Warrior's Pride?

Ace then walked back towards Valent's giant hammer and picked that uniquely heavy-looking hammer as if it was nothing. Ace then tossed the hammer up and down leisurely as he commented, "Hmm, it looks like an okay weapon… let me test it out."

*Screech*

With a smile Ace walked towards Valent while dragging the hammer in his hand, resulting in an irritating screeching sound between the floor and the hammer.

As he heard that sound, Valent turned behind and his face paled when he saw the hammer in Ace's hand combined with that smile on his face, and he unconsciously increased his pace.

"Yaaa!"

*Bam*

With a loud bam, Ace struck the hammer, just an inch away from Valent's feet. Ace deliberately shouted before attacking to make the scene even more enjoyable for himself.

"Ah shoot! I missed…

Oh well, let me try it again" Ace said as he lifted the hammer again.

Hearing that, Valent's complexion paled, and he increased his speed again. He was crawling away with all his might.

Seeing that, the smile on Ace's face widened as he walked towards him, and struck the hammer to the ground, again, keeping it an inch away from Valent's feet. He then lifted the hammer again and repeated this again and again.

It was pretty obvious after he missed the 5th time that he was merely playing with Valent.

Seeing this, the black-robed men sucked a cold breath.

He is ruthless; this was the only thought they had in their minds.

Maybe taken over by fear, one of the black-robed men stepped forwards and called out.

"Mr. Ace…"

"Huh? What is it?" Ace stopped his movements and turned around.

*Thud*

With a thud, the black-robed man fell on one of his knees as he submitted, "Lord Ace, I know every single person you were talking about. I also know where they presently are and I wish to tell you everything, I only hope that you can forgive this ignorant fool for his errors"

Hearing that, other black-robed men's eyes opened wide as they shouted at the man.

"Quer! What are you doing!?"

"Have you lost your mind, Quer? How can you submit to him!?"

"You know that he will not let you live even if you tell him everything! How can you betray your comrades!?"

But even under this pressure, Quer kept his head low and didn't dare to look into Ace's eyes, acting like a loyal servant who was living to complete his master's orders.

"Good decision! You are smarter than these fools, alright, I will let you live after you tell me about everyone" Ace laughed again before he glanced at Valent.

At this moment, Valent was already close to the doors. His eyes were shining brightly as if he could already see himself escaping from this nightmare. He then extended his hand towards the door but just as he was about to touch it, a barrier appeared stopping his hand to move further no matter how hard he tried.

"Oh? You reached there, congratulations!" Suddenly, Ace's voice rang.

"By the way, I forgot to tell you that as soon as I entered the room, I placed a barrier around it, no matter who it is, no one can leave and enter this place without my permission. So, if you had any plans to escape, then… you might as well forget about it since you are destined to fail" Hearing those words, Valent's eyes opened wide as he turned around.

He saw the path he crawled painstakingly, ignoring and enduring the pain of his two broken legs in hopes of getting away. To escape from this nightmare that befell on him. He did all that only to realize that there was no escape to begin with. He then glanced at Ace who had a mocking smile on his face and it immediately angered him.

'That bastard was playing with me!'

"Hahaha! That was what I wanted to see… the despair… the helplessness… Oh it's so satisfying…" Ace laughed wholeheartedly and his laughter was accompanied by an eerie silence. Every man, other than Ace was standing still, silent, not daring to say the word while Valent was gritting his teeth in anger and frustration.

"So? How would you like to die?" Ace questioned as he glanced at Valent with sheer disdain.

Hearing those words, Valent's face paled. He realized his end was near.

He looked around in panic, trying to find a way out of this situation.

Help.

He desperately looked for help.

His mind thinking about different ways he could live.

Should he submit?

If he submits, then there might be a chance that Ace will let him live? Right?

'A warrior should never forget his pride.

A warrior's head should either be sky-high, uplifted with pride, or it should be on the ground, severed from the main body; but it should never bow down to anyone.

Anyone.'

Suddenly, the words of his late grandfather rung in Valent's head, and an indescribable calmness arose from his heart…

"Heh… I should at least for once, follow his words before I die" Valent chuckled self-depressingly before his eyes shined with determination.

"Kill me"

He declared as he looked deep into Ace's golden eyes. There were no traces of fear on his face, it was as if his pale complexion a while ago was nothing but an illusion. There was only a brave and determined look in his eyes.

He had accepted his fate and was ready to face it, boldly.

An admirable gesture, but…

But Ace didn't like that look.

He threw the hammer away and then waved his hand.

*Whoosh*

*Thud* *Thud*

Within a second, 2 heads were severed.

2 more black-robed men died.

"Alright, I am not joking anymore, as you all know, none of you except for that Quer guy will live but,

There is a way you all can live" Ace spoke.

Hearing that, other black-robed men had conflicting expressions. They knew for sure that they will be killed if they didn't do what Ace wanted but they were not sure that he will let them live even after they did what he wants.

Seeing their conflicted looks, Ace offered again,

"How about this, I will even let your comrades go, how about it?"

The black-robed men's eyes opened wide in surprise as one of the men stepped forward and questioned, "What can we help you with?"

Hearing that, Ace glanced towards Valent and smiled.

"I want to know about his family and where do they live"