"Ughhhh... Where are we?" Haruto groaned, slowly pushing himself off the rocky floor. His hands were scraped raw, and a dull ache filled every bone in his body.
"Prisoners of war..." The voice of Yua replied, weak and tired.
Haruto looked around, trying to make sense of the scene before them. The ground was made of smooth, almost polished stone, walls too. A large line of bars separated them from freedom. It was a prison cell, big enough to fit a dozen people. A cold ocean breeze could be felt from a nearby barred window, the salty scent filling the space.
'How did we get here?' A question that needed answering. But for now, he needed to attend to his subordinates.
"Yua... Are you alright?" He asked, crawling to Yua's side. She was awake but clearly in some form of pain. He glanced over her, looking for injuries. Her body was covered in small cuts, bruises, and scrapes from the capture. Her eyes were sunken and weary. Her usually vibrant, cheerful expression was replaced by exhaustion and pain.
"I'll live..." She replied with a weak smile.
"Sir. We're glad you are alright." The two other rankers who accompanied Haruto were also present. Their eyes were far more relaxed than what Haruto expected. They looked more comfortable than the situation should have dictated.
"What is this place?"
"A prison. Goblins captured us, and brought us to this world. Wherever here is." One of the rankers said calmly. As if the situation wasn't as dire as it was. It was infuriating to watch.
"Why are you two so calm?!" Yua asked with annoyance. "We've been captured by monsters. This is a serious problem." She was frustrated by the lack of concern from the rankers.
"Because... We are only hostages until Baelor buys our way out."
"And if that fails..." The other relaxed ranker had a sly smile. One that Haruto found unsettling. It was the look of someone who had a dirty minded thought.
"The goblins will give us spouses for free." The relaxed man smiled; it was a dangerous thought that agitated him beyond belief.
'Those little monsters will sell us off?!' Haruto had to restrain himself from yelling. He needed to save that energy for later.
"I will not allow that." He vowed, glancing over at Yua, who was still looking at the ranker with disgust.
"Relax Mr. Nagai." The ranker who had spoken first said. "It's better than what you're thinking. Trust us." Another sly smile.
'What else could there be?' He wondered. 'What is worse than slavery?'
*Step* *Step* *Step*
"She's coming..." The two were almost giddy like children, their eyes twinkling with joy.
"Who?" Haruto asked.
From around the corner of the hallway appeared a Goblin. However, this one was unlike anything Haruto had ever seen. This one was... Beautiful. It had an almost human appearance, with smooth green skin and striking features. Curves in all the right places, and the right amount of muscle. Long black hair that went past her waist, and dark yellow eyes. If it weren't for the colour of its skin, Haruto would have mistaken it for a human. Hell, if it weren't for the fact that it was a monster, Haruto might have called it beautiful.
"Your awake. Good..." A sweet and honey-like voice spoke, her lips parted in a gentle smile.
"Yes. He has only just woken up." The relaxed ranker replied, standing straight, and brushing his hair to the side. It was a look of a lovesick schoolboy, not the look of a Silvermane guild member.
She entered the cell, no fear for the rankers below her.
"Can you say AHHHHH for me." She asked, holding Haruto's chin in her soft hand. Haruto did, she took a quick look, checking the eyes, ears, throat and finally feeling around the skull for lumps.
"Good... Good. No lasting injuries. You are healthy enough. Do you need anything?" She asked, her words kind and gentle.
"No... Um... Who are you?" He asked.
"Oh... How rude of me. I am Narale, what your people would call a health care practitioner."
"What are you planning to do with us?" Yua asked, her voice firm and unwavering.
"Strong skull, firm spirit, you'll make a good addition." She replied, ignoring the query of the woman.
"Hey I said-"
*Smack*
Narale's hand summoned a green glyph. Pinning the pink haired woman down and binding her to the floor. Yua struggled, but the magic was strong and unrelenting. It held her in place like a vice.
"We are waiting on your guild to buy your release."
"If they fail to meet the deadline, you will... be given to us." Running a finger down Haruto's neck, she leaned closer. Her breath warm against the human's ear.
"You are a fine specimen; I hope to take you as mine."
Narale stood, her eyes looking down at Haruto with an almost predatory gaze. Her smile was both alluring and frightening, her yellow eyes gleaming with desire. "Please, be well. I will return soon."
She turned, leaving the group alone.
"Bitch." Yua muttered, rubbing the back of her head.
"Now do you get it?" The first relaxed ranker asked, giving a wide grin. "That's a fine specimen of a goblin right there. Can't wait to get my hands on that ass."
"Seriously, are you two insane?" Yua yelled, the other ranker laughed, turning to Haruto, the same wide smile on its face.
"There's more of em where she came from. A whole city of em... And they want to be our mates. We'll be living like kings."
"When we get back you two will be facing disciplinary actions." Haruto said, venom in the words and a snarl on the lips.
However, deep down. The idea; the very thought of being this woman's 'mate' gave the slightest of temptation. Her green skin, the feminine figure, and those yellow eyes. Haruto had to shake those feelings; they were wrong. Yet... they would keep biting at him.
***
*Swish* *Swish* *Swish*
The wind blew through the canyons, carrying with it the sounds of the waves. The scent of salt and stone mingling in the air. It was a smell that Eren was fond of. Like the black ocean in the land of the dead, to him the sea was a calming and peaceful place.
Looking up, Eren could see the sky above was a vibrant blue, with fluffy clouds. The canyon walls stretched all around; going deeper than the eye could see. Stone spires jutting out from the walls like teeth, and red stone pillars standing tall. All of which was a vibrant red, with a hint of orange hue. This world was a land of canyons, carved by the endless blue seas, and a bright sun.
True beauty ridden by rot.
'This way.' His instincts leading him down a well-worn path that was carved deep into the stone. Downwards, descending into the abyss below.
Eventually, coming to corridors and corridors of carved out caves, all of which led to that which could only be found by those who knew where to look.
It had only been 5 minutes since Eren arrived; he was already lost. The paths were winding and twisted, leading nowhere, and ending abruptly. There was no sign of any civilization, no sounds of life, nothing to suggest anything other than endless tunnels and winding paths. It was a maze of stone and rock, one that Eren found himself growing weary of. But, eventually. A bright light could be seen ahead. An exit?
As Eren approached the end of the tunnel, the light grew brighter, revealing an opening to a large cliffside. A small encampment of crude wooden houses and a large fire in the centre. Towers of stick and rope stood tall around the perimeter of the camp. There was also many goblins milling about, most were clad in bone and fur, while others were naked.
"Human..." They muttered; their eyes locked onto the masked figure. Rushing over with weapons drawn.
"Death." Came the cold voice of the Reaper, a dozen arrows shot forth, piercing the goblins skulls and chest in unison.
These were far different from the goblins from earlier. Far more repugnant. Sharing their qualities with rats rather than humans. Longer noses, fur growing from random spots of their bodies, and long tails. Some even had whiskers, or ratlike ears and hands.
"RUN!" Still very much like the goblins of before, the same reaction to the shadows that began to emerge from the cliffside.
'Aura of the soul'
The ability to instil the fear of death in those who were caught in its range. All seized up, frozen stiff. Eyes widened, and hearts raced.
It was an effective tool to stop any potential escapees. Not to mention; the perfect opportunity to harvest their souls. One by one, the tendrils from the ring attached themselves to the rats. Wrapping them around their throats and squeezing tight.
"Only one can live. I need a guide-"
"Me... Me!" A large rat goblin was shaking uncontrollably, its body wracked with fear. The tendrils wrapped around its throat were squeezing tighter and tighter. It was a weak and pitiful thing, begging for its life in a most pathetic manner.
"Very well." With one grasp of the hand the tendrils crushed the throats of all but the one. Quickly, shadows wrapped around the bodies, dragging them to the ring.
They vanished within the ring. The souls consumed and their bodies taken.
Now, only the Reaper and a single rat goblin remained. Its eyes filled with terror and body shaking uncontrollably.
"Where are the humans? Where is the queen?" The question that demanded an answer, lest it be followed by death.
"The... humans are... are in the city below." The rat goblin spoke. "I-I will show the way."
"Lead."
The Reaper took the first steps towards a nearby exit. However, having his back turned to such a vile thing. It was a dangerous proposition.
"You will pay! AAAAAAHHHHH- ARGH." In a split moment fear of the reaper was replaced by a surge of stupidity. The bone whip cut clean through its neck, sending its head tumbling to the ground. Blood spraying from the open wound, like the fountain of its own making.
'I guess I'll have to find them on my own.' The Reaper sighed, looking at the path that led deeper into the abyss.
*Ping*
The subtle vibrations of a small whisp drew his attention. A ball of white light hovered in the air; its body was a gentle glow like that of a star. Inspecting the dead, its small form moving towards the Reaper.
"What are you?" He asked, staring at the ball of white light.
It didn't speak. Instead, it left for another path. Pinging and chirping for the Reaper to follow.
Unlike the filth that formerly lay behind him. His instincts were at ease with this little creature. It was a friendly thing as far as he could tell. Perhaps it would lead him better than any of these repulsive creatures.