Chapter 103: Torture
Greed, lust, desire.
These are the shadows of human nature, the dark forces that can consume even the purest of hearts. When these emotions take hold, people start to lose their sense of reasoning. Their past beliefs and kindness crumble like sand slipping through fingers, leaving behind only desperation. The craving to fulfill their desires—whether it's wealth, power, or the allure of another person—clouds their minds with dangerous obsession.
"For whoever submits the cruelest idea—if your suggestion is chosen—you'll receive more than the pleasure of seeing it carried out. You'll earn the privilege of spending three days and three nights with this royal beauty herself!"
Her words hung in the air like a thunderclap. The once-bustling crowd fell silent, as though a spell had been cast over them. Empathy, loyalty, and the sense of debt they felt toward Lórien vanished in an instant, replaced by raw, naked greed.
The men, especially, seemed paralyzed. Their eyes widened, mouths slightly agape as they stared blankly into the space before them. For a moment, they seemed like statues, caught between disbelief and the pull of their own desires.
But not everyone was so easily swayed. Lórien, standing bound and helpless, recognized the shift in their expressions. He could see the flicker of their true natures surfacing—the greed, the lust, the desperation. Fury ignited in his chest, and he shouted, his voice filled with both anger and frustration.
"You cunning witch! Don't use such shameless tricks to turn them against me!"
Scarlett didn't even flinch. His insults rolled off her like water off stone. Why should she feel angered by a man as desperate and pitiful as him? Instead, she smirked, turning her gaze back to the crowd as if his protests were nothing more than background noise.
The voting began swiftly after her declaration. Small pieces of parchment were passed around, and people scribbled their cruelest ideas with trembling hands. But when the votes were tallied, Scarlett's sharp eyes caught a surprising detail—many of the papers were blank.
She let out a soft sigh, her fingers brushing her purple hair aside. "How boring," she murmured to herself. "So many people still loyal to this man." She smirked again, this time with a glint of amusement. "But a person without enemies is rarer than finding a diamond in a pile of garbage."
The rest of the votes, however, told a different story. Cruel, wicked ideas filled the pages, written by those who had already cast aside their empathy. Scarlett picked one of the papers and began laughing—a cold, heartless sound that echoed through the silent square.
"Hahaha... Now that the voting has ended," she said, her voice dripping with venom, "I shall begin the torture. And after that, I'll announce the names of the winners!"
Her words sent a chill through the crowd. Some looked away, shame flickering in their eyes. Others, however, leaned forward with anticipation, their faces twisted with dark excitement. Lórien clenched his fists, his face pale but his eyes burning with defiance.
Thank you for sharing the details about Scarlett's and Reiza's appearances! Here's the revised version of the scene incorporating these specifics:
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The public square was bathed in the glow of flickering torches, casting long, jagged shadows across the platform where two trembling figures knelt—Lysander and Luna, Lórien's father and mother.
They were tied to large, cross-shaped wooden posts, the binds holding them upright despite their weakened state.The crowd pressed in closer, their eyes gleaming with morbid curiosity, greed, or pity.
Scarlett stepped forward, her long purple hair flowing like a river of twilight behind her. She wore a one-sided, off-shoulder black crop top that revealed her toned stomach,
Beside her stood Reiza, her neon green hair glowing unnaturally under the sunlight, her equally vibrant green eyes gleaming with an eerie light. Her tanned skin and confident stance gave her an almost otherworldly allure, but her calm expression betrayed no pity for the kneeling couple.
Lórien struggled against his own bonds, veins bulging in his neck as he roared, "Scarlett, stop this madness! They are innocent!"
Scarlett turned to him, her purple hair swaying like a whip. Her amethyst eyes glimmered with mockery as she tilted her head. "Innocent?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "Innocence is a lie the weak tell themselves to justify their failure. They are too a failure by giving birth to you! "
The crowd murmured, some shifting uncomfortably, while others leaned forward in grim anticipation. Scarlett raised her hand, silencing them. Her voice rang out like a judge delivering a final verdict.
"Today, we will give the people a spectacle they'll never forget. Watch closely, Lórien. This is the price of what you and your companions done."
Scarlett motioned to Reiza, who stepped forward with surprising grace, holding a glinting chainsaw.
Scarlett nodded approvingly, then turned to the crowd. "Let's begin."
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First Torture: The Chainsaw of Agony
The roar of the chainsaw echoed through the square, silencing every murmur. Reiza approached Lysander first, tilting her head as if pondering where to begin. Then, without hesitation, she pressed the blade to his arm.
Lysander screamed, a gut-wrenching sound, as the chainsaw tore through flesh and bone. Blood sprayed in an arc, painting the platform in crimson. The crowd recoiled, some covering their mouths, while others stood frozen in horror.
Scarlett's laughter rang out, cold and merciless. "Don't cry too much, Lysander. We'll fix you right up."
True to her words, Scarlett used a relic infused with forbidden magic, restoring Lysander's severed limb in seconds. His skin was pale, his breathing ragged, as Reiza smiled and leaned closer. "Shall we try again?"
Without waiting for an answer, the chainsaw roared back to life.
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Second Torture: The Human Torch
Luna was next. Scarlett held a heated branding iron, its tip glowing a fiery orange. She walked slowly, deliberately, savoring every second.
"Do you know what happens when just two millimeters of skin are peeled away?" Scarlett asked
Luna, half-conscious and trembling, couldn't respond. Scarlett didn't wait. Her sharp nails dug into Luna's arm and tore at the skin.
The pain was instant. Luna's eyes flew open, her body jerking awake. She let out a gasping scream, her raw flesh exposed to the air.
Scarlett's lips curled into a cruel smile. "When the skin is freshly exposed like this, even a tiny flame can feel like an inferno."
A small flame flickered to life at Scarlett's fingertips. Its glow reflected in Luna's tear-filled eyes as terror consumed her.
"No, please, no! Don't!" Luna begged, her voice cracking. "What did I do? I don't want to die!"
Scarlett ignored her pleas, bringing the flame closer to the exposed skin. Luna whimpered, trying to pull away, but the chains held her still.
The moment the flame touched her, Luna let out a piercing scream. "Ahhhh! It burns! It hurts!..Please, stop! I'll do anything!"
Scarlett's lips curled into a satisfied smile as Luna's screams filled the air. The small patch of exposed muscle she burned was enough to elicit the reaction she wanted, but it only fueled her sadistic pleasure.
Without hesitation, she unleashed the flames across Luna's body, igniting her skin in searing agony. Luna's shrieks grew louder, raw and desperate, as her body convulsed against the restraints.
Scarlett stopped just before death could claim her. With a casual wave of her hand, Luna's burns vanished, her body forcibly healed, leaving her trembling and naked. Scarlett didn't acknowledge this; to her, Luna's humiliation and suffering were the only things that mattered.
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Third Torture: The Whip of Shadows
Reiza stepped forward again, this time holding a whip infused with dark energy. Each strike left deep, pulsing wounds that didn't bleed but burned with unbearable pain.
She lashed Lysander and Luna alternately, her movements graceful as if she were dancing. With every crack of the whip, the crowd flinched. Some whispered prayers, others cursed Scarlett under their breath.
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Fourth Torture: The Wheel of Bone
A twisted contraption was brought onto the platform—a rotating wheel with jagged spikes. Scarlett motioned for Lysander to be strapped in, and as the wheel turned, his body was contorted unnaturally, the spikes digging into his flesh.
He screamed, his voice hoarse, as bones cracked and splintered. The crowd gasped, some looking away. But Scarlett watched with unblinking eyes.
"Such a beautiful sound," she murmured, her voice like a serpent's hiss. "The sound of a man breaking under the weight of his own weakness."
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Fifth Torture: The Piercing Rain
Scarlett raised her hand, summoning shards of ice that hovered in the air like deadly needles. With a flick of her wrist, they shot toward Luna, piercing her arms, legs, and shoulders. Blood seeped from each wound, staining her tattered clothes.
Lórien screamed, his voice raw and desperate. "You've made your point, Scarlett! Please stop this, I beg you! "
But Scarlett only smirked, turning her gaze to him. "Oh, Lórien. We're just getting started."
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The crowd was a mix of horror and fascination. Some wept quietly, unable to tear their eyes away. Others whispered among themselves, their voices filled with fear and anger.
Scarlett, however, reveled in the chaos. Her laughter echoed across the square, and even Reiza couldn't hide her delight.
Lórien's face was a mask of anguish, tears streaming down as he shouted, begged, and cursed. But Scarlett didn't falter.