Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 22 Victor Takes All

"Cough, cough," the young Night Shade coughed, Alicarde's sword at his throat and Argint looming over him. Despair was evident on his face as he looked at the two of them, fully aware of his defeat.

"Kill me, just kill me. I can never let down my tribe by living in failure," Vance gritted his teeth.

Alicarde frowned. Did they really have to kill him? He wanted to protect Carrisa and Amena, but he didn't want to kill anyone. While his mind raced with those thoughts, the old elder stood up and spoke slowly.

"Please, wait. You are victorious; we surrender." He sighed, his sad gaze making him look even older and more decrepit.

He turned to Carrisa. "Princess, you are victorious. The life of my tribe is now in your hands."

From the ground, Vance screamed, "Elder, please!" as tears streamed down his face.

He stood up and fell to his knees, facing the elder.

"This was my failure. Let me die for the tribe." His tears stained the arena.

Alicarde stood to the side, thinking they were all being a bit too dramatic.

'Seriously, what the hell is even going on right now?' Alicarde thought, somewhat confused.

The crowd was solemn, and an aura of sadness filled the area. From the crowd, Alicarde could hear a little girl asking one of the adults in the village a question.

"Are we all going to die now? I don't want to die... I don't want... anyone to die like my mommy and my daddy. We didn't do anything wrong... Why did we have to run from home?

...Why did everyone have to die?" she asked a young Night Shade woman.

Alicarde noticed the girl's eyes filled with fear as tears appeared on her delicate face.

The young lady she had asked smiled at her with tears in the corner of her eyes.

"It will be fine, I promise. We'll be alright." Crouching down, she hugged the little girl as tears streamed down her own eyes.

He didn't really know how to react anymore.

Alicarde looked at Carrisa. She was unmoved by this display. Argint looked away from them, they had lost.

The village elder pulled out a dagger from his tunic and spoke,

"Has the heavens abandoned my Night Shade clan?"

Turning to Carrisa, he held the dagger to his heart, and as he did, all the other Night Shades, even the crying children, unsheathed their weapons and brought them to their chests, only waiting for the orders of the victor.

Alicarde's eyes widened, not expecting such a gruesome change in behavior. There was an almost insane amount of discipline in their movement.

It was like a fanatic cult, even the children had been indoctrinated into their ways.

Alicarde froze. He turned to Carrisa in horror, ready to stop this potentially senseless massacre.

The elder looked around and smiled. Everyone was ready to return to the hands of the Creator. Vance stood tall, and Mercy, who had regained consciousness, all had their blades to their hearts.

Alicarde noticed that all of them were like that. He felt a bit like a celebrity, surrounded by adoring fans.

Carrisa finally spoke,

"As you can see, Alicarde's soul is still young, and it cannot yet accommodate a pact with your entire tribe. Thus, this shall remain unofficial for the time being. When he learns the first part of his true name, we can proceed with the pact."

The elder smiled, his old face now full of life, and his dull eyes sparkled.

"Hahaha, worry not, Princess. We understand. We shall await the day when our lord truly grows into his full potential. Since our lord has accepted us, it would behoove us to present an offering truly fitting of his noble standing. After all, as the legends say, the undying such as my lord are crafted in the image of the Creator."

As he spoke, the other Night Shades began whispering among themselves.

"Wow, our lord is an undying."

"No wonder Mercy couldn't kill him. As expected of our lord, a mere blade wouldn't take his life."

"Our lord is truly blessed by the Creator!"

"So powerful, so strong... it is an honor to serve him."

Alicarde watched as they whispered among themselves, no longer depressed about his victory earlier.

Carrisa smiled, pleased with the development. "Very well, then. Present your offering."

"Of course, Princess. We have not forgotten you. You granted us amnesty through your benevolence. Allow us to offer you the Nexus fragments in our care as penance for our insolence."

She smiled coldly. "Very well, I accept. I suggest you also restore my now-destroyed mountain retreat."

The elder forced a smile. "But Princess, you were the one who burned it to the ground."

Alicarde was shocked, and the silent Argint behind him was surprised as well. Carrisa smiled at the elder but said nothing. Her smile was gentle, but the meaning was menacing.

"Why am I not surprised," Alicarde muttered.

"Yes Princess, leave it to us. We would happily restore the damages that we so shamelessly and heartlessly caused on your mountain retreat, Princess." Elder Fang's words had a double meaning but Carrisa didn't seem to care.

Carrisa's gaze remained cold and aloof as she regarded Elder Fang.

"Very well, Elder Fang. Present your offering to us," she commanded, her tone aloof and unwavering.

The elder's lips curled into a sly smile.

"As you wish, Princess. Permit me to bestow upon our lord an offering truly befitting his noble stature."

With that, he walked toward the side of the arena, his movements deliberate. He placed his hand on the ancient markings etched into the ground and channeled his magic into them. The symbols began to glow with an otherworldly light, growing brighter until the space before them shimmered and distorted.

Alicarde's eyes widened as the light took shape, forming something he had never anticipated. The air around them seemed to hum with a mysterious energy, and the onlookers held their breath in collective anticipation.

Carrisa's composed expression faltered for just a moment as she took in the sight before her. She narrowed her eyes, recognizing the implications of what the elder had just revealed.

Under her breath, she muttered, "Curse that sly old fox."