Chapter 92 The Nightmare Hunt II [Dark Forest War II - Part VIII]
-- POV General --
Unlike the others, Claire's group of three was not heading for the mountain. They had decided to try their luck westward to find a way to escape. The forest was dark and all the humans could hear was their heavy breathing and almost silent footsteps. They didn't know how long the Empress' game had been going on, but they had no plans to participate.
"Still no sign of a wall Claire !"
Dave, Claire's cousin was out front and continued to scan the surroundings as best he could. Despite the fact that there had to be a wall preventing them from running away, nothing caught their attention. Another thing that was strange for them was the feeling of going in circles without ever being able to find their way. In the forest they still had not come across any traps except for the dead ends formed by trees, plants and brambles. The three red adventurers didn't know it, but they had already fallen into the labyrinth.
"Holy crap this can't be.."
Claire was beginning to lose her patience as she whispered while biting her nails to the bone. This hunt was as physically exhausting as it was mentally and none of the three felt safe. They didn't have any soldiers chasing them due to the fact that they had moved forward in hiding but they were no further ahead than when they started.
"Why do we always come to a dead end. Is that even possible in a forest ?"
These walls were indeed anything but natural and only served to confuse the humans and lose them even more than they already were. The three humans in addition to not moving forward, were panicked at the thought of running into a wild beast. Of course there was none, because the she-wolf had foreseen everything, but the mist of Ynir prevented them from using their logic. Claire, Dave and Paul heard noises coming from everywhere, seemed to sense movement around them and even thought they were being followed. Commander Ynir's illusion, disrupting all the senses of those in the forest, gave the impression of a moving labyrinth. In truth, there was nothing moving but everything had been planned like a play whose actors did not know any cogs.
"Why don't we try to climb those green walls ? They can't be much and I don't see any other way."
Paul had given his opinion and suddenly the eyes of the other two lit up. So far the three adventurers had only moved westward without ever attempting to cross the many obstacles that were everywhere.
"I...I hadn't thought of that..."
"Neither had I.."
Claire and Dave were ashamed and looked away as they admitted to being unwise. For the moment there was nothing else they could do so this time, instead of turning back they approached the nearest wall. It stood for several meters and was in fact a mass of roots entangled between them, plants and dirt. It was not at all impossible to climb it, but it was not easy, as there was no stable grip.
"Le...let's hurry !"
Everyone started to move forward to grab a root when suddenly something crashed into the wall they had planned to climb. With a thud, something had arrived from the sky to land right in front of them. Mist mixed with dust and dirt flying in a huge gust created by the impact.
"What..."
"Aaarg !"
"Damn !"
The three humans shielded their faces and mouths as they did not understand what was happening. As the smoke from the impact slowly dispersed, the young woman and her cousins saw two eyes shining like two gems. They couldn't see anything else, but the sight alone was enough to make them instinctively tremble, for they knew very well whose eyes they were. Purple like amethyst, cold, vibrant, striking and terrifying...the Empress of Elysium had appeared before them.
"N..no..wh...why us ?"
Claire couldn't believe her eyes as her heart raced, unable to slow down and calm down. As the dust slowly disappeared, a voice they had hoped never to hear again, rose up.
"Ara ara~ what do we have here ?"
Freya had appeared out of nowhere and was standing in front of the humans with her face still wearing the same frightening smile. The young human woman was paralyzed as were her companions as the Empress walked towards them. How had she found them ? They themselves didn't even know where they were and yet their worst nightmare was before them for some unknown reason. The she-wolf had no trouble guessing their thoughts and as she arrived in front of Claire on her knees, Freya took the trouble to explain the reason for her coming.
"You don't seem particularly attracted to our little hunt, what a shame. Unfortunately, rules are rules...participate or die !"
As she spoke these words, the she-wolf stared at Claire, who could no longer move or speak. The human saw her life flash before her eyes and the small hope she had of escaping disappeared, leaving only despair.
"We...we were...participating...we...only...wanted to...uh...check out the surroundings. You must...have misunderstood..."
Dave didn't know what to say or do and seeing his cousin so petrified had caused him to make up an excuse thinking it would pass. The Empress still impassive, turned her gaze to the man who had just spoken before frowning and answering him.
"Oh~ me misunderstand ? really ?"
"Y...yes...yes of course !"
"In that case everything is fine then."
Dave, who was as terrified as his companions, let out a sigh of relief, reassured that his lie had gone unnoticed. He gloated in his mind as suddenly the Empress appeared before him in a flash before crushing his right arm.
"Aaaarg !"
Freya had grabbed the man's arm to crush it with a simple pressure of the fingers and break it in a twist. Without having to force it, the adventurer's bones had snapped with a dull crack and his arm hung down, forming a right angle anything but natural. The bones had pierced the flesh to appear for all to see and blood flowed profusely from the wound.
"Dave !"
"Dave !"
As Paul and Claire, horrified, shouted their friend's name, the Empress for the first time all night used her demonic aura. A thick purple veil overwhelmed the three humans who instantly fell prey to this new unknown and incredible power.
"Silence !"
Freya hadn't even used her full aura and yet the effect was guaranteed. Paul had urinated in his pants while Claire was vomiting blood and Dave was on the verge of passing out in addition to the pain.
"Decidedly, are all humans the same ? Even in the face of death you continue to lie.."
Without giving the other two even a glance, the she-wolf approached Dave before placing her foot on his chest. He was shaking on the ground, his face twisted into a gruesome grimace filled with pain and tear-filled eyes.
"You dare to say I was wrong ? I want you to know that I don't like it when people disobey me and I like it even less when people lie to me. Did you really intend to participate ?"
"Aaarg...pi...pity !"
While speaking in her cold voice, Freya was gradually crushing the ribs of the man who was writhing in pain. His mouth was spitting blood and he was trying to struggle as best he could, crushed by the she-wolf's strength that left him no choice.
"We...we...aaarg wanted to run away.."
Dave couldn't stand any more pain, had resolved to tell the truth because he didn't want to die either. Unfortunately for him, these words had no bearing on the behavior of the one above him.
"cough...cough...your...highness...forgive us !"
Claire, who had been brought out of her state by her cousin's shouting, had managed to speak up to dissuade Freya from continuing.
"Will you participate properly now ?"
The Ice Empress had turned to the young woman, to ask her a question in a dismissive voice. Her eyes, brighter than ever, plunged into Claire's indicating that depending on her answer, things could get out of hand. Dave felt the pressure diminish but still said nothing, silently crying and glaring at the Empress. He wanted revenge, to make her suffer as he suffered and especially to torture her for days. His true nature was surfacing as the adventurer heard his cousin obediently respond.
"Y..yes..we...we will play by y...your rules your...your highness."
Claire didn't even realize that she had called Freya "your highness". In front of such a woman, unlike her cousins, she was willing to do whatever the she-wolf commanded. Of the three humans dressed in red, she had been the only one deeply scared by the Empress, who had traumatized her to the core. However, the young human woman was still clear-minded enough to attempt to save Dave's life.
"Perfect. I love it when you're obedient like that, it makes things easier don't you think ? Now go away you two before I change my mind."
"T...thank you very much we...huh...you two ?"
As a sigh of relief was heard from Claire, she stopped in mid-sentence thinking she had misheard. She and Paul looked at each other in confusion, while Freya smiled cruelly as she spoke.
"I'm saving this one for a little fun kufufu~"
Her foot was starting to dig into Dave's ribcage again as her tongue ran delicately over her upper lip.
"Aaaaaargh n..nooo"
The Empress relished in the man's screams, enjoying the slightest crack that began to echo through the forest as the other two humans watched in horror. Dave's torso buckled under the pressure and the man began to struggle with more vigor, trying to escape death and pain.
"That's it, show me how you struggle to survive"
Freya's violet eyes more intense than ever, had their pupils dilated and an indescribable glow burned within them. The man had begun to kick the she-wolf's leg in hopes of freeing her but to no avail. His arm, which had been broken earlier, struck again and again at the steel leg of the Empress who felt absolutely nothing. Dave's arm hung down and with each blow, the flesh came off a little more leaving a glimpse of the bones.
"Aaaaarg !"
"Keep going !"
Blood spurted from his mouth, nose, ears, and wound and splashed onto Freya's face as she moved closer to get a closer look at the man. He was screaming his head off, his voice was broken, shaking and pleading and yet the beautiful wolf was smiling. The other two humans were still paralyzed and hypnotized by this scene straight out of their worst nightmare. Paul still said nothing but his soul seemed to have left him and Claire could not believe that the beautiful young woman before her was capable of such attrocity. Her actions were ruthless, cruel and horrible, yet the Empress did not flinch. She was still calm, graceful, and even seemed to be amused by the screams.
Suddenly, with a cracking sound, Dave's forearm fell to the ground, having not been able to bear to hit the she-wolf's body. The flesh had finally come off completely, the tendons were torn out and the nerves sawed wildly through the bones.
"..."
Dave screamed but no more sound came from his throat. His eyes were revolted and tears of blood ran down his face distorted by pain. He was dying.
A short time later, the Empress crushed the adventurer's rib cage in an explosion of human flesh, bones, organs and blood. Dave was nothing more than a pile of mush on the ground with his legs, head and one arm left.
"..."
"..."
Claire and Paul's eyes were blank, their gaze dead because seeing Freya crush a member of their family like it was nothing, was too much. Their minds were gone, unable to withstand such psychological pressure and come out unscathed. Without even having to touch them, the Ice Empress had broken the souls of these two humans. Now they were nothing but living dolls, livid, unable to think for themselves.
"Well it looks like these two don't need to participate anymore..."
The Empress looked at them and chuckled slightly at the sight of these two adventurers who not long ago were still able to think. As the she-wolf pondered, a new idea crossed her mind as she snapped her fingers before seeing Trioa's lieutenant land right in front of her.
"Your Highness...shall I clean this up ?"
Nella, the little harpy and second-in-command of the Air Section, looked around in awe and trembling. She had witnessed the sights from the sky and like all the other soldiers, her admiration for her Empress was growing steadily.
"No need, leave the body here. However, take these two back to the clearing, it would be a shame to leave them there or kill them now."
"Whatever you say your Highness !"
The little harpy with two pigtails bowed respectfully to the she-wolf before taking off to give her instructions. What would she do with them ? Was the question she asked herself as she roamed the skies, excited and eager for the answer.
The humans had been 7 to enter the forest, now there were only 4 to participate.
____
FULL STATUS
Name : Freya
Age : 0 years / Mentally : 25 years
Sex : Female
Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult
Race : Major Demon
Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.
Dragon tamer
Ruthless slayer
Level : 33/70
Exp required for next level: 100 / 34 000
HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000
Strength : 425
Defense : 421
Agility : 435
Stamina : 428
Speed : 427
Intelligence : 425
Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)
Attribute points to allocate : 0
Married to: Gaya
Daughter : Shiro
Empire (menu)
Subordinates : 387
Humans killed: 149 (+1)
Elements: Ice / Chaos
Skills (all):
Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)
- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)
- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)
- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)
- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)
- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 5)
Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 6)
- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)
Pain Resistance (lvl 3)
Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)
Others - Humanoid form
- Ice creation (Lvl 5)
- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)
- Devouring chaos (Lvl 5)
- Analysis
- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique
- Telepathy
Mana detection (lvl 1)
Passives - Commander (lvl max)
- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]
Unlike the others, Claire's group of three was not heading for the mountain. They had decided to try their luck westward to find a way to escape. The forest was dark and all the humans could hear was their heavy breathing and almost silent footsteps. They didn't know how long the Empress' game had been going on, but they had no plans to participate.
"Still no sign of a wall Claire !"
Dave, Claire's cousin was out front and continued to scan the surroundings as best he could. Despite the fact that there had to be a wall preventing them from running away, nothing caught their attention. Another thing that was strange for them was the feeling of going in circles without ever being able to find their way. In the forest they still had not come across any traps except for the dead ends formed by trees, plants and brambles. The three red adventurers didn't know it, but they had already fallen into the labyrinth.
"Holy crap this can't be.."
Claire was beginning to lose her patience as she whispered while biting her nails to the bone. This hunt was as physically exhausting as it was mentally and none of the three felt safe. They didn't have any soldiers chasing them due to the fact that they had moved forward in hiding but they were no further ahead than when they started.
"Why do we always come to a dead end. Is that even possible in a forest ?"
These walls were indeed anything but natural and only served to confuse the humans and lose them even more than they already were. The three humans in addition to not moving forward, were panicked at the thought of running into a wild beast. Of course there was none, because the she-wolf had foreseen everything, but the mist of Ynir prevented them from using their logic. Claire, Dave and Paul heard noises coming from everywhere, seemed to sense movement around them and even thought they were being followed. Commander Ynir's illusion, disrupting all the senses of those in the forest, gave the impression of a moving labyrinth. In truth, there was nothing moving but everything had been planned like a play whose actors did not know any cogs.
"Why don't we try to climb those green walls ? They can't be much and I don't see any other way."
Paul had given his opinion and suddenly the eyes of the other two lit up. So far the three adventurers had only moved westward without ever attempting to cross the many obstacles that were everywhere.
"I...I hadn't thought of that..."
"Neither had I.."
Claire and Dave were ashamed and looked away as they admitted to being unwise. For the moment there was nothing else they could do so this time, instead of turning back they approached the nearest wall. It stood for several meters and was in fact a mass of roots entangled between them, plants and dirt. It was not at all impossible to climb it, but it was not easy, as there was no stable grip.
"Le...let's hurry !"
Everyone started to move forward to grab a root when suddenly something crashed into the wall they had planned to climb. With a thud, something had arrived from the sky to land right in front of them. Mist mixed with dust and dirt flying in a huge gust created by the impact.
"What..."
"Aaarg !"
"Damn !"
The three humans shielded their faces and mouths as they did not understand what was happening. As the smoke from the impact slowly dispersed, the young woman and her cousins saw two eyes shining like two gems. They couldn't see anything else, but the sight alone was enough to make them instinctively tremble, for they knew very well whose eyes they were. Purple like amethyst, cold, vibrant, striking and terrifying...the Empress of Elysium had appeared before them.
"N..no..wh...why us ?"
Claire couldn't believe her eyes as her heart raced, unable to slow down and calm down. As the dust slowly disappeared, a voice they had hoped never to hear again, rose up.
"Ara ara~ what do we have here ?"
Freya had appeared out of nowhere and was standing in front of the humans with her face still wearing the same frightening smile. The young human woman was paralyzed as were her companions as the Empress walked towards them. How had she found them ? They themselves didn't even know where they were and yet their worst nightmare was before them for some unknown reason. The she-wolf had no trouble guessing their thoughts and as she arrived in front of Claire on her knees, Freya took the trouble to explain the reason for her coming.
"You don't seem particularly attracted to our little hunt, what a shame. Unfortunately, rules are rules...participate or die !"
As she spoke these words, the she-wolf stared at Claire, who could no longer move or speak. The human saw her life flash before her eyes and the small hope she had of escaping disappeared, leaving only despair.
"We...we were...participating...we...only...wanted to...uh...check out the surroundings. You must...have misunderstood..."
Dave didn't know what to say or do and seeing his cousin so petrified had caused him to make up an excuse thinking it would pass. The Empress still impassive, turned her gaze to the man who had just spoken before frowning and answering him.
"Oh~ me misunderstand ? really ?"
"Y...yes...yes of course !"
"In that case everything is fine then."
Dave, who was as terrified as his companions, let out a sigh of relief, reassured that his lie had gone unnoticed. He gloated in his mind as suddenly the Empress appeared before him in a flash before crushing his right arm.
"Aaaarg !"
Freya had grabbed the man's arm to crush it with a simple pressure of the fingers and break it in a twist. Without having to force it, the adventurer's bones had snapped with a dull crack and his arm hung down, forming a right angle anything but natural. The bones had pierced the flesh to appear for all to see and blood flowed profusely from the wound.
"Dave !"
"Dave !"
As Paul and Claire, horrified, shouted their friend's name, the Empress for the first time all night used her demonic aura. A thick purple veil overwhelmed the three humans who instantly fell prey to this new unknown and incredible power.
"Silence !"
Freya hadn't even used her full aura and yet the effect was guaranteed. Paul had urinated in his pants while Claire was vomiting blood and Dave was on the verge of passing out in addition to the pain.
"Decidedly, are all humans the same ? Even in the face of death you continue to lie.."
Without giving the other two even a glance, the she-wolf approached Dave before placing her foot on his chest. He was shaking on the ground, his face twisted into a gruesome grimace filled with pain and tear-filled eyes.
"You dare to say I was wrong ? I want you to know that I don't like it when people disobey me and I like it even less when people lie to me. Did you really intend to participate ?"
"Aaarg...pi...pity !"
While speaking in her cold voice, Freya was gradually crushing the ribs of the man who was writhing in pain. His mouth was spitting blood and he was trying to struggle as best he could, crushed by the she-wolf's strength that left him no choice.
"We...we...aaarg wanted to run away.."
Dave couldn't stand any more pain, had resolved to tell the truth because he didn't want to die either. Unfortunately for him, these words had no bearing on the behavior of the one above him.
"cough...cough...your...highness...forgive us !"
Claire, who had been brought out of her state by her cousin's shouting, had managed to speak up to dissuade Freya from continuing.
"Will you participate properly now ?"
The Ice Empress had turned to the young woman, to ask her a question in a dismissive voice. Her eyes, brighter than ever, plunged into Claire's indicating that depending on her answer, things could get out of hand. Dave felt the pressure diminish but still said nothing, silently crying and glaring at the Empress. He wanted revenge, to make her suffer as he suffered and especially to torture her for days. His true nature was surfacing as the adventurer heard his cousin obediently respond.
"Y..yes..we...we will play by y...your rules your...your highness."
Claire didn't even realize that she had called Freya "your highness". In front of such a woman, unlike her cousins, she was willing to do whatever the she-wolf commanded. Of the three humans dressed in red, she had been the only one deeply scared by the Empress, who had traumatized her to the core. However, the young human woman was still clear-minded enough to attempt to save Dave's life.
"Perfect. I love it when you're obedient like that, it makes things easier don't you think ? Now go away you two before I change my mind."
"T...thank you very much we...huh...you two ?"
As a sigh of relief was heard from Claire, she stopped in mid-sentence thinking she had misheard. She and Paul looked at each other in confusion, while Freya smiled cruelly as she spoke.
"I'm saving this one for a little fun kufufu~"
Her foot was starting to dig into Dave's ribcage again as her tongue ran delicately over her upper lip.
"Aaaaaargh n..nooo"
The Empress relished in the man's screams, enjoying the slightest crack that began to echo through the forest as the other two humans watched in horror. Dave's torso buckled under the pressure and the man began to struggle with more vigor, trying to escape death and pain.
"That's it, show me how you struggle to survive"
Freya's violet eyes more intense than ever, had their pupils dilated and an indescribable glow burned within them. The man had begun to kick the she-wolf's leg in hopes of freeing her but to no avail. His arm, which had been broken earlier, struck again and again at the steel leg of the Empress who felt absolutely nothing. Dave's arm hung down and with each blow, the flesh came off a little more leaving a glimpse of the bones.
"Aaaaarg !"
"Keep going !"
Blood spurted from his mouth, nose, ears, and wound and splashed onto Freya's face as she moved closer to get a closer look at the man. He was screaming his head off, his voice was broken, shaking and pleading and yet the beautiful wolf was smiling. The other two humans were still paralyzed and hypnotized by this scene straight out of their worst nightmare. Paul still said nothing but his soul seemed to have left him and Claire could not believe that the beautiful young woman before her was capable of such attrocity. Her actions were ruthless, cruel and horrible, yet the Empress did not flinch. She was still calm, graceful, and even seemed to be amused by the screams.
Suddenly, with a cracking sound, Dave's forearm fell to the ground, having not been able to bear to hit the she-wolf's body. The flesh had finally come off completely, the tendons were torn out and the nerves sawed wildly through the bones.
"..."
Dave screamed but no more sound came from his throat. His eyes were revolted and tears of blood ran down his face distorted by pain. He was dying.
A short time later, the Empress crushed the adventurer's rib cage in an explosion of human flesh, bones, organs and blood. Dave was nothing more than a pile of mush on the ground with his legs, head and one arm left.
"..."
"..."
Claire and Paul's eyes were blank, their gaze dead because seeing Freya crush a member of their family like it was nothing, was too much. Their minds were gone, unable to withstand such psychological pressure and come out unscathed. Without even having to touch them, the Ice Empress had broken the souls of these two humans. Now they were nothing but living dolls, livid, unable to think for themselves.
"Well it looks like these two don't need to participate anymore..."
The Empress looked at them and chuckled slightly at the sight of these two adventurers who not long ago were still able to think. As the she-wolf pondered, a new idea crossed her mind as she snapped her fingers before seeing Trioa's lieutenant land right in front of her.
"Your Highness...shall I clean this up ?"
Nella, the little harpy and second-in-command of the Air Section, looked around in awe and trembling. She had witnessed the sights from the sky and like all the other soldiers, her admiration for her Empress was growing steadily.
"No need, leave the body here. However, take these two back to the clearing, it would be a shame to leave them there or kill them now."
"Whatever you say your Highness !"
The little harpy with two pigtails bowed respectfully to the she-wolf before taking off to give her instructions. What would she do with them ? Was the question she asked herself as she roamed the skies, excited and eager for the answer.
The humans had been 7 to enter the forest, now there were only 4 to participate.
____
FULL STATUS
Name : Freya
Age : 0 years / Mentally : 25 years
Sex : Female
Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult
Race : Major Demon
Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.
Dragon tamer
Ruthless slayer
Level : 33/70
Exp required for next level: 100 / 34 000
HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000
Strength : 425
Defense : 421
Agility : 435
Stamina : 428
Speed : 427
Intelligence : 425
Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)
Attribute points to allocate : 0
Married to: Gaya
Daughter : Shiro
Empire (menu)
Subordinates : 387
Humans killed: 149 (+1)
Elements: Ice / Chaos
Skills (all):
Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)
- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)
- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)
- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)
- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)
- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 5)
Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 6)
- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)
Pain Resistance (lvl 3)
Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)
Others - Humanoid form
- Ice creation (Lvl 5)
- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)
- Devouring chaos (Lvl 5)
- Analysis
- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique
- Telepathy
Mana detection (lvl 1)
Passives - Commander (lvl max)
- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]
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