Hollow: Man, my head feels like it hit a truck *notices note attached to shirt* whats this *reads it then shudders* gotta stay in Gainos for a few days.

Chapter 18

Knight's Unchivalrous Secret

The sound of ribs breaking echoed through the underground castle as Will landed a solid uppercut on Myra's would be master forcing him to collapse. He looked towards the other and said, "You go on ahead and get her out of here. I'll catch up once I give our friend here a decent goodbye". As they left Will popped his knuckles before dragging his unconscious opponent towards the throne room even if he gets caught on a few bumps along the way.

Sometime later

It was quite as he opened the secret door to find the soldiers he left for his vassal's protection struggling to put themselves together. He crushed one of their skulls as he said, "The only thing more pathetic than mortals is the undead she clings to for her armies". He continued toward the spacious throne room to find Baroque sitting on the long abandoned throne with his suit shredded, his body littered with scars made by daggers, and signs that his bones have been broken from his ribs to one of his legs but still showed signs of being among the living still.

Knight's POV

It was a pathetic sight for someone who would brag about being my second. He soon regained consciousness as I was just arm's reach of him but before he could mutter who I was I grabbed his throat and said how I was disappointed in his failure to maintain a single prisoner let alone my payment.

I loosened my grip on him allowing him a chance explain his actions, "It wasn't my fault" he said which only made the desire of breaking his neck even sweeter until he continued, "It was him, that Esterly she's obsessed about. And he wasn't alone; a soldier with the Queen's Army was with them and a girl that I broke and sold was with him too".

"So you allowed your hubris get in the way of your judgment and it rewarded you with such an ironic opposition. Such a fitting defeat for someone who always bites off more than they could chew. Especially since these women you capture are soldiers serving under Claudette's banner"

"I was trying to take advantage of her curse. It keeps the fighting going and her attention away from us. Plus it didn't hurt that I could make a profit from it".

He felt the tension in my hand as it slowly tightened its grip around his fragile neck so he pleaded, "look I can get you someone new for your payment. Someone who would do anything you want, just don't kill me". I decided to talk more about his offer so I let him go knowing he wouldn't be able to run far in his state.

POV ends

He looked at Baroque as he tried to stand with his injuries with the perfect idea for his redemption in mind. He said, "Alright then. You'll get a five minute head start"

With a confused expression on his face he asked, "W-Why would I need a head start?"

A slight chuckle escaped his mouth as he removed his mask. Revealing a human like face with brown hair, blue eyes, and a distinct pentagram on his forehead before he answered, "You thought that your payment meant providing me a concubine every year. You are further from the truth than I thought for you to believe that I would have such relations with just any mortal being. My kind is far more complex than you realize especially with how we feed".

"F-Feed?"

The thought of what he could mean by that caused him to try and limp towards the exit as Knight continued, "I hoped that somewhere along my travels to other worlds I would find an alternative for me to enjoy my meal without turning into that repulsive form I kept sealed in this armor" parts of his armor started to fall apart piece by piece causing him to begin transforming into the form he despised "But the laws of all these worlds keep such alternatives isolated in their use. This made it so I will be bound to literally feast on my victims from their flesh to their souls in worlds like this". His true form was a creature that was almost twice his size with a strange black liquid pouring out of a pair of scars on his back until it formed three sets wings along his back, his skin became pale, his teeth razor sharp, eyes glowing red with hunger. Baroque couldn't if he was a demon or some kind of fallen angel.

Knight answered almost as if he read his mind, "I'm more of a false God than a demon but you should've learned by now not to compare me to some repulsive angel" he snapped his fingers making what appears to be a black overcoat on him like he was wearing it the whole time as he continued, "The very fact that anyone would call me such a thing is an offense to my ears. All that power and they just sit on their hands in my world like cowards as it becomes more and more tainted by those disgusting humans". Returning to his senses after witnessing his transformation, he continued to limp his way out of here unable to make any real distance between himself and the monster that was craving for his flesh before five minutes were up.

A sadistic smile appeared on his face as he yelled, "TIMES UP!"

Even Later

The Queen's Army secured the area while Knight was still inside. Two of the soldiers that were sent to secure it have been tasked with exploring the hidden areas of the castle. They stopped when they heard the sounds of someone eating in what looked like the torture chamber. They carefully opened and witnessed what's left of the person they came here to apprehend being eaten piece by piece. They're unable to describe who or what exactly it was they're seeing performing this act of cannibalism but they had no choice but to barge in ordering him to come along quietly or they will kill him. He just finished eating, stood up, and slowly turned around to bits of blood around his mouth. After licking the blood he said, "Allow me to apologize" the door behind them shut on its own and every attempt to open it proved to fail as he continue, "I usually try to live upon chivalry for the sake of my little crusade back home but this is the one time a year where I'm given no say. After all you can only vast for so long". He began to drool as he got closer to them from the sight of the main course. But before he could get any closer on of them stabs him in the chest just to their efforts in vain as he continues to move closer until they're in arms reach. "Now don't worry" he said while grinning from ear to ear as they shudder in sheer terror, "I can tell you two have a very delectable taste".

Hollow: Not bad for a chapter posted on Halloween

Ymir: Lame

Hollow: Its not lame. I mean it might not win a scary story contest but its a good first attempt. Maybe next time I'll just put one of your nightmares in it but I could be persuaded not to...

Ymir: *angry mark* Your not staying with me!

Hollow: *sigh* figures