BXBX NOVEL Chapter 299 299 Fantasized Beast
Chapter 299 299 Fantasized Beast
Fitch also quietly respected Nexus's mystical companion, Crystal.
Earlier she had summoned impressive powers against he hulking Red Giant, despite her magic being greatly overmatched. "A woman of such talents would be invaluable as an ally." Fitched continued to murmur
But gazing at Nexus's wild-eyed despair now, Fitch realized utter victory in this long conflict was finally at hand.
With treacherous Selina's aid and enchantress Madeline soon defeated, the day would belong to him. None could stand against his might any longer.
Given this imminent triumph, Fitch decided then that both Nexus and the witch Crystal should be captured alive once the dust settled here. "Such rare talents would be wasted if snuffed out needlessly in defeat," he said.
Instead, Fitch intended to make Nexus his loyal henchman.
That brilliant, if now unhinged, strategic intellect could become an asset again if properly tamed.
"Yes, Nexus would transform into a powerful ally once broken and oath-bound to Fitch's service. The man's residual devotion could be reshaped into devotion to his new master." Fitch thought to himself.
"Your fantasized beast won't save you!" Fitch shouted, humoring Nexus's delusions. "There is no monster coming to your aid, fool. Only death awaits if you continue resisting the inevitable."
Nexus whirled, his bloodshot eyes ablaze with frenzy. "You underestimate me still, Fitch!" he cried, voice ringing through the hushed forest. "My plan remains in motion. We shall soon see who the true fool is!"
Fitch sighed, slowly shaking his head in feigned pity. "Give up these wild delusions before it is too late, Nexus. If you surrender now, I will still grant you and your maid a merciful end."
He gestured to his assembled assassins who had encircled Nexus during their confrontation. "But persist in this madness, and only suffering awaits." Fitch's tone was convincing, offering compassion even as his warriors poised to strike.
Anguish warred with frenzied purpose in Nexus's expression as he stared down at her. "No, I cannot accept defeat now, not when we are so near triumph!" He smirked as he curled his hands into trembling fists.
Fitch nearly extended a hand to clasp Nexus's shoulder in understanding.
But he checked himself just in time. It was clear Nexus would never willingly surrender or abandon those Russel women, no matter how hopeless his quest became.
In the end, his devotion had metastasized past reason into dangerous obsession. Nexus would fight with his last ounce of strength to defend those ladies, even if it meant dragging the entire realm into oblivion with him.
Nexus seemed to read Fitch's solemn realizations. He met Fitch's gaze with fiery defiance, raising his hands to the air. "I would die a thousand agonizing deaths before betraying the Russells!" he declared passionately.
Fitch allowed a cold smile to cross his face, though his heart felt heavy. "So be it. You had your chance, and refused wisdom." He turned to his assassins.
"Capture Nexus if fortune allows. But if he persists in madness, cut him down." His voice was iron. "I would tame this wild wolf, but a rabid beast must be put down."
Ignoring Fitch's warnings, Nexus continued shouting wildly into the silent forest, demanding the octopus monster show itself.
"You vile beast, reveal your cowardly form!" he yelled, trying to provoke any reaction. "Prove you possess even a fraction of true power!"
Fitch's assassins began closing in around Nexus as ordered, intent on capturing the maddened man. However, soon the very air in the forest seemed to change.
The observant York family assassin was first to notice the subtle darkening. His blood-red eyes perceived an ominous black mana slowly permeating the atmosphere, carrying the chilling aura of death upon its currents.
"Something is amiss here," he muttered warily. The unnatural tainted mana continued spreading, engulfing the trees and seeping along the forest floor.
The assassin tensed, gripping his dagger tightly. "A dangerous presence lurks nearby, I can feel its foul energy." His words were a guarded whisper meant only for his fellow killers encircling Nexus.
Nexus himself remained oblivious, continuing his tirade of insults skyward. "Show yourself, vile octopus!" he roared. "Prove your so-called might!"
The York assassin studied Nexus closely, suspicion dawning in his crimson eyes. Nexus was no madman merely ranting at emptiness, he realized. This brazen show was meant to deliberately attract some horror.
"He is summoning an entity with his provocations," the assassin urgently warned his comrades. "This is a trap, stay on your guard." Wary, they scanned the darkening forest for any sign of Nexus's conjured monster.
The York assassin rushed forward in an attempt to silence Nexus's taunts, tackling him to the ground. He clamped a gloved hand over Nexus's mouth before he could hurl further insults.
"Quiet, you fool!" the assassin hissed. "You will bring doom upon us all!" But it was too late now. Nexus had already unleashed forces beyond their control.
For in that moment, all of Fitch's forces saw an immense, terrifying figure emerge from the shadows between the distant trees. It moved with eerie grace, slowly advancing towards the assembled warriors.
Eight colossal trunk-like tentacles propelled its bulk smoothly forward. Scars and half-healed stumps marred their writhing lengths, hinting at past battles. The bloated central mass was studded with hundreds of suckers emitting an unearthly pale glow.
Two giant bulbous eyes sat above a sharp bird-like beak on the creature's cone-shaped head. Those massive glossy black pupils radiated malevolent intellect as they scanned the group.
At the sight of the lumbering behemoth, the lead assassin immediately retreated, gesturing urgently for his men to do the same. He turned to Fitch, fear in his crimson eyes.
"We must turn back and abandon this hunt, my lord! That monster will kill us all if we linger!" His words were rushed with tension as the octopus drew nearer.
Fitch found himself momentarily paralyzed, unable to formulate a response as he took in the sheer scale of the abomination approaching them. Nexus had conjured a walking nightmare.
"Fitch, master, we cannot waste another second in this damned forest!" The assassin repeated his warning, laying a hand on Fitch's shoulder to snap him out of his horrified daze.
The other warriors under Fitch's command looked on with unconcealed terror, their faces pale as they awaited their leader's command. But none dared move without his order against this threat.
Fitch may have been shocked, but he was no fool. He needed no further counsel to realize they had to flee this place at once. No amount of courage or skill could avail against a monstrosity of this magnitude.
"Yes, we depart immediately! Back to the castle!" Fitch bellowed. As one, his forces turned to retreat from the towering octopus.
But Nexus had no intention of allowing his prey to slip away so easily. Catching his eye, Selina understood his desire instantly.