Dragged Into Another World Because of My Otaku Friend-Chapter 99: Next Phase

In a dark, medium-sized room, flames flickered along the walls, casting shadows that danced across the floor. The room was empty except for a large insignia carved into the ground.

Several figures stood silently within the room, all cloaked in robes. All except one.

At the center stood a man, his hood down, chained to a pole.

"Why are you chaining me? I haven’t done anything wrong! I’m still loyal to our Lord!" the robed man shouted.

"Be quiet, Jarret," one of the figures said coldly. "He ordered us to restrain you to confirm you’re not under enemy influence."

"What?! I’m still sane! I still serve our Lord!" Jarret cried out, struggling against the chains that bound his hands behind his back.

Suddenly, the shadows near the wall rippled, and a figure stepped out of the darkness.

"The Lord is here," he announced.

The room tensed immediately. Every figure straightened, standing at full attention, as if receiving a very powerful guest.

The figure who emerged first stepped aside, clearing the path.

Then he appeared.

Kelar stepped from the ripple of shadow, his eyes razor-sharp. He scanned the entire room with a piercing gaze until his eyes fell on Jarret.

Everyone else lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact.

Kelar walked slowly toward Jarret. His footsteps echoed through the silence, each one hitting like a hammer on steel.

He stopped directly in front of the prisoner, towering above him. His cold gaze bore into him.

Jarret dared not meet his eyes. His body trembled.

"I-I haven’t done anything wro—" he began to speak, but was suddenly interrupted.

"Did I say you could talk?" Kelar said.

His tone was soft, but it sound with something deeper, something that chilled the spine.

Jarret gasped for air. His breaths were rapid and shallow.

The room tensed. Even the robed figures nearby could feel the pressure in the air.

Kelar began to walk around him, slowly rotating Jarret clockwise.

"Kreel informed me that you were the one who activated the Null Kaoslith. Is that true?" Kelar asked.

"Y-yes," Jarret stammered, his body soaked with sweat.

Kelar’s steps halted behind him.

"Can you kindly tell me," he said slowly, "who gave you the permission to activate it?"

"I—I did it myself... without anyone’s authorization." freewebnøvel.coɱ

Kelar’s voice didn’t change.

"Do you know the consequences of what you’ve done?"

"I—I’m really sorry—"

"Answer the question. Do you know?"

"I... I don’t know."

"So you don’t know."

Kelar took a slow step forward.

"Let me explain it to you then."

His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper, but it was the kind of whisper that silenced the soul.

"Because of your action... people will start to find out what we’ve been doing for the past ten years. Our secrecy is compromised. Everything we’ve built, everything we’ve planned, now at risk."

He moved closer, shadows clinging to him.

"And when that happens... who, Jarret, should take responsibility?"

Jarret didn’t answer. He couldn’t. He trembled violently, head bowed, mouth slightly open, too scared to even take a breath.

"And one more thing," Kelar added, "is it true... that Daria was defeated? Even after she transformed?"

"Y-yes, m-my Lord..." Jarret barely whispered.

"Hmmm... to think she was defeated even in that form." Kelar murmured, eyes narrowed. "Anyway... someone, release him."

One of the nearby robed figures moved and unlocked the chains.

Jarret collapsed forward, quickly massaging his wrists with a sigh of relief. As he turned to face Kelar, perhaps to express gratitude...

A hand suddenly grabbed his face.

In the same instant, Jarret was lifted into the air with terrifying ease. A purplish flame ignited from the hand that held him, engulfing his entire head. He screamed as he clawed at the arm that held him suspended.

But it was no use.

Seconds later, the scream faded. His body blackened and dried like brittle charcoal... then crumbled. What remained scattered to the floor in flakes of ash.

Kelar clapped his hands lightly, brushing the ashes away.

"Azul," he said, voice calm.

From the shadows in the corner of the room, another figure emerged. Like the others, he wore a robe but with a smooth, featureless mask covering his face. He appeared before Kelar and knelt, one knee down, one fist pressed to the ground.

"Do you know who the perpetrators were?" Kelar asked.

"Yes," Azul replied. "Members of the Dawnbloom Guild, Beltimore and Alice. As for the other two, we’re still investigating."

Dawnbloom Guild...

Kelar’s eyes narrowed further That name stirred old hatred. A guild that had failed him once, ten years ago.

But this time, he would not let them stop him again.

"Send those three prisoners to our next target," Kelar instructed.

Azul looked slightly surprised but quickly responded, "Apologies, my Lord, but the Kaoslith inside them is still not mature. If we send them now, I fear the link won’t be stable."

"Never mind. Just send them. We need a distraction to cover up this fool’s mistake," Kelar said coldly.

Azul stood and gave a deep bow. "Your request will be fulfilled, my Lord." He then retreated into the darkness, vanishing into the shadow.

Kelar turned to the others.

"The rest of you, half go to Daisy Town. The others, secure our remaining locations. Fortify them immediately."

All the robed figures bowed deeply, one by one vanishing into the surrounding shadows, until only Kelar remained in the room.

He looked down at the scattered ashes on the floor. His eyes were no longer calm, they were dread incarnate.

"Looks like it’s time to move on to the next phase."

---

In the underground chamber, a man leaned against the cold wall. Both of his arms were chained high above his head, forcing him into a constant state of strain. His face was battered, covered in scars, and his hair hung in matted, messy strands. His breathing was shallow. His head drooped low, and his body slumped with exhaustion.

The only sound accompanying him was the slow, rhythmic drip of water from the ceiling, falling onto the moss-covered stone floor.

Then came another sound, faint at first, then gradually louder.

Sound of footsteps.

The man slowly raised his head. His vision was blurred, but as it cleared, he saw several figures approaching.

When he recognized the masked figure leading them, fury erupted in his chest.

"You!" he roared.

"Where are my wife and son?!" His bloodshot eyes widened in rage as he clenched his jaw, his voice trembling with fury.

The masked figure stepped forward. His voice came low and muffled through the mask.

"Do not worry, my friend, Rhod. Today is the day you reunite with your family."

Two robed figures entered through the iron door, dragging two people with them. Without care, they threw the bodies into the cage in front of Rhod.

Rhod’s heart froze.

It was them, his wife and son.

But their eyes... void of light. Their mouths hung open, saliva dripping mindlessly. They were like puppets, lifeless soul.

"What have you done to them?!" Rhod screamed, thrashing against the chains. Blood began to run down his arms as the metal tore into his wrists.

The masked man tilted his head slightly, as if puzzled.

"This is your family, isn’t it? Isn’t this what you wished for?"

"No!" Rhod cried. His voice cracked as he pulled harder against the chains, driven by helpless rage and grief.

The masked man sighed.

"I truly thought you would be happy to see them again. Hm... then let me help you."

He reached up and removed his mask.

Rhod’s breath caught in his throat.

"You..." he whispered.

A familiar face stared back at him.

"Why... why are you doing this?"

The man said nothing. His left eye began to glow with a color of a deep violet.

He reached forward and placed a hand on Rhod’s head. A pulse of purple light radiated outward from his hand.

Rhod’s screams died in his throat. His body twitched... then stilled.

Slowly, his eyes faded into the same lifeless soul. Void of light.

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