Chapter 66
KRAAAK—
The prison cell lock bent inward violently.
Captain Bochy stepped back slightly.
Blood dripped from his knuckles.
One of his hands trembled faintly from the impact—
but he still raised it again.
SLAM.
The metal lock snapped apart.
The soldiers inside the cell stared at him silently.
Sweat rolled down Bochy's face.
Captain Bochy: "…Why are you all still standing there?"
He immediately moved toward the next cell.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Each punch dented the thick iron harder and harder.
Skin tore across his fist.
Fresh blood smeared across the metal.
But Bochy kept punching anyway.
CRACK—
The second lock finally broke apart.
Captain Bochy: "Move. Quickly."
Another strike landed against the next prison door.
CLANG—
Captain Bochy: "…Or we'll all get caught."
One by one—
the underground prison cells slowly opened.
Freed soldiers rushed outward immediately.
Some supported injured people on their shoulders.
Some could barely stand properly.
But nobody hesitated.
Further down the hallway—
those two hooded men lay unconscious against the stone floor.
Their arms and legs had been tied tightly together using heavy chains.
One of them groaned weakly.
Bochy walked over silently.
Then grabbed both of them together by the chains.
Captain Bochy: "Monesas worshippers?"
He looked toward the massive dark pit deeper underground.
Water echoed faintly from below.
Captain Bochy: "…Then go die alone in the dark."
The soldiers stared silently.
Without stopping—
Bochy threw them directly into the underground depth.
Their screams echoed briefly before disappearing beneath the water below.
Silence returned.
Bochy slowly looked down at his bleeding fist.
Then tightened it again.
Captain Bochy: "…Keep moving."
The underground hallway trembled slightly.
Far above them—
the ritual had already begun.
---
Meanwhile—
voices echoed endlessly throughout the massive stone sanctuary.
Ancient symbols covered the floor.
At the very center—
the Lord stood silently beneath the crimson flames.
Then slowly—
he looked up.
His eyes met the Princess.
The atmosphere instantly felt heavier.
The Lord glanced toward one of the guards beside him.
The guard immediately understood.
Guard: "You two. Stop there."
Guinevere and Chris nodded silently beneath their hoods.
The guard then turned toward the Princess.
Guard: "You're coming with me."
Guinevere.
Chris.
Hidden beneath identical black robes.
Neither spoke.
Guinevere (mind-link): Now we wait… and figure out what they're planning.
Chris (mind-link): Yeah… but I already hate this place.
The Princess looked around uneasily.
Princess (thinking): …What is this place…?
Her eyes slowly narrowed.
Princess (thinking): They said three days… but not even half a day has passed…
The guards continued forcing her forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Toward the center.
The Princess suddenly stopped walking.
Princess: "…Wait."
One of the guards shoved her shoulder roughly.
Guard: "Move."
Princess: "…I said wait—!"
Another guard grabbed her arm tighter and dragged her forward again.
Chris quietly clenched his fist beneath his robe.
Guinevere slightly moved her hand toward him.
Guinevere (mind-link): Not yet.
The Princess was pushed onto the stone platform.
THUD.
She instantly stood back up.
Princess: "…I'm not sitting there."
A hooded guard shoved her back down again.
Guard: "Sit."
The Princess glared at him angrily.
Princess: "…What do you people even want from me?!"
Silence.
Only the sound of crackling crimson flames echoed throughout the chamber.
Then slowly—
hooded figures around the ritual formation began kneeling.
Low chanting filled the air.
The glowing symbols beneath the Princess slowly illuminated one after another.
Her expression shifted slightly.
Princess: "…What… are you doing?"
Nobody answered.
The chanting grew louder.
Heavier.
The air itself started feeling suffocating.
Princess: "…Why me…?"
Guinevere's eyes narrowed beneath her hood.
Chris slowly scanned the chamber.
Counting exits.
Counting enemies.
Waiting.
The Princess looked toward the surrounding hooded figures once again.
Princess: "…Answer me!"
Still—
only chanting answered her.
Then—
the Lord stepped forward carrying a long ceremonial sword.
The Princess froze.
The crimson glow reflected across the blade.
Princess: "…Wait…"
The Lord slowly approached the center platform.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The chanting intensified.
The symbols beneath the Princess flared brighter.
Princess: "…Wait!!"
Her restrained hands trembled slightly.
Princess: "…Before this… at least answer my questions!"
The Lord stopped directly in front of her.
Princess: "…What are you trying to do?!"
Slowly—
the Lord raised the sword above his head.
Chris suddenly took one step forward beneath his robe—
But Guinevere instantly grabbed his arm.
Guinevere (mind-link): Not yet.
The sword rose higher.
Crimson light swallowed the chamber.
And then—
the Lord suddenly lowered the blade.
Silence spread across the sanctuary.
The Lord looked down at the Princess calmly.
Lord: "…Very well."
The chanting slowly weakened in the background.
Lord: "I suppose someone standing at death's door deserves to know why."
...CHAPTER 66 ENDS...