The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 138 - Blood in the Brew

Tave knew. Deep down, he knew how this could end. Panpan was now surrounded, trapped, in the middle of demons who thrived on cruelty and chaos. This wasn’t just some exaggerated tale about demons.

This was real.

And they were exactly as cruel, as brutal, as twisted as every story claimed.

What they were planning... what they might do to Panpan, it would be worse than death.

Tave couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t.

Just as the worst was about to begin, from across the chaos-filled hall, something changed.

One of the demons staggered and collapsed.

"Ha! Weak! Another one down just from drinking!"

More laughter followed.

"Pathetic! Can’t even handle a mug without kissing the floor!"

"Is that number five? Or six?"

But then, another scream rang out, sharp and real.

"Someone stabbed me!"

Gasps and angry shouts followed.

Another demon bellowed, "Ambush! Someone hit me from behind!"

Then came coughing, gagging.

"My throat, my throat is burning!"

"Ambush! There’s an ambush!"

The chaos was starting to build, real panic now. Screams echoed from several points in the fortress. The celebration was cracking apart at the seams.

The Named Demon paused mid-step, his head slowly turning as his calm twisted into rage.

The elite demons around him stood up fast, scanning the space.

"There’s no way anyone could infiltrate this place!" one of them snarled.

Then the Marquis let loose a furious roar, voice booming over everything.

"NO ONE causes disorder in my domain!"

He pointed toward the noise with his goblet.

"Find out who’s behind this, and bring me their HEAD. NOW!"

Tave had been moving through the crowd like a shadow, just a few drops of Soul Fire slipped into careless mugs, just a few precise stabs to exposed sides from behind. Each time, he changed his face, vanished into the crowd, and struck somewhere else.

It wasn’t much. But it was enough.

Enough to seed chaos.

Soon, the drinking demons were shouting at each other, shoving, accusing.

"You poisoned my drink, bastard!"

"I saw you sneak up behind him!"

"Don’t touch me! I’ll gut you where you stand!"

"You always wanted my rank, you filth!"

"I swear if you come near me again I’ll burn your lungs out!"

Punches were thrown. Blades drawn. More crashing, growling, screaming.

Tave kept low, moving quickly, watching it unfold. A thin, quiet smile touched his lips.

Then the elite demons snapped.

"Enough!" one roared, his voice cutting through the madness.

"Anyone who draws a blade again will lose their head!"

"Back in line or I start ripping spines!"

"Kill each other later. Anyone causing more chaos now will be executed."

Tave hoped they meant it. Let them cull their own.

As the elites tried to control the growing riot, one of them moved toward Panpan, clearly annoyed. He grabbed the chain still fastened to her wrists and yanked her to her feet roughly.

"Back to your cage," he barked. "Before you become part of this mess too."

Tave’s heart jumped. No. No, you’re not taking her back.

He moved quickly, stepping in with a scowl and a scathing voice.

"The Lord doesn’t want her injured in this filth. I’ll take care of it."

He snatched the chain from the demon’s hand, dragging Panpan with sharp, angry motions that masked his intent. His fists were tight, jaw clenched, not just for show. The tension was real. Every breath felt harder to take.

But it was working.

No one stopped him.

He pulled her away, blending into the edges of the crowd, acting furious while scanning the room for any kind of exit.

He couldn’t put her back in the cage.

He was getting her out.

Tave moved quickly, almost dragging Panpan along. But she kept up without missing a beat. Her head remained bowed, face hidden, but her steps were sharp, steady.

She knew. Somehow, even without seeing his face, she knew it was Tave.

Even looking fragile, she moved with precision. She wasn’t just following, she was cooperating.

Tave knew exactly where to go. There was a side exit near the prison area, guarded by only two demons. If they could reach it unnoticed, they had a real chance of escaping.

Around them, chaos exploded. Demons ran in every direction, some toward the commotion, some just excited to join whatever madness was happening.

"INTRUDER!" one demon shouted as he ran past. "Four bodies found in the storage room!"

Another shouted right behind him, voice full of fury. "Someone’s killing us from the shadows! I’ll rip them apart myself!"

Tave kept his head down, forcing Panpan to move faster. They passed through the crowd, pretending to be just another pair caught in the chaos.

Then.

"Wait!"

A hand clamped down on Tave’s shoulder, stopping him cold.

He turned.

The demon was staring directly at him, face twisting in rage.

"How the fuck are you alive?! I found your body in the storage room! Why the fuck are you walking around?!"

Damn it.

Tave and Panpan exchanged a glance, and in that split second, they both understood what needed to happen.

Tave’s blade flashed out, smooth and fast, slamming into the demon’s throat before he could say another word. Blood sprayed. The body crumpled.

"Run!" Tave snapped.

They turned and bolted.

Dark energy and shadow curled around their bodies, warping their shapes, muffling their footsteps as they raced down the darkened hallway toward the side gate.

Behind them, a furious voice screamed across the area.

"Intruders! They’re heading for the side gate!"

Tave and Panpan both had stealth. Both had agility. And both were fast.

They had to run.

Tave didn’t like leaving the others behind, but there was no time, no backup plan. Right now, getting Panpan out, and staying alive, was the only path forward. If they stayed, if they hesitated, they’d all die in the chaos. Or worse.

Besides, Tave still believed one thing: the demons wouldn’t kill the other four. Not yet. They still needed the Rift Challengers alive. That was the only hope he could cling to.

As they neared the gate, the two guards posted there were slumped over, drunk and useless. They didn’t even lift their heads as Tave and Panpan slipped past them.

Fang was there, too. Hidden. Watching. His presence was silent, but his cloak of shadow wrapped around both of them, strengthening their stealth even more.

Then they were gone, vanishing into the night like wind that left no sound.

No words. No signals. Just running.

Out of the fortress. Into the wild.

Tave didn’t stop. He couldn’t. Just keep running. Keep moving.

They needed to hide, but where? Anywhere. Anywhere far enough.

The open field around the fortress felt endless, every step dragging, despite the speed in their legs.

And then. Tave looked over his shoulder.

From the direction of the fortress, black shapes rose into the air. Flying units, at least three of them, soaring fast, their wings slicing the sky.

They were scanning.

They were hunting.

No way... they couldn’t have tracked us already. Right?

From the direction of the main gate, more demons poured out, dozens of them. The ground trembled under the weight of armored beasts charging forward into the field.

And then, worse.

Tave’s vision snapped to the sky.

There he was. The elite demon. The towering one. The one with the massive frame.

Floating above the fortress.

Looking for them.