A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1409 1409: Draconia’s Secrets

Archer watched Anatoly sigh before the older man nodded. ʼʼOkay, but first, he will be taken to be questioned. Thanks to the collar, he will give us Draconiaʼs weaknesses, so we can end this war.ʼʼ

ʼOh no, I wonʼt,ʼ he thought with a growl that resounded through the room.

This caught their attention, causing the manʼs face to twist into a scowl. ʼʼYou seem to forget that youʼre a slave. Now stand up so I can give you to my wife. She will keep you in line while Iʼm gone.ʼʼ

Moments later, two big men grabbed him as the emperor continued. ʼʼTake him to the torture chamber. Get the weakness to that annoying Death Mist so we can take the island.ʼʼ

Archerʼs limbs grew heavy as the collar sapped his strength, its cold metal biting his neck. The two burly guards gripped his arms, their fingers like iron clamps, dragging him through the dimly lit corridors of the palace.

His boots scraped against the stone floor, each step a struggle against the collarʼs paralyzing magic. He growled, but the sound was weak, swallowed by the oppressive air. The guards shoved open a rusted iron door, revealing a cavernous torture chamber.

Flickering torchlight cast shadows on the walls, illuminating chains, hooks, and a stained wooden table at the center. Archerʼs heart pounded, but his body refused to obey. The men hauled him onto the table, slamming him down with enough force to knock the breath from his lungs.

Thick leather straps snapped tight around his wrists and ankles, pinning him in place. A figure emerged from the shadows, a woman, gaunt and unsettling, her eyes glinting with malice.

The strangerʼs lips twisted into a cruel smile as she approached, her movements unnervingly silent. In her hand, she held a thin, curved blade that caught the torchlight with a wicked gleam.

She leaned over him, her breath sour and cold against his face. ʼʼDraconiaʼs secrets,ʼʼ she hissed, her voice like dry leaves. ʼʼYouʼll give them to me.ʼʼ

Before he could react, she pressed the blade against his ribs. With a slow, purposeful motion, she dragged it down, slicing through flesh with precision. Pain seared through him, white-hot and relentless.

Blood welled up, warm and sticky, pooling beneath him as it dripped onto the table. He clenched his teeth, refusing to scream, but his vision blurred as the collarʼs magic tried to get him to speak.

The blade bit deeper, carving a searing path through Archerʼs flesh, the pain surpassing any torment heʼd ever endured. Each inch of the cut screamed with unbearable intensity, threatening to shatter his resolve.

Moments later, the collar around his neck flared, its enchanted metal scorching his throat, charring his vocal cords into useless ash. Yet, through the haze of agony, he clamped his jaw shut, refusing to utter a single word.

Just then, he saw the gaunt womanʼs blade dance across his flesh with merciless precision, each cut was a calculated act of cruelty. Blood streamed from the gashes along his ribs, arms, and chest, pooling beneath the table in a crimson mire.

The collarʼs magic burned hotter, a relentless inferno that choked his screams into ragged gasps, his vocal cords long since ruined. His body, once unyielding, was now a canvas of scars, jagged lines, and raw wounds that throbbed with every heartbeat.

ʼʼYou know, this is a Dark Blades,ʼʼ the torturer revealed with a manic smile. ʼʼYour body will be forever carved up. You will talk by the time Iʼm finished here.ʼʼ

She sawed another line across his collarbone, her eyes blazing with frustration. ʼʼSpeak, dragon!ʼʼ she snarled, her voice shrill as she pressed the blade deeper, splitting skin and muscle.

Archerʼs vision swam, pain and blood loss dragging him toward oblivion, but his silence held firm as he sank into his mind to escape the torture. The womanʼs face twisted with rage, her movements growing erratic.

She slashed wildly, opening a fresh wound across his thigh, blood spraying the table. ʼʼYou will break!ʼʼ

The iron door creaked open, halting her mid-strike. Anastasia stepped into the chamber, her expression a storm of annoyance. Her piercing gaze swept over his bloodied, scarred form, then fixed on the torturer.

ʼʼEnough,ʼʼ she snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a whip.

The woman froze, blade trembling in her grip just above his right eye, but something took over as she plunged it into him. Archer let out a sound as the pain was so bad that he blacked out for a second.

ʼʼAre you fucking stupid bitch?ʼʼ the empress said in a low voice.

Following that, Anastasia appeared before the woman and grabbed her by the throat. The torturerʼs stammering excuses faltered as her patience snapped. The womanʼs fingers clawed uselessly at her grip.

With a sickening crack, the blonde twisted her wrist, snapping the torturerʼs neck in one brutal motion. The body crumpled to the blood-streaked floor, lifeless, her blade skittering into the shadows.

Anastasia didnʼt spare the corpse a glance. She rushed to the table where Archer lay, his scarred and bloodied form barely clinging to consciousness. The collarʼs glow pulsed faintly, its magic still gnawing at his strength.

His body, crisscrossed with deep gashes, rose and fell in shallow, ragged breaths, blood pooling beneath him. Her blue eyes narrowed, a flicker of urgency breaking through her usual composure.

ʼʼOnly my mother-in-lawʼs sister can heal you from this,ʼʼ she muttered concernedly. ʼʼIʼll take you to my private quarters, then get her.ʼʼ

Archer was released from the table, his voice sharp with defiance. ʼʼIʼll show no mercy to any ruler, including your husband, once free.ʼʼ

The blondeʼs smile broadened, her blue eyes glinting with knowing. ʼʼAnatoly fell to the wretched beasts the Pope set upon him. I warned him not to ally with them, to send you a message instead, but he wouldnʼt listen.ʼʼ

Struggling to rise, he found his legs unsteady, and Anastasia quickly steadied him. ʼʼHere, let me help you,ʼʼ she said, her smile warm.

Archer eyed the older woman warily. ʼʼWhy are you being kind to me? Doesnʼt your family despise me?ʼʼ

Anastasia laughed softly. ʼʼWho said I hate you? I know my husband and the Pope relentlessly targeted you. I donʼt blame you for your anger. Truthfully, Iʼve always wanted to meet you. My mother-in-law spoke of you often and wishes to meet you too.ʼʼ

ʼʼWho is she?ʼʼ he questioned while the two walked down the palaceʼs corridors.

ʼʼCatherine Volkovitch, the Witch of Verdantia,ʼʼ the blonde revealed with a big smile. ʼʼSheʼs the strongest being on the continent.ʼʼ

Archerʼs eyes narrowed. ʼʼWhy does she want to meet me?ʼʼ

Anastasia shrugged. ʼʼIʼm not sure, and itʼs the reason I got my husband to give you to me. Now youʼve been captured, the Alliance will celebrate before moving toward your part of Avidia.ʼʼ

Following that, they reached a room where the older woman motioned for the sofa. ʼʼSit down while I go get Aunty.ʼʼ

The empress left him alone, causing him to slump down as the wounds were taking their toll on his body. ʼMana poisoning? Was the blade tainted by the Terravians?ʼ he thought.

Sometime later, Anastasia reappeared with someone who surprised him as the grey-haired Natalia stepped into the room. The Popeʼs wifeʼs eyes widened in horror as she rushed over to him and started fussing.

ʼʼThey used that horrible poison?ʼʼ she growled after checking. ʼʼIt seems like Anatoly has finally fallen to that Terravian woman.ʼʼ

ʼʼYes, Iʼm afraid so,ʼʼ the empress commented. ʼʼWill mothersʼ plan still work or is it bust now?ʼʼ

Natalia started chanting a spell that washed over his body and started repairing the broken tissue and giving him back his eye. The grey-haired beauty glanced at him with a worried smile. ʼʼYou need to be careful, especially nowadays. The Terravians have corrupted the emperor, the pope, and high command.ʼʼ

After speaking, the grey-haired woman turned to Anastasia and warned. ʼʼThe imperial guards are approaching the room with Anatoly. Heʼs going to want some information, or the torture will continue.ʼʼ

Archer shivered but started giving the blonde fake information that would help his legions get the upper hand by ambushing the Alliance armies. This shocked the two women as Anastasia gave him a knowing grin.

ʼʼAre you sure you didnʼt plan to get captured?ʼʼ she asked.

ʼʼNo. I was defending one of my wives as the Terravians kept trying to attack them, and he beat me,ʼʼ he revealed. ʼʼBut now I can do more damage behind enemy lines while messing with the emperor.ʼʼ

ʼʼStay silent when he comes in, handsome,ʼʼ the empress commented.

He nodded in agreement as the two women started laughing, only to shut up when the emperor stepped into the room, only for his eyes to go narrow as he spoke. ʼʼWhatʼs going on here, Anastasia? And why is Aunt Natalia here?ʼʼ

Archer was going to taunt the man, but the blonde answered. ʼʼYour torturer failed to get any information. She mutilated him, forcing me to bring her here to heal him while he gave me enough information to retake Avidia.ʼʼ