Chapter 407: Into ashes

Alex didn't know to what extent the Winged People wielded the clouds, but he was sure that people trapped in these would never be able to open their eyes —at least by themselves.

Down from their waist, the prisoners had their bodies submerged in the freezing clouds, with mist swirling around their puffy clouds. No one could see the private parts of both genders.

The top was bare, though. And it still wasn't a pleasant sight, even if many women were imprisoned inside. Every prisoner had golden scars crossing their upper bodies, which seemed like throbbing veins or scars.

Those golden wounds throbbed, raising questions in Meiya and Alex's minds — what exactly was the principle behind those veins? Had been those people providing the main island with mana, or was it solely for punishment purposes?

Auberon bypassed those sleeping prisoners, and Alex and Meiya quickly rushed after him, not wanting to be left behind in such a place. It was also disrespectful to just gaze at those prisoners and their state.

He guided his family to a smaller room where at least one hundred prisoners had been sleeping in pain. Unlike the prisoners from outside, that group of criminals had been wincing, their lips quivering, and eyes trembling as if they would soon wake up.

Their golden scars throbbed stronger, but at times, their light paled as if its power was weakening over time. Still, that particular group had the worst scars as it seemed like someone had whipped them countless times.

Auberon parted his lips, his eyes fixed on the captured people, "The holiness doesn't stop us from committing evil. It doesn't fend off sinful desires and surely doesn't turn us into forgiving saints."

His voice was slow and cold, and there was also a tinge of disappointment within his tone, "That element still can punish people for their sins, however. And with our understanding of it, we can cast the worst and the most painful punishment for our prisoners. Of course, it might seem like they aren't in pain, at least those outside this room, but they are subjects to the unimaginable pain deep within their souls.

Believe me, that's worse than physical pain." Auberon said.

And then, he continued with his explanation.

Those people committed various crimes, starting from the thievery of grand treasures to killing people with royal blood. Even one crime on a grand scale would put people in an underground prison.

And as they all wanted blood or resources from Flayott Household, Auberon's lineage had a whole order of their enemies' lives.

The golden veins both punished and generated mana for the vast island, so Meiya and Alex had been on the spot with their guess.

"Well then," Auberon turned around to face Alex and Meiya, "I recall you saying that you can level up, Meiya."

While Alex and Stella were players because of their circumstances, Meiya could visit Alex's world, yet she couldn't turn into a player. That was not a problem as Alex's Deathwill Castle was a league above others.

Meiya nodded gravely, then smiled faintly, "I've done training in barracks against mother's battle experience. I should be able to level up a ton. If I don't, I will spend a few more days in barracks."

She didn't have much time, but it was a good occasion to see the barrack's limits, so Meiya and Alex gladly accepted their circumstances.

Auberon also nodded, telling the duo that he's also interested in how many deaths it would take for both of them to level up to at least three hundred and fifty.

"You can start grinding," Auberon said, then sat on a chair he had prepared for himself beforehand, his eyes were fixed on his family.

He added that those prisoners were the worst and surely the most prominent winged from the far past. Adapting to the golden scars allowed them to take a few steps toward freedom.

That was exactly why they had been scrunching their faces, trembling.

And while Alex didn't doubt those people wouldn't wake up anytime soon, he couldn't help but admire people's persistence and stubbornness. But in the end, as he approached the first prisoner, the man's bare neck became exposed, so defenseless and even soft looking.

One sword slash should do the job — or so Alex thought.

After his sword bounced off, Alex widened his eyes at the prisoner's natural defenses. The man wasn't a mass of flesh — like those bodybuilders from Alex's world — so he really looked defenseless and easy to kill.

But in the Avander World, looks were indeed deceiving.

"All out, huh," Alex repeated a similar, but less grand, a spectacle like during his battle against Madame Danielle, his powers flaring around his swords as Asura Arms sprouted from his torso.

The black Wrath and blue flames from [Eldritch Touch] snapped at the man's neck once again. And as the latter had peculiar effects, Auberon's eyes widened in shock.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

The prisoner before Alex let out a howl, his eyes widening and revealing the golden irises, which trembled profusely. For a long time, he had been shackled in his soul, soaked in a tremendous pain gnawing him entirely. Because of his talent and persistence, the man saw a light of hope.

And now, as his eyes opened against his wish, the man saw the red eyes and specks of blue flames swirling around the handsome face, which utterly froze and erased that little hope he had left within him.

Alex was unfazed, no matter what the man would showcase him, he would continue slicing his neck. But as the [Eldritch Touch] flared the golden veins, taking control over them, the man's health points plummeted like a plane going nosedive.

Soon enough, the man's body turned into ashes. His flesh, blood, and basically all juices turned non-existent. But, as the clacking sounds struck the ground quite a few times, Alex knew he'd received a present.

[The Fallen Angel's Servants(SSS) has been updated.]

Alex gazed at the perfect bones before him with a little troubled smile.