Episode 347: The Haxen Family (3)
The dwarves led Lady Haxen to a food storage facility located beneath the inner castle.
“My lady!”
“Mother!”
Several family members had already gathered outside the storage area, with other dwarves standing nearby.
As soon as Count Haxen saw his wife, he pulled her into a tight embrace and asked, “What on earth is happening? The dwarves suddenly appeared and brought us here.”
“I’m not sure myself. Monsters started appearing outside… What about Olivier and Ballad?”
“We’re right here.”
Seeing her daughter-in-law and son-in-law safe, Lady Haxen let out a sigh of relief.
Ahem.
One of the dwarves cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I understand your feelings, but we must escape immediately.”
“How do you propose we escape from here?” Count Haxen asked, puzzled.
The place was a sealed underground chamber, making the dwarf’s words seem nonsensical.
“Step aside for a moment.”
The dwarves moved the Haxen family back and began tearing up the floor of the storage room.
“What on earth…?”
“What are you doing…?”
Once the floor was removed, a tunnel was revealed, stretching westward. It was large enough for an adult to walk through without bending.
Curiously, two thick iron rods ran along the tunnel floor, with a long cart resting on top, capable of seating six people.
“What is this?” Count Haxen asked.
“It’s a mode of transportation crafted by our Hammer Clan. We call it the ‘subway.’”
“Subway?”
“It’s still in the testing phase, so there are some risks… but no one’s died on it yet. Though a few have ended up with broken necks.”
While the dwarf spoke nonchalantly, the faces of the Haxen family were tense.
“This subway leads towards the capital. Go there and seek help.”
“What about you? Do you have another way to escape?” Count Haxen inquired, concern etched on his face.
The dwarf gave a bitter smile. “We must stay here.”
“You could escape with us.”
“The monsters came through a dimensional gate. There’s no guarantee they won’t follow the subway. Someone has to stay behind to hold them off.”
Count Haxen’s face hardened.
“Don’t worry about us. We’re not that weak,” the dwarf reassured with a wry smile.
“But…”
“We owe a debt to Damian Haxen. Ensuring your safe escape is how we repay it.”
With those words, Count Haxen had no choice but to comply. He took a seat on the cart.
“Activate it!”
One of the dwarves pulled a lever on the wall, and with a clanking sound, the cart shot forward.
What just happened?
Lying face down, Veronica questioned herself.
What had just occurred?
The moment the enemy clenched their fist, everything was torn apart—skeletons, Miya, Munchi, Dominico, and even herself.
Ah, I’ve been cut.
Her entire body felt like it was on fire, the pain from the wounds excruciating.
I knew it wouldn’t work.
Veronica had already known she couldn’t defeat the monster.
How could she not? She was only a Master Class.
So why did I decide to fight?
Even animals know when to flee. Normally, Veronica would have run.
Yet she chose to confront the monster without hesitation.
Ah, it was for Lady Haxen.
She finally remembered why she had decided to fight.
It was to buy time for Lady Haxen and the Haxen family to escape.
It was ironic. A woman who found pleasure in killing was now risking her life for others.
Even though she thought it was foolish, she didn’t regret it.
In fact, she felt more urgency. The monster was far stronger than she had anticipated.
To ensure Lady Haxen’s safe escape, she needed to buy more time.
“Ugh…”
Veronica struggled to her feet, blood streaming from her wounds.
“Still alive?” the monster remarked, intrigued. Veronica twisted her lips into a smirk.
“Why? Does it bother you?”
She was prepared to die, so she intended to fight until the end.
“If it bothers you, try killing me.”
She had to muster all her strength just to utter those words.
”…”
But the monster didn’t kill her immediately. It merely tilted its head, observing her.
“Your face seems familiar…”
Just as Veronica was about to retort, Dorgo began looking around, puzzled.
“Sita, check again where the Haxen family is.”
”…”
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“It’s nothing.”
Sita closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. “They’re moving towards the capital.”
“Moving? But the skeletons have the castle surrounded. Lend me your senses.”
Dorgo grasped Sita’s hand, and everything Sita felt and saw was transmitted to him.
“Ah.”
Dorgo looked towards the capital of the Apple Kingdom.
“They’re moving underground. The dwarves must be up to something.”
Dorgo smiled as he turned back to Veronica.
“So that’s why you were being so reckless… to buy them time to escape. It was pointless.”
With a gesture towards the capital, several people suddenly appeared in mid-air.
Veronica’s eyes widened in shock as she recognized them.
The Haxen family.
They should have escaped the Spring Castle with the dwarves’ help, yet here they were.
“How is this possible…?”
“We were just underground a moment ago.”
The Haxen family members were equally bewildered.
At that moment, Lady Haxen spotted Veronica.
Seeing Veronica covered in blood, Lady Haxen screamed and rushed over.
“Veronica!”
Supporting Veronica, Lady Haxen spoke. Veronica looked at her with trembling eyes.
“Veronica?”
The monster suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Ah, now I recall. You’re Veronica Sanche, the Slayer. You rejected my offer of alliance.”
Dorgo asked, intrigued, “Why is a killer who finds pleasure in murder protecting the Haxen family?”
Veronica had no idea what Dorgo was talking about.
As she was about to respond, Count Haxen stepped forward.
“Who are you, and why are you attacking our castle?”
Though fear was evident, his voice remained steady.
Dorgo smiled, seemingly impressed.
“You have quite the presence. I suppose there’s no harm in telling you. It’s because of your son.”
“My son? You mean Damian?”
Dorgo nodded in response to Count Haxen’s question.
“What do you intend to do to my son, Damian?” Count Haxen shouted, his voice filled with anger.
Dorgo laughed heartily. “Your son refuses to listen, so I plan to teach him a lesson.”
“You vile creature!”
Unable to contain his rage, Count Haxen charged at Dorgo.
But he couldn’t reach him. An invisible barrier stopped him, causing his forehead to bleed from the impact.
Despite the pain, Count Haxen’s anger didn’t subside.
“You think you can use us to threaten Damian? It won’t work!”
“Threaten? Such lukewarm tactics won’t make Damian Haxen repent.”
Dorgo’s eyes glinted dangerously.
“I plan to drag you all to the depths of hell. You’ll experience every pain imaginable in a human body.”
Dorgo’s voice was laced with a sinister undertone.
“Even after death, you won’t find peace. I’ll trap your souls. That’s when the real fun begins. There are endless ways to torment a soul.”
Dorgo grinned darkly. Count Haxen swallowed hard.
But his fear was short-lived. Gritting his teeth, Count Haxen declared, “Do your worst! You’ll never get what you want!”
“Impressive. Very impressive. I do enjoy breaking people like you.”
Dorgo gestured, and a black skeleton emerged from the ground, grabbing the arms of the eldest daughter, Louise.
“Louise!”
“My love!”
Ballad rushed to save Louise, but the skeleton kicked him away effortlessly.
“In my experience, parents are weak to their children’s suffering. Even the strongest will crumble at the sound of their child’s screams.”
Dorgo smirked as he looked at Louise’s belly.
“And your daughter is pregnant. It’s been a while since I’ve had such an entertaining toy.”
Count Haxen’s face turned pale at Dorgo’s words.
“You vile creature! Let Louise go!”
Dorgo reached out to caress Louise’s cheek. She squeezed her eyes shut.
And then…
Someone grabbed Dorgo’s hand. With a puzzled expression, Dorgo asked, “What do you think you’re doing?”
The person holding Dorgo’s hand was Sita, who spoke in a respectful tone. “Mother, perhaps it’s time to stop.”
“I must have misheard you,” Dorgo said, a smile spreading across her face—a gentle smile, reminiscent of a mother’s.
“What did you just say?”
“I suggested that you leave them be,” Sita replied.
Dorgo tilted her head, perplexed by Sita’s request. “Sita, have you lost your mind?”
“I’m perfectly sane,” Sita assured her.
“Sane?” Dorgo’s confusion deepened, but Sita continued calmly.
“I care about you, Mother. The thought of losing you is unbearable.”
“That’s kind of you to say. I feel the same.”
“So if these people die, Demian Haxen will suffer just as much. That’s why I’m asking you to stop.”
Dorgo tilted her head again, considering Sita’s words. “But that’s exactly what I want.”
“I know. You want Demian Haxen to suffer and submit,” Sita said, her voice steady.
“But Demian Haxen is no longer a match for you. If you wish, you can make him submit anytime.”
“So you’re saying I should spare his family?”
Sita nodded, and Dorgo burst into laughter. The longer she laughed, the more her amusement turned to irritation.
“Get out of my way,” she snapped.