Chapter 171: Shamelessness

Chapter 171: Shamelessness

You know who we are. Open the gates or well open it for you, Ogras said with a loud voice, looking up at the hapless guards.

There was no response for a few seconds, and the silence stretched on as the humans up on the wall looked at each other with despondent faces. Ogras was almost thankful for their inaction, as it would save a lot of time in their end.

Very well, thank you for making this easy, Ogras said with a shrug as the gate was drowned in darkness.

Constant sounds of wood breaking and splintering could be heard as the thick gate was impaled by numerous shadow spears. Shouts erupted from the wall, and a few attempted to stop Ogras attack. A few arrows and ineffectual spells sailed toward him, but Ogras effortlessly ignored them without breaking a sweat.

The demons didnt stay passive when they saw their general being attacked, and a multitude of far more powerful attacks blasted into the wall, completely decimating the top sections of it. Screams and wails could be heard, but Ogras didnt care as he stepped forward. It felt nice to not be the defender for once, but the conqueror.

Step by step he walked through the remains of the gate, his shadows suffocating the small fires that had started from the spells. The demons followed behind him, and finally the Valkyries walked in the rear with troubled countenances on their faces.

One by one they stepped through the wall of smoke into the town proper, and found themselves face to face with around two hundred warriors. They looked scared but they stood their ground, surprising Ogras somewhat.

Please, we just want to live our lives in peace, why do you need to keep coming here? a woman in the front shouted with red-rimmed eyes.

Well if it doesnt suit you, then youre welcome to swim out of our sphere of influence, Ogras answered with a smile. But as long as you stay in Lord Atwoods kingdom you will need to follow his laws.

Since when is this area under the influence of demons? We never agree to follow one of your kind, another man with a large sword shouted back.

Then youll be happy to learn that Lord Atwood is a bona fide human. Now let me ask you something. Where are all the children? Ogras retorted.

The defenders looked at each other with troubled faces, apparently readying themselves for a fight.

Why do you want to know that? Theres no need for you to bother our children, the woman aggressively shot back, fear covering her face.

Well, depending on what you did with them we will either kill you all, or well- Ogras didnt get further as Janos walked up and coughed next to him.

Something Off. Catch me one? a voice suddenly said next to him, making Ogras turn to the taciturn Illusionist.

Youre saying they are under an illusion? Ogras asked with a low voice.

Maybe. Saw glimmer in eyes. Mind control, Janos answered with a small shrug.

Ogras thought it over for a second until he turned his gaze to a building that was placed just behind the defending army. With a slight exertion, he managed to extend his shadows all the way over there, and with a few well-placed stabs he destroyed the supporting beams of the structure.

The house soon collapsed with a large crash, making many of the defenders worriedly turn around, afraid of getting ambushed. Ogras took advantage of the brief lapse of focus to flash over and grab the woman in the front. Shadows swirled all around her in a fraction of a second, and she was completely immobilized as Ogras teleported back to his own side.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? RELEASE ME! she shouted and tried to frenetically rip free from her binding.

The shout made the humans finally realize what just happened, and a few shouted some weak demands to release her. Ogras only snorted and nodded at Janos who walked over and touched her forehead. She quickly calmed down and her face gained a wooden expression, devoid of any life.

Ask now, Janos said and backed away.

Whats your name? Ogras asked the woman placed in a trance.

It was one of Janos more convenient skills. The only downside was that there had to be quite a difference in attributes between the illusionist and the target for it to work. Besides, even weaklings with extremely strong convictions or wills could break out of it, though this woman seemed to possess neither.

Katherine, she mumbled without changing her expression.

What happened with the children of this town? Are they dead? Ogras asked.

Ogras knew that if these people had killed all the kids, then Zac would have personally eradicated everyone here, so it would make his life quite easy. They could simply mow every combatant down, construct a teleporter and be back before supper. But if not, perhaps the situation was more complicated.

Hes holding them captive. We need to follow his order or hell hurt them. He ordered us to make you leave, she said, some fear once again emerging on her face.

Spare the waterworks. The Lord of Eyes, I presume? Ogras said as he stepped into the small hideout.

Wha? No, Im Gregor, the librarian, he answered with a confused face, but before he could continue a spear of shadows penetrated his leg, making him shriek in pain.

Dont waste my time, I want to be home before dinner. Where are you keeping the kids? Ogras said as he looked down on the prompt showing above the man.

Gregor Johnsson.

Level: 34

Class: Hypnotist (Uncommon).

Most used skill: Seed of Suggestion

Highest Attribute: Wisdom

Wait, ok, its me. But know that if Im harmed any further the children will all die. We are linked through my Mental Hive-skill, the man said between grit teeth.

Ogras snorted as he felt the gem on his circlet heat up, and from how hot it got he realized that it was actually a quite strong attack. The man must have leveled up his [Seed of Suggestion] skill to at least high level from using it on the whole town.

Dont bother using your Seed of Suggestion skill like on the villagers. And even if your little suggestion was true, what would I care about some human brats dying? Ogras said as another leg of the hypnotist was gored.

The man was now wailing and crying on the floor, sounding like hed been put through the thousand tortures.

Please, no more, Ill do whatever, Ill work for you! The kids are hidden in the town hall. Theres a hidden bomb shelter in the basement, theyre there, Gregor cried, tears and snot freely running down his face.

Its a shame, someone like you would make a decent asset. This level of shamelessness is in a way a strength. But I dont want to rock the boat with the little lord at the moment, I have an inheritance to receive, after all. So my apologies, Ogras said with a somewhat regretful face.

The Lord of Eyes confusedly opened his mouth, but before he could speak a large shadow spear impaled his torso, completely skewering him. A small burst of cosmic energy entered Ogras body, but it soon dissipated out of his body once again, reminding him of his predicament of being stuck on the bottleneck.

Ogras placed the corpse in his bag and returned to the armies who were still in a standstill.

Its done, the kids are in the basement of the town hall over there. Hidden bomb shelter, Ogras said as he appeared.

From there it didnt take long to sort everything out. When Ogras showed the corpse of the Lord of Eyes, chaos took hold of the defending army, with everyone crying that the children were doomed. Only when the Valkyries and a few demons were leading out roughly three hundred haggard, but living, children would they calm down.

The Hypnotist was dead, but the suggestions still lingered in their minds, though they would dispel by themselves over time according to Janos. The Illusionist also walked around and helped to speed along the process, and soon a few people, including the formerly captured woman stood in front of Ogras and the others.

Thank you for releasing us from this mental prison, and sorry about the way we acted earlier, the woman said with some embarrassment.

Its no problem. Lord Atwood would surely have come to your aid sooner if we knew what was going on here. Since your town appeared fine on the surface we mainly focused on saving those facing death on the other islands, Ogras said with a straight face. Im surprised you are so calm facing us demons. Most humans are a bit more shocked.

Well, we only met the Beastkin in the Tutorial, but I guess youre another of the new races sharing the fused world? the woman asked.

Uh, right. You actually have cultivators here? Ogras asked intrigued.

Yes, roughly two thousand of us are cultivators, she answered as a matter of course, but Ogras could barely contain his surprise.

This could only mean that Refugees Harbor was a drop-off site for a human tutorial group. It explained why the town was largely fine when most of the humans they scooped up on the various islands were on their last legs. But before he could ask any follow-up questions a beautiful, but dirty, woman somewhere in her twenties pushed herself to the forefront of the cultivators of Refugees Harbor.

Please, excuse me! You said that the Lord's name is Atwood? Is it Zachary Atwood? she asked with a hesitant face.

Why do you know that name? Who are you? Ogras asked with a frown.

Im Hannah, Zacs girlfriend.