The arena filled with tension as the boy held the chains, his gaze fixed on the hound. His frail figure seemed out of place against the monstrous creature before him, yet there was a fierce determination in his eyes. The beast snarled, straining against the chains wrapped around its muzzle, but the boy’s grip remained unwavering. Blood trickled from cuts on his arms and bruises darkened his skin, but he moved with a tenacity that defied his weakened state.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQOlqULkL1
The crowd’s cheers and jeers reverberated through the underground chamber, their masked faces leaning forward to catch every moment. Countess Luann watched from the edge of the arena, a shiver of horror and fascination creeping over her. She had heard rumors of what happened here, but witnessing it left her both entranced and disturbed.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHKHnm5Da1
The hound suddenly jerked, shaking the boy loose. He stumbled backward, nearly collapsing, but he quickly steadied himself, his eyes narrowing as he sized up his opponent. The creature lunged at him, claws scraping the stone floor, but the boy twisted, sidestepping the attack. Grabbing the chains binding his wrists, he spun them with surprising agility, using them like a weapon as he prepared for a final move.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCoa19u7Ee
Kila, standing beside Luann, chuckled softly. "He’s something special, isn't he? That resilience... you don’t find it often."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdTx6wLmve
Luann felt a chill at Kila's words, her gaze fixated on the child below. There was something almost unnatural about the way he fought, a raw determination that seemed to have been forced upon him by endless hardship. He lunged forward, looping the chains around the hound’s thick neck in a swift, practiced motion, pulling with every ounce of strength he had left. The beast choked, thrashing wildly, but the boy held firm, his face twisted with effort.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZCrfb9IeP
Finally, with a shuddering whine, the hound slumped to the ground, defeated. Silence fell over the arena for a moment, and then the crowd erupted into applause, their voices echoing off the stone walls. The boy released the chains, staggering back, his breath labored and his body trembling.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuFBoS8XFR
Kila looked on, a glint of pride in her eyes. "A remarkable little fighter, don’t you think?" she remarked, her tone casual, as if discussing a prized possession.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC54R1LVj6I
But Luann could hardly respond. Her gaze remained on the boy, who stood amidst the chaos with an empty, haunting look in his eyes. There was no sense of victory on his face—only exhaustion and something darker, deeper, a pain forged in silence. She realized then that he was no mere child; he was a survivor shaped by cruelty, his spirit hardened by the relentless demands of this place.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFnI9xg4jh
And as he looked up, his gaze flickering over the masked spectators, Luann felt an unsettling sensation that he saw them all for what they truly were—predators masked by the thin veneer of civility, enthralled by the spectacle of another's suffering.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCxFM3RDBo
As the applause began to die down, Kila signaled to a guard, who entered the arena with a look of authority, gesturing for the boy to leave. The child stumbled forward, his gaze distant, as if he were retreating inward, back to some place where the world’s cruelty couldn’t reach him. Yet, his steps were measured, and he held his head high despite his evident exhaustion.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUBOd6IgxZ
Countess Luann followed Kila down a shadowed hallway that led away from the arena. As they walked, the sounds of the crowd’s excitement faded, replaced by the quiet, eerie hum of the underground corridors. The reality of the boy’s situation settled over her, a mixture of pity and disquiet warring within her mind.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM6zKz4R3A
Kila broke the silence. “You see now, Lady Luann. The strength he possesses... it's something our world needs, wouldn’t you agree?” Her tone was almost triumphant, as if she had presented a flawless work of art.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fqt075BK6
Luann hesitated, searching for the right words. “needs?... Hmm it's what I need" she silently said
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS1MsaRM47
Kila shrugged with an indifferent smile." I'll guide you to his room."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgd9xZDo79
They reached the dimly lit room where the boy was being led. Inside, a healer quietly bandaged his injuries while he sat in silence, his gaze fixed on the floor. Luann noticed how he didn’t flinch or wince as the healer worked, his face betraying no pain, as though he’d grown numb to it long ago.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv36wAtxRdi
Steeling herself, Luann stepped forward. "What's your name, child?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv0nnHZOKz
The boy’s eyes flickered up to meet hers. There was a weariness in them far beyond his years, as though he’d long ago stopped hoping for kindness or understanding. “Names don’t matter here, Lady,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4w2p8hxEo
“Even his spirit knows the truth of this place. He is here only for survival,” Kila said with a smile.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OQ5yiUcoZ
Kila’s smile vanished, replaced by a cold glint. “He was born to fight, and fight he shall. That is his only purpose here.”
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRw5v4l2Nc
They soon left the room quietly as if they already knew this will happen. Upon reaching her carriage, Gherane stopped and said, "Kila, don’t let anyone see that child or consider him for adoption."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIRRH81cWO
"Keep him here once a week; I want to see how this boy fares in the arena," Gherane said with a smirk on her face before she walked away.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHQ03Sy8zf
Kila bowed her head with a cold smile. "Understood, Lady Gherane. He will remain here, unseen and untouched."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbmPsJsX1J
As Gherane climbed into her carriage, she cast a final glance back toward the orphanage, her expression a mixture of amusement and calculation. To her, the boy was nothing more than a prized possession, a weapon to be honed, kept hidden from prying eyes and potential saviors. She reveled in the power she held over him, knowing that in the shadows of the Sere of Hope, she controlled his every breath and movement.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0o3gnPZ5K
The carriage door closed, and with a snap of the reins, Gherane disappeared down the cobblestone path, leaving Kila to carry out her orders. Inside, Kila’s mind spun with plans, already thinking of ways to further break and shape the boy into the perfect instrument. He would remain hidden, bound to this life of blood and survival, with no one to offer him escape or a future beyond the arena.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S8O9HFdfE
Unaware of the dark plots woven around him, the boy sat alone in the dim cell, his gaze hollow and unfocused. For him, tomorrow was only another fight, another day of survival, and dreams of escape or a life beyond had long since faded into the distant echoes of forgotten hope.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ3etGRSPa
Suddenly, he heard a knocking sound on his door. The boy just lay on his bed, ignoring it. Then, the door opened. He was about to command his shadows to eliminate the stranger when he suddenly stopped, sensing he knew who it was.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM44AggaYja
“Oh... it’s you,” the boy said.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm8IJdecUw
“I... I...”
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX3Z6E03Yy
The girl was on the verge of tears, and the boy looked around, confused, trying to think of a way to cheer her up. “Uh, um... stop crying,” he said awkwardly.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfZGUT2R1J
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry… I didn’t know it was you, alright?” he said gently, patting the girl’s head as though they had shared this familiar warmth countless times before.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRy1ZxZdOq
“So, what brings you here, Xia?” the boy asked with a soft curiosity.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciV5CRwZBw
“Did they make you fight again?” Xia’s voice was laced with worry, her eyes scanning him for any fresh bruises or marks.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8tBXrIoYm
The boy sighed, offering her a small, forced smile. “Nope.”
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII7hvb0D3O
Xia pouted, crossing her arms before giving his foot a light kick. “This orphanage is such a two-faced bunch of bishes!” she grumbled, a mix of frustration and childish defiance in her tone.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQsyuaqxs0
The boy chuckled, unable to hold back his amusement at her fiery response.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrppPb22VR7
“Let’s escape together?” Xia suggested with a hopeful smile, her eyes shining with a quiet desperation. But as she lifted her hand, the boy noticed small bruises and puncture marks, like traces from repeated needle pricks.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwpVXIfGc2
“What’s this?” he asked sharply, his tone shifting to one of protective anger as he took her hand, examining the marks closely.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfSya6j5XX
“Oh… you already know…” Xia mumbled, lowering her gaze in discomfort.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp4IrIUHPM
The boy’s frown deepened, and shadows began to swirl around him, an instinctive reaction to his growing anger.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzg0MdISsm
“It’s fine…” Xia murmured, turning her head away, trying to downplay the situation.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYWo8u5vMd
The boy let out a resigned sigh and then looked at her with a curious expression. “Xia, your hair changed again. It’s like it went from silver to… silver-pink,” he observed with a hint of wonder.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6kzhsMamm
“Ehh? It did? I didn’t even notice!” Xia replied, surprised, then, with a vulnerable note in her voice, she added, “Hey… when I’m really tired… can we leave this place?”
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1D9c5qv2G
“We will,” he said firmly, his voice carrying an unyielding promise.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxyaezi4zE
Xia’s face softened, and she gave him a gentle smile as she set down a small basket of food beside him, her hand lingering for a moment.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXdRPNQazv
“See you in the morning, Emris,” she whispered before quietly slipping away.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETXaaB7rnB
When Emris was placing the food that xia brought his shadows emerge and said.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHojdwFYYD3
"You know, I can easily kill everyone that's hurting you," the shadow whispered ominously, its dark tendrils writhing with barely contained rage.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6vYtN09qe
"Now's not the time," Emris replied, his voice steady despite the shadow's threat. Suddenly, a man appeared before him, kneeling in submission.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsI0ujv2ls
"Report," Emris commanded, his tone sharp and authoritative.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv16wwRNIgJ
"They took Miss Xia against her will," the man said, his voice low and urgent. "They dragged her from her room and brought her to the holy temple. There, they placed her on a stone table surrounded by a magic circle. Countless needles were pricking her body, extracting her blood and transferring her energy to some girl."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5Ukn5h7xV
Emris's expression darkened at the news, his heart racing with a mix of anger and fear. The shadow around him seemed to pulse in response to his distress, and he clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his power thrumming beneath the surface.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRzQ6Ztlrh
“Who would dare to do this?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1HKdlXVZl
"The High Priestess and her followers," the man replied, bowing his head. "They believe that by siphoning Xia's energy, they can awaken a dormant power in their chosen vessel."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aCgDXvLEL
A chilling silence filled the air as Emris processed the information. “We need to move. Now,” he said, determination flooding his veins. “I won’t let them harm her any further.”
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohjp6RRdsS
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.