NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Torture
Zuhn returned to the unconscious girl, gripping the butcher's knife tightly. He forced her eyelids open with clamps, ensuring she'd witness every moment. Spreading her hand into a fan shape, he raised the knife and brought it down, cleanly severing a finger.
The girl jolted awake, her muffled screams filling the room as blood sprayed everywhere. The other girl, forced to watch, wept silently.
"Haha, just like old times," Zuhn said, his grin widening. "I'll cut off each finger until you talk." He moved to the next finger, waiting a few seconds before slicing it off. The girl's reactions grew weaker with each cut, her body numbing to the pain.
After removing all the fingers on her left hand, Zuhn waved the bloody hand in the air, laughing. The conscious girl, tears streaming down her face, realized she was next.
"Can you talk now?" Zuhn asked, waving the knife in front of the mutilated girl's face. She barely responded, her eyes fluttering as she drifted in and out of consciousness.
Charlotte watched in disgust, realizing Zuhn had done something to prevent the girls from speaking. She'd known he wasn't normal, but now she saw him for what he truly was—a monster.
Zuhn continued torturing the girl until she passed out again. Deciding she was no longer useful, he ended her life with a swift stab to the heart. He turned his attention to the remaining girl, who trembled in terror.
"Scar!" Zuhn called. Scar emerged from hiding, nearly vomiting at the sight of the bloodied fingers and mutilated body. "Fetch me some white roses. Make sure they're fresh."
Scar obeyed, returning with two white roses. Zuhn took them and proceeded to carve out the dead girl's heart, piercing it with a rose before placing it back in her chest. He untied her body and laid it on the ground.
"Scar, bring me more rope and a bucket," Zuhn ordered. Scar complied, handing over the items. Zuhn tied the girl's legs to the rope, creating a pulley system to hoist her upside down from the ceiling. Blood began to drain from her body into the bucket below.
With the gruesome display set up, Zuhn turned back to his table of tools, ready to continue his twisted work.
Zuhn picked up a sharp knife and approached the remaining girl, sitting casually on a table. "You see that?" he said, pointing to the mutilated body hanging upside down. "That's what happens when you don't answer my questions."
He pressed on specific points of the girl's body, restoring her ability to speak. "Now, tell me who you are and why you're here."
The girl swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "We're from Cleen City. We were sent to investigate rumors of a Silver Master in this town. We traced it to you."
Zuhn's expression didn't change, but Charlotte's face darkened. "Zuhn, don't kill her," she warned. "She's the daughter of Earl Stephan. Killing her will bring serious consequences."
Zuhn turned to Charlotte, intrigued. "Earl Stephan? Who's that?"
"A powerful noble with influence across the region," Charlotte explained. "These girls are his daughters—both Silver-ranked and highly respected."
The girl, sensing an opportunity, spoke up. "Yes, my father is Earl Stephan. If you let me go, we'll pretend this never happened."
Charlotte sighed, shaking her head. "You just signed your own death warrant."
Zuhn's eyes narrowed, his anger flaring. "You think you're special because of your daddy? I wasn't going to kill you, but your arrogance just cost you your life."
He slashed at the girl with his knife, her screams echoing through the room. Each strike grew more brutal until her cries faded. Finally, Zuhn grabbed her throat, squeezing until her face turned purple and her eyes bulged.
When she went limp, he threw her lifeless body against the wall, blood splattering everywhere. Zuhn stood amidst the carnage, his blood-red eyes and devilish smile returning.
Charlotte stood frozen, processing what Zuhn had just done. How can I, an outer disciple, handle someone like him? she thought.
Zuhn, still covered in blood, walked out into the streets, leaving Scar and Charlotte in stunned silence. They had just witnessed a monster brutally kill two powerful Silver-ranked individuals—something even Charlotte's entire branch couldn't have done.
As Zuhn wandered the slums, the town of Hencewood buzzed with excitement. The annual fighting competition, hosted by the Windwood Sect, was about to begin. The Windwood Sect, a 2-star sect, was one of the region's most powerful, alongside the Dark Star and Overwhelming Wind sects. The competition was a chance for young fighters under 17 to showcase their skills and potentially join one of these prestigious sects.
The town was heavily guarded, with Bronze-ranked soldiers patrolling the streets. Silver experts and masters from the sects were also present, adding to the heightened security. Meanwhile, Zuhn, still bloodstained, wandered the slums. People avoided him, sensing the danger radiating from his emotionless demeanor.
After cleaning himself in a small pond, Zuhn approached a group of teens, demanding their clothes. When three of them resisted, he swiftly incapacitated them, leaving the other two to flee in terror.
The next day, Charlotte and Scar cleaned up the house, preparing to reopen. Scar suggested finding Zuhn, but Charlotte dismissed the idea. "He won't be back for a while. Let him be."
Zuhn, now in fresh clothes, explored the town, noticing the increased security. Loud horns blared, drawing his attention to the arena. A sign above it read: Fighting Competition—Winners get a chance to join one of the three great sects!
Though uninterested in joining a sect, Zuhn saw an opportunity to fight—and kill. He entered the arena, where fighters of all kinds gathered. Among them, a meditating 15-year-old caught his eye. Their gazes locked, each assessing the other's strength.
A young woman approached Zuhn, handing him a paper. "Are you competing today?" she asked.
Zuhn nodded, scanning the rules: no killing unless accidental, three judges required, and a two-silver penalty for losing. The competition intrigued him, and the promise of a fight reignited his bloodlust.
As bells and horns rang out, the crowd turned their attention to the street, signaling the arrival of the sects.