Noir's playful demeanor started to fade. He looked around, something doesn't add up—beastmen who regenerate in seconds, pale dark elves, and an unusually large number of them too. Who enslaves this many? Beastmen, giants, dark elves… all in one group?
"How many slaves did you say you brought in?" he asked Zuka.
"Around 100, give or take," Zuka replied, his brow furrowing.
Noir raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's an unusually large number. Who needs that many slaves?"
Zuka paused, thinking. It was a fair question. Truly
That'sanarmy,notaworkforce.Whothehellneedsthatmany?Andofdifferentraces,atthat.
Noir's eyes scanned the crowd before settling on a young dark elf boy nearby—something about him stood out. His eyes narrowed with interest. "You," Noir called, motioning with his hand. "Come here."
The boy hesitated, his small frame trembling, but he stepped forward. Fear flickered in his wide eyes, but he obeyed.
Noir crouched to meet him, his voice calm but commanding. "Look into my eyes," he said, locking the boy in his crimson gaze. "Where were you enslaved?"
The boy's voice was barely above a whisper. "We… we were kept in a dungeon underground. They took one of us every day to serve different masters."
"What did the places look like?" Zuka asked, firm.
The boy didn't respond.
"He's under my compulsion, brother," Noir said flatly. "He only answers me."
Zuka scoffed.
Noir continued. "Now, what did the places look like?"
The boy's eyes were locked in Noir's. He struggled to find the words. "I… I don't know. But they felt… powerful. Royal, maybe."
Noir's gaze drifted to the boy's neck. He gently tilted the boy's head forward, revealing a faint mark—a snake coiled tightly around a figure of a man. Noir's fingers grazed it, his eyes narrowing. "Interesting," he murmured, a dark spark in his eyes. "These slaves aren't just crossbreeds. They're experiments."
Zuka stiffened. "Experiments?"
Noir stood slowly, the grin gone from his face, replaced with something colder. "Their energy's being harvested for black magic. This isn't about labor. It's something else—something dangerous."
"How do you know?" Zuka asked, suspicion in his voice.
Noir gave a faint smirk. "I may have… dabbled with such an organization in the past," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "They don't just enslave—they create. Hybrids. Beings capable of channeling immense power. That mark?" He pointed to the boy. "It's theirs. This isn't random. It's a network. And those refugees? They're not just dark elves. They're part Necralith."
Zuka's eyes narrowed. "We're not just going to ignore the fact you were part of a demonic cult. But we'll get to that later. What do you mean Necralith?"
Noir nodded, his voice turning grave. "It explains the pale skin. I can feel it—the blood of Necraliths mixed with dark elves. A Necralith can expel raw mana. A dark elf can absorb it. Put them together, and you get something dangerous. A hybrid that drinks power from the world… and weaponizes it."
Zuka's fists tightened, his golden aura flaring faintly with suppressed anger. "We have to stop this."
Noir let out a low, mocking laugh. "Why do you care so much, brother? Why not leave them to their fate?"
Zuka's expression hardened. "Would you prefer I let them die..." He paused for a short moment, then he continued, "Let me put this in a way you'd like... It's better to make allies than enemies. We need to be prepared for whatever's coming."
Noir tilted his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Have you ever heard the tale of the turtle and the scorpion?"
Zuka raised an eyebrow. "No. What's it about?"
"The scorpion asked the turtle to carry him across the river," Noir began, his voice almost casual. "The turtle hesitated, fearing he would be stung. The scorpion promised not to, saying, 'Why would I sting you? Then we both drown.'"
Zuka frowned. "And?"
"Halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the turtle," Noir said, his voice darkening slightly. "When the turtle asked why, the scorpion replied, 'It's my nature.'"
Zuka remained unmoved. "So you think I'm being too trusting."
Noir's smile faded. "Yes, brother. I think you are too trusting and noble. And in times like this, that nature comes shining through. That's why I'm here, to save you from yourself whenever you need it, but, just be careful, I won't be here to hold your hands forever."
Zuka straightened. "I see brother, We'll fight together. This darkness can't be allowed to spread."
Noir grinned, his amusement returning. "Agreed. They've made their move. Now, it's our turn."
Zuka nodded, his determination set. "What's our next step?"
Noir's eyes gleamed with excitement. "It seems, dear brother, that we've got ourselves a vacation ticket to the land of humans."