They both ran towards the direction of the scream. The cave's dirt path was uneven and dark—an obstacle for ordinary humans, but for them, it was nothing.
"Baldwin! I think my senses are back to their prime! What about you?" Athan asked while running.
"Yeah, I can sense normally again," Baldwin replied, focused on the source of the scream.
"Hold my hand!" Athan suddenly said.
Without hesitation, Baldwin extended his hand. The moment Athan grasped it, they teleported several steps forward.
"Oh, your old abilities, huh? That's great," Baldwin said, still running.
"See? Sometimes you need me! Otherwise, how else would you teleport from place to place?" Athan smirked.
"Oh, is that so? Very well, I'll show you something else," Baldwin responded. Suddenly, the cave alleyway was engulfed in darkness, and the next moment, they emerged in a more open section of the cave. Unlike before, the area wasn't empty. A group of people stood before them, wearing strange armor.
"Whoa, we're already here? That was your skill?" Athan asked.
"Yeah, I call it Shadow Teleportation," Baldwin confirmed.
"Hey! Who are you, and how did you get in here?" one of the armored men demanded.
Baldwin remained unfazed. "Athan, this technique has its conditions, so I still need you. Don't feel down."
"Oh, you think I'd be upset? Actually, I'm proud to have a friend like you," Athan grinned.
"Hey! Can you even understand us? Is it that hard?" another soldier barked.
"No, they're just ignoring us!" another snapped before raising his hand, sending a jet of water toward them.
Baldwin didn't even flinch. With a mere wave of his hand, the attack vanished into nothingness. His crimson eyes glowed as he gazed at them. "Oh? You want to know who we are? I wonder, how should I introduce myself and my dear friend?" His voice deepened. "Strangers, it was your choice, but since you've made it, I shall respond accordingly. I am Katz Baldwin VI."
"This is my friend, Athan, from the Xing Fu Empire's First Family," Baldwin declared.
"Katz Baldwin VI? Wer ist er? Haben Sie diesen Namen schon einmal gehört?" (Katz Baldwin VI? Who is he? Have you ever heard that name?) one of the armored men muttered in confusion.
"Xing-Fu-Dynastie? Gibt es auf dieser Welt ein solches Imperium?" (Xing Fu Dynasty? Is there even such an empire in this world?) another questioned.
Baldwin narrowed his eyes. "Their language..."
"Yeah, it's not the same as the ones spoken by humans, elves, or demi-humans," Athan added, scanning the surroundings. His gaze fell on the prisoners.
"Êtes-vous de l'Alliance? Aidez-nous!" (Are you from the Alliance? Please help!) one of the captives pleaded.
"Halt die Klappe! Glaubst du, die beiden Gören können euch alle retten?" (Shut up! Do you think these two brats can save you all?!) the first armored man snapped.
"Hey, Baldwin, I think..." Athan started, his face twisting in discomfort.
"Yeah… I think we're still in the labyrinth. However—"
"Don't say that word!" Athan groaned, clutching his stomach. "Just thinking about it makes me feel sick!"
Baldwin sighed. "Well, we have to accept it. We're in another world."
"Verstehen Sie, was sie sagen?" (Do you understand what they're saying?) one of the armored men asked his comrades.
"Nein! Diese Worte habe ich noch nie in meinem Leben gehört!" (No! I've never heard those words in my life!) another replied.
"Hey, sind die stark! Mit einer einzigen Welle! Er wehrte den Angriff des Kapitäns ab!" (Hey, they're strong! With a single wave, he fended off the captain's attack!) one of them whispered.
The captain's pride was wounded. With a scowl, he readied himself for battle.
"Mein Name ist Genbata! Ich bin der Kapitän! Unterschätze mich nicht!" (My name is Genbata! I'm the captain! Don't underestimate me!) he bellowed.
"Attention! Il est dangereux! Il n'a pas utilisé toute sa puissance!" (Be careful! He is dangerous! He hasn't used his full power!) a prisoner warned.
"Athan, you understand their language, right?" Baldwin asked, locking eyes with Genbata.
The moment their gazes met, Genbata dropped to his knees. He wasn't sweating at first, but in the blink of an eye, his men saw him drenched in sweat, struggling to breathe. They instinctively prepared to attack—but an oppressive pressure filled the air.
"Well, it seems I do understand their little slave language," Athan said, his crimson eyes glowing.
Baldwin smirked. "Then you should give them a reply."
"Sure, I'll reply… with my actions."
Athan's gaze bore into the armored men.
"On ne savait pas comment sortir d'ici, j'espère que vous nous aiderez ! N'est-ce pas ?" (We don't know how to get out of here. I hope you'll help us… right?)
A chilling aura seeped from his body. A deep red, almost black, blood aura surged from behind him.
The soldiers hesitated. Their captain was already on his knees. Now, the other one—this 'Athan'—was making their blood run wild.
Something was terribly wrong.
Had they just picked a fight with the worst possible people?
"Quoi! Es-tu un mage?!" (What! Are you a mage?) one of the prisoners gasped.
"Non, je ne le suis pas." (Nah, I'm not.) Baldwin replied casually.
He then turned his sharp gaze to Genbata.
"Dein Name ist Genbata, stimmt's? Sag mir, was ihr hier macht und wo dieser Ort ist." (Your name is Genbata, right? Tell me what you're doing here and where this place is.)
"Fahr zur Hölle! Ich werde kein einziges Wort sagen!" (Go to hell! I won't say a single word!) Genbata growled, his face drenched in sweat.
Baldwin chuckled, his lips curling into a smug smile.
"Nein, nein, nein, du solltest nicht so reden—besonders wenn dein Leben auf dem Spiel steht." (No, no, no… you shouldn't be speaking like that, especially when your life is on the line.)
"Balwin, let's clear up this little drama and find a way out," Athan suggested.
"You know, I want to agree with you… but I need to gather more information. Are we in another realm, or is this some kind of illusion?"
Athan scoffed. "Fine, but they're getting on my nerves!"
"Vor unserem großen Führer bist du nichts! Ich schwöre beim Namen des großen Führers, ich werde kein einziges Wort sagen!" (Before our great leader, you are nothing! I swear by the name of the great leader, I won't say a single word!) Genbata declared, still kneeling, face pressed to the ground.
Athan turned to balwin with amusement.
"Look at this pathetic excuse of a man. He's kneeling but still running his mouth."
"Oh? Is that so?" Baldwin smirked. "Hmm… Aber du gibst mir gerade eine Information, ohne zu merken, dass du schon redest." (But you're already giving me information without even realizing it.)
Before Genbata could react, the cave wall on one side exploded—rocks and dust scattering everywhere.
Light flooded in, revealing more armored men outside. They had been the ones to destroy the wall.
Genbata's lips curled into a grin that stretched nearly to his eyes.
As for the prisoners… whatever little hope they had left vanished instantly.
"On a fini! On ne survivra pas à ça!" (We're done! We won't survive this!) one of them whimpered.
Athan clicked his tongue in irritation, his face twisting into an annoyed smile. "Ewww… Who are these guys now?"
Seven figures stepped inside, but one stood out the most.
He wore golden armor that covered his entire body, leaving not a single inch of exposed skin. Behind him, four insect-like wings twitched ominously.
Balwin turned to Athan. "You know, I think no matter where we go, trouble follows us. Seriously, do you see their faces? Or their ridiculous outfits?
The golden-armored man stepped forward, his voice booming:
"Die es wagen, sich gegen meine Männer zu stellen! Seid ihr Insekten von ihnen?" (Who dares to oppose my men! Are you insects serving them?)
Baldwin chuckled darkly, his gaze turning razor-sharp.
"Du weißt, dass kleine Insekten wie Mücken immer auf dem menschlichen Gesicht landen… aber es scheint, dass deine Eltern dir keine Manieren beigebracht haben—wie zum Beispiel, wie du dich vor einer neuen Person vorstellen solltest." (You know, small insects like mosquitoes always land on human faces… but it seems your parents never taught you basic manners, like introducing yourself properly.)
Then, in the blink of an eye—
CRACK!
Baldwin's foot slammed into the golden-armored man's face.
The force sent him hurtling backward, his golden armor cracking apart as he crashed through the cave entrance and into the open air outside.
Baldwin tilted his head. "Yes, we're insects, as you said… but insects stronger than you."