The Red Hand
Chapter 411 – The Murder Tribunal.

Led down twisting alleyways and winding corridors before descending into the sewers beneath the Capital, Chloe followed the two Cultists closely as they traveled to their lair. Naturally, the Catkin had tried to find the Murder Cult's base of operations herself, but annoyedly she could never pin them down. To the best of her knowledge, they had a base below ground, but tracking the Cultists or finding where said base was proved impossible. Nima and Akagi speculated this was due to the God Korex's influence, and that the God's protection distorted the senses of anyone who got too close to the truth and prevented them from actually finding the base unless they were invited.

{I've informed Nima about my mission's completion, but I'll probably be entirely on my own down here. The others are too far away to help, so whatever happens, I'll need to be able to handle it myself. I can handle this though, Myaster trained me to handle anything and I won't let her down now!} (Chloe)

"Brother Johan is excited to meet you." One of the hooded Cultists, a man, spoke up as they turned down one of the twisting sewer paths, the scent from the sewage being almost enough to cause the Cat to gag as she followed closely behind.

"That's... That's the guy Remmy mentioned was invited from among the orphans." Chloe replied, acting as if she didn't know much so as to elicit a response in hopes of getting more information. "She said something about him being a prodigy. Apparently he was taken in some time ago"

"Ha Ha! Johan was the most recent disciple to pass the initiation and he even gained Lord Deborian's favor due to his skill. Though when compared to you I believe you might surpass even our newest member. However, regardless of how you stack up to him Brother Johan is truly one of the finest killers we've had the pleasure of bringing into our group." The other Cultist spoke up, her voice far sweeter than one would think for a murderer. "Lord Korex has truly blessed him and that little bunny with his favor. Brother Johan had been adamant since his initiation that she'd follow him soon enough, and it looks like he was right."

{I'd wager that meant this Cult's had their eyes on her from the beginning.} (Chloe)

"But that is to be expected as one born with Lord Korex's blood." The male Cultist said as they stopped at what seemed to be a dead end, not elaborating further on the matter. "Here we are. Please stand back if you would." He said before pulling a pendant out from under his cloak. It bore the symbol of the God Korex, a skull with bright red eyes that seemed to be on fire. "Guide us, Oh Murder Lord! Allow us to bask in the blood you so graciously allow us to spill!" He said a prayer which caused both the pendant and the wall in front of him to glow, and a moment later the wall flickered and warped before vanishing entirely.

{Illusion magic?!? But why couldn't I detect it, nya?!?} (Chloe)

The opening revealed a much darker and clearly more cultish part of the sewer. The walls were lined with torches burned with an eerie red light, and the stench of blood assaulted the Cat's nose like a tidal wave crashing onto a beach.

{The smell... Just how many people... No, I probably don't want an answer.} (Chloe)

"This way, Ms. Chloe. In here is where your destiny shall change forever." The male cultist said as they walked deeper into the underground. As they headed deeper into the Cult's lair, Chloe could hear the tortured screams of sacrifices, chanting of foul rituals, and other sounds that disturbed her far more than she would've expected. The Cat had seen some horrific things in her time, torture, murder, rape, and the things Akagi did to people the Demon didn't like. However, for whatever reason this place caused her entire body to scream. It was as if her soul was telling her these people were dangerous and that she needed to run away as far as she could before she met a grisly fate. Naturally, Chloe was not so weak-willed as to heed these warnings and she was far too stubborn and prideful to abandon her mission, especially as that would, in the Cat's mind anyway, almost certainly disappoint Akagi. Trudging forward down the dark and murky path the Cat's pulse began to increase and it felt like her heart would leap into her throat at any moment as they descended deeper into their lair. Chloe noted that the lair seemed to descend slowly in a gradual slope that the she figured was something akin to a massive spiral staircase. As they continued Chloe also noted that the walls were caked with blood, blood that only seemed to get brighter and fresher as they descended deeper.

{All I need is to have faith. My faith in Myaster will protect me. My faith will keep me safe, and allow me to complete my mission. I will not falter. I will not fail. I will not run. I will not hide. I will not fall.} (Chloe)

Resorting to prayer to stave off her ever increasing nerves, Chloe began repeating some of the prayer created by the Demon Lord Cult in her mind, which helped her to ease away a portion of the stress and anxiety.

"You're surprisingly calm, Ms. Chloe." The female Cultist commented with a giggle. "Even Brother Johan was a bit... Taken aback by the wonder of this place."

"Indeed. We've truly found a perfect initiate." The male Cultist agreed, believing that Chloe's calm exterior made her the perfect aspiring member. "And to add to that Ms. Remmy was excited by this place. A first if I'm being honest. Even the most hardended among us take some time to get used to its uniqueness."

"That girl will grow into a glorious Assassin. I can feel Lord Korex's blessing all around her." The female Cultist agreed. “Its as if she was born for this.”

{Bun-Bun... Why are you so crazy?} (Chloe)

"Where... The place I come from... I've seen worse than this." Chloe said, intentionally being vague. "Such sights and sounds are nothing compared to the darkness that lurks in some of the corners of this world."

{I say that, but this place... Myaster might find it quaint compared to her true nature, but anyone else... I'll just consider myself lucky that Myaster showed me a darker hell than this once before...} (Chloe)

"Fair. Fair. I suppose folks come from all kinds of backgrounds and there are likely those out there who've come from places far more inhospitable than this continent." The male cultist agreed as they continued to walk down the hallway, slowly seeing more and more hooded Cultists as they continued onward. "Lord Korex is not the only God that strikes fear into the hearts of men. Lady Esquire and her command of this world's darkness can cause despair of a level that's hard to top."

"But such a thing is none of our concern." The female Cultist retorted. "There is no meaning in causing fear. All that matters is the killing. Blood must flow. It is a perversion of Lord Korex's will to take pleasure in other acts, and delaying death to suit one's own proclivities is most uncouth."

"Indeed! Focus on the act! That's what Lord Deborian always says!" The male Cultist laughed as Chloe kept a mental list of how many Cultists she'd seen.

{So far, there have been twenty-four... No, make that twenty-five if we count that guy who came out from that hallway. I can't tell how strong each is individually, but if I assume they're at least as strong as a well-trained knight it shouldn't be that hard to wipe them all out myself. I'll just need to isolate and deal with the organization's higher-ups first, and then once they're gone the rank and file should drop easily. But just to be safe...} (Chloe)

As Chloe followed the two Cultists she took the opportunity to secretly deploy beacons which would lead the other Ninja to this location. They were roughly the size of a grain of rice and would transmit a radio signal that was easily traceable to her Clan members in case of an emergency. Her biggest fear was being killed in this place and the others having no idea where she went, so this way if the worst should come to pass it would be simple to hunt the Cult down and finish them off. Though naturally, Chloe had no intention of dying and was fully prepared to take them down herself.

As the three of them continued their descent the sound of distant chanting got louder and louder as they arrived outside a large ornate door that was painted in red and gold. There were two heavily armored knights guarding it, one on each side, with both wielding large two-bladed glaives. At a glance Chloe could tell that they weren't Human, and that fighting them head on troublesome, especially if there were multiple other foes.

"At his command we've brought her." The male Cultist said to the guard, who did not answer and merely replied by banging the butt his glaive against the stone floor which caused the door to slowly open and allowed the unholy chanting to become even louder.

Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor. Ashura E Hobitor.

"Well, this is where we take our leave, Ms. Chloe." The female Cultist turned and bowed to her. "You shall enter this room as an aspirant but if Lord Korex truly favors you, then you shall leave an Unholy Assassin.”

"May the blood flow ever in your favor." (Cultists)

"I will make sure to prove myself worthy of the faith that my God has placed in me." Chloe nodded, allowing them to mistake her words as a reference to Korex rather than Akagi, before walking past them and entering the room.

It was large, ornate, and featured dozens of braziers burning red stones to create an eerie atmosphere. As she descended the large stone staircase just beyond the door she noted that each side of the room was filled with dozens of hooded cultists, easily putting the number over one hundred. Some sat in balconies high above the rabble, while others simply stood on either side of the blood-red carpet that ran to a large podium at the back. It reminded Chloe of the kind that a lawyer would stand behind as they spoke to a Judge, and in this case, there were five 'Judges' waiting for her. Four of them were large hooded figures which, at first glance, were much stronger than the average Cultist. However, they all paled in comparison to the one at the center, an even larger man who wore red and gold armor that covered his entire body from head to toe. His face was completely covered and his helmet, if one could call it that, reminded the Cat of something she'd seen in an anime Akagi had shown her. Though in this case, he was clearly more of a threat than something from one of those multi-colored hero team crime-fighting shows. As he sat on his throne, Remmy could be seen giggling and chatting away with him, her eyes shining in delight.

{Well, they didn't put her on a spike as part of this whole thing. So that's a bonus I suppose, nya. But that man... If reports are to believed I'd bet he's...} (Chloe)

As she walked down the aisle, Chloe heard whispers from the gallery. Some were questioning why one with such little experience was being offered this kind of elaborate welcome, while others were skeptical of her ability. Admittedly Chloe also thought this series of events were strange. She'd arrived in Northwind and had done little beyond taking out thugs and bandits. Being suddenly invited to join the Cult was unexpected but within plausibility. However, being given the LITERAL red carpet treatment made her skeptical and had her convinced that this was some kind of trap.

{Oh well, no sense questioning the rationale of bloodthirsty murderers. If they try anything I'll just have to blow right through it like Myaster would!} (Chloe)

As Chloe stepped up to the podium, the chanting stopped and the room became silent until the man on the throne began to speak, his words powerful but also reminding the Cat of how the Demon would speak when she allowed her form to flicker.

"Welcome, one who the Murder Lord allegedly favors."The man's voice boomed loudly throughout the hall. It was so powerful that even Chloe found herself momentarily cowed by its power and her body instinctively tried to kneel, only for her internal revulsion at such a thing to prevent it. "You have been brought before the Murder Tribunal so that we may decide if you are worthy of the title of Unholy Assassin and ascension into our illustrious ranks. My name is Deborian, son of the Murder Lord. During this trial I shall be your Judge, Jury, and if necessary Executioner. Are you ready to proceed?"

His very presence caused Chloe a moment's hesitation at hearing her internal suspicions that this man was indeed the Demi-God of Korex that she'd heard of in reports. Not to mention the fact that she never imagined that a mortal, even one partially of divine origin, could command such a commanding presence and for a moment she nearly faltered under the weight of his aura. However, the Cat was not one to be so easily denigrated, after all, she held the title of the one and only disciple of the Demon Lord, and her pride in holding such an illustrious position meant that the Cat no matter how bleak things looked would never allow herself to be brought low by anyone. To Chloe the only person she could bow her head to in subservience was Akagi and Akagi alone, as to perform such an act before anyone else would be no less than treason to the Demon.

"Yes. I am." Chloe said, a small smile forming on her lips as she got excited about the impending battle with the Demi-God. "And please allow me to show you just how blessed I am."

Spoiler

Deborian!

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