Ch. 68: Torture

Charles' footsteps echoed along the stony path leading to the Treasure Hoarders' hideout.

Before proceeding there, Charles stopped by the Adventurer's Guild office to collect his bounty for solving the recent murder case.

The sack heavy with gold mora briefly diverted his thoughts to visiting Charlotte.

He wished to inform her the case was closed. Yet he felt he could report it later in the day, so he ultimately decided to bypass the woman and head straight for the Treasure Hoarders' den.

Upon arriving at the thieves' lair, dozens of suspicious eyes fell upon him. Some even clutched their weapons tightly, poised to obstruct Charles should he attempt any trickery.

Charles noted their wary demeanor, yet merely exhaled in casual indifference.

Let them be...cowards. They should not dare make a move without their Boss's orders... Charles inwardly scoffed dismissively.

Charles pushed through the clusters of Hoarders and made his way towards where Oliver typically held court.

Before long, he arrived and immediately located the Boss. The large-framed man fixed Charles with an intimidating glare from behind his black mask.

So distinctive.

Suddenly, a Hoarder approached and whispered into Oliver's ear.

Not long after, Oliver's eyes narrowed suspiciously upon hearing the whispered words, as if struggling to process whatever his underling had just imparted.

Seeing that reaction, Charles sensed something was amiss!

He felt Oliver was angered!

Without warning, the boss swiftly moved to accost Charles.

Oliver wrenched a spear from one of his men's grip, then leveled the deadly weapon at Charles in a threatening thrusting motion.

Charles' instincts honed from long training with Keqing prompted him to swiftly draw his sword from the void. As the blade manifested, a keen ring sounded as their steel clashed fiercely.

Damn it! What did that bastard whisper to the boss? Charles inwardly cursed.

He had not at all expected this sudden assault from the Boss!

"Hey, Boss! Why are you attacking me out of nowhere?" Charles bellowed while sneering tauntingly, trying to buy time to discern the reason for this outrage.

Yet Oliver did not utter a single word in reply. He merely glared at Charles with a murderous look.

Without further ado, Oliver resumed slashing his spear in a relentless series of threatening arcs.

Fortunately, Charles' fighting prowess was formidable. Had it been before Keqing's tutelage, he would never have managed to deftly parry each strike.

He also did not wish to employ his Agility for this. It could prove perilous if his stamina was expended!

The ringing of clashing steel split the air, setting the backdrop with the staccato rhythm of fierce combat. Charles continued deflecting each sweeping spear thrust with prime agility, yet did not retaliate with any counters.

He was too shrewd to let emotion goad him into striking back. A single wound could enflame Oliver's rage to its boiling point, providing the final justification to slay Charles without mercy. That was what he aimed to avoid.

As the intense battle raged on, Charles' mind wandered considering the possible triggers for Oliver's abrupt fury. His gaze caught glimpses of other Hoarders whispering to Oliver just before the large man charged him.

Could it be they learned of William's demise and immediately informed the boss upon my return?

One of those Hoarders followed me on the boss's orders, and witnessed me slaying William?!

The notion flashed through Charles' mind. Suddenly everything made sense!

But how could they teleport when only Furina and I were transported?!

A cold sweat beaded his brow as he realized that horrifying deduction may not be mistaken.

Perhaps they were already present in that fog-shrouded forest from the start!

They just happened to chance upon me there and witnessed me killing William!

Charles immediately refocused his awareness, surveying his surroundings to find himself now encircled!

The other Hoarders had formed a combat ring around him. Menacing weapons were leveled from every angle, poised to greet him with a hail of blades should he falter for even an instant.

It was precisely when his attention lapsed that one of Oliver's spear sweeps managed to score a glancing blow.

The razor-sharp spearhead rent Charles' flesh, lacerating down to the fragile bones underneath.

AARRRGGGHHH!!!

A soul-rending howl of agony tore from Charles' lips.

The searing, lacerating pain burned through every nerve in his body. Yet it was not the physical torment that made him snarl with rage, but the slow erosion of his remaining humanity giving way to his primal other self.

A palpable murderous aura radiated from every pore of his skin.

His eyes glinted with feral malice as he glared at Oliver, meeting only the boss's icy stare in return.

Charles' fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. His jaw tightened, restraining the urge to swing his blade and cut Oliver down then and there.

Each exhalation came heavy and ragged, like a predator coiled to pounce.

Yet for the moment, Charles still held sway over the dark malevolence from fully dominating his mind and body.

He merely projected the murderous threat through his expression and body language, not overt action!

"How utterly repulsive..." Oliver spat disdainfully, regarding Charles with a cold, contemptuous look.

Not long after, Charles slumped to the ground.

Following the debilitating spear slash to his arm, Charles felt all his vigor utterly drained away!

His body abruptly went limp, as if robbed of any ability to move in the slightest.

Oliver turned his attention away from the prone Charles. He eyed the surrounding ring of Hoarders encircling them.

Without another word, Oliver turned and stalked back to reclaim his seat. The spear he had wielded was carelessly tossed to one of his underlings standing nearby.

In an instant, dozens of boots rained kicks upon Charles' helpless form. Punches landed without mercy on every inch of his body. Merciless kicks pounded into his chest and abdomen.

Bastards...I'm already exhausted from yesterday's battle. Yet now I must endure this as well... he inwardly lamented.

Agonized screams rent the air as a blade sliced into his flesh, flaying strips of skin bit by bit.

Even fire did not escape being an instrument of torture. Charles shrieked hysterically as the searing flames charred his exposed meat to horrific burns.

Throughout the vile torment, Charles struggled mightily to retain his composure.

The last vestiges of his humanity were severely tested, teetering on the brink of utter obliteration.

The murderous impulses within him seethed beyond control. Oh how he longed to butcher every last dishonorable Hoarder with his own two hands!

Yet logic and what little sanity remained held firm, restraining him from losing all restraint.

The vicious torture lasted until nearly evening fell.

Charles' current condition resembled a demon from the pits of hell clinging to its last throes of life.

His body was mangled beyond recognition, a ruined mass of gaping lacerations and scorched craters.

***

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