The Ashen Dominion Chapter 8 - Hey!

"..."

I sat in the corner of the cell, silently observing the surroundings.

"Man, the atmosphere here is not good..."

anwhile, Damian can't shut the fuck up.

But annoying as he was, what he just said wasn't wrong.

'The tension in here is thick enough to choke on.'

I thought, glancing around.

Everyone was on edge. Small groups were already forming, seeking safety in numbers. Nobody trusted anyone.

'If we all just stay put and act civil, there won't be any trouble and we don't have to be nervous... We could just do our thing and survive.'

I stated in my head, being logical.

But I know that this wouldn't happen.

Because as I scanned the cell—

"Wooow~ look at those breasts~"

My eyes landed on a group of three n—early to mid-twenties—they were staring at the three won in the cell with obvious, predatory intent.

'Yeah... I don't think everyone here has that kind of common sense.'

I thought, slightly frowning.

There were fifteen of us total in the cell—three won, twelve n, myself included.

And from what I had seen so far, the guards won't give a damn about what happened in here—to us.

That's also basing to what I had experienced ever since coming to this world as a slave.

To them, we were nothing...

Slaves are being treated more like an object rather than a living being.

We could beat up or probably kill each other, and they wouldn't bat an eye.

'Ugh... I just know this is going to be a pain in the ass.'

I grumbled internally, already annoyed.

Then, as I was deep in thoughts—

"Excuse ."

A soft, high-pitched voice entered my ears.

"Hmm?"

I turned my head toward it.

"...?"

Damian did the sa.

And there—

"Hello."

We saw the three won, looking at us.

They looked to be in their early twenties, a little older than and Damian.

Anyway—

"...?"

I didn't say anything to them, just raised an eyebrow, asking what they want.

Then, the one in the middle stepped forward and opened her mouth—

"Can we join your group?"

She bluntly asked without hesitation.

"..."

"..."

The two won behind her remained silent.

Damian, on the other hand—

"W-What?!"

He stamred, clearly flustered.

He turned to , whispering urgently—

"H-Hey, they're asking to join us... Do you think they l-like ?"

His face was turning red.

"..."

I just frowned at him.

Then, ignoring his idiocy—

"You want to join us?"

I repeated the question, directing it to the woman in the middle. She seed like the leader of their little trio.

"Yes."

The woman answered imdiately.

After that—

"..."

I went silent, thinking.

'They probably want to join us for safety, to increase their numbers. Makes sense. But why us specifically?'

My eyes flickered to the other groups with that question in my head.

'They didn't approach them... Probably because they saw how those guys were looking at them earlier. Instead, they ca to us—because we're the youngest. They think we're the safest option. That even if we turned against them, they could handle us.'

I concluded in my head.

That's the only reason I could think of why they want to join us.

And realizing that...

I frowned.

"This is already getting annoying..."

I muttered to myself.

Strength in numbers was a good thing.

But at the sa ti—

'If we take them in... Then there's a chance that the other groups will target us because of the won.'

I don't want to attract unnecessary troubles.

Especially since I'm still clueless about how this world works.

"Looks like you understand our intentions well."

Just then, the woman in the middle suddenly said that as I was stuck in my thoughts.

"You're sharp for a kid."

She added.

I looked at her—

"Well, yeah... I'll die early if I'm as stupid as this guy."

Then I responded with that, gesturing to Damian with my head.

"Huh? What do you an? What are you guys talking about?"

Damian asked in confusion, but we just ignored him.

"So, what do you think?"

The woman in the middle asked again.

"..."

I didn't answer.

But obviously—

'Declining would be the logical choice.'

It would keep us out of the eyes of the other groups.

'We won't attract trouble.'

I concluded in my head

Then, just as I thought of that—

"Hey!"

A raspy, arrogant voice rang out throughout the cell.

"..."

I turned toward the source of it.

And there—

"Why are you girls hanging around with the kids? Join us instead. We'll protect you."

I saw a man step forward.

Brown skin, brown hair, brown eyes. He was well-built and confident.

And behind him—

"Heh, big brother's right. Co on, join us."

"Yeah, we're strong, you know?"

Two bald n stood at his sides, grinning disgustingly.

They were the sa group that I had been watching earlier.

The strongest looking group in this place.

'Tch... It's happening already?'

I complained in my head.

"Tsk..."

I heard the woman in front of click her tongue. Her brows furrowed.

Tap- tap- tap—

The three n then started walking toward us.

Big smirks on their faces.

And as soon as they reached where we were—

FWIP—

"UGH...?!"

Each of them grabbed a woman by the wrist!

"You guys don't mind if we take them, right?"

The man with the brown hair turned to and asked that with a disgusting smile on his face.

"..."

He was looking down on .

And didn't even let answer, because after asking that—

"Let's go."

FWIP—!

"GAH...!"

They started dragging the three won in the middle of the cell.

"S-Stop!"

"Get away from us!"

"Ghg...!!"

The won struggled against them.

"H-Help us!"

One of them cried out.

But—

"..."

Nobody in the area moved.

Nobody dared to interfere.

"..."

Even .

"H-Hey! Shouldn't we help them?!"

Damian turned to , eyes wide and worried.

"..."

I just stared at him.

My face expressionless.

"Hey! Answer !"

His voice rose, shaking my whole body.

"HEY!!!"

He shouted in my ears.

Then—

BAM!

We heard sothing heavy hit the concrete floor.

"...?"

Everyone turned toward the source of the sound.

And there—

"URGH...!!"

We saw the three won being shoved down.

They were pinned beneath the three n.

"...!"

Damian's face twisted with rage after seeing that.

It was obvious what was going to happen next.

Swish—

He turned back to , eyes full of disappointnt.

And opening his mouth—

"If you won't move, then I'll do sothing about it myself alone."

He declared that.

"Our team is disbanded."

And after saying that to —

Fwish—

He stood up.

anwhile, —

"..."

I remained seated on the floor, frowning.

After all...

'Shut up, Damian... I can't concentrate...'

I had been silently processing everything around since earlier.

Running scenarios in my head.

What should I do?

What are the consequences?

What benefits the most?

Can I handle this?

What about the future?

Countless questions flooded my mind.

Then—

After just a few seconds...

'... Okay.'

I reached an answer in my head.

"..."

FWISH—

I imdiately stood up.

Pat—

I grabbed Damian by the shoulder.

"Huh?"

He looked back at .

And without sparing him a glance—

"My na is Kaiser, not 'Hey'."

I declared that.

"Huh?"

He was confused.

But I didn't care.

"Follow ."

I just instructed to him.

"Huh?"

Ignoring Damian, I quickly scanned through the cell with my eyes.

The other groups.

They were just watching.

Silent.

Not showing any signs of stepping in.

'Good.'

Tap—

I took a step forward.

"...?!"

"Wait!"

Damian followed after .

Then—

I spotted it.

A rock about the size of my fist.

I saw it earlier as I was scanning the surrounding.

Fwip—

I picked it up on my way.

Tap- tap—

Then I kept walking.

"Hold the two baldies."

I ordered to Damian.

"Huh?"

He blinked in confusion, but I didn't explain any further.

Tap—

And as soon as I reached the back of the bastard with brown hair—

Pat—

I grabbed his left shoulder with my left hand.

"Hey."

I called to him.

"Huh?"

And as he was turning his head toward —

FWOOOSH—

BAM!!!

I bashed the back of his head with the rock on my right hand as hard as I could.

"GAAHHH?!!"

He scread in pain.

"..."

Then blood splattered from his head.