Chapter 21: Captured Sonetto
Brown leather boots which were covered by bronze plates.
As bottoms: khaki pants, also bronze-colored knee pads.
Their superiors were covered in Elven clothing, but suited for battle. These Elven garments were made especially for all the Elves who are part of the city guard. The reason why they prefer to wear Elven clothing instead of human clothing is simply a matter of taste and pride, the Elves who live in Gignit have nothing against humans (who live in Gignit).
They respect everyone, and what's more, many Elves, whether men or women, have relationships and offspring with people of other races.
Continuing, the Elven clothing was long-sleeved, the left shoulder was covered by copper shoulder pads and these were in turn covered by some feathers resembling the wing of a bird. The right shoulder did not have such a protector, although this was due to the weapon he used.
On both arms, there were bracers, also called arm covers, which covered everything from the hands to the entire forearm area, leaving the elbow free, although these were covered by leather elbow pads so that the joints would have no problems when moving.
The bracers included gloves of the same material and color as the bracer, but on both hands the fingers were left exposed, which was beneficial for this Dark Elf.
Pointed ears, red hair and hazel eyes.
Sonetto held the bow in front of him and aimed seriously at those who seemed to be his enemies.
The red handle looked like a gauntlet, making it extremely easy to hold and helping to stabilize the bow. The upper and lower limbs had plant engravings, painted in green, blue and black colors. Both limbs were waved from the inside out.
The white string tied neatly at both ends, the shape of the limb gave a certain elasticity to the bow which helped it to be drawn back more than necessary, it was literally a bow specially made for Sonetto. With this he obtained greater momentum and managed to make his arrows travel faster and reach longer distances.
The quiver was made of brown leather and looked like it was covered in hair.
Some straps surrounded the edge and bottom of the quiver, inside which a total of ten arrows fit perfectly, although now only two remained in the quiver.
Braided leather straps were used to hold the quiver, the straps started at the top and crossed Sonetto's body diagonally, starting from the right shoulder, passing in front of his pectorals, going down and joining again with the lower part located in the area of the obliques.
Soneto had several blood stains on his clothes, the result of various wounds along his body. There were scratches on his face and one of his ears, the right one, was cut in half. Many of these wounds looked like they were caused by sharp weapons used against him. What was striking were certain parts of his clothes which revealed some skin, burnt skin.
He aimed with his bow and two arrows at two men located a few meters in front of him. These men were mercenaries who had tried to attack him with the sole thought that if they succeeded they would be rewarded by the criminal organization VARANUS. That idea died the moment they engaged in battle against him.
Before starting the battle Sonetto was at a disadvantage of three against one, now it was two against one because he instantly eliminated one with a very well-placed arrow to the enemy's forehead.
Sonetto was able to prove that his hypothesis about slave hunters, unfortunately, was correct when the now dead hunter spat out a bunch of nonsense like:
-We will sell all of you and play with all the pretty Elves, you will see, if you have a partner we will turn her into the worst prostitute that has ever existed-
When he realized that this subject would not contribute anything to the investigation, he killed him. He could not let him go, and three against one was a very marked disadvantage.
There were two left, the battle began, between those two he realized that the one who was further away was the one he had to be careful of. Because unlike his partner who attacked him without care, the other stayed away, pretending to attack him, but what he was looking for was the right moment to corner him. That man did not speak during all that time, his stoic look and the way of analyzing and developing himself by studying his enemy denoted a high degree of experience in battle, totally the opposite of his partner who attacked him without analyzing too much.
That didn't mean he was weak, virtually that guy who attacked without thinking would have the disadvantage because of his way of acting. He wasn't aware of Sonetto's abilities and despite that he decided to continue forward, that was demonstrated when Sonetto cut off his left arm.
He uttered loud curses at the top of his lungs to the four winds.
-WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON! AREN'T ELVES SUPPOSED TO ONLY KNOW HOW TO USE BOWS AND ARROWS?- his eyes seemed to have become bloodshot -WHY DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FIGHT WITH SWORDS? THAT CAN'T BE POSSIBLE!- what the guy said while he was suffocated by rage only revealed an inefficient battle capacity and ability to handle miscalculations. Because he, at the moment Sonetto used swords, simply believed that he would have the advantage.
He discovered in a very bad way how wrong his attempt at analysis was.
-That's the belief that some uninformed people like you have- answered Sonetto, putting the short sword back in the area of his lower back -even though I'm an Elf, that doesn't mean I don't know how to fight hand to hand or using swords. Tell me, what kind of idiot focuses merely on one type of martial arts or doesn't have other forms of attack and defense?-.
The silent subject mentally congratulated the Elf's way of thinking and acting; in other words, his stupid companion learned the hard way that one should not underestimate one's opponent.
Sonetto didn't let the feeling of apparently being in the lead go to his head, he continued to think cold thoughts. Although the injured guy was rather careless, he turned out to be very strong.
The Elf firmly believed that if one of those punches connected with him, he would get a very serious wound. And the situation could be made even worse considering that the silent guy had not yet officially joined the fight. This was the real problem, all that was needed was for his strength to be on par with his brilliant ability to make cold and accurate calculations, then the disadvantage would be too obvious.
They continued fighting, the number of arrows he could use decreased with each attack he made from a distance, and that was because Sonetto only fired when he was sure enough that he would hit the target, the battle would be eternal if it continued this way.
Something that relieved him, but only a little, was the discovery that the silent subject was considerably weak when it came to physical strength. But in analysis and strategy, he was another matter. That was demonstrated when he used a certain magic:
-Seal Magic: Invocation-.
What he invoked was something that left Sonetto perplexed and much more alert than he already was.
It was a Fire Fang Tarantula, and one at least a meter in circumference and half a meter tall. Long legs and a red gaze with eight eyes, black in color and highlighting a pattern of cracks that shone in reddish tones, in this area is where you can see how lava circulated inside it like blood.
It moved and revealed its fangs, which were glowing red. The joints of its eight legs were the same, even steam emanating from them. Something resembling four horns protruded from behind the area surrounding the eyes. Only the tips of these seemed to be burning.
-One bite and it'll melt me to the bone- The Fire Fang Tarantula is not capable of throwing fire or anything like that, what makes this magical beast dangerous is the venom it possesses. The moment it bites its prey it injects the venom which combusts due to the heat emitted by its fangs, this creates something similar to a lava flow inside its prey melting it from the inside and then devoured it.
The poison spreads throughout the body.
The Fire Fang Tarantula didn't move from its position while the other guys attacked it, even though one of them was without arms.
Everything was calculated, the only thing they did was lead him into a trap. First, they distracted him and completely diverted the attention of the Fire Fang Tarantula while it used Race Magic, which consisted of expelling extensions of itself from its body. As small as a normal tarantula.
Because of the high grass, Sonetto was unable to see him coming. The last thing he knew was that a few spiders were crawling on him, igniting and causing a slight explosion. Powerful enough to burn his skin.
He understood everything, this was the silent subject's plan. To make him believe that he intended to make him food for the Fire Fang Tarantula when his true intentions were to leave him at a disadvantage with the small explosions.
-Very clever of you, now that I know your plan it will be more difficult for you to corner me- the battle unfolded, Sonetto now had three battle fronts. First the guy whose arm he amputated, second the quiet but very annoying one and third the Fire Fang Tarantula with her race magic.
He wasted no time, so Sonetto killed the summoned man by imbuing one of his arrows with magic. With his sword he cut off the second arm of the careless slave hunter and was able to injure the quieter one quite badly. Although he did not come out of it all unscathed.
This brings us to the present moment, Sonetto aiming two arrows at those two -respond- Sonetto breathed with notable difficulty, the battle lasted longer than it should have because of that silent mercenary -you slavers always set up an improvised hiding place near the places where you plan to attack- he sharpened his gaze full of murderous intentions.
I stretch the bowstring to the maximum. "Where is your hiding place?"
On the other side, the silent subject was only observing Sonetto, analyzing and studying the way he should proceed in order to escape. He knew he was much weaker than his opponent, the plan only included him. He already thought his partner was dead, who was writhing next to him, cursing the heavens and dying in the process.
-Answer now...- Sonetto wanted to capture him and take him to the city, but it was too risky and all he had left was to intimidate him and have him answer all his questions -...or die-.
-The basis of our organization consists of about twenty steam-powered fighter vehicles-.
Sonetto seemed unfazed, but inside he was swearing and cursing. If what this slave hunter said was true, that only meant that:
-I can't give you an exact location because our leaders are constantly moving-.
-How do you contact them if you capture a slave? - With this question you could perhaps find the mobile base. If they were constantly moving, there must be a time on some day when they must meet to report and present the hunted prey.
-We don't contact them- the subject responded -they contact us through the use of invocations with the ability to fly which guide us to where the base is stationed-.
Sonetto clenched his fists tightly, he would have no way of finding them. And it would be stupid to wait for them to be contacted, there were surely too many things that these guys were hiding. What's more, they could even be being watched right now.
-I only have to return to the city and report all this to Chief UNO- he looked at the subject -there is no other choice, I must take him to be interrogated, there they could use other methods to get information that he may have stored and is of vital importance... but I don't want to bring slavers into the city. What would happen if something happens and he escapes?-.
Sonetto was so intent on taking information from him that he didn't stop and try to analyze the information he already had. It was highly unlikely that ten hunting vehicles were being used as a base. First, because they only fit two people, and second, because there are no roads off the main road. It would be almost impossible to navigate between trees and thick vegetation.
The heat of the moment did not allow Sonetto to think more clearly and the slave hunter would take full advantage of this situation, giving him half-truths that sounded like the complete truth.
-You will come with me- said Sonetto, hardening his face and pointing the two arrows at the slave hunter -you will be interrogated inside the city-.
-What would happen if I refuse?- the mercenary asked.
-It's not an option- he said coldly -you will come with me whether you like it or... ack- he turned around and the last thing he saw was a large hammer crashing into him at high speed.
Blood splattered from his forehead in such large quantities that it seemed his face was completely dyed red. Sonetto fell unconscious to the ground, the great hammer beside him.
-A mobile base of twenty steam vehicles? - asked an adult man, around forty years old with a long beard hanging from his face - you sure know how to lie - he laughed with sublime malice looking at the Elf who was absorbed into the world of unconsciousness - this Elf really surpassed them, he seems strong - he looked to the side at one of them dead, another one without arms about to die and the last one totally wounded and bloodied.
-I thought you would let us die, boss- the silent one sighed, stretching his neck and releasing some of the accumulated tension -That Elf is tough, I think we could sell him as a combat slave, he is very resistant and has good control of magic. He is also attractive, if we do not sell him as a combatant, we could offer him as a sexual slave to people of the upper class or to the nobility itself-.
-I see- answered the person who was his superior, the boss -with this capture you will be able to gain more prestige in the organization, keep going like this and I will personally make a recommendation for your entry into VARANUS. Just don't forget to...-.
-I'll always have your share of the profits ready, Boss- the guy nodded with a sly smile. Now, he looked at his partner who had stopped writhing -what are we going to do with him?- he pointed at him -the Elf cut off both his arms, I highly doubt they can treat him-.
The boss put a hand to his chin analyzing the situation, he took his big hammer.
He lifted it above his head and with great force crushed the other's head, which was in agony. Blood and other disgusting things were shot out from under the hammer. The body trembled for a few seconds, it was simply the remaining reflexes that remained.
The boss looked at his subordinate who seemed quite upset. "Is something bothering you?" he said, smiling. "Are you upset that I killed him?"
-He was someone very strong and skilled in unarmed combat, really if we treated him he could continue to be useful to us- I looked reluctantly at the boss who smilingly asked a question.
-But?- the boss's smile was even bigger.
"I wanted to kill him," the other replied. "I was fed up with his arrogant and stupid attitude."
-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA- the boss helped his subordinate to stand up while carrying the unconscious Elf on his shoulders -what do you say if as compensation we go to the pleasure area, there are new girls that can't be sold and all because of how mistreated they are, so we can play with them and get our revenge-.
-I like the idea- he said this last thing with a smile that reflected a high level of sadism.