Chapter 120 A Deal With The Devil
“Does anyone know where that laboratory is?” Iryoku’s voice rang down the row of cells.
Mr. K stiffened, eyes flicking to him. For the first ti he realized Iryoku wasn’t only trying to escape—he was truly interested in the demon.
Most prisoners kept their eyes down, trembling, as if daring fate to take them. Only the faint clink of chains answered.
“If you tell , I’ll kill that bastard Sigil,” Iryoku said, his voice low and cold. “And if you want to end your suffering, I can do that for you now.”
Mr. K’s body trembled. He stared at Iryoku without moving. “Don’t. These people deserve to be free.”
A young man limped forward, hunched and shaking. His voice was barely more than a sob. “Sir… I want to die. I don’t want to suffer anymore. Please—I’m scared…”
“Tell ,” Iryoku demanded.
The prisoner glanced around, eyes wild. “Go back past the second tunnel… turn there… then follow the lower corridor… that’s as far as I rember. Please—no more—”
Before the man could finish, Iryoku moved. In a single, swift strike he ended the man’s life. Then, without a word, he gently lowered the corpse to the stone and stepped back.
Mr. K opened his mouth, then closed it. They listened to the hollow echo through the cells—the only answer left in that place was silence. The people here didn’t have the will to keep living.
Iryoku grabbed Mr. K’s arm. “Let’s go, puss.”
Mr. K jerked away, anger flaring. “What exactly is your purpose? What are you trying to accomplish?”
Iryoku fixed him with a death stare. “You don’t know just how much I want to kill you right now. If it weren’t for you I’d be with my won, enjoying life. So don’t ddle.” He was fuming.
Mr. K t his glare. “My purpose wasn’t to hurt you—initially,” the handso catman confessed, his face still half-covered by the black mouth mask, the rest revealed in pale scars. He held Iryoku’s stare. “Would you be willing to work with ? Help kill Alexander Maxwell—the Death Tree—and save the slaves in this place? In exchange, I’ll help you find the demon.”
“Hahaha!” Iryoku barked a laugh. “You noble assholes always think people gotta jump when you say so. You’re not back in your city, and you sure as hell don’t have your fancy gang here. And if you didn’t want to hurt us, then why did you attack? You and that damned bald old man too. You clearly want revenge for your prick friend Leon. Makes question you—you act noble, like a good person, but you’ve been dealing with bastards like him. Especially that Leon…”
The catman didn’t flinch. “I won’t bla you for Leon—that child lost his way,” he said quietly, frowning as if forcing himself to say it. “So please—help , and I’ll help you as well.”
Iryoku tightened his grip on the dagger, weighing his options. “I don’t trust you... and even if I did, these people don’t have the will to live, let alone to move…” He glanced again at the demi-human child with the missing hand.
Mr. K’s eyes hardened. “Like I told you—we kill Alexander. Then we tear down what he built and free whoever’s left.” His voice ca rasher now, edged with anger.
Iryoku chuckled, mocking. “I still don’t see any gain for —only gain for you and your agenda.”
The catman t his gaze. “What do you want? I’ll agree to it, as long as it doesn’t go against innocent people.”
“Then I’ll tell you.” Iryoku’s mouth spread into a wide grin. “You will be my bodyguard—my servant.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Mr. K crossed his arms.
“I’m not done. This isn’t over. I want to kill that bastard king and his sons—those fuckers dared—” Iryoku’s mouth clenched. “They almost raped my won in front of . They stole my weapon. I will kill every one of them. Once it’s over—and only once my won and I have returned ho—you’ll be free. I won’t hold it against your people so long as they never touch my won. Comprende?” He finished with a deadly, immovable glare.
Mr. K stood inches from him. He noticed Iryoku was slightly shorter, yet the young man radiated a ruthless, unbreakable will—limitless and wild.
He rembered seeing this sa young man fight in his tournant—displaying incredible skill and sharp analysis. Iryoku had bested one of his strongest warriors in hand-to-hand combat without relying on any powers. Even though his fighting style looked theatrical and erratic, Mr. K had seen the undeniable strength within him. He rembered the won who surrounded Iryoku—how they cared for him deeply. He’d been labeled a criminal by the local governnt, but Mr. K still harbored doubts about those claims.
Mr. K slowly lifted his hand, curling his fingers into the shape of a claw.
Iryoku frowned. “The hell is that supposed to an?” he muttered, thinking the catman was either mocking him or getting ready to fight again.
“This,” Mr. K said calmly, “is how demi-humans swear an oath. Open your palm.”
Iryoku hesitated, then extended his hand. Mr. K reached forward and lightly clawed across his open palm. For the first ti, Iryoku noticed the catman’s small but sharp claws. Then Mr. K opened his own hand, prompting Iryoku to do the sa and return the gesture.
When his nails brushed the catman’s skin, Iryoku felt how surprisingly soft his hand was—though marked with tiny scars, proof of a life far from gentle.
Both n pushed deeper into the dark prison tunnels. Retracing so of their steps, they passed the area where they had fought the demonic dwarf. This ti, they tried to sneak by. The air shook with the clash of steel and monstrous roars—executioners and warriors still locked in battle against the beast. Slipping past the chaos, Iryoku and Mr. K pressed on.
Soon they encountered more foes. Executioners erged from the shadows, weapons gleaming with faint Leben. The two cut them down one after another. Mr. K noticed the shift in Iryoku’s movents—the edge sharpening in his strikes. There was less restraint now, more fury uncoiling with every blow.
Iryoku left a butchered guard writhing on the floor—arms, legs, even his manhood severed. He lood over the mutilated man, dagger in hand.
“Tell ,” he hissed. “Where’s Sigil’s laboratory? Where’s the demon? Tell , and I’ll end your suffering in one hit!”
“Ahhhh! Aahhrghh!” the executioner scread.
Iryoku kicked the bleeding wound where the man’s manhood had been. “Fucking tell !” he spat.
“Over there… go back… the second tunnel… return… past the—” the man stamred.
Iryoku crouched down, took it all in, and with a single, clean slash, tore out the executioner’s tongue.
“Ahgaghggamm!” the man gurgled, left alive to suffer in agony.
“Let’s go,” Iryoku said coldly, moving forward.
Mr. K followed close behind.
After so ti, they reached a wide, open cavern.
“Hmm… this is one of the rooms near the entrance,” Mr. K muttered, scanning the shadows.
Iryoku said nothing, pressing forward. The place felt familiar—he rembered the silhouette of that thin man standing here, choosing prisoners like cattle.
They both stopped when their eyes caught the shape of massive tal doors ahead.
“This looks important,” Iryoku murmured.
Mr. K’s ears twitched as he tilted his head, listening. “Soone’s coming… from the way we ca,” he whispered.
Thinking fast, Iryoku hissed, “Co—jump. Quickly. Hide.”
Both n sprang upward, plastering themselves against the cavern ceiling, wedged between jagged stalactites. Cloaked in shadow, they stilled their breathing, killing every trace of presence.
Below, a column of warriors marched through. At their center, Iryoku spotted Magnus—the blond man—striding with arrogant ease, flanked by his entourage of won. Naked, they clung to him like ornants.
The group halted before the great gate.
“Sigil! Open the gate—we’re here!” Magnus barked.
Silence.
His face twisted, veins bulging as his eyes went wild.
Behind him, Vadia giggled, her voice dripping with mockery. “Seriously, Magny… you get all whiny pretty quick.”
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