As the minotaur dragged Obarihime and Asahi through their camp, Asahi began struggling and fidgeting.
With each movement, he attempted to break out of the minotour's grip. But, he was simply too weak for a fully matured beast such as a minotaur.
"You two are quite lucky," he said as they reached a tent with 5 minotaur females. "Captain Zurgast would've killed you if you hadn't mentioned Akira."
"Why do you care?! You're just using us as bait to get closer to him!" retorted Asahi.
When the female minotaurs noticed the male dragging them in, they stood up and assisted him in tying up both Asahi and Obarihime. Then, he crouched before them and smirked.
"You really do have a cute face... I'll enjoy having my way with you as soon as Akira's dead..." he whispered in a perverted tone.
Then, he stood up and walked out of the tent.
Asahi glanced at Obarihime and noticed her gazing at her surroundings. And so, he decided to do the same.
Anything would be a useful piece of information if it would allow them to escape.
Unfortunately, they couldn't find anything useful. The tent itself was bare and the only presence that graced them was that of the female orcs, who easily towered over them at a height of 7'4".
Unlike the males, the female minotaurs had large breasts and nipples that protruded over their thin laced dresses.
Their muscles were as well developed as a human male, but compared to those of their fellow brethren, they were small.
Still, there were records showing minotaur females being stronger, faster and far more versatile than the males.
For that fact alone, the females joined the males in hunts, raids and wars.
'It would be nice to learn about the anatomy of other races... But at this rate, I highly doubt we'll make it out of here alive,' Asahi said as he stared at the ground in disappointment.
"Asahi," Obarihime said in a soft voice. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine..."
Asahi smiled faintly and then ceased smiling completely.
"I'll die a little for saying this but, Akira will help us. He wants us alive to carry out his work, so he wouldn't let us die... Not by a long shot."
"... I hope you're right..." Asahi replied as he pushed himself closer to Obarihime.
Obarihime continued to inspect the area around her.
'This area isn't that far from our village, which could explain why they are able to make the rounds pretty quickly,' she said as she recollected the travel time it took to get to the camp.
'But, because they're raiders, they obviously have other sources of income. Our neighbours are definitely in the mix as well. That's why grandfather had me go over there and inform them on what we know.'
'But...' she continued. 'They weren't lenient on providing us with the help we need. Is it because we're monsters...?' she asked herself as she stared at the floor.
She glanced over at Asahi and smiled faintly at him. 'In any case, I'll do my best to protect Asahi. Akira will help us... No matter what...!'
***
The darkness had enveloped the sky and the stars began appearing.
Akira stood in his study while he read a book. Knocking before entering, Ruri entered Akira's study and found him engrossed in the book.
Akira shut the book and stared at the bookshelf. "They haven't returned yet."
Ruri nodded. "They've been gone for hours. I'm worried that something might've happened to them..." she said as she gently pulled her right index finger. "Shouldn't we go looking for them?"
"No need. The Thunderfist Bandits are going to come back here," Akira replied as he set his book down on his table and sat on his chair.
"How do you figure?" Ruri inquired, curious about Akira's decision to wait for the other's return.
"Let's just say I've done something that'll bring them straight to me. As it turns out, I met an acquaintance who had the Thunderfist name a long time ago."
"Really?" Now, Ruri was curious.
She walked through the doorway and sat on the chair opposite Akira's desk. With an attentive look on her face, Ruri began listening to Akira's explanation.
"Was this 'acquaintance' a friend?" Ruri queried.
"Not even. He considered me his enemy, even tho he was a bronze beetle at best," Akira retorted with a smirk. "Thing is, I highly doubt that his kind wouldn't come after me. Not after what I did."
"Oh..." Ruri tapped her chin with her index finger and began thinking. "So, because they want to see you, they wouldn't kill Asahi and Obarihime. They're planning on using them as leverage!" she concluded.
"Precisely."
"But when will we know when they'll attack?"
"Don't worry. I'll be waiting for them. Even if it means dragging them here myself."
As Akira said that, the minotaurs were already on the move.
With Asahi's hands tied together to Obarihime's, they walked in the middle of the herd of minotaurs.
As they slowly approached their village, they couldn't help but feel a sense of ease. Their home was finally within their sights.
"Asahi, I need you to do me a favour," Obarihime whispered.
"Huh?" Grabbing his attention, Asahi turned his head and looked at Obarihime.
"When I give you the signal, you will hold onto me as tightly as you can. And then, you'll close your eyes.
"No matter what you hear, no matter what happens, do not open them until I say so, understood?"
Asahi looked at Obarihime's determined expression and nodded. "I won't. I promise."
Meanwhile, Kurtis walked a few feet behind Zurgast. After releasing a loud chuckle, Zurgast began staring at the village ahead of them with a hungry look in his eyes.
"151 years... That's how long it took for me to finally avenge my grandfather..." he said.
"But, you wait no longer. For tonight, we eliminate the life force of Akira Mephistopheles, once and for all," Kurtis added.
'They seem pretty confident about beating Akira... Don't they know how strong he is?' Asahi questioned himself as he overhead Zurgast and Kurtis's conversation.
The goblins who stood guard at the gate noticed a group of people approaching. Torches may have lit their path, but it's clear that they did not need them, as their eyes glowed in the dark, illuminating their pathway.
The goblin guards stood frozen, their shoulders stiff and hearts beating faster with each passing second.
They stepped back and eventually ran back inside their village.
As they placed their hands on the gate and moved their bodies to push and close it, Akira appeared behind them, slowly approaching the gate with his hands tucked in his pockets.
"Don't close that gate," he ordered with his hands in his pocket.
The goblins looked at Akira, full of fear and confusion. They feared what lurked beyond their gates.
But, they feared Akira more than what was about to enter their village. And so, they opened the gate and stood by for Akira's orders.
"Mh? What are you doing here? Get to safety already," he demanded, prompting the goblins to leave expeditiously and enter their homes.
The minotaurs stood outside the gates of the village, Zurgast in front of the herd. He and Akira stared at each other for a good few seconds, neither one of them looking away.
Akira glanced at Obarihime and Asahi, sighed through his nose and returned his gaze to Zurgast.
Zurgast laughed softly and shut his eyes as he did so. Then, he grabbed his collar and ripped his shirt off, revealing a large scar that ran from his right chest all the way to the end of his torso.
"Akira Mephistopheles..." he said im a menacing tone of voice. "You dishonoured my family years ago! My grandfather was noble, and you stripped him of his pride!"
"And?" Akira queried with an unimpressed tone.
"Huh?!"
"I remember your granddaddy. He was older than me when I killed him though. I was a child back then. You can't hold me accountable for doing what I did," he retorted.
"And yet you struggled against him," Zurgast smirked.
"Not really. He was the weakest person I've ever fought. Never in all my 221 years of living have I seen a more pitiful man," Akira added as he smirked obnoxiously.
Zurgast gritted his teeth and shouted, "It doesn't matter! Tonight, I will be taking your life and avenging him! It was my father's will and now, it is mine!"
"How do you plan on avenging him? You're not exactly strong. In fact, you're significantly weaker than your grandfather."
Zurgast scoffed. "You're right. But, I know something that the rest of the world doesn't."
'Ha! There's no way in Hell...' Akira scoffed.
"You were sealed away and your powers were taken away from you. But, you didn't receive your powers back. In fact, *you're* significantly weaker than when you were sealed," Zurgast said as he smiled obnoxiously.
Akira blinked after he heard Zurgast's statement and said, 'Well, this just scrambles my eggs...'