Chapter 385
This is not the end. The thought burned in his mind as he stumbled forward. His people could still be saved. He would not die until he saw it through. Death would be the last thing to claim him.
Suddenly, he collapsed, clutching his head in agony as laughter echoed within his mind—a woman’s laughter.
Vorenza, the demon of temptation, watched him through unseen eyes, a sly grin curling her lips. She had not expected these ratmen to produce such a strong-willed soul, and her interest was piqued. The Chief’s defiance made him all the more enticing—a soul worth breaking.
"Ah, such stubbornness," Vorenza murmured to herself, her gaze alight with wicked delight. "I’ll enjoy watching him fall."
Her thoughts danced with depraved anticipation, imagining the transformation and corruption of a man so determined. The Chief’s story was far from over, and Vorenza intended to play a starring role.
Back in the clearing, the underground cavern echoed with the frenzied chants of "Sknull! Sknull!" The ratmen roared their approval, their collective voice shaking the very air. Sknull stood tall, savoring the adoration, his bloodied form a triumphant figure against the dim torchlight.
But then, like a blade slicing through the noise, silence fell. One by one, the voices died out, replaced by an uneasy hush that swept through the crowd. Sknull stiffened, his sharp ears twitching as he scanned the cavern. Something—or someone—had disrupted his moment of glory.
One of his is glowing, mechanical eyes locked onto a group emerging from the shadows. At first, the sight made his lip curl into a scowl, irritation flashing across his face. The priests. Their solemn, hooded figures moved with eerie precision, their mechanical spider legs scittering across the floor. But as they came closer, Sknull’s scorn shifted into confusion. These were not the usual emissaries of the goddess. The lead priest was conspicuously absent, replaced by one clutching an ornate book that gleamed unnaturally in the dim light.
Sknull raised a clawed hand, his voice low and gravelly. "What is this? Where is your leader?"