The Black Knight Commander seemed intent on keeping You’er and Grager, imprisoning them and then taking them from the ruins of Angus Village.
You’er never learned whether Lilinai had escaped safely.
Locked in a dark space, You’er could only pray that Lilinai wouldn’t be found, repeatedly telling himself that her hiding place was too well-concealed to be discovered.
Even though he knew he was just comforting himself, You’er couldn’t help but imagine it.
Despite knowing that Lilinai lacked the ability to survive alone in the wilderness, You’er kept praying for a miracle, hoping that she would survive and that they might one day reunite…
He had already lost Marlene, who was like a sister to him, and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing his beloved sister Lilinai as well!
Oh, and there was one former close friend, Grager, who was still alive.
Since being imprisoned, You’er and Grager had spent an unknown amount of time together, but You’er hadn’t spoken a single word to him the entire time.
‘You’er, can you hear me?’
‘You’er, I’m going crazy in here, don’t ignore me like this, say something!’
‘You’er, I’m sorry, sorry… I just wanted to live, I only wanted to live…’
‘…’
Throughout their time together, Grager had tried to speak to You’er multiple times, but You’er didn’t respond at all, as if he had retreated into a world of isolation.
His close friend, the kind and gentle Grager he knew, was already dead in You’er’s mind.
In this prolonged silence, the door to the dark space suddenly opened, and in that moment, You’er understood the reason he had been spared.
The Black Knight Commander had delivered him and Grager as gifts to someone with immense power.
The Duke of Ferrar, of the Empire of Eternal Night.
Two natives of the Empire of Dongcang, You’er and Grager, had been brought to the enemy territory of the Empire of Eternal Night by the Black Knights.
Additionally, You’er had overheard some information from the Black Knights: Duke Ferrar was an intersex individual, neither fully male nor female.
This androgynous Duke also had a peculiar obsession: a fondness for defiling innocent young men.
His standards were high. First, they had to possess a handsome face, and second, they had to have distinct physical features.
You’er was probably brought here because of his exquisite, flawless features, his cascading silver hair, and his beautiful heterochromatic eyes.
Of course, You’er had no interest in pondering these things. His mind was filled with guilt and worry, constantly thinking of his sister Lilinai, left behind in the cave at Angus Village.
You’er’s gaze swept around, and he noticed that there were many other young people, mostly under fifteen, and even some under ten, who had been brought to this place.
Clearly, the Black Knights had not only attacked Angus Village but had also harmed many other villages, towns, and even cities…
As for the girls they had captured, they were probably all like Marlene, becoming playthings for the Black Knights to vent their **.
From the Black Knights’ conversations, You’er also learned that this unit’s success in invading the Empire of Dongcang was due to the infamous Duke Ferrar.
Although the Duke was quite twisted, he also possessed immense power to match his authority. It was said that he was highly skilled in spatial magic, and it was his opening of the spatial gate that allowed the Black Knight unit to be teleported into the heart of the Empire of Dongcang.
You’er’s hatred shifted, vowing to take revenge on the despicable Duke Ferrar at the first opportunity.
‘It’s him! He opened the spatial gate, and because of him, Angus Village was massacred, and because of him, Marlene was ** to death…!’
After being brought into the Duke’s manor, You’er quickly saw the mastermind behind it all, Duke Ferrar, a figure with golden hair, emanating an eerie, effeminate aura, making it hard to distinguish his gender. You’er’s eyes blazed with fury, and his chest heaved with pent-up hatred, his body quivering uncontrollably.
‘Do you know why everyone around you is dead, while you are still alive? That’s right, because of me, so I am your savior, and I am also your master from now on! Do you understand?’
With the arrogance of a superior, Duke Ferrar spoke, his voice as enigmatic as his appearance, blending sharp and deep tones, giving an eerie feeling.
Duke Ferrar’s face bore a smile, but his words held an unyielding authority.
‘I want to go home, I want to go home… I want my sister, ugh… I want my sister…’
Most of the boys trembled and bowed their heads, too frightened to speak, when a discordant wail broke the silence. It was the youngest boy, around six or seven, with beautiful water-blue hair and a pair of delicate elf ears hidden in his locks.
Elf ears, a distinctive feature of the elf race, but the pureblood elves’ ears would be longer and larger. The boy before him was undoubtedly a half-elf, a mix of elf and human, not uncommon in the Empire of Eternal Night, which bordered the Elf Forest.
They were usually seen as slaves, just like now…
The crying half-elf boy instantly became the focus of the manor. Duke Ferrar approached him, gently crouching down and stroking his head, speaking in a gentle voice.
‘My dear little one, you really want to go home, don’t you?’
‘Yes, yes! I want to go home, I miss my sister!’ the little boy sobbed.
‘What a pity,’ Duke Ferrar shook his head, his expression exceedingly gentle.
Was this golden-haired nobleman a kind person?
The other boys glanced over, watching Duke Ferrar’s gentle actions, their hearts filled with a strange hope.
Maybe there was still a chance they could return to their homeland…
Crunch!
A sudden, sharp sound jolted everyone back to reality.
Immediately, the little boy collapsed, and the most horrifying sight was that only his body fell, his small head was held in Duke Ferrar’s hand, the delicate elf ears severed, admired as if they were a work of art.
Stunned silence filled the manor.
‘Gag…’
Soon after, a wave of vomiting began, and they finally realized that the person before them was not a savior, but a demon in human form.
No boy dared to cry or even speak again.
Duke Ferrar casually tossed the poor boy’s head to a servant, scanning the remaining boys with a ‘gentle’ gaze.
This action achieved the intended result, and Duke Ferrar was satisfied, for he wanted them to fear and submit to him, willingly becoming playthings to please their master.
‘What?’
Duke Ferrar’s smile quickly froze when he saw a boy with a girlishly beautiful face and silver hair in the corner, whose eyes held no fear.
‘You, come here, quickly!’
Duke Ferrar pointed at You’er, commanding him with the air of a master.
Following Duke Ferrar’s gesture, the boys all turned to look at You’er, most with schadenfreude in their eyes.
In misfortune, they found someone even more unfortunate, which brought them a peculiar sense of pleasure.
You’er ignored the boys’ gazes, keeping his head down and silently moving to stand before Duke Ferrar.
‘Such beautiful silver hair, such lovely heterochromatic eyes, such a delicate face… The world is truly wondrous!’
Duke Ferrar lifted You’er’s chin, gazing at his face for a long time, then burst into laughter, clearly in a great mood.
Duke Ferrar hadn’t expected this expedition to yield such a remarkable catch. Boys with heterochromatic eyes were already rare, and You’er’s appearance was even more exquisite.
‘What is your name?’ Duke Ferrar demanded, staring at You’er.
‘Gugu You’er,’ You’er replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
‘Young Gugu You’er, do you know your status and position?’
‘I am the master’s s*ave, the master’s plaything.’
‘Excellent, excellent! From now on, you will stay by my side. As long as you serve me well, your future status, position, and treatment will be far superior to those behind you.’
Satisfied with the perfect response, Duke Ferrar was clearly pleased, promising You’er.
‘Is that so?’
You’er lowered his head again, and his eyes, now hidden from Duke Ferrar’s view, flashed with a fleeting, feral light.
Status? Position? I have no interest in such things!
What I want is your life!
You’er roared in his mind.
‘Come, I look forward to your performance. Oh, and don’t worry about those ordinary people behind you; you no longer need to stay with them.’ Duke Ferrar finished and walked towards the door.
You’er silently followed, not speaking, and not even glancing at the ‘companions’ they had entered with.
‘Damn, just because he’s pretty doesn’t mean he’s better than me!’
‘We’ll see, he won’t be happy for long!’
‘…’
Left in the manor, the boys were herded by the fierce guards, and their jealousy surged, spewing venomous words at You’er.
They knew that You’er had caught the eye of the manor’s master, Duke Ferrar, and his future life would be comfortable, just thinking about it made their eyes red with envy.
‘You’er…’
In the crowd, Grager watched You’er’s departing figure, his expression heavy, his fingers tracing his lips, lost in thought.
Where Duke Ferrar took You’er was naturally his bedroom, eager to taste You’er, believing it would be a unique experience unlike any other.
Duke Ferrar entered the opulent and decadent bedroom, immediately embracing You’er as if he were a toy, savoring him like a piece of candy…
You’er was remarkably compliant, almost unbelievably so.
Until a moment arrived.
‘Die! Die! Die!—’
In that instant, You’er’s suppressed anger finally erupted, and he fiercely gripped Duke Ferrar’s throat, squeezing with all his might.
‘You… you…’
In pain, Duke Ferrar was dazed, and then, facing the threat of death, he struggled more and more wildly.
But You’er seemed to have some inexplicable strength, and he didn’t let Duke Ferrar escape, his mind filled only with the faces of Marlene and Lilinai…
Dark, swirling patterns started to spread, wrapping around You’er’s skin, face, and even his eyes, resembling chain-like patterns.
‘You… you… are a… dark… host…’
Duke Ferrar’s struggles grew weaker, and finally, he faded away, but his wide-open eyes remained fixed on You’er, as if seeing something unimaginable.
Duke Ferrar’s arm went limp, and the flickering light at his fingertips quickly dissipated. He had been gathering magical power, intending to deliver a fatal blow to You’er.
Unfortunately, just a second before his magic was ready, You’er had already snapped his neck.
Yes, snapped, not strangled. At that moment, You’er seemed to possess a strength far beyond his ordinary self.
The once arrogant and powerful Duke Ferrar died in a dramatic fashion, in his own bedroom, on his own bed.
‘This way, it’s as if… I’ve avenged Marlene, that little boy, and everyone in Angus Village…’
After killing Duke Ferrar, You’er’s body quickly weakened, as if losing all strength, and he fell into a deep slumber.
The dark patterns had disappeared, and You’er’s skin returned to normal, as if they had never existed.
That night, news of Duke Ferrar’s death spread, causing a great uproar in the Empire of Eternal Night.
And as the true culprit of this case, You’er was immediately sentenced to death by the imperial authorities.
First, his eyes would be gouged out.
Second, his face would be slashed.
Third, he would be nailed to the broad daylight square of the Imperial City of Eternal Night, enduring half a year of rain and sun, as a warning to the countless slaves of the Empire of Eternal Night, reminding them of their place.
****
You’er found himself in a dark, confined space, his mind racing with thoughts of Lilinai. He couldn’t help but wonder if she had managed to escape the chaos. The uncertainty gnawed at him, and he found himself praying fervently that she was safe, hidden away in a place so well-concealed that no one would find her. Even as he knew these thoughts were merely a comfort, he couldn’t stop imagining her survival.
‘You’er, can you hear me?’
Grager’s voice echoed in the darkness, but You’er remained silent, unable to muster the energy to respond. Grager’s attempts to engage him were met with a wall of silence, as if You’er had retreated into a world of his own.
The Black Knight Commander had spared them, but for what purpose, You’er couldn’t fathom. It wasn’t until the door to their dark prison suddenly opened that he understood the true reason behind their survival.
They had been brought to the Empire of Eternal Night, a place of enemy rule, and delivered as gifts to someone of immense power. The Duke of Ferrar, a figure known for his twisted obsessions and unparalleled abilities in spatial magic, was their new master.
You’er’s gaze fell upon the other captives, many of them young boys, some barely over ten years old. The sight filled him with a mix of anger and despair, knowing that they, like him, were now playthings for the Duke’s pleasure.
As he was led away, You’er caught a glimpse of the Duke, a golden-haired figure with an eerie, androgynous beauty. The Duke’s eyes held a predatory gleam as he appraised You’er, clearly pleased with his new acquisition.
‘Do you know why everyone around you is dead, while you are still alive? That’s right, because of me, so I am your savior, and I am also your master from now on! Do you understand?’
The Duke’s voice was as enigmatic as his appearance, blending sharp and deep tones, giving an eerie feeling. His words held an unyielding authority, leaving no room for defiance.
You’er kept his head bowed, his expression neutral, but his mind was a storm of rage and hatred. He vowed to himself that he would find a way to avenge those he had lost and escape this place of torment.
****
You’er was taken to the Duke’s opulent bedroom, where he was subjected to the Duke’s twisted desires. Despite the humiliation, You’er remained compliant, biding his time for the perfect moment to strike.
As the Duke’s grip on his throat tightened, You’er felt a surge of dark power coursing through his veins. With a sudden burst of strength, he snapped the Duke’s neck, ending his life in a dramatic twist of fate.
In that moment, You’er’s dark host abilities manifested, revealing his true nature to the world. The Duke’s eyes widened in disbelief as he realized the extent of You’er’s power before his life faded away.
With the Duke’s death, You’er knew that his own end was near. The Empire of Eternal Night would not let such a transgression go unpunished. He braced himself for the inevitable, ready to face his fate with the same fierce determination that had defined his journey.
****
You’er’s punishment was swift and severe. His eyes were gouged out, his face slashed, and his body nailed to the broad daylight square of the Imperial City, where he would endure half a year of rain and sun as a warning to all.
As he hung there, his mind drifted back to the memories of Marlene, Lilinai, and the people of Angus Village. He found solace in the knowledge that he had avenged their deaths, even if it meant sacrificing his own life in the process.
In his final moments, You’er’s thoughts were not of regret or fear, but of the love and bonds he had shared with those he held dear. And with that, he embraced his fate, ready to face the unknown with a heart full of courage and resolve.