The plot of the punishment: Choose a side. (62)

I spread my wings wide, but the force of the wind was so relentless that I couldn't halt my descent.

As I plummeted, white clouds drifted by on either side, the piercing whistle in my ears growing unbearable. I cast my gaze upon the island, adorned with lush greenery, and the rocky terrain that approached with astonishing speed.

The pain in my chest had dissipated, replaced by a lingering taste of bitterness in my mouth.

Summoning Dark Threads four meters above the ground, I created a web-like structure that wrapped around the wide palm trees.

As I landed on the threads, my left arm emitted a sickening crack.

Glancing at it, I saw nothing but a bone and flesh stump, severed at the elbow.

Purple blood trickled down the black threads, splattering onto the scorching stone and evaporating into purple steam.

Gradually, my arm regenerated.

Exhaling heavily, I rolled onto my back, feeling the scorching sun bore holes into my exposed skin. With less than half of my Endurance remaining, I summoned the 1 level of Dragon Scales.

Could this world too be an illusion?

Struggling to rise, I realized that even Recovery Elixirs were rendered useless in this place.

One-on-one with my fears and thoughts, I gazed at a towering mountain emitting thick vapor, a prelude to an imminent volcanic eruption.

Before I could ponder further, the sound of screeching metal pierced the air nearby.

Hiding my head beneath my wings, I observed the health indicator:

[Health Window:

9 450.]

Not too shabby considering my appearance.

Meanwhile, the screeching grew louder. Walking along the threads, I approached the source of the sound. Palm trees were scattered in every direction, with wild roses and berry bushes blooming amidst the landscape, akin to a desert island.

Before revealing myself to a stranger in all my glory, I donned an invisibility cloak, shrouding my presence from prying eyes.

Parting the thorny bushes with my hands, I caught sight of the silhouette of a towering giant in the distance. He raised an axe high above his head, swiftly cleaving a palm tree in half.

His stature far exceeded mine.

Broad leaves thudded against the ground as they fell. A motley hide draped from the giant's thigh, while green vines twined around his legs, encircling up to his shins.

I hesitated to approach him directly.

Let me ascertain if he truly is the King.

I had no intention of revealing my location so easily.

I rustled the threads in the opposite direction, intending to draw the giant's attention, as I sliced leaves from a palm tree and snapped branches from aged bushes.

Hearing the rustle, the giant paused mid-swing, turning halfway towards the source of the disturbance. In that moment, I caught a glimpse of his profile.

His high, sharp forehead contrasted with a prominent square chin and a hooked nose, giving him an imposing visage. At the corners of his lips, rings glinted, while two fangs protruded from the lower jaw and two from the upper, lending a slightly ajar position to the massive lower mandible. His hair was gathered into a bun, adorned with a snow-white bone.

Stepping closer to the noise, the giant nonchalantly hoisted his axe onto his shoulder and approached the felled plants with a dull grunt. He proceeded to cut down a couple more palm trees before surveying the silent surroundings, then returned to his previous position.

After dispelling the Dragon Scale skill, I fixed my gaze upon the work he had done with the fallen palm trees. The pointed tops suggested they were intended for weapons or traps.

Since my legs were visible beneath the hem of my raincoat, I refrained from getting any closer, remaining ensconced amidst the white roses.

As the wind rustled my hood, I cast my gaze skyward, beholding the expanse of the blue heavens.

If there are living inhabitants on this island, then the illusion has indeed been shattered.

Behind me, I discerned the renewed crackling of branches. Holding my breath, I turned around, and what I beheld made my blood run cold.

Palm trees that had once towered above me now stood at chest height to these newcomers, giants with predatory eyes that seemed to devour my soul with a ravenous hunger..

The worker halted his palm tree chopping and growled at the arrivals:

"R-RA KUS HAAR RU…"

[The integration of the Punished into the plot of Punishment begins.

Updating The Parameters Of The Punished.

Loading data.

Language implementation.]

The mechanical voice carried a distinct timbre, unlike the usual lethargic tone of the 605.

Could that be Nemfis' voice?

So, this is where my punishment commences?

Mentally prepared for whatever lay ahead, I observed the changes within myself. My left hand had regenerated as expected, and my endurance remained at the same level, unyielding after the use of the Dragon Scale ability.

Observing the countenances of the approaching giants, I wondered if I could survive this ordeal.

[Update Completed.]

What should I do next?

Kill?

However, the conditions of my punishment were not disclosed to me. Should I determine the requirements myself?

My thoughts swirled in a multitude of streams as I pursed my lips, ultimately deciding to observe the monstrous beings before taking any action.

"YOU WILL NOT PASS THROUGH ME AGAINST MY TRIBE!" bellowed the giant with the axe, assuming a defensive stance as the newcomers gradually encircled him, akin to predators closing in on their prey.

"RA, YOU WILL FALL, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF YOUR KIN," retorted the tattooed newcomers, taller in stature with less prominent foreheads and deeper-set eyes. Their features held a more human resemblance, though their bodies were adorned with intricate black tattoos.

Their well-honed muscles glistened with perspiration under the sun as they lunged at their lone adversary. The majority wielded batons embedded with sharp stones that covered the entire surface.

With a savage scream from one of the tattooed monsters, Ra's head was violently ripped off, tearing a piece of his neck along with it. Breathing heavily, the leader let out a triumphant cry, soon joined by the others in a resounding howl.

The ground quaked beneath their jubilant celebration, momentarily causing me to lose my balance and sit down on the threads.

The leader lowered his head, his gaze piercing in my direction.

I wasn't prepared to confront such giants in combat, but it was never too late to try.

Firmly clenching my fist, I crouched down and flexed my fingers, summoning the power of Dark Threads.

To my surprise, the giant veered away and continued his journey through the impenetrable jungle, disregarding my presence.

It became evident that they were intricately linked to my Punishment, as their arrival coincided with the island's system connecting to me. With no other choice, I decided to stick close to them and wait for the unfolding of the plot.

I kept my cloak on, moving silently on the threads to avoid making any noise among the dense branches and foliage. In their wake, I observed the aftermath of their destructive progress—a trail of mangled palm trees and crushed rose bushes. As we approached the smoldering peak, I recognized several familiar trees looming ahead.

Before us lay a village of primitive people, their dilapidated houses constructed from dried vine roofs and cracked earthen walls. The frightened residents emerged from their once cozy homes, clinging to one another with genuine fear in their eyes. The enemy warriors, however, seemed in no rush to attack, as if relishing the anticipation of a one-sided massacre.

A frown formed on my face. I might have remained silent about the killing of a healthy man, but witnessing the potential harm that could befall women and children stirred something within me.

Defenseless and vulnerable, they were no match for the prepared invaders.

In a moment of distraction, I stumbled, my body gradually becoming visible through the fabric of my garment. It was only a matter of minutes before the invisibility cloak would deactivate. Oh, how I wished I had that fluffy asshole of a companion with me now.

Hmm. Should I attempt to protect the residents? Or should I join forces with the oncoming wave?

Damn.

I readied myself to defend the unknown village, allowing Dark Threads to gradually envelop the houses in a protective shroud.

Soon, several more warriors emerged from a massive house with a rocky roof. Adorned in animal skins, they bared axes with sharp blades in their hands.

So, this village also possessed its own defenders?

I refrained from rushing into immediate action, choosing instead to observe the forthcoming battle.

[Loading the Punishment Plot:

Conditions:

Kill 8 enemies.

Duration:

5 hours and 30 minutes.]

I felt a sense of relief upon hearing the mechanical voice, but my relief quickly gave way to a frown when I heard the conditions.

8 enemies?

Counting the arrivals and the defenders, there were exactly 8 monsters on each side, resulting in a total of 16 giants converging upon one another.

A sense of skepticism washed over me. The punishment couldn't possibly be that straightforward, could it? There must be a catch hidden somewhere.

"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH ANY WOMAN! THE RA TRIBE WILL NEVER KNEEL BEFORE KHASA," roared the bald-headed giant, shifting his axe from his left hand to his right. He then turned to one of the giantesses and gestured with his head, as if instructing her to leave.

"WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT," countered the tattooed monster with long hair, refusing to yield to the speaker's demand.

Their voices reverberated like thunder in my ears, their physical stature likely contributing to the robustness of their vocal cords. After clearing my ears, I pulled the hood closer to my chin.

The women, heeding the warning, moved a considerable distance away from the impending carnage as one of the tattooed warriors charged at the nearest enemy.

The clash of metal reverberated in my ears, prompting me to remove all the threads I had woven around the houses. The cloak became increasingly transparent, indicating that I really would have to kill or be killed.