Chapter 260: Shattered Steel, Shattered Pride

His undead Iron Roar Komodo crested the dune, and Thoren looked down at the scene unfolding below.

The captain stood with his sword drawn, facing the hunter and the healer from his former party.

The healer was clutching a small dagger to her chest, her face pale with fear. The hunter stood before her protectively, his daggers raised despite his obvious injuries.

Thoren watched the standoff with cold interest. He did not particularly care who lived or died in this petty squabble. But the captain might know where Cressida had gone.

And Cressida might know things about the Slave Trade Guild that Thoren needed to learn.

He nudged his mount forward, descending the dune toward the confrontation. The sand shifted beneath the Iron Roar Komodo’s clawed feet, announcing his arrival to all below.

The captain turned his head and saw Thoren approaching. His eyes widened with surprise, and his jaw dropped slowly in disbelief.

Not only him, but the healer and the wounded hunter were equally stunned by the sight.

Where did he get such a powerful mount?

Was this part of his summoning abilities?

Many questions flooded into their minds all at once, but the captain recovered quickly from his shock.

“Thoren,” the captain said slowly, trying to regain his composure. “We did not expect to see you here.”

“I am sure you did not,” Thoren replied, his voice calm and cold. “But I have questions for you, Captain. And you will answer them.”

The tension on the desert dune rose like the heat shimmering off the sand. Someone was going to die before the moon set.

Thoren was certain of that outcome.

The captain stared at Thoren intently, trying to see where Thoren found his confidence. But all he could see was a cold, indifferent gaze that showed no fear.

“Where is Cressida?” Thoren asked casually, but the undertone of seriousness made the hunter, and the healer understand this was not just a simple question.

It was something far more important.

The two looked at each other before they shifted their nervous gaze toward the captain.

They had been prepared to fight a life and death battle with their captain just to keep their hard earned loot.

But now, the situation has taken a drastic and unexpected turn.

Even though they had never seen Thoren fight personally, they had witnessed his summoned creature in battle before.

And the summoned creature’s strength was enough to prove that Thoren was not weak at all.

And now, with him riding such a large and terrifying mount, this further proved he was not a simple fellow.

Staring at Thoren, the Captain’s expression turned ugly and twisted. When was the last time he had been questioned like a common criminal?

He was the one who always did the questioning, not the other way around.

Besides, what gave this outsider the audacity to question him about anything?

Just thinking about it made his blood boil with anger and annoyance.

“Who are you to ask about Cressida?” he asked, his voice dripping with irritation and contempt.

His hand tightened on his weapon, knuckles turning white.

“You are just an outsider invited by Cressida so you could have a chance to explore a ruin with us. So how dare you question me about her whereabouts in such a disrespectful tone.”

Listening to the captain’s angry voice, the hunter and healer retreated a couple of steps backward.

They could already foresee that an imminent and bloody battle was about to start between the two men.

Unbothered by the captain’s hostile tone, Thoren continued with the same casual countenance, asking his question again.

“I need Cressida to explain something to me, and only you can tell me where she is. So where is she?” Thoren asked calmly.

“Better still, where can I find her?”

The captain sneered with contempt. “If you think I am going to reveal where Cressida is to a nobody like you, you must be gravely mistaken.”

“I advise you to continue on your journey now, or you might lose your life today,” he threatened openly, showing his firm stand.

“Very well,” Thoren nodded slowly.

Before the captain and the other two could realize what was happening, a dark figure appeared out of thin air beside Thoren.

Covered entirely in black robes, no one could see the face of the figure. But the gleaming saber in its hand was enough to send chills down their spines.

Hmm?

Everyone widened their eyes in shock. Their faces filled with confusion and growing fear.

But then the figure moved.

Thud! Thud!

The figure walked toward the captain in slow, steady, inexorable steps.

“So this is what you want?” the captain shouted, trying to mask his fear. “Do not think you can intimidate me with your summons.”

Listening to this empty threat, Thoren could not help but chuckle darkly. “I guess your beloved Cressida never told you who I truly am.”

Hmm?

The captain was stunned by this statement. Not only him, but the hunter and healer were equally confused.

Who was he really?

Bang!

The two had no time to think about the question when they heard the sound of a blade colliding with another.

To their complete shock, their previously strong captain was being pushed backward by the black robed figure.

What stunned them even more was that Thoren’s summoned figure did not use any notable skill or technique. Instead, it simply went for direct killing blows, not caring about its own defense at all.

Bang! Bang!

The captain went all out from the very beginning, trying to kill the undead servant as quickly as possible.

But to his horror and confusion, every time he struck what should be a vital spot on the figure, instead of it falling or screaming in pain, nothing happened.

What welcomed the captain was a more brutal and savage strike in return.

Bang!

The captain’s weapon trembled violently, and cracks appeared on its metal body. His palms had become too numb to hold the weapon any longer.

He tried to retreat and create some space between them, but the undead servant did not give him any chance to escape.

Whoosh!

The saber strike descended once again. It was swift, merciless, and unavoidable.

Bang!

The captain’s broadsword shattered into dozens of pieces, and the force of the blow slammed into his chest.

Ahhh!

A soul rending scream escaped from the captain’s lips as he fell heavily to the ground. His face contorted into pure dread and disbelief.

A deep, terrible gash appeared on his chest, showing his white ribs beneath. Blood gushed out of the wound like a broken dam releasing its waters.

’How is this possible?’ he screamed in his heart, unable to comprehend his defeat.

However, the searing pain coming from his chest made him forget about his destroyed weapon. He rushed to cover his wound with both hands, trying desperately to stop the blood from escaping his body.

Thud! Thud!

Just then, he heard the heavy, deliberate footsteps of the figure approaching him again.

“This is impossible,” he whispered in terror.

He tried to crawl backward across the sand, but the figure closed the distance quickly and raised its bloody saber high.

“If you hurt me, you can forget about learning Cressida’s whereabouts,” the captain threatened, hoping desperately to save his own life.

Unfortunately for him, he had just made the greatest mistake of his short life.

Thoren’s eyes narrowed, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

****

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