"Rothie, do you think it was a good idea to send him by himself?" Bronya inquired whilst looking at the ground.
Roth kept his head forward, only rolling his eyes to look at her. "What do you mean?"
"I told him to go right… But I am unsure if he will be okay."
"He'll be fine." Roth assured her. Subconsciously, he closed his hands and continued, "Before I answer… You sure you'll be able to handle what's ahead?"
"Mm… I'll be okay."
"Correct choice. That kid wouldn't be able to handle all those dim lights you saw."
"Mm… I hope so." Bronya mumbled. "There were so many of them… What do you think they did?" She unconsciously moved her hand to her axe. The answer was very much obvious to them; however, she asked anyway.
"Keep your head clear."
"What do you mean…?"
"..."
"Rothie?"
"Don't focus on what happened, keep your eyes forward. You'll only cause harm to yourself, and those around you if you focus too much on what happened."
His statement warranted a quizzical look 'When did he become so wise?' She only thought.
Just to their twelve o' clock, the sides expanded outwards. On each side of them, many cages filled the walls. Before they could behold the sight of each one, an awful stench filled their nostrils. Akin to multiple rotting pieces of meat culminating in one location.
Bronya shot the collar of her shirt over her nose; merely useless in the next moment as it pierced through the fabric. She then held her nose with one hand, leaving her hand occupied with her axe. Her eyes wandered to her companion, whose mouth constantly twitched.
"Rothie…? You don't think they…?"
"Have to go…" He responded in a snap of his fingers. Without waiting, he proceeded forward.
From their right, to their left, they just saw cages. Some had bodies of varied demi-humans. No effort was spared to check, just the bloodied ground, sometimes intreils sat right next to an open belly.
"What are these…" Bronya muttered in disbelief. 'Did they actually…?' Her hand went from her nose to her mouth. Warm saliva instantaneously filled her mouth.
"Keep going."
"Can… We just take a minute?"
Roth didn't verbally respond, he turned his head to look at her. Abnormally, his usual angry look was multiplied. Even his eyes, that showed a calm storm, were filled with an inferno.
"L-Let us go then…" Bronya choked out. She gulped down the vomit that attempted to come up. 'What did he see before becoming an adventurer-? I have never seen him like this…' She thought.
Venturing deeper, the corpses found lessened. However, the unbearable stench increased.
"Just how many demi-humans have they captured…?" Bronya questioned whilst passing another body. All so far have been the mentioned race. She lost track after counting just roughly thirty-four of them. 'They must have been here for years…' Her thoughts were halted by a high pitched scream.
"Someone-! Help! Please! SOMEONE- AH! P-Please stop-!"
Cynical laughter followed after a loud slap. "Do you think you can cry, beg for someone? Face it~ This is your last few minutes of life…"
"P-Please… I beg of you-"
"Nope! Nuh uh, that old bitching of yours won't go anywhere… Hahaha, just wait till I'm done, that will be when you're freed."
Stifled cries filled the silence. Not even seconds passed; Roth just as his title befitted his actions, stomped his way towards the source. Bronya witnessed as he rushed inside a cage, grabbed the head of someone half his size and dragged him out.
All the while, screams bellowed from that someone. His grip hinged as if it was made of an unbreakable steel.
"LET ME GO YOU-" The man wailed, his body moved frantically. Legs constantly kicking the ground, his hands trying to claw at Roth's arm. His voice cut when one of his wrists was grabbed. "Let me-" In a nanosecond, his wrist bent backwards at an impossible angle.
He couldn't get the chance to scream anymore. Roth's foot came careening towards his head, causing it to snap to the other side. Both teeth and blood splattered onto the ground.
"R-Rothie… I think you went-" Bronya's words were cut short by even more screaming. Just past him, over twenty individuals exited cages. Some were drenched in blood, wearing a beaming, yet sadistic smile.
One stepped forward, a man dressed in clean clothes. But in his hands, were bloodied daggers.
"Ooooh, lookie here, let me guess you two are adventurers… Planning to stop this whole 'operation' aren'-" he loudly proclaimed whilst stretching his arms to the side. His proclamation was intercepted by the body of Roth's victim crashing into him.
Before anyone else could speak or act, Roth ran towards the mass. His hulking figure and immense speed woke them all up. A few turned around and ran deeper into the caverns.
Those who stayed, readied whatever they had on hand.
'I guess it's time to fight…' Bronya commented internally. She immediately dashed in, her first target; a man with cleaver. His arm was raised high, ready to swing it down onto a part of Roth.
Within a second, he fell face first onto the ground. His weapon clambered to the ground.
Those around Bronya's first target, took a few steps back. 'Where did this woman come from?! She was just over there?!' All of them thought,
Why did you send Lucian off by himself?! A familiar voice rang inside of her head.
'Hold on, is that Fei?' Bronya questioned the voice. 'If that is, perfect timing… I'd say if that were true.' As soon as Fei's voice entered her mind, a man closest to her sprinted towards her.
Why did you send Lucian off by himself?! Did you send him by himself, when there are multiple people at that location?!
'There shouldn-' Just before she could respond, another joined the fray. Her first opponent jabbed his sword at her gut, attempting to pierce her belly.
Coordinating themselves, her second lashed a whip.
She sidestepped the first attack, then the second she merely moved her torso out of reach. 'There shouldn't be anyo-' Before she knew it, a third one began his assault. "Oh c'mon!" She mouthed.
Left, forward, right. With some effort, she stepped out of each attack. First, a swing came from her right. Then, another attempted to stab her back. She brazenly stepped out of danger, twirled around and retaliated. With his weapon, and a few fingers now gone, he backed off whilst clutching his hand.
'Now… There shouldn't be anyone strong enough to take Lucian down.' Bronya finally responded, jumping to right, narrowly dodging a slap from a whip. 'Wow, it sure is a lot harder to keep them alive… Or leave them out of the fight without causing major harm.'
You were all sent in there to stick together- There are more?!
'Mhm, aren't you a bit talkative without speaking outta your mouth, aren't ya?'
"You three are so unskilled.."
"Ya aren't yerself!"
"Hm? You think so?" Bronya tilted her head. She twirled her axe around, then sliced in the path of the whip. "Y'all are lucky, we were tasked to keep you alive- Otherwise~"
As if the fight was staged, bone chilling cracks echoed around the battlefield; followed by a gut wrenching cry.
"AHHH! WHAT DID YOU DO?! WHAT DID YOU DO?!?!"
"What the f-"
"I think- I think we should give up-"
Everyone who witnessed Roth raising a man above his head and slammed his back onto his own knee voiced their shock. Even Bronya, after making a realization, gulped.
"I-I I can't- I can't- I can't feel a thing-" Roth's victim cried out, only his head moved from side to side as cold tears streamed down his cheeks.
"...You see, like I said…" Bronya continued after a pause, slowly turning her head back around. "We're here… To subdue you guys."
'Despite, what just happened.'
"Bullshit!"
They fought against their fear, and shock; going back to launching their assault once again.
"What a relentless bunch you are… Rothie, are you okay over there?"
"..."
'How are things outside, Fei?'
…
'Not going to answer, huh? Fine, yes there are more enslavers… If you didn't interrupt and break my focus, it would've been so much easier.'
Finally, Bronya went on the attack. With a swift kick to his guts, Bronya caused the whip-user to fall to the ground gasping for air.
"Two down."
"F-F-"
Giving her last attacker no chances, she struck his wrists. Causing his sword to clatter against the ground. Next, she followed it up with the flat of her axe smashing against his head.
I'm not sorry… I swear, if Lucian doesn't make it out…
'Ya, ya… I figured you'd threaten me with something. But believe me, that kid is tougher than you could ever think.'
You need to regroup with him! HE JUST FOUND THOSE PEOPLE!
Bronya sighed, shook her head and mumbled a few words to herself before running towards her next victim. 'Fei, Rothie and I are currently taking care of the others. There is no way we can go back and get Lucian.'
Then hurry it up!
As the next fell, she continued on her path. One after another, each fell; either battered, with bruises over their body's surface. Or, with limbs broken, and beaten to a bloodied pulp.
Hurry it up!
'Geez… How do ya turn this off? Acting like a banshee thrilling in my head…' She complained, holding her head while shaking it.
…
For once, her head filled with a peaceful silence. Now, that nothing was exploding inside of her noggin, she took a look around. Over half were sprawled, clutching broken arms, or completely unconscious.
"Rothie, did ya have to do that to them…? Y'know… Nevermind."
Bronya covered her eyes with her hand. "Just what did you experience during your time as a mercenary…?" She helplessly muttered. Wails and grunts dampened minutes later; replacing those, sniffles reverberated from opened cages.
Not wanting to spend too much time around them, she took the initiative. Strolling towards the nearest cage, she found a demi-human woman holding a child in her arms.
Once she noticed her entering the cage, she scooted to a far corner.
"I'm not here to hurt you… Or your child." Bronya said, dropping her weapon and raising both hands high in the air. "Look, me and my partner aren't here to harm you." With each word, she took a small step forward.
When it was obvious that her words were falling on deaf ears, all her movements halted. No use, that realization struck her. In the dim light, countless scars were seen on the woman's body. Her eyes frantically darted the room, from Bronya to a spot just to the side.
A male demi-human laid lifelessly on the floor. His mouth agape, seemingly screaming something before passing.
Quietly, Bronya turned around and left them. Seconds passed to minutes, cage by cage, only traumatized and fearful people were found. None attempted to respond to her.
"Long ears, watch over these- People, I'll search the last cage." Roth said to her. Judging by her sunken shoulders, and downcast expression he took up the mantle. "Shouldn't worry, they can't do anything."
"Mmm, thank you."
Roth merely nodded. Looking towards the last cage, just from his distance he could see someone chained up. Taking a deep breath then walking towards it, he felt a sense of familiarity.
'Looks like that demi-human described in that request.' Shoulder length grey hair, a pair of small cat ears atop her head. 'She alive?' He stood in front of her. Nothing could be heard, not even a breath was heard. "Another one…"
Moving her head up, her eyes were half open. Sure enough, a pair of light brown eyes. 'Looks like she was blinded.' Roth judged from grey foam overtaking the pupil. Once done examining her body, he ripped the chains from the walls.
"Hope this gives her closure." Roth said to himself. After a few moments, he made it back to Bronya with her in arms.
"Welcome back- Is that, what was her name?" Bronya welcomed him back. She immediately took notice of the demi-human in his arms. She raised her hand to her chin. Cog wheels turned inside her head. "Was it, Aiko? Isn't she who Lady Ela asked us to find?"
"Looks to be so."
"I see-"
"It'll bring her closure. It's unfortunate to find her like- This."
"Wait, wait, is she-? Set her down!" Bronya ordered, she pointed towards the ground. "We can't know if she's dead. There were forty green dots, you remember that I told you?" With a stare and a deep frown, she forced Roth to carefully put Aiko down.
"She is, you can do a check though."
"We can't know that yet." Bronya repeated herself. She lowered her body, and moved her head near Aiko's open mouth. Just like what he heard, nothing. "Her breathing must be too light…" She thought out loud. "What about her pulse?"
With shaky hands, she raised her fingers to Aiko's neck. Frozen, she kept them there. "Not another…." She muttered.
"Why don't you use your skill?"
"I think the answer is obvious."
Upon her response, Roth pulled a blue crystal from a pouch on his hip. He turned his neck to glance at Bronya, then poured some mana into it.
"Hm? Hello, who's on the other side?"
"Guildmaster, we cleared out our side."
"Oh, that was quick. Good job, Mister Raging Bull!"
"Mhm, thanks. Although there were some casualties. Over thirty demi-humans were killed, fifteen lives were spared."
There was a moment of silence before Noelle's voice came through.
"I see… Good work to you three, how many slavers were captured?"
After relaying the amount they fought and the extra Bronya saw, Noelle asked a few more questions. Zero were slain, their injuries varied, lastly, the state of the remaining survivors.
Once the last question was answered, a thanks came from Noelle before the crystal lost all light.
"Do you think they might have done it with the other groups?" Bronya asked, her voice was low. Roth sighed with his back turned towards her, He put his communication crystal away, in a separate pouch he brought out a rope.
She watched helplessly as he forcefully tied the hands of every slaver- Even the one who could not feel, or move his body anymore. Was this necessary- Only for the ones who could fight back.
When Roth finished tying up the last, Fei's voice boomed inside her head.
S-Something happened, I can't contact L-Lucian!
'Wait what do you mean?'
I tried talking to him! He- He said he was fine, but he's not responding anymore!
"Roth! We need to get to Lucian, we overestimated him!"