Chapter 53: Interrogating Rok
Ka’z walked through the silent prison corridors with slow, measured steps, Shiki resting against his shoulder while his attention remained fixed on the translucent blue panels floating before his eyes. The quiet echo of his footsteps blended with the distant dripping of underground water as he silently reviewed the newest additions to the System Shop.
[System Shop]
[Settlement Module I]
[Price: 150 SP]
[Description: Used to track and direct colony development.]
[Combat Module II]
[Price: 100 SP]
[Description: Unlocks the Combat Aid Function.]
Ka’z frowned thoughtfully. Compared to every previous purchase, the Settlement Module possessed the shortest and vaguest description, yet its price matched the Path of a Mage. The system had already taught him one important lesson. Whenever it appeared to undersell something, that item usually turned out to be far more valuable than expected.
His gaze shifted lower.
[Name: Ka’z]
[Race: Kobold]
[Aether Core: Iron] [Low]
[Elemental Affinity: Earth & Fire]
[Bloodline: Draconic Lineage]
[Bloodline Tier: High]
[Bloodline Purity: Dormant] [5%]
[Soul Stage: Awakened]
[Status: Healthy]
[System Points: 20]
Ka’z nearly sighed himself into depression.
Just twenty miserable points.
He needed another two hundred and thirty before he could purchase both modules he desperately wanted before the Ashmork Clan marched on Vaal’kor. For the first time since arriving in this world, he found himself actively craving more quests.
Without them, his growth would become painfully slow.
Clank!
The heavy stone door groaned open and the smell of blood struck him first.
His eyes then settled upon Rok.
The goblin commander hung suspended in the center of the chamber by two thick ropes tied around his wrists and anchored to stone protrusions in the ceiling. His feet barely touched the ground as his entire body trembled violently from exhaustion.
Beneath him, thick earth spikes had been driven through several parts of his lower body, pinning him in place without actually killing him. Blood streamed continuously down the spikes before dripping into the dark crimson pool gathering beneath him.
Only then did Ka’z understand why Rok refused to let go of the ropes.
The spikes had intentionally missed every vital organ.
If he relaxed even slightly, his own body weight would drive them deeper. Death would come almost instantly.
At one side of the chamber stood Lan’ka with both arms folded, watching the struggling goblin with an amused smile.
"Bastard," Lan’ka snorted. "If you were going to talk eventually, why waste an entire day of my life?"
The moment his eyes drifted toward the entrance, his expression immediately softened.
"Ka’z?"
He blinked in surprise.
"What are you doing awake this early?"
Rok also forced himself to look toward the newcomer. The moment his eyes landed upon the familiar steel staff resting in Ka’z’s hand, every trace of exhaustion disappeared beneath overwhelming disbelief.
Shiki...
Boi’s Shiki...
His heart sank.
’Boi...’
Meanwhile Ka’z casually walked toward Lan’ka as though there wasn’t a half dead goblin hanging a few steps away. The stench of blood no longer bothered him. He had grown frighteningly accustomed to it.
"I came to torture him."
Rok’s entire body shuddered and Lan’ka looked genuinely confused.
"I don’t think that’s necessary."
He pointed toward the battered goblin.
"I already got everything useful out of him. Their main force numbers over a hundred warriors just like we suspected. Their Chieftain, Grash, will personally lead the invasion."
His expression became more serious.
"They’ll be here within a month."
Ka’z slowly shook his head while walking past him.
"Master... That’s not what I came here for."
Lan’ka immediately froze and his cheeks turned red. A stupid grin spread across his face.
"Hahaha... I know right. I’m your master."
He rubbed the back of his head proudly.
Ka’z merely rolled his eyes. This grown man was truly hopeless.
Walking directly toward the suspended goblin, Ka’z stopped beside the earth spikes before lightly tapping Shiki against the floor.
"Torum."
The ancient word echoed softly through the chamber.
An amber glow briefly flickered within his eyes before his mana and will flowed into the surrounding earth. Every spike immediately trembled before retreating back into the ground as though they had never existed.
Buzz!
Lan’ka’s pupils contracted violently. He created those spikes himself. Yet Ka’z had just taken control of his magic and dismissed it with a single word.
Rok’s breathing stopped for a brief moment.
"Brat... Where did you learn that?" His voice trembled and the ropes suddenly loosened.
Thud!
The goblin landed heavily upon both feet before staggering toward Ka’z. Despite countless wounds covering his body, his towering frame still loomed nearly five feet high above the young kobold.
Ka’z simply looked back without flinching.
"Boi squealed like a trumpet. Now I know everything he knows."
He shrugged casually.
"I see... So that’s how it is.
Rok hissed through clenched teeth and his claw slowly rose.
Even if he died here and his last act was killing this child, the secrets of the Red Scripture would survive within their clan.
Swoosh!
"KA’Z!"
Lan’ka roared while lunging forward.
Before anyone could react, Ka’z calmly opened his mouth.
"Kryos." White vapor escaped his lips.
Buzz!
A thin layer of ice instantly spread across Rok’s body, freezing the blood covering his wounds and locking his entire figure in place midway through the attack.
Lan’ka abruptly stopped and his mouth slowly opened. Words refused to come.
Bam!
Ka’z calmly planted Shiki into the ground before looking at the frozen goblin.
"You know... After speaking with someone very powerful I’m finally confident in my dream." His voice remained calm as he gently placed one hand upon Rok’s abdomen.
"Ignis Vel."
Amber light exploded within Ka’z’s eyes and at the same instant, Rok’s pupils shrank in terror.
BOOOOM!
A massive sphere of fire erupted point blank against Rok’s chest.
The frozen goblin became the projectile.
His body shot across the chamber like a boulder before smashing violently into the stone wall hard enough to crack it. Ice instantly vaporized into thick clouds of steam while fragments of rock rained onto the floor.
When the flames finally disappeared, Rok slowly slid down the wall. Smoke drifted lazily from his scorched body and his limbs twitched uncontrollably.
Bam!
The prison door burst open and several guards rushed inside with Tong’a immediately behind them.
The pungent smell of burnt flesh filled the room and every pair of eyes settled upon Ka’z standing quietly before the fallen goblin.
Lan’ka opened his mouth but nothing came out. He remembered how much effort it took to capture Rok alive. Yet Ka’z had defeated the same warrior within seconds without even throwing a single punch.
"Shit..." Rok coughed violently.
Fresh blood stained his lips.
"What... what the hell are you?" He gasped for air.
Ka’z slowly stepped forward and amber light continued burning within his eyes.
"When I defeated Boi the heavens promised me the complete knowledge of your people’s magic."
His voice remained completely steady.
"I questioned him and l learned your runes. But the knowledge I truly need belongs to you."
He deliberately concealed the System’s existence beneath the vague explanation.
It wasn’t entirely a lie. Only not the complete truth.
"The arrays. Teach me everything you know about arrays and after my people destroy the Ashmork Clan I’ll allow you to live as Vaal’kor’s slave."
His voice became colder.
"Ka’z..."
Lan’ka muttered instinctively but Tong’a quietly placed a hand upon his shoulder.
His eyes never left Ka’z. He silently gestured for Lan’ka to remain quiet.
Rok suddenly burst into laughter. Every laugh quickly became another fit of coughing. Even so the mockery within his eyes remained impossible to hide.
"Foolish brat! You think you can defeat the Ashmork Clan?"
He bared bloodstained teeth but Ka’z nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"Of course."
Rok’s expression twisted viciously.
"You know nothing! There is a reason Grash became our Chieftain! When he marches here with our army nothing will remain of your people!"
"Vaal’kor will disappear from Evergreen Forest forever!"
His laughter echoed through the prison despite the blood constantly spilling from his mouth.
Unexpectedly, Ka’z began laughing as well. The sound immediately silenced everyone else. Even Tong’a frowned.
Only Ka’z understood why he was laughing. He slowly walked toward the stone wall before placing one finger against its surface.
He inhaled deeply.
’Please... Don’t let me be wrong.’
Very carefully, he began writing in English.
"I just discovered that individual affinities do not determine the elements you have access to but the ones you excel at."
Every kobold inside the chamber stared blankly at the strange symbols appearing one after another across the stone.
None of them understood a single character. Only one person reacted.
Rok slowly moved to get a better view of those letters and a wave of familiarity big him. The goblin’s laughter vanished instantly and his breathing stopped.
His eyes widened until they looked ready to burst from their sockets and every trace of arrogance disappeared beneath raw terror.
His entire body began trembling as he stared at the strange writing as though he had just witnessed a miracle.
"Child... Where... where did you learn that sacred language?"
His voice shook uncontrollably.