CREAK—
The heavy drawbridge closed, sealing off the interior of Gaol Castle from the outside world. The man and horse who had slipped through at the last moment instantly became the focus of everyone present.
Nidhogg glanced at the stunned bandits and the panicked women and children in the iron cage.
This bandit gang was surprisingly well-organized. Not only had they captured a castle, but they were all armored, armed, and mounted on warhorses—not far off from proper knights in terms of equipment.
They all stared at Nidhogg in disbelief.
They couldn't believe anyone would be foolish enough to voluntarily infiltrate their territory.
What was even more baffling: the drawbridge had already been half-retracted. How had this man and horse leaped across the cliff, reached the bridge, and entered the castle?
"Who are you?" The bandit leader—the one who had spoken with the knight commander—was the first to ask. "How did you make that jump?"
Nidhogg didn't answer. He simply leaned low over his horse, urged Torrent forward, gripped his Lordsworn's Greatsword, and charged at him like a whirlwind!
"You—!" The bandit leader barely got the word out before Nidhogg was upon him.
FWOOSH—!
A silver flash!
The bandit leader's face contorted in terror. Before he could react, his hand and half his head were cleaved away!
Nidhogg and Torrent moved in perfect sync.
Torrent wove through the bandits like a silver serpent, smooth and agile as a needle through thread.
Nidhogg handled the harvest. His greatsword sliced through the bandits' armor like melons and vegetables. They passed through like a tornado crossing a field.
Screams erupted everywhere!
In moments, every bandit present had fallen from their horses. None remained intact. All died horribly.
CLICK—
Nidhogg wheeled his horse and returned. He shattered the iron lock on the carriage with his sword, opening the cage. The women and children inside shrieked in terror.
Without explanation, he charged into the gatehouse tower and cut down the two bandits guarding it.
Then he worked the winch, lowering the drawbridge with a groan.
When Nidhogg rode out again, many of the women and children had already escaped the iron cage. Seeing him covered in blood, they all went pale.
"The drawbridge is down. You can leave now." Nidhogg pointed toward it. "How far you get, whether you return safely or go wherever you wish—that's up to you."
He paid them no further attention. Many bandits, hearing the commotion at the gate, had noticed something wrong and were gathering.
The bandits were shocked to see their comrades' corpses strewn across the ground. Then they saw Nidhogg, greatsword in hand, mounted on his horse.
Who was this man? Had he really killed so many of us alone?
Seeing the bandits massing, the women and children dared not linger.
They quickly helped each other and ran toward the lowered drawbridge. Soon, they had all fled Gaol Castle.
Several bandits gave chase, unwilling to let their "goods" escape so easily. Their leader would never forgive them.
But as they reached the gate, Nidhogg intercepted them.
A swing of his greatsword, and these bandits died on the spot in an instant.
The remaining bandits had never seen such brutal, efficient killing—except from their own leader. Fear gnawed at them. They hesitated.
"Who are you?" One bandit finally managed to ask, though his voice wavered. "Don't you know this is Gaol Castle? Our territory? Do you have any idea what the consequences will be for letting them go?"
"What consequences?" Nidhogg retorted. "Are you going to call your 'daddy'? Cry to him and ask him to teach me a lesson?"
"You—!" The bandit's face flushed with rage.
Many bandits cursed Nidhogg furiously. Some loosed crossbow bolts. Nidhogg cut them from the air with his sword. But none dared approach.
The mangled corpses on the ground were proof enough of what happened to those who got close.
This gang of bandits wasn't stupid. And there was no chivalry here.
"Enough!"
A piercing shriek cut through the bandits' chaotic jeering. They quickly fell silent and parted, making way.
A tall, gaunt man in armor strode forward. He carried a battle-axe in one hand and a cobra-helmed helmet in the other.
His eyes burned with terrifying demonic nature.
This was Nidhogg's target—the Cobra Leader. Also known as the Snake Baron.
Nidhogg recognized him.
In another timeline, days before the Eclipse, the Snake Baron was one of the Apostles who attended Griffith's banquet. Some civilians had spotted him along the way, chopping down trees.
The current Snake Baron still occupied Gaol Castle in human form, ruling as a bandit chieftain. But his actions were far beyond those of ordinary men.
Instead of following his demonic nature and slaughtering the lord's entire city, he used terror to control the lord, turning the city into his personal larder.
This was the way of Apostles. Demons who took humans and their souls as ingredients, who delighted in torturing, seducing, and killing people.
Nidhogg dismounted and gently patted Torrent's mane.
Torrent stepped quietly in place.
"You came alone?" The Snake Baron looked around, then turned back to Nidhogg, looking down on him contemptuously. "What a strong scent... You've killed Apostles before coming here, haven't you?"
Nidhogg didn't answer.
The Snake Baron sneered, then donned his cobra helmet. Gripping his long-handled axe with both hands, he advanced on Nidhogg.
"It seems you've come for me... It would be rude of me not to oblige..."
"Of course, if you can't satisfy me, that would be even ruder. The consequences will naturally be..."
CRASH—!
The Snake Baron suddenly swung his axe at Nidhogg!
Nidhogg nimbly retreated.
The axe slammed into the ground, easily carving a deep trench. Stone tiles shattered into large chunks.
Seeing this, the bandits behind him were momentarily stunned, then erupted in cheers. They all itched to join the fight.
The Snake Baron wrenched his long-handled axe free, slung it over his shoulder, and kept his eyes fixed on Nidhogg. He bared his fangs.
Nidhogg wasted no more time. He produced the Spirit Calling Bell from his person, shook it several times, and a clear chime rang out.
The Snake Baron was startled. What was this guy doing? Then he saw three translucent wolves leap from the bell and bare their teeth at him.