Through decrepit prison corridors jailers walked up and down, coming in and out of doors, feeding prisoners, eating food, terrorising prisoners or just having a chat in the middle of the hallways.
Two guards in particular—a slender ork and skinny dwarf both in light armour.
Stood facing each other in the middle of a prison hallway.
Their voices echoed as they chatted.
"I tried to express my love to her, but she denied me three times." the dwarf said.
"Did you try serenading her? It will show how serious you are about her, without pressuring her into making decisions. In addition most Women in Viscura seemed to love it!" the ork replied.
"How would you know?"
"I have 3 wives."
"What? How do you deal with all that?"
"I don't." the orc said, holding his head "Honestly, it causes so much head pain. Please stick to one if you can."
"Haha i wasn't planning on having multiple anyway. I am in love with one woman! The problem is, I can't play any tune nor can I sing one—"
"Neither can I." the ork said bluntly.
"How did you serenade them?"
"A few fellows of mine to hid nearby, singing and playing instruments while I pretended to sing and play the flute."
"And they never found out?"
"Never."
"Wow, I should try it."
"Best of luck to you. I need to get back to some duties, i will be going"
"And you. Bye—" the dwarf guard waved him.
But as the ork turned around, the dwarf caught a shadowy figure standing right behind the ork, before the dwarf could shout or scream.
The orks head exploded, blood spiralled up as the body slumped to the ground.
The figure started walking forward.
The dwarf was just aghast, his mouth wide open.
Rage quickly filled his face, as he roared, pulling out a small hammer swinging toward the figure.
As he shouted faint shadows rushed into his orifices, at the same time the figure stopped in its tracks. Then the dwarf's head blew up, its corpse collapsing to the ground.
The figure then continued forward.
"Hey what's that noise!"
Multiple jailers heard the commotion and rushed towards the figure.
Their feeble weapons ready, as they got closer thin streams of shadows rushed into their orifices.
"GET EM!" Once they got into proximity, the figure stopped walking and in that moment all 3 of their heads blew up.
The figure then stepped forward as their bodies slumped to the floor, and continued to creep through the walkways slowly, its posture bent.
Many jailers would try to engage, but before they could even hit the figure their heads exploded. Painting the prison's halls with jailer blood whilst the prisoners blood was not spilled.
An hour passed by the figure left behind a path of death and decay.
Inside a now messy pantry, a voice echoed.
"I swear I don't know where it is please—fine fine you need to go deeper, and you will find it!"
"I was just scared before I didn't mean to lie—"
His voice was cut off.
The figure left.
At this point the prison was quite silent, as the figure walked down it went across a special cell.
The figure stopped in front of a prison cell and turned its head toward it.
Its purple orbs swirled.
"Come forth."
From the darkness of the cage, a human male came into the dim light.
He didn't say a word, he just trembled.
"You did well for me but I am surprised they caught you too."
"Yes necromancer sir."
Hearing this something rushed to the cell bars, banging it.
"NECROMACER!"
It was Antonio Prospero
He gripped the bar, his face was full of dirt and his clothes were ragged, yet he still looked fair.
"I WILL KILL YOU NECROMANCER!"
"And who's this?"
"Hey calm down!"
"No! Your underlings killed my lieutenant Donny!" Prospero thrusted his pointing finger into the necromancer's forehead, pushing his head back. "Mark my words necromancer, after i kill them you will be next—for all the death and destruction you caused"
"YOUR GOING TO GET US KILLLED!"
The check-in jumped up, taking hold of arm pushing the necromancer's forehead and using his other hand to push prospero into the wall but prospero was having none of it, as he shoved the check-in hard onto the floor.
The necromancers orbs were glued on to the finger on its fore head,
"GET OFF ME! YOUR COLLUDING WITH HIM TOO YOU TRAITOR!".
The check-in was dazed from the push.
"Is that so?"
As Prospero looked back to the necromancer, he saw its face right against the bars, shadows covered the cell, leaking in, tangible darkness formed a crazed smile on the necromancer's head.
"I would love that, how about I grant you death right now! Ahah" he cackled.
Prospero hesitated but he gritted himself "let's do it!"
"NO NO—!"
The necromancer orbs looked to side,
The check-in prostrated himself "if you have any favour with me please, pardon my companion for his insolence."
The necromancers' shadows calmed down gradually.
Until he stepped back completely from the bars, his orbs never leaving the check in.
"Being that you're the only check in, that remained loyal. Fine. Give me a few hours and I will send someone to reward you with freedom aswell."
"Thank you for your kindness necromancer sir."
The necromancer turned and walked away.
Not even sparing a glance or a last word to prospero.
He walked away.
The check-in laid on the ground sighing.
"Didn't know you were going to be such a nuisance"
"Shut it, traitor." Prospero said, walking to the back of the cell and sitting back down.
The figure was near to reaching the end of a passageway, its bent posture, straightened.
Its body creaked as it did.
The necromancer's shadows began to wear off, as he entered a spacious room.
The light cascaded over him, removing the darkness completely.
On the other end of the room. Both bonewalkers stood one side of the lich who sat on a chair, darkness still rested on it but the room around it was flooded with light from the torches.
The room itself had other doorways leading other ways but this open field was made for brawling.
Green torch lights flickered with intensity.
As Zero entered the light of the room.
They were all taken internally by surprise.
The boy who was so malnourished his skin turned a greenish colour from possible infections.
The boy whose body was so badly beaten he could barely move his body, not his mouth to speak or eyes to see.
The boy who bled so much other bodily fluids began trickling from him.
The boy who was frail and skinny.
Now stood before them all.
His skin clear, his mouth wide open, he was now 3 inches taller, toned with lean muscle, his white hair longer. His eyes are as vibrant as ever. All the beatings he took and wounds had been healed and didn't even leave a scar.
Except for the one on his chest.
He smiled broadly showing his teeth, "Hey long time no see. Did you miss me?"
After 1 week of torture, 2 weeks of incarceration.
Zero has broken free, stronger than ever before. Back to his old self.
"Hey, I can't hear you! Did you miss me??!"
All 3 enemies surged with mana, which rumbled the whole prison.
Zero just grinned crazily. "COME THEN!"