The desperate cries for help echoed through the castles as cultists, driven by their loyalty to the fallen Pope, rushed to his aid. Their intentions were clear—to rescue their leader from the clutches of Astaroth as their plan had failed.
They were sure if they could stall Astaroth for long enough, Lord Kro'Han would come to their aide. Yet, before they could even take a step towards the Pope, Astaroth moved like a hurricane, his blade slicing through the cultists mercilessly.
The Pope, frozen in despair, watched as Astaroth effortlessly dispatched his followers. The realisation dawned on him – Kro'Han's favouritism towards Astaroth was not without reason.
Astaroth's strength surpassed the combined might of the entire cult, and the Pope found himself at the mercy of a force he couldn't comprehend. The lust for power had blinded him to the obvious facts, and now was the time for penance.
"Fucking rats," Astaroth spat, wiping a bloodstain off his face. "Now, where were we?"
Astaroth's golden eyes bore into the Pope's soul, and he stomped on his legs without a word. The Pope's cries of pain echoed in the chamber, a desperate melody that fell on deaf ears. Astaroth demanded information, his voice cold and unforgiving.
"Where is Jaline?" Astaroth growled, his foot pressing harder against the Pope's broken legs.
"W-Who?"
"This fucker-" Astaroth crushed and increased pressure on Pope's other leg.
The Pope, writhing in agony, struggled to answer. Pain and fear had rendered him mute, and the realisation struck Astaroth that the Pope might not even know Jaline by name.
Understanding his 'fault', Astaroth described her as a woman with flowing ebony hair, eyes sparkling like stars, and ashen skin. The Pope's eyes widened in recognition; he knew the woman but remained silent.
"Looks like I underestimated a fanatic's loyalty," Astaroth scoffed before shoving his blade into the Pope's shoulder. "Just like you're underestimating my rage."
"I-I don't k-know!"
"Fine... have it your way."
Astaroth's patience wore thin, and he crushed the Pope's leg. Blood and broken fragments of bone splattered everywhere. The Pope's screams tore through the chamber, but still, he held his silence.
Frustration etched across Astaroth's face. He couldn't afford to waste more time. Jaline's fate hung in the balance, and Astaroth needed answers.
The Pope, unable to withstand the pain any longer, relented, "She is here! O-On this planet!"
"Don't tell me what I already know! Tell me where Kro'Han is hiding her!"
With a swift motion, he raised his foot to deliver another blow, but someone interrupted him before he could act. It was Kro'Han who materialised there out of thin air.
"I see you two have been getting along," Kro'Han smiled, walking towards them. "And here I was worried you two would kill each other before I got a chance to."
The air seemed to thicken with Kro'Han's presence, a force that demanded submission. The Pope couldn't have been happier at that moment, with tears of pain and relief rolling down his cheeks.
"M-My lord... Please, save your servant from t-this monster!"
"Of course," Kro'Han smiled, patting his head. "I promised I'll be your salvation, didn't I?"
The Pope's relief at Kro'Han's arrival was short-lived as Kro'Han's hand closed around his head, crushing it with a sickening crunch. The Pope's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, a testament to Kro'Han's ruthlessness.
"If only you kept your mouth closed for a moment longer, you'd have lived to see another day," Kro'Han said as he wiped the blood and gooey brain tissues on the Pope's regal clothes. "Now.. what should I do about you?"
Silence fell upon the chamber, broken only by the echoes of the recent carnage. Astaroth's gaze met Kro'Han's, the tension between them thickening. Kro'Han, displeasure etched across his features, stepped over the fallen cultists, his eyes locked onto Astaroth.
"Did you think you could defy me, Astaroth?" Kro'Han's voice rumbled, a dangerous undertone underscoring his words. "You thought there would be no consequences, hm?"
"Consequences? For me?" Astaroth, undeterred, stood his ground. "Take a look around you and think for a moment, you ancient dumbass."
"You didn't learn anything from our previous encounter, did you?" Kro'Han's face distorted with anger. "No matter, I'll ensure to engrain the lesson to your bones this time."
With a swift movement, he launched an attack towards Astaroth. Astaroth, however, moved with unparalleled agility, dodging Kro'Han's assault with ease. The unexpected turn of events left Kro'Han momentarily off-balance.
"How did you-"
"Ever heard of something called deceit?"
Astaroth seized the opportunity, pushing Kro'Han back with a strength that defied expectations. Kro'Han, his pride wounded, glared at Astaroth.
"You dare raise your hand against me? Do you want Jaline to die?"
"You think you're in a position to threaten me?" Astaroth smirked, a bold defiance in his eyes.
"Have you lost your mind, you fool?" Kro'Han, seething with rage, warned Astaroth of the consequences.
Yet, Astaroth remained unfazed, closing the distance between them. His voice, low and steady, cut through the tension.
"The cult is no more. You have no one but me to help you now. Threaten me all you want, but remember, I'm only here because of her. Touch a hair on Jaline's head, and I will make you regret it, even if it means I'll fight you till either one of us is dead."
Astaroth leaned in, his eyes locked with Kro'Han's. "Either I'll die, and you'll be trapped on this planet for the rest of your miserable existence, or it'll be you, and believe me, if I kill you, no matter what I did to Ashton or anyone else for that matter... Everything will be forgiven."
Kro'Han's face contorted with anger, but Astaroth wasn't finished. "The way I see it, it's a lose-lose situation for you. So, I suggest you get off your high horse and think before you act for once."
With those words, Astaroth brushed past Kro'Han, leaving the seething ruler bewildered in the wake of unexpected defiance.
The once unchallenged tyrant now found himself questioning the unfolding events, realising that the balance of power had shifted in ways he hadn't foreseen.