Fero On His Knees

Confusion clouded his senses as he found himself in a realm alien to his own, the familiar surroundings replaced by the grandeur of a castle. Glancing over his shoulder, Fero met Angelo's serene gaze, the grip on his shoulder released.

"Direct your gaze ahead and pay homage to the king, Sir Fero," Angelo instructed, his tone commanding yet tranquil.

Fero complied, his eyes tracing the staircase that stretched before him, each step a daunting ascent toward the unknown. As his gaze ascended, he beheld a sight that left him awestruck—a towering chair occupied by a figure of regal bearing, the enigmatic king, who regarded Fero with an inscrutable expression from his lofty perch.

On either side of Fero, imposing knights clad in heavy armor stood imposingly against the backdrop of weathered brick walls, their gazes fixed intensely upon him, imbued with a sense of impending doom.

Fero casually slipped both hands into his pockets, meeting the king's unwavering stare head-on. "What the hell are you staring at?" he challenged, his voice tinged with defiance.

There was a pregnant pause as the king deliberated, before slowly extending his hand outward, a command laced with an icy chill. "Kneel," he ordered, his tone sending shivers down the spines of every soul in the room.

In an instant, Fero felt as though the weight of the world bore down upon him, a force akin to the crushing power of the sun itself. The king employed the same arcane spell that had rendered Amelia powerless.

With a heavy thud, Fero dropped to his knees, his head bowed low, eyes fixed upon the unforgiving ground, his resistance reduced to a mere grunt of defiance.

"Arghh, what the fuck is this!" Fero roared, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, his frustration boiling over.

Suddenly, out of the blue, the system fairy materialized on the very spot Fero's gaze was fixated upon, grinning mischievously. "Missed me?" she taunted, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Fero attempted to respond, but the oppressive force even hindered him from parting his lips.

The act of kneeling before another man struck a blow to Fero's considerable pride, shattering a vow he had made in his youth.

Refusing to tolerate such a display of disrespect, Fero's fists clenched with determination as he exerted every ounce of strength in an attempt to lift his head.

With a primal scream, he forced his mouth open, the sheer intensity of his defiance fueling a surge of power within him.

As bloody tears streamed down his cheeks and blood trickled from his nose, Fero's ascent was agonizingly slow, each movement a testament to his indomitable will.

The entire assembly, including the king himself, was awestruck by Fero's unwavering determination.

His defiant cries echoed through the halls, resonating with such force that they shattered the castle's windows, sending glass fragments tinkling to the ground. Blood spattered across his body, turning him into a macabre tableau of defiance.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Fero managed to rise to his feet, his entire form bathed in crimson.

He stood there, a silent figure, reminiscent of a zombie, as the king at last released the spell that had held him captive.

Wavering unsteadily, Fero struggled to maintain his balance until he heard the king's voice ring out, filled with excitement. "Excellent!" the king exclaimed, his approval resounding through the room.

The king's booming voice jolted Fero back to reality, adrenaline coursing through his veins despite his myriad injuries. With a surge of determination, he sprinted up the stairs with a newfound vigor, defying the pain that wracked his body.

Behind him, the guards scrambled to give chase, their footsteps echoing in a frantic cacophony as they pursued Fero up the stairwell.

Fero's screams echoed off the stone walls as he finally reached the king, his fist igniting with a fiery orange glow as he prepared to strike. But just as he unleashed his attack, his body betrayed him, succumbing to the overwhelming strain.

Crashing to his knees, Fero collapsed against the king's legs, his futile attempt at vengeance thwarted by his own physical limitations.

The entire retinue of guards descended upon him, overwhelming him with their sheer numbers as they seized his unconscious form.

Dragging him away, they left a trail of crimson in their wake, leading Fero to a dank, dimly lit cell where they secured him with shackles forged from anti-magic material, ensuring he remained powerless to escape.

Angelo gazed up at his father, his expression a mixture of reverence and concern, as he knelt before the throne. "Father, he is truly unbelievable," he murmured, acknowledging Fero's remarkable display of resilience and power.

The king, his amusement giving way to contemplation, tapped his finger thoughtfully on the armrest. "Yes, indeed he is. Such power, unexampled for one of his age. It begs the question of how he obtained such strength," he mused, his gaze drifting pensively towards the shattered windows.

Still kneeling, Angelo interjected, his voice tinged with urgency. "Father, how shall we address his transgressions? He has committed blasphemy by attacking Amelia's personal guard, assaulted the son of a count, and dared to raise his hand against the throne itself. Such behavior warrants immediate and gruesome execution."

The king's smile widened as he and Angelo found common ground, recognizing the potential value Fero could bring to their kingdom if properly utilized. "It would be a waste to kill off such a man." the king remarked, his mind already scheming on how to harness Fero's abilities for their own purposes.

Angelo, on the same wave lengh as his father, pressed further. "Then how shall we proceed?"

However, the king's demeanor swiftly changed, his smile fading into a scowl as he regarded his son with disappointment. "Have I truly raised such a foolish child?" he muttered under his breath, his anger palpable. "We shall use him for our own purposes, exploiting his skills until he withers away," the king declared with a chilling smile, his eyes gleaming with a ruthless determination.

"As you wish," Angelo acquiesced, rising from his kneeling position and turning to leave the room. "If you'll excuse me." With a curt nod, he departed, his steps echoing down the corridors as he made his way towards the depths of the castle where Fero was held captive, unaware of the fate that awaited him...