CHAPTER 66: SLAY THE STRANGER

***

"Those of the faint of heart shouldn’t watch what comes next."

Lothar, for once, wasn’t shouting...

"Every year, we get complaints from this particular trial, calling it too gruesome, so excuse me for announcing that disclaimer."

And if he was saying that after witnessing and allowing assassins to go after his Disciples?

That spoke much about what was coming up soon, way too much.

"But those of you who had come to see something like this?"

Though Lothar’s quiet remained only for a few seconds.

"THEN PREPARE YOURSELF, FOR THIS ONE WILL BE SURE TO BE SPECIAL!"

As did the audience; their chanting returned in full force:

"SIXTY-SECOND FOOL!"

"SIXTY-SECOND FOOL!"

"SIXTY-SECOND FOOL!"

***

Indeed, the roots of the Hanged Man’s Tree were colossal.

And the entrance was even more so, large enough to house multiple buildings within it.

Its black surface pulsed faintly with a dull, crimson glow that ran through the cracks.

When they eventually began to approach, overcoming their fear, something that had passed Xenos in mere moments, leaving him to wait for a little while, the ground beneath them turned into wood.

Then, as if it had detected their presence, the black doorway before them slowly opened, welcoming them in.

Somewhat expecting that, the group continued, reaching the gate.

Once there, they paused for a second before Xenos took the first step inside.

Ari followed, then Dei, Gaia, Aspen, and Arc behind them all.

Inside, the long corridor of wood was somehow visible.

It wasn’t bright exactly, but they could see clearly in it.

That helped ease the tension a little... only a little.

And that was enough to get Arc speaking:

"...does anyone else feel like this place is breathing?"

Again, they had returned to what they felt in the Maze.

Yet it wasn’t illusions or subtle movement this time.

Xenos looked down at the floor beneath his boots...

"Yes..."

It rose and fell like the rhythm of lungs.

"But don’t think about it too hard."

Dei snorted behind him, her tail flicking lazily.

"You’re saying that to us, of all people?"

Hearing that, Gaia nearly hugged herself.

"I-I don’t like this."

"Noted."

Ari nodded at her.

"But please let’s keep moving."

One could think she was being sarcastic, but no.

The Gryphon had truly "noted" that, too straight-laced for her own good.

They pushed deeper into the corridor of roots, through arches of tangled wood that bent around them almost like ribs.

The deeper they went, the quieter it became, until even their footsteps began to fade, swallowed by the damp air.

Ari’s feathers brushed against a wall as she walked.

It twitched, and she quickly pulled her arm back.

"Hm, don’t touch the walls."

Xenos had noticed that as well.

"Yes, they seem... wrong."

Dei sarcastically sighed.

"Wonderful."

It was a bit dizzying to walk in here.

The light never changed; the glow was constant throughout.

So constant that some of them began to feel suffocated.

"T-This can’t be a repeat of last time!"

Arc already began to dread this.

He couldn’t take another mind-bending maze.

"Don’t worry about that."

Xenos, though, seemed sure that it wasn’t.

"And don’t ask me how I know that; I don’t know either."

The wolf-boy waved him off.

"Whatever, you talentless bastard."

Dei raised a brow at that but didn’t say anything.

She knew Arc well, and he was usually mean, but that was a bit... over.

Eh, maybe it was just the tension and stress taking a toll on him.

"Don’t walk so close."

Or rather, on everyone.

"You’re brushing against my wing."

That was Ari, annoyed at Aspen.

"Sorry, but..."

He frowned.

"Maybe your wing’s in the way."

"Then move around it."

Dei yawned, interrupting them before it got out of hand.

"Oh, this is fun. I love when everyone forgets we’re supposed to survive."

"Shut up, Dei."

Arc snapped, sticking up for his guard.

"Make me."

And Dei forgot what her purpose was in interrupting.

"Wow... you lot lasted a whole five minutes before losing focus again."

Xenos clapped his hands, his smile somewhat irritated.

"It’s a new record; I love that for us~."

"Can we..."

Gaia forced herself to be the voice of reason.

"Just not fight? Please?"

Everyone ignored the poor girl.

"What? Why isn’t anyone listening to me?"

And she didn’t like that.

"Is it because I’m a late bloomer?"

Gaia did not like that at all.

"Is it because you all think I’m weak?"

Aspen sighed.

"Sorry, Lady Gaia, you are weak. Now, please, let’s just walk."

Ari stopped, spinning toward him.

"And who are you to say that? Do you think you should’ve won that duel last week?"

Aspen raised an eyebrow.

"I would’ve won if I didn’t stop myself from killing you."

"You tied..."

Her wings twitched.

"Because I let you."

"You didn’t ’let’ me do anything."

He shot right back.

"You were panting by the end."

"Only because I was holding back."

"Right."

Their words hit harder than they should’ve.

And surprisingly, it wasn’t just them.

"You know..."

Arc turned toward Xenos, his blue eyes narrowed.

"This is all your fault."

Xenos blinked.

"What?"

"Your stupid Luck Rune is trash. I don’t know how you’re so strong, but I’m sure you’ve made some Oath with a Daemon or something. That’s probably why we’re so unlucky; they ruined your Rune."

"Wow."

Xenos nodded slowly.

"You actually believe that?"

Arc’s brow furrowed, confused at Xenos’s calm tone.

"You think this is funny?"

"No."

Xenos shook his head.

"You’re right. I am unlucky, and I stick with you because you’re useful. When you stop being useful, probably the day when my Calamity destroys you, only then I’ll toss you, don’t worry."

Arc froze, finding himself deeply hurt by those words, even though he had said worse.

"You’re joking."

"Am I?"

Aspen shot him a warning look, but even that came out rough.

"Xenos, don’t—"

"Oh, shut it, wolf-boy. You’re just another tool, too."

Xenos shrugged him off, almost amused.

"A sharp one, though. I’ll give you that."

Aspen growled, gripping his greatsword.

"You—"

Only to be interrupted once more by Ari:

"You can’t even beat me; do you think you can beat him?"

Dei’s tail lashed as she snapped at her.

"Just shut up, Ari. I don’t know why Xenos allowed a girl like you in our cohort."

The Bastet wasn’t done, turning back to Gaia.

"And you! All that whining and shaking—it’s pathetic; you’re twenty years old!"

Gaia flinched.

"I-I just don’t like fighting, and I was a-a late bloomer; nothing’s wrong with—"

"Oh, you’re twenty?!"

Xenos found himself actually surprised, while Dei’s voice rose, unrelenting:

"Then why are you even here?! You do nothing but cry and hide. It’s annoying!"

Something inside Gaia... snapped.

"At least I don’t pretend to be tired when I’m actually just lazy!"

Dei’s eyes went wide and then narrow with anger.

Around them, particularly around her, the air grew hot.

Rage had seeped into all their bones, and before they knew it...

Once, their words felt poisoned, dragged out by venom.

Now, words weren’t enough, only action.

Ari had turned to attack first, though she was one beat late.

Aspen’s large blade swung through her midsection, cutting her clean.

Her body hit the floor, her wings twitching, and her feathers scattering like snow.

Meanwhile, in front of them, Xenos kept walking, as if nothing utterly insane was happening behind him.

They hated each other.

Truly, deeply, irrationally hated.

No one screamed or cried at her death.

The only sound there was came from Dei.

It was the crackling of her flame, blooming in her palm.

Gaia tried to back away in a panic, but there was nowhere to go.

The fire engulfed her.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH—"

Her scream was short, burned alive.

What remained of her floated through the corridor.

Xenos turned his head slightly, seemingly annoyed by her death.

Then, without hesitation, he stepped towards them and punched his arm straight through Arc’s chest, blood splattering onto the ground.

Arc gasped, his body jerking once before going limp.

In that moment, Xenos couldn’t help but wonder when he’d stopped caring.

Meanwhile, Aspen looked down at Arc, at his Lord, and revealed no emotion.

Nothing other than rage, before he swung at Dei.

Her flames met his cold steel, roaring brighter, hotter.

She almost had him, about to melt through...

But then a blade slid clean through her neck.

Her body dropped beside Gaia’s ashes.

Now, only two remained.

Aspen stood there, staring blankly at Xenos.

Then, before he could move, his head jerked violently, and his body fell sideways.

Protruding from the back of his skull was an ice arrow, one that came from...

"Arc..."

His little hand was raised, though only for a moment, as death had fully claimed him.

Uncharacteristically expressionless, Xenos watched him drop his head to the side.

Though to make sure an "Arc" didn’t happen again, he stepped closer to Aspen, his boots pressing into the pooling blood, and calmly stomped down on the wolf-man’s chest until the ribs broke.

He was dead.

All of them were...

Their bodies were scattered.

Broken dolls before a Stranger.

Xenos looked around slowly and...

"Hm~..."

Smiled once more.

It was a soft, satisfied, almost relieved smile.

After a few long seconds, he exhaled.

His hands twitched and rose to his neck.

Before thought could catch up, he snapped his own throat.

Everything tilted and...

turned...

black.

...

...

...

...blink.