die"
I say it over and over and over and over and over....
I hack and slash him and he desperately try to shield against it.
Slash Slash Slash!!!!!
After cutting him for several hundred times I am almost at my limit. My consciousness start to fate away and my attacks weaken.
"Hahaha already at your limit. Time to reverse the fight,"
I glance at him. He was barely wounded, protected by his bulky body.
He casts a wind spell. A gust of wind comes toward me in high velocity.
It was extremely thin almost invisible. With my improved sense I was able to dodge it somehow.
Or so I thought.
Splash!!!!!!!
In the next moment I see by belly cut open. My intestines almost visible.
Kugh!!
I vomit and collapse in my own sea of blood. Almost immobile.
Is this it?
Is that demon gonna take my soul?
I can see that man's creepy smile in my head.
Yearning for my soul.
As if he had accomplished him goal. Telling me to sleep for eternity.
"RAAAAAAANNN"
I hear a loud scream. It was her. Dawn.
Is she breaking down for me?
Why?