Chapter 554 - 16: World
Murphy was overwhelming the group on his own.
"Stop!" Keynes roared, seeing this. He hastily took several steps back; though he hadn’t lowered his Longsword, he had already shifted to a defensive stance.
The other guards who could still move also scrambled back, gathering around their captain. Every one of them was wounded and panting for breath, the terror in their eyes yet to fade.
Lelas put away his short blade and retreated to Elvin’s side, his emerald eyes locked on Murphy.
Although Elvin hadn’t expended much energy, he was a Mage. Without the support of his teammates, he clearly couldn’t defeat Murphy alone.
Keynes took a deep breath, forcing down the roiling in his chest and the aching numbness in his arm. His gaze was complicated as he stared at Murphy, who stood perfectly still, his breathing not even disturbed. In a low, heavy voice, he said:
"Sir, this seems to be a misunderstanding. We entered the Nightmare World merely to seek out some old artifacts and materials, just for profit. We had no intention of making an enemy of a powerful expert like you. Offending you just now was a desperate act of self-preservation. How about we stop here? We can compensate you for your losses."
Murphy’s pitch-black eyes rested on him. "It doesn’t work like that. You were the one who attacked first, and you’re also the one calling for a stop."
Keynes’s expression stiffened. He gritted his teeth. "Sir, I’ve already agreed to compensation. Gold Coins? Is one hundred enough? We’re willing to pay."
As he spoke, he motioned for a guard at his side to take out a heavy leather pouch.
Murphy shook his head.
Keynes’s expression darkened. "One hundred and fifty! That’s already more than half the funds we set aside for this expedition!"
Murphy shook his head again.
"Two hundred!" Keynes’s voice rose, laced with repressed, visceral pain. "That’s the most we can do! Sir, even greed has its limits! If you push us too far, we’ll fight to the bitter end, and you might not come out of it so well yourself!"
The guards behind him tightened their grips on their weapons to back him up.
Upon hearing this, Murphy said calmly, "The fish will die, but the net won’t break."
The moment his voice fell, a Giant Sword materialized in the void behind him without warning, bathing the platform in a red glow. It was over ten meters long and composed entirely of Crimson light condensed to its absolute limit.
Keynes and the others turned pale with fright, before they could even react.
That Crimson Giant Sword, moving with Murphy’s will, swept out horizontally as if it had a life of its own!
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Keynes, Lelas, Elvin, and the few guards still on their feet were all struck as if by an invisible giant hammer. Their protective magical auras, enchanted armor, and parrying weapons shattered, twisted, or were torn from their grasp!
They all screamed as they were sent flying backward, spitting blood like kites with their strings cut. They crashed heavily onto the hard, rocky ground and rolled, able to do little more than groan and struggle in agony, completely unable to rise.
Milton’s gray cloak was torn to shreds by the impact, revealing a pale, vacant face. He managed to lift a hand, as if to cast something, but only coughed up another mouthful of blood before collapsing.
Having delivered its strike, the Crimson Giant Sword’s light rapidly dimmed, and it slowly faded into the air as if it had never been there at all.
Murphy slowly walked over to the collapsed Keynes and looked down at him. "Now, all the money is mine."
Clutching his agonized chest, Keynes struggled to push himself up. All the previous defiance was gone from his face, replaced by pure terror and a desperate will to live:
"S-Sir... spare us! We were blind not to recognize your greatness! We offended you! The money, the items—take it all! Just... just let us live!"
Elvin, also coughing up blood, forced himself to speak, his voice coming in fits and starts:
"Sir... Y-You... you must have a reason for keeping us alive... O-Otherwise, with that last attack... we’d already be dead... What is it you want? We... we might be able to help..."
Murphy’s gaze shifted from Keynes to Elvin’s pale face.
Then, he offered a faint smile and said lightly,
"You’re a clever one. By the way, what world are you from?"