Give Up Everything For A Greater Cause

PUNCH—PUNCH—POW!

Chains rattled as the sounds of knuckles punched flesh. Over and over, someone kept punching the chained prisoner, causing blood to dance in the air.

The prisoner was unable to wail in agony. He didn't resist or struggle against the beating. He just sat there on his knees, with his arms chained above him to the wall. His eyes were shallow as he gazed at the cold stone floor, unable to muster any words.

"Tsk… this is boring, I'm not getting anything out of you. C'mon, start crying already! Show a little pain, maybe a whimper! Give me something!"

Pocchi stood in front of the prisoner with a bloodied brass knuckle around his fist. He shook his hand to flick off most of the blood, before sticking his boot right into his victim's shoulder.

"Maybe you already broke—like a toy that has no value. What a shame, did Alice raping you really get under your skin?! Hell, if it was me, I would've been enjoying that shit, man! Slapping her ass while she rides me like a cowgirl, awoooo! Hell fucking yeah!"

Legolas glanced at the fraudulent imbecile, frowning.

The elf's eyes were shallow at first, but now they had depth.

Rage was kept tucked behind them, prepared to explode at any second.

"There it is… that's the look I wanted." Pocchi walked forward, crouching down to lift Legolas' chin upwards, "But reality is cruel, man. You're nothing more than a third wheel in their relationship. Jacob and Alice don't give a shit about your ass anymore. They're probably fucking as we speak. Ke-hah! Man that's so screwed up, I just love it!" He returned to his feet, stretching his arms above his head, "But hey, you're lucky to have a sick and sadistic bastard like me. They were gonna kill you since you hold no value, and you also broke like a machine after what Alice did. Though, I told them not to, and decided to make you my plaything."

"...…." Legolas' scowl would slowly fade away, still unable to speak.

"I still find it pretty fucked up that they gave players in Isekai World Online pain receptors for their Game Avatars, but I guess it does make it more realistic, huh? But, it's not like I'm complaining… I love the fucking pain!!!" He lifted his arms into the air, thrusting his hips forward into Legolas' face, "Kehahahaha! It's so wonderful! Pain lets us know that we're alive! Without it, what's the purpose of life!?! There is none!!!"

Pocchi took out a silver dagger from its sheathe, spinning it around his finger before jabbing it deep into Legolas' thigh.

The elf grunted at first, biting his lip in pain… but he refrained from giving anything else, other than a grunt.

He didn't wanna satisfy this sadistic freak in front of him.

"Oh? What was that? I heard a little grunt… maybe you're finally starting to come around huh?! Then let's try multiple daggers!!"

"Pocchi, get up here, now."

"Huh? Isabella? What the hell do you want? I'm busy right now you ugly ass bitch, so fuck off."

"Lord Belial needs us, make your way upstairs immediately." Isabella was standing in the doorway, crossing her arms, "Or do I have to force you?!"

"Alright… fine, just when I was about to have some more fun." He kept the dagger in Legolas' leg, walking towards the door.

Pocchi and Isabella left, closing the large metallic door shut.

Legolas stared at the door in front of him, before glancing at the knife.

Something flickered inside his head.

It was a memory—

[Flashback, four months ago]

"Here, use this whenever you're in a desperate situation, I'm sure it'll save you some trouble one day, Legolas." (Jacob)

Jacob extended his hand forward, giving the elf a powerful artifact. It appeared to be a stone, with some ancient symbol in the middle.

"What is this supposed to be?" (Legolas)

"Oh, it's a summoning stone, I managed to get it for a fair trade. It can summon the Grim Reaper; first, you have to draw your blood from a silver dagger and let it drip over the artifact for it to activate. Once that is done, the Grim Reaper will spawn, and complete the task you give it, but in return, your character will die, and you'll go back five levels. I think it's pretty useful." (Jacob)

"Sounds like it's worthless to me. What'll be the point of going back five levels? That's just effort wasted down the drain." (Legolas)

"See, that's where you're wrong," Jacob crossed his arms, smugly grinning, "All Grim Reapers are level 100." (Jacob)

"W-What?!" (Legolas)

"Haha, yep! But you'll have a time limit for whenever they're summoned. I don't know how the time limit works, but I do know the lower level you're, the faster the Grim Reaper will disappear." (Jacob)

"Why're you giving me something so valuable like this, Jacob?" (Legolas)

Jacob smiled, and placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder, "Because we're friends, and that's what friends do! We fight for one another, we protect each other, and most important of all… we stay by each other side, in the harshest of times." (Jacob)

"I owe you one… Jacob. Thank you my friend." (Legolas)

"No, thank you for everything you've done for our party, Legolas, without your wits, we wouldn't have ever made it to where we're now." (Jacob)

[PRESENT TIME]

"...…" Legolas was lost in thought, remembering his friends and their smiles.

It ignited something in him.

Like a candle being lit amidst the darkness of despair.

He made up his mind, and he decided to give everything up.

"….Grrrr!" Legolas tugged on the chains wrapped around his wrists, pulling his hands downwards, "Hrgghhhhh!!" He had to break free. He kept tugging and pulling… tugging and pulling… tugging… and pulling! "Haaaaaaghhh!!" He lifted his head back, screaming in pain, as the sounds of his flesh ripped apart, "Gyaaaaaaahhhhh!!!" He ripped his hands from their sockets, leaving them hanging inside the cuffs above him.

Blood poured everywhere, splurging from the sockets of his arms… and yet… he didn't bat an eye to it. Legolas leaned forward, raising his knee to bite the handle of the dagger, and yanking it out with force.

"Ghhh…ghhhh…hghhh…" He moaned in pain, dropping the dagger to the floor, and finally opening his Personal Hub, "Unfold…" he went to his inventory, selected a healing potion, and spawned it above his body.

The potion fell, shattering upon his head, and restoring his arms.

Legolas took a few deep breaths, closing his eyes from the previous agony. Sweat was leaking down his face, dripping onto the cold floor below. His fingers and arms twitched, along with his shoulders. The pain was unreal… yet he managed.

At first, Legolas couldn't open his Personal Hub from being tied by the cuffs, which prevented any use of player hubs.

But luckily for him, he decided to go a step beyond, by harming himself in the process.

"…..Jacob… Alice." He mumbled, silently, deciding to pick up the silver dagger next to him, and hold it over his palm, "I will save you both. I'll give up my life in exchange for your happiness. You two deserve to be together elsewhere—so I'll make sure that happens," Legolas carved the dagger inside his flesh, slowly cutting horizontally, and drawing blood from his palm, "Ghhh…" he dropped the weapon, exploring his inventory again until he found it…

The Summoning Artifact.

He clicked on its icon, bringing it into existence. It fell into his other palm, allowing him to place it on the ground, carefully, "..And don't you worry Phantom Mutiny, I'll eliminate these frauds for you. They deserve to die, for all that they've done!" Legolas scowled, proceeding to hold his injured hand above the artifact, giving it his blood.

"So, what is it that you want? I was busy, and you took away my fun." Pocchi made his way into the Guild Base's conference room, setting his feet on the table, as he leaned back into his seat, "I don't got all day."

"Show some respect to Lord Belial, or I'll slap you into next week, Pocchi." Bertram sat next to Pocchi, towering over him with his arms crossed.

"Next week? More like next year, you pack a punch big guy, so I'll settle down."

"It is fine, Pocchi and his rude behavior tends to make me laugh sometimes." Belial was at the end of the table, conjoining his hands together and resting his chin upon them, "I have come to discuss our next plan, regarding the Phantom Mutiny. I wish for you all to complete something for me—and if you do, I'll offer greater rewards than that of the Rainbow Shell."

"Greater rewards than the rainbow shell?" Asked Viper Fang, curiously.

"Woahhhh, it must be super powerful if it's better than the rainbow shell!" Said Honora, leaning over the table, "Can you tell us what it is?! Please, please, please! I wanna see it!"

"M-Me too…" Dorothy said, shyly raising her hand.

"Yes… I can show you the item, better than that of the rainbow shell. But first, you must accept the offer I'm giving you, and if you complete the tasks I desire."

KABOOM!!!

"What the hell was that??" Pocchi and everyone else stood up from their seats, hearing the sounds of explosions outside of their room.

"A-Are we under attack?!" Cried Archibald.

"Shit, this isn't good at all. It has to be the Phantom Mutiny!" Exclaimed Isabella.