Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 140: Hundred whips

Chapter 140: Hundred whips

When Rhea woke up, even before opening her eyes, she breathed in the stench of dried blood and rotten iron that filled her nostrils, making her gag. She realized the atmosphere wasn’t freezing cold, but instead stuffy and suffocating, and it made her realize she wasn’t in the Dragon realm.

She slowly opened her stiff eyes, but at first she couldn’t make clear of her surroundings, she tried to move her limbs, but felt something heavy holding her down, she raised her hand and saw heavy chains around her wrists. Rhea struggled to free herself from the heavy chains that bound her wrists and ankles, but they only tightened their grip, pulling her down.

Fear and confusion swirled within her, but she forced herself to focus on her surroundings. The walls of the prison were made of cold stone, rough to the touch. There were no windows nor a door, no means of escape. It seemed as if she had been thrown into a deep hole in the ground, isolated from the rest of the world.

There were some solitary ray of lights shining in from the top of the hole, casting muted dappled shadows. Rhea looked up and saw the gaping hole in the ceiling, covered by an iron cage door. Through that opening, she caught a glimpse of the clear sky, a stark contrast to the grim confines of her prison. The sight of freedom, so close yet so far, both taunted and gave her a glimmer of hope.

She didn’t know exactly where she was, but she was certain it wasn’t the Dragon realm. Her entire body ached, every muscle protesting against the strain of her confinement. She winced as she tried to move, feeling the stiffness in her joints. It was as if she had been lying here for days, or even longer. She couldn’t remember how she had ended up in this wretched place, but she knew she had to find a way out.

But first she needed to know how she’d ended up here. Rhea tried to remember what happened before she fell unconscious, but her memories weren’t that clear. She remembered going into the mountain cave with Draven, and then they broke the seal, and then Draven got...wait, no!

Draven was stabbed and fell into the lava pool! She hadn’t gotten the chance to save him before Oriana and Azure showed up at the scene!

Rhea suddenly recalled everything that happened, and immediately she began to panic. She tried to pull at the chains, but she realized the more she pulled, the tighter it got around her limbs. She looked up to the stone walls where the chains were connected to .

Damn!

The heavy chains weren’t ordinary ones, there were magical chains used on outcast creatures, no matter how much they struggled, they would never be able to come free unless the fire controllers released them. Rhea tried to use her ice powers, but realized it had been sealed away as well.

Fortunately, the chains were long enough for her to move around the prison, it didn’t prevent her from standing up as long as she didn’t pull at it with strength.

Rhea sat down on the stoned ground. At this point, she didn’t know why Azure brought her here and what they were going to do to her. She could no longer think straight after recalling she hadn’t gotten to save Draven from that lava before she was taken away.

Was he still alive or was he melted to death?

However, the fact that she could still feel the presence of the core in her chest only meant he was still alive, but in what condition was he in? Could it be that he was alive but had been burned?

Rhea knew she could no longer experience his physical pain if Draven didn’t want her to, because after regaining his powers, he had the ability to control their connection, she could only feel his pain if he let her, and she could only feel his emotions if he wanted her to.

She hoped he was alright...

Rhea’s train of thoughts were suddenly broken by the voices above her. She looked up, she couldn’t see them but could hear them.

"Lord Azure!"

It was Cal’s voice, and he sounded anxious. "Lord Azure, why didn’t you advocate for Rhea with the Emperor? Her punishment is far too severe. She hasn’t done anything deserving of such a death. Please show mercy and persuade the Emperor to release her. The daily whipping until death is excessive!" He pleaded urgently, "lord Azure, you should not have brought her back here. You should have allowed her to escape like you have done in the past."

"How can I let her escape after all the crimes she has committed? If I release her, she will continue to repeat her mistakes!"

When Rhea heard Azure’s voice, she raised an eyebrow. It seemed like there were many people outside. Were they all invited to witness her punishment?

"Rhea has gone to the extent of changing her very bones. Allowing that would only encourage more humans to do the same, if they knew it was safe. She is a negative influence on many people. Her actions would have harmful consequences for the world. She needs to be severely punished as an example to others!"

Rhea didn’t hear another word from Cal. He wasn’t a skilled speaker and preferred to keep conversations short. It was a surprise that he had pleaded on her behalf at all. Rhea knew that her punishment was harsher because she had admitted to changing her bones. But if Azure was going to kill her for it, so be it. She wouldn’t confess that she had lied and gained ice powers from Draven’s core. She wouldn’t do that.

The atmosphere was silent for only a brief moment before Azure spoke again. "Open the prison and pull her out, it’s time for her first punishment!"

When Azure said those words, the cage door at the top of the hole was pulled open. Rhea felt the chains around her limbs tightened before they pulled her up the hole in the ceiling.

Not long, she was hoisted upwards until the chains were taut. When it stopped, she was left within the holes mouth, with her arms pulled up by the chains. When she looked around the execution center, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as she noticed familiar faces among the crowds. Her entire family were present, including the nobles and commoners who were standing on one side.

Everyone had gathered to witness the punishment bestowed upon a traitor who had violated all the rules of humanity. Within the crowd, some onlookers regarded her with pity, while others wore smug expressions. Among them was Oriana, who smirked as her eyes briefly met Rhea’s.

Rhea’s attention quickly shifted to Azure as she heard him whip the air, the long lash now ablaze with fiery red flames. It twirled through the air like a snake made of fire. Undoubtedly, this was the most severe punishment ever inflicted upon someone who had broken the rules. Typically, traitors were swiftly executed, but she, on the other hand, had to endure suffering before death.

Were her crimes so unforgivable that they warranted such a punishment? Wouldn’t it have been more humane to burn her alive rather than subject her to the agony of the whip?

With a swift motion, Azure grasped the handle of the whip and raised it high above his head. As he swung it down, a trail of red streaked through the air. And then, crack! The lash struck Rhea’s back with force. The affected area immediately went numb, but just before the second lash descended upon her, she felt her first wound ignite with the searing pain of burning coals.

As the second lash descended, it struck the same spot as the first. Her skin broke, causing her back to burn in pain. The sensation of the second lash was like a scorching coal melting into her flesh, and she could even smell her own burning skin.

Rhea struggled to suppress her cries, however she couldn’t help but let out a scream. Her eyes were bloodshot, and burning tears streamed down her cheeks.

The third whip landed in the same spot again. Another cry of pain escaped Rhea’s lips, but she quickly bit down so hard on her lip that it broke, yet the pain of her bleeding lip was nothing compared to the burning agony in her back.

The whip continued to strike the same spot relentlessly, making it impossible for her to keep count. Every day, she would have to endure hundred of lashes of this pain, knowing that death would never come as long as the core remained in her body. She could only suffer through the pain without the relief of death.

How could she possibly bear it? Rhea wished for the heavens to help her, or perhaps it would be better to die now than to live forever and endure this torment. As another lash landed on her back, she felt her bone crack.

After thirty whips, some people in the crowd could no longer watch it anymore. They lowered their heads in silence. Some young children among the commoners even began to cry and hide behind their parents in fear.

Cal, who stood amidst the fire controllers, could no longer bear witness to Rhea’s suffering. His lips quivered as he clenched his fists by his sides. "Lord Azure! Based on our long-standing acquaintance, I beg of you to release her! She won’t make the mistake of breaking any more rules! The Emperor would heed your every word, please, save Rhea!"

Azure remained unaffected by Cal’s plea. However, Oriana, standing beside Cal, shot him a sharp glare, her mouth twitching with irritation as if she were about to sneer at him to be quiet. Despite this, Cal paid her no attention and lifted his noble robe, kneeling down on the grimy ground before Azure.

Murmurs spread through the crowd, but Cal seemed unconcerned about his public image as he bowed his head to the ground.

"Since Rhea was a young girl, her life has been nothing but hardship and bitterness. It’s inevitable that her personality would be unruly. She has never truly experienced love from her own family. And yet, she has never taken a life. You yourself protected her from this very spot years ago. You were always there for her when I wasn’t. Please, take all of this into consideration and set her free! She will never cause trouble again."

Rhea, already lost in a daze from the punishment, had no strength left. Only the chains held her upright. But Cal’s kneeling on the ground and pleading for her caused her to open her eyes and look at him.

Azure merely gave Cal a cursory glance, ignoring his plea as if he hadn’t heard it. He appeared completely unmoved.

Rhea weakly looked at Azure. Her gaze was filled with hatred and resentment. She cursed the day she looked up to him, she cursed the day she defended him. He had finally showed his true colors. She should have believed it when Draven and Sila tried to make her see how heartless he was.

Rhea’s hatred for Azure was deeply rooted, causing her to endure all the hundred lashes without knowing how she was able to bear the pain. As her chains were slowly placed back in the hole, she could hear the sound of her muscles and bones breaking within her own body. However, the extent of her injuries was unclear as her entire body burned intensely, leaving her feeling detached from herself.