The air was thick with the stench of mold and unwashed bodies, mingling with the metallic tang of blood and rust. The only light came from a single flickering torch mounted on the damp stone wall, casting eerie, shifting shadows that danced like malevolent spirits. These shadows seemed to mock the prisoners, their movements almost taunting in the dim glow. Rows upon rows of iron barred cells lined the narrow, winding corridors, each one cramped and filthy. The cells were designed to hold demihuman prisoners, their shapes and sizes varying to accommodate the diverse forms of the incarcerated. Some cells were elongated with reinforced bars, tailored for those with serpentine tails or multiple limbs, while others were smaller and more confined, meant for those of diminutive stature. The bars themselves were coated with a grimy mixture of rust and dried blood, a testament to the brutal conditions within. Chains and manacles hung from the walls, coated in a thick layer of grime and r
Mystic Brilliance Auction House, located in the perilous danger zone of Emerald Glaze’s, within the heart of the major city. Newhaven, stands as a grim monument to the sinister dealings that transpire within its walls. The building looms ominously, its shadowed façade a stark reminder of its macabre reputation.Inside, the auction hall is vast and foreboding. The ceiling, a nightmarish display of cruelty, is adorned with life elementals, grotesquely nailed to the rafters. Their once luminous forms now flicker with a dim, tortured light, casting eerie shadows that dance menacingly over the patrons below. The air is thick with a palpable sense of dread and unspoken horrors.The main floor, while grand in its own right, is dominated by dark, polished wood and heavy, oppressive décor. The atmosphere is heavy with the stench of secrecy and corruption. The auction is not merely a transaction of rare artifacts but a grim marketplace where the enslaved and the forsaken are bought and sold. T
Eldric Thorne smiled wearily, leaning in to whisper into the Mad Clown’s ear, "You forget something of utmost importance, Mad Clown. This is Emerald Glaze, not Olympus." The Mad Clown grinned sadistically and stepped back to his seat, his eyes gleaming with twisted amusement. Eldric Thorne was clearly confident in his backing, showing no fear despite the threat to one of the Four Heavenly Maidens. His assurance was palpable, but the Mad Clown’s smirk revealed his amusement at Eldric’s unshakable demeanor. The conversation had taken a sharp turn, revealing the precarious balance of power in Emerald Glaze. The Four Heavenly Maidens were the pinnacle of strength, towering above any threat below them. They stood as the highest echelon of power just beneath the rulers, their might unmatched. Their locations were chosen with strategic precision to guard against any potential threats, and their connection to Lady Stagnia, the Archoness of the Void, provided an additional layer of pr
Mad Clown walked out of the private booth, an optimistic smirk on his face. The smirk stretched his lips into a manic grin, the kind that sent chills down the spines of those who dared to meet his gaze. His red and blue coat swayed dramatically with each step, a stark contrast against the dark and sinister ambiance of the auction house. He tugged at the lapels of his coat, ensuring it was perfectly aligned before adjusting his hat. The hat, a grotesque jester's cap, added to his already unsettling appearance. With a final self satisfied nod, he began his confident stride towards the stairs leading from the private auction booth. Shadow, in an ethereal form, hovered nearby. Even Mad Clown's heightened senses couldn't detect him in this state. Yet, he spoke with the confidence of one who knew he was ever present. "First phase of the plan is complete, now we move on to the next... I heard the mighty dragons of the Black Mountains resisted the Four Heavenly Maidens the most of all t
Liam continued on his way, his mind still reeling from his encounter with the Mad Clown. The auction house's dark and oppressive atmosphere only seemed to deepen as he navigated its winding halls. Soon, he came across a demihuman with a slave collar. Her eyes were downcast, her spirit visibly broken. She bowed lightly and gestured for him to enter a private room, her movements mechanical and devoid of hope. "Hey Hybris, I sensed something off about that madman. It was almost like!". "Like he was a mutant? Well, that's because he is," Hybris interrupted, her voice laced with caution. "They're called corrupted blessed, and that typically happens when the blessed go against the god that grants them their blessing. I sensed several demigods like him within the city when we first came in." "Is there anything different about them, apart from looking ugly, that is?" Liam asked as he took a seat, his eyes drifting to the auction floor below where the auction was about to start. "The
The demihumans freed themselves from the cells, but the iron slave collars posed a problem to their escape. Not only could the collars not be removed by those wearing them, but they also required something sharp enough to cut through iron."How the hell did he do it with his bare hands?" Zara cried out in frustration as she failed to break Leaf's collar.Leaf sighed lightly. "We can't remove them by ourselves, or they might detonate. We need to find the armory.""Hmm."Zara and Leaf decided to venture to the surface on their own while the rest waited for them within the underground prison. The outside was warmer, and the halls were dimly lit by torches, casting flickering shadows that danced along the stone walls.Zara and Leaf stuck close to the shadows, prioritizing stealth. After all, this place was littered with human blessed, and one wrong move could result in their heads on spikes, or worse, being sold to a twisted wealthy family.Their footsteps were light, barely a whisper on
Zara and Leaf didn't waste much time. After dealing with the corpse, they hurriedly concealed it, wiping away most traces of blood to prevent the ground from reeking of death. The duo then silently left the armory, though not without Leaf arming herself with a short sword. They retraced their steps, moving faster this time. For reasons unknown, most of the guards had left their posts, leaving the rear of the auction house defenseless. Eventually, Zara and Leaf reached the corridor leading to the underground slave prison, but their luck ran out there. Two heavily armored guards stood by the unlocked shaft, much like the others they'd encountered, ordinary city level blessed. "Hey bro, is this supposed to be unlocked?" the first guard asked, scratching the back of his head. "Of course not, dumbass. A demihuman probably escaped," the second guard replied. "Oh, shouldn't we chase her then?" "It's fine. Her collar will self destruct the moment she leaves the auction house. For now
"ZARA!"Leaf's voice pierced the dim corridor, echoing off the ancient stone walls as she deflected the second flying sword with a desperate sweep of her arm. Her heart pounded in her chest as she caught Zara's limp body. The sheer momentum of the impact was more than Leaf could bear, and the force sent them both hurtling backward. They tumbled through the air, the world spinning around them in a blur of darkness and pain, until they barely managed to stop just inches before colliding with the jagged shaft of the ruined wall.Zara's body was a grotesque spectacle of wounds and blood, her flesh torn and mangled by the brutal assault. The body of a human Blessed was a fortress compared to the fragile forms of Emerald Glaze's denizens. Their flesh, hardened by divine blessings and protected by divine authorities, rendered demihumans like Zara mere playthings in battle. In the harsh reality of this world, a confrontation with a human was less a fight and more a hopeless struggle for sur