FVN Chapter 49 The Start of the Hunt
Chapter 49 The Start of the Hunt
"CASSIUS!" shouted the Duchess.
COUGH!
COUGH!
Cassius coughed up blood, his vision blurring as he looked down. The shaft of a trident, held by the dirty hand of the Pirate King, was embedded right below his heart, piercing through his stomach.
"Hehe! Don't worry, insect," the Pirate King whispered with a cruel grin, his voice laced with dark amusement. "You won't die anytime soon. I'll make sure you survive—just long enough to deliver a message to that rich Duke. You'll tell him exactly what I'm about to do to his wife."
The Pirate King tightened his grip on the base of the trident with his other hand, a cruel grin spreading across his face as he lifted the weapon along with Cassius's body.
The shaft drove deeper, the agony intensifying with every inch, and blood sputtered from his mouth, splattering across the Pirate King's face.
Cassius's vision blurred as he gasped for air, but his strength was fading fast.
The Pirate King didn't flinch. Instead, he bared his filthy teeth in a twisted, mocking grin.
With a brutal jerk, he spun the trident with terrifying force, sending Cassius's body soaring high into the air as if it were nothing more than a discarded ragdoll.
As Cassius soared through the air, the world spinning in a haze of pain, he could faintly hear the Pirate King's excited shout cutting through the chaos.
"I AM COMING, MY SLAVE!" the Pirate King bellowed, his voice brimming with twisted anticipation.
The words echoed in Cassius's ears, but they felt distant, fading. His vision blurred as the world below him darkened. The last thing he saw, before everything slipped away, was the Pirate King lunging at the Duchess, his spear raised high, the deadly intent in his eyes clear. Pirates around them erupted into frenzied cheers, their shouts blending into a maddening roar.
SPLASH!
Cassius's body plummeted into the dark sea.
...
"Hey ther... take... Duke... carefully"
Cassius' eyes barely opened, his vision hazy. He could feel the rough grip of four unknown hands lifting him, their movement unsteady as they carried him. The world around him seemed distant, his senses clouded by blood loss and exhaustion.
"Miss..." Cassius mumbled weakly, his breath shallow, his voice barely audible, before his eyelids fluttered shut, and he lost consciousness.
...
The Duke's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of calculation passing through his gaze as he processed the woman's demand. "I can bring him out," he said, his tone measured, "but what if he runs back into the sea?"
"The rat won't get a chance." Said the woman letting out a bloodthirsty grin.
The woman stood up, her movements fluid and confident, the deal sealed with the weight of her words. She was about to leave, no doubt to make preparations for what was to come.
"We will be going on my ship, and I am also coming along," the Duke declared, his tone unwavering, as if he had already made the decision and no further discussion was needed.
The woman halted, turning back toward him with a raised eyebrow, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "Your safety will cost extra,"
"I never asked for your protection," the Duke warned
The woman shrugged her shoulders as if the Duke's words meant little to her. "I will be waiting at the harbor,". In the next instant, with a swift movement almost too fast to follow, she vanished, leaving only the faintest ripple in the air where she had stood.
'An Ascended' thought Cassius.
The Duke turned his attention to the Head Butler, his command crisp and unwavering. "Contact me to the Merfolk," he ordered, "And while I speak with them, prepare the ship."
The Head Butler vanished the moment the Duke gave his command, leaving the Duke and Cassius alone in the room. The Duke started to walk toward the gate, his steps resolute, the urgency of his mission clear. But before he could reach the door, Cassius spoke, his voice hesitant. "Sir, I am—"
Without even listening to Cassius or sparing a glare, the Duke left the room. The door swung shut behind him with a soft thud, leaving Cassius alone in the silence.
Cassius stood alone in the empty room, a cold emptiness settling around him. His hands trembled slightly as drops of tears fell from his eyes, each one a painful reminder of the weight he carried. His body, though healed from every wound, still felt the sting of something deeper—a bleeding wound on his heart that no healing potion or magic could mend.
He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, Electric currents crackled around his body, sparking to life with an intensity that matched the storm brewing inside him. With the sound of the thunder echoing in the empty room, he left for the harbor.
...
At, the Harbor
A massive crowd had gathered along the entire length of the harbor, their hushed voices a constant murmur, but all their attention was drawn to one thing.
The warship's hull was dark and sleek, its design both elegant and fearsome, crafted for both speed and dominance. Its sails, tall and mighty, fluttered in the breeze. The symbol of the Ducal House stood proudly on its sails, catching the light in a way.
"Isn't that the Duke Ship? Is he heading for a war"
"Haven't you heard? The mysterious wife of the Duke got kidnapped. They say she's been taken by the Pirate King himself."
"There was a man wearing the servant uniform of the Southern Duchy. He was found dead on the shore this morning by a fisherman. His entire body was covered in wounds. I heard that he was running away with the Duke's wife... but was caught by the Pirate King. The Pirate King killed him and took the Duke's wife for himself."