Chapitre 16: 16 - Shadows of Revolt

Shadows of Revolt

Yelling with every last ounce of strength he had, Jon spat blood as he screamed, "SCREW YOU, JERK!" The blood and saliva splattered across Ren's face, causing a momentary surprise.

Ren's maniacal laughter reverberated off the dungeon walls. Even in such a dire situation, his madness seemed to escalate with every passing moment. He stared at Jon, bloodshot eyes and a face twisted into a cruel smile.

"I truly believed we could've settled this in a more... straightforward manner," he whispered, leaning in close to Jon, who was still trying to recover from the wounds and shock. His eyes locked onto Jon's, sending a chill down the young man's spine. "That little girl... Gwen, isn't it? Do you really think she managed to get so far? We shall find out."

As he spoke, Ren gripped Jon's leg with surprising strength, pulling him down onto the rough floor. Jon felt a sharp pain in his leg and tried to break free, but Ren's grip was like a vise. He was about to be dragged into an even greater darkness, perhaps to his end.

However, just as Ren began to move, a whizzing sound tore through the air. Before he could react, two arrows embedded themselves in his legs, prompting him to let out a piercing scream. His body toppled to the side, writhing in pain.

Surprised, Jon looked in the direction from which the arrows had come. A hooded figure emerged from the shadows, their face concealed, but their intense eyes shining in the dungeon's darkness.

'Who could this mysterious savior be?' Jon wondered as he struggled to get up, every muscle in his body aching.

Ren, on the other hand, seemed more shocked and terrified than ever. His once confident and cruel demeanor had transformed into one of pure terror. He recognized that kind of shot. That precision.

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Jon felt every muscle in his body protest, and no matter how hard he tried to resist, the darkness threatened to consume him. However, a familiar warmth enveloped him. Gwen, with red and swollen eyes, held him tightly in her arms, desperately trying to convey some comfort. Every tear that fell from her blue eyes onto Jon's bloodied face was like a gentle breath of life amid the chaos.

She wasn't alone. Right behind her, Melisa's silhouette emerged, her gaze fixed on Ren.

Melisa's look was one of utter disdain as she stared at Ren, who still writhed on the ground, arrows lodged in his legs serving as a reminder of his inferiority.

"I warned you, Ren," Melisa began, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Always wanting more than you deserve, yet never having the skill to attain it. Now look at you, a pathetic merchant who aspired to be more but, in the end, can't even outmatch children."

Ren's eyes flickered with a mix of anger and humiliation. But before he could retort, Melisa, her expression one of disdain, loosed an arrow that struck precisely between his eyebrows. His body slumped, lifeless.

Silence filled the space, broken only by Gwen's muffled sobs. Quickly, Melisa retrieved a medium-grade potion from her bag, handing it to Gwen. "Give this to him. It will help."

Jon struggled as he downed the potion Gwen had handed him. Meanwhile, Melisa gathered all the items that had fallen from Ren's inventory. As she reached for the most exquisite sword, a faint yet distinct voice echoed from behind her, "That sword is mine!"

Jon, regaining some clarity of mind, spoke up and fixed his gaze on her. There was a palpable tension in the air, a mixture of gratitude for the rescue and doubt about Melisa's true intentions. After all, if she knew about the dungeon, she could be as big a threat as Ren had been.

Melisa, sensing the intense stare from the boy, let out a short, ironic laugh. "Don't look at me like that, kid. I saved you, didn't I?" She paused, studying him. "Let's just get out of this 'interesting' place you've stumbled upon." She emphasized the last word, making it clear she was privy to his secret.

For a moment, Jon felt a pang of vulnerability. His discovery, which was meant to be an advantage, now seemed like a double-edged sword. Handing the sword back to Jon, Melisa added, "Come on, we don't have time to waste."

"Wait!" Jon exclaimed. His body was still weak, and the pain in his chest cut with every breath. However, the potion was starting to take effect, and determination gleamed in his eyes. With effort, he began dragging the goblin corpses he and Gwen had accumulated during their visits to the dungeon.

"Really, kid, now's the time to discuss business?" Melisa asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise and a hint of admiration.

Jon gasped, wiping dried blood from his lips. "You've already uncovered our secret. Your... companion nearly killed me. The least you can do is ensure we leave here with something to show for it and keep this under wraps." He paused, looking directly at Melisa. "I'd be in your debt."

Melisa let out a short laugh. "Alright, kid. But forget the 15 Tils. Just 10 each. You should consider the potion and my headache as part of the deal."

Jon nodded slowly, trying not to show his relief. "Deal."

Melisa leaned in closer, an enigmatic smile on her lips. "And, to clarify, he wasn't my husband. Just a mere plaything." She winked at him. "And don't think I'll forget this favor you owe me."

The charged atmosphere eased with this agreement. Now, they both had a deal. And a shared secret.

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