"Why did you do it?"

  The King spoke in a deep, hoarse voice.

  "What sort of dumb question is that? Obviously, it's because you lot locked me up in some musty basement. Or what, will you tell me that I shoulda taken the beating like a good boy? Tch."

  I scoffed.

  Suddenly, an intangible force pressed on my entire body, sending me into a cold sweat.

  "You know what I meant fine well. Don't you dare test my patience, subhuman filth."

  There it is. Subhuman, am I?

  And yet, I was still alive despite his blatant contempt. It seemed like he was desperate to get some sort of information out of me - to even go as far as to tolerate my 'filthy' presence.

  Of course, I already knew the actual meaning behind his question.

  "Ah! Might you be curious about your little sapling? What was his name again? Malrik, I thin-"

  *Boom!*

  *Splat*

  In a single, effortless swing, the King's foot broke past the sound barrier and struck me squarely in the gut.

  A mix of blood and vomit poured out of my gaping mouth as I struggled for breath. Still, I didn't frown in pain.

  "I shall paraphrase. 'What' did you do to Malrik? If your answer comes even one second late, I will show no more lenience, Threadripper."

  "...Is that all you want to know? *Cough* The method? I doubt it, my dearest of Kings; to me, it seems like you're desperate for a solution to your broken son's demonic corruption. Or am I wrong?"

  "So, you're not entirely clueless after all. Then talk. Is it possible to undo Malrik's demonic corruption?"

  He took a step closer, fist drawing close to my head. The furious heat made my hair sway wildly.

  "That's right. I know of a way or two. But, oh no! Would ya look at that?! I'm so scared that I can't even talk straight! Surely, you can't expect me to give you a proper answer when I'm being threatened like this? Ahh, can I even trust that you'd let me live after I spill the beans? I dunno~"

  I felt like shit. My eyes barely worked. My stomach bled internally. Everything hurt so damn much. But, brushing past those injuries as if I couldn't care less, I kept my tone of voice light and cocky.

  The message was clear:

  'Nobody but me can save your son. So, if you wanna see him survive, stop with these pointless threats.'

  In truth, it was obvious that he had no reason to comply with my demands. Nevermind the fact that I harmed his son - I was a being that, in the eyes of figures like him, deserved death on the spot.

  However, all of that was very easily outweighed by a single fact. A weakness of the strong, so to speak.

  This man, more than anyone else in Nether, would be confident in his mastery of fire arts. And that, of course, meant he was even more proficient in torture than his firestick of a son.

  In other words, my plan relied on his sky high self esteem.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  I'll make it clear that I won't open my mouth no matter what. That I'm terrified of losing my one point of leverage over him. And... That I'm confident in my 'untouchability', as long as I hold that aforementioned leverage.

  The goal was make him resort to what felt most familiar - torture.

  I hated the idea with my whole heart, but unfortunately it seemed like by far the best way to stall for time.

  The king eyed me with suspicion.

  He can't read my mind, right? That would be an issue, cause I sure as hell don't have an actual method to cure his son.

  Finally, after the passage of several seconds, the fist withdrew from my head's proximity.

  "You refuse to speak unless I guarantee your safety... Is that it?"

  Whew, seems I was worried for nothing. Let's press on, then.

  "Let me be clear, just in case you can't understand. I have the upper hand here - kill me, and your dear son will follow me straight into hell."

  *Fwoosh*

  More heat flowed in, the fiery essence threatening to knock me out cold.

  Hah, wow. I might be better at enraging people than I imagined. Now, I need to push him just a little more...

  "Oho, gonna kill me after all? Heh, too bad then~ My secret will remain buried for the rest of tim-"

  Out of nowhere, his voice cut in.

  "-Let me be clear as well. You are mistaken."

  "Yeah? Mistaken about what, exactly?"

  I raised an eyebrow in mock confusion. At the same time, through my blurry vision, I saw his flames expand.

  "I have no reason to listen to your childish demands, Threadripper. I have something I need to know - and you will tell me."

  His deep, emotionless voice was genuinely the stuff of nightmares.

  Well, this is what I was aiming for, but... Heh, I'm having second thoughts.

  A horrible pressure, infused with a heat unlike anything Malrik had emitted before, pressed down on my shoulders.

  *Thud*

  My face was planted into the ground with no resistance.

  Through the howl of raging flames, I could just barely make out his words:

  "Let's see how long you last, young Threadripper. Your strongest tribemates' resolve crumbled after one hour."

  What did he just-

  *Sizzle*

  That was the final thought I had before my mind drew a blank... What followed could only be described in one way:

  Pain.

  Unbearable, agonizing, soul crushing pain.

  The kind that made me wish I'd never crossed this man's path.

  However, it was much too late to regret my choices. This was a hole I dug for myself.

  ***

  ”Haahh, Haaahh, haaah!!”

  Kaela sprinted out of the forest, wheezing in exhaustion.

  The swarm tailing her was insurmountable in numbers; thousands of demonic beasts, all drawn in by Ori’s essence which the tree violently emitted, had nobody else to feed on but Kaela - and so she ran.

  Her destination was the battlefield where Ori and the king were having a colossal clash.

  Or at least, that's what she assumed was going down. Her friend, suspicious as he was, had many secrets up his sleeves.

  This time, as well, Kaela was sure he'd manage.

  Me, on the other hand? Not doing so hot...

  The chase felt infinitely long. Kaela had long since run out of breath, pushing on with sheer determination and adrenaline.

  But eventually, even that resource was wrung dry.

  As it stood right now, her goal was all but unreachable. So close, and yet those crucial last steps - she couldn’t take.

  It was only a matter of time before she faltered. That was something she understood all too well.

  And now, that time had come.

  Yes, Kaela still had the strength to run. Much faster than a low tier martial artist, too. But demonic beasts were in a league of their own.

  "-Ah, shit!"

  Suddenly, her leg slipped. It was an inevitability, really.

  *Thud*

  After tumbling across the ground and skidding to a stop - face getting caked with mud and grime - she weakly pushed herself up, and gave the swarm of demonic beasts a deathly glare.

  Ahh, what’s even the point of staring these mindless monsters down? Not like they’d get intimidated.

  Yeah... This plan of ours was hopeless from the get go. Well, I should’ve known how things would end the moment I got locked up in the Royal Detention. Who am, to think I could survive where so many others died?

  Feeling ridiculous, she raised her head up towards the sky.

  Ori’s determination, which bordered on insanity, seemed to have rubbed off on her, as she began fueling herself with hope.

  But apparently, that wishful thinking was never meant to come to fruition.

  As she lamented her fate, slowly resigning to the inevitable, the rumble drew closer.

  One beast had reached her.

  And more would follow.

  “This is the end of the line for me, huh? How pathetic, though, to die without even putting up a fight. I hope you forgive me, boss, but I really don’t have the strength to raise a finger at this point.”

  With a mad growl, the closest of the demons jumped at its immobile pray, biting into Kaela’s shoulder.

  ”Argh!!”

  It hurt immensely.

  Well, at least I made a friend in my final days. That’s gotta count for something, right boss? You said I would never get close with anybody, what with my nasty personality, but look how’s laughing now!

  "..."

  ...Pheh, certainly not me.