Building An Empire Starting From The Labor Camp In Exile-Chapter 56: The price and the third option

Kren nodded and looked at Atrox. He stared at him for so long that Atrox began to think the man wouldn’t answer, but then he said, "Your will. You will pledge yourself to our organization. Where we direct, you will go. What we say, you obey. That is the price you’ll pay for the power we plan to give you."

"And I’m assuming I have no choice in this. You plan to force me whether I agree or not. That was your plan all along—to make me into a slave you can use," Atrox accused.

Kren shrugged lightly. "There’s no denying that. Look at it this way: we’ll give you power and save you from death. In return, you submit yourself to us."

Atrox gave it deep thought. From what he’d pieced together, he knew he wouldn’t survive past the Squire rank as a Forbidden Mark Knight. Either the other Knights would hunt him down, or he’d turn into a monster—a corrupted. And even though he didn’t know exactly what that was, he was sure it was something he didn’t want to find out.

His life for a lifetime of servitude. Was that such a heavy price to pay for survival? ’I already made the decision not to die again. Then I must do everything to preserve my life. Everything’

Atrox sighed, his body trembling slightly, then relaxed. "You’re right. I’m too selfish and a little power-greedy to pass up something like this. If you know about me, then you’ll also know about the family I’m from. You know what happened to me.

"But unlike before, there’s a new resolve woven into my body. It’s hardened my heart and made my bones steel. I won’t be under the whim of anyone ever again."

He paused, then added, "So I’ll go with the third option."

Kren frowned. "Third? I don’t remember offering you that one. What are you talking about?"

Atrox smiled, his green eyes lighting up. His body exploded into a wave of blue-white essence that surged into the Soul Drainer, destroying dolls after dolls.

Kren shouted, surging forward in a blast of darkness, but it was already done. All the dolls, except for three that fell to the ground like rotted fruit, had been destroyed.

The room lit up in bright silver as the essence, soul, and life force of the workers gathered in the air. It slammed into the Forbidden Door, which groaned open, revealing a world of crimson.

Atrox’s Forbidden Mark ripped free and appeared on his right hand, hungrily drinking in the red light that spilled through the door. Then the crimson light flared and yanked Atrox inward.

Woooosh!

Atrox disappeared inside, and the Forbidden Door closed once more as if nothing had happened.

Kren stopped where Atrox had stood, stunned into silence. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! "I should... shit... he’s entered without making the oath. How am I going to explain this?"

Kren looked at the door, then at the Soul Drainer on the ground. Options flashed through his mind. ’Should I go back and look for more workers to force the door open? Will it open for me? How do I get him out? Should I wait here for him... or not?’

Movement at the corner of his eye distracted him, and he looked up to see the three living workers. They froze when he focused his attention on them.

Kren said very slowly, "Emily, how did he save those three? The dolls are highly indistinguishable, so..." His voice trailed off, eyes widening.

Kren stiffened, goosebumps crawling up his body as the hair on his nape stood on end. He turned to Emily. The woman stared back at him with alien, deep purple eyes.

"...Kren," she said, her voice distorted and calm, like the force of waves against a shore. "You have failed."

The shadows that composed Kren shuddered, and he dropped to his knees, head bowed. Across the room, Tiber and the others could only watch in horrified silence. The air felt like steel—oppressive and unyielding. None dared look up.

Kren felt it too but didn’t speak.

Emily’s body turned and stared at the door for a long time before saying, "So, it’s the moon this time. The Red Infernal Inferno."

She turned back to Kren. "This body is insufficient. Report back. Leave him."

Then, as abruptly as it had come, the presence withdrew, and the room returned to normal. Emily collapsed, her head now nothing but a mush of flesh and bone.

Kren remained kneeling, not even glancing at the three survivors before the shadows in the air surrounded him. The Soul Drainer slid closer, and he vanished.

The room was cloaked in deep silence until Syla cried out in relief and collapsed. "I don’t want to ever do this again!" She shivered and trembled.

Taiwo looked equally shaken, her face tight. "I... what just happened?"

Tiber paced, trying to keep his hands from trembling. "We just escaped death! That was so close my stomach was all twisted up. Atrox... If we didn’t know him, we’d be dead now for sure. All those workers..."

He trailed off, and the room fell silent once more. They looked at the bodies strewn across the ground, at the slackened jaws and lifeless eyes that seemed to accuse them.

Syla cleared her throat and shifted. "We... we should get out of here."

Tiber looked at her as if she were insane. "We should leave Atrox behind? He’s still on the other side of that door!"

Syla opened her mouth, hesitated, then slowly pointed out, "He’s a Forbidden Knight, Tiber. We’ll be dead if we’re caught with him."

Taiwo sighed. "We don’t have one. We owe him our lives. I’ve already owed him once so it’s nothing. Just added."

Silence again. Then Syla smiled bitterly. "Yes. You’re right."

They fell silent once more. Tiber sat beside Syla and drew her into a reluctant embrace. Then they waited for the door to open—if it ever would.