The cursed King gripped his head hard, he almost feels like his head would explode. If the King would continue holding his head like this... he would surely die.

A few minutes later, the King had finished reading Graven's memory. He went back to his seats and looked at Graven with confusion in his eyes. Strange, he could no longer read his memory! The first time this guy came here, he was able to read his memory without any problem. But how come his memory is hard to read this time? ​​

He was able to read some of his previous memory but that's all there is inside his mind. Regarding his present memories and after what happened after they left the castle... nothing comes up! As if it was intentionally wipe out from the guy's mind. Who could have done this? Not the guy, of course!

There's someone out there who is powerful enough to erase some part of his memory or made it appear like it was missing!

But he can't let Graven knew about it! He doesn't want this guy to have an advantage over him.

"Who are these people waiting outside?" the King asked.

"I dunno...we lose consciousness after we can't breathe...when we opened our eyes... we're already here in the basement," Graven told him the truth. He tried hard to release flames from his fingers but his power is not working. He even tried initiating the teleportation process in his mind but he failed. This King is truly powerful, he can even suppress his power including that of his men outside.

"Are you trying to use your power?" the King questioned him.

Graven didn't reply.

The King laughed. "Don't waste your precious time! You should know by now that once you're inside my domain, you and your men are just like tiny ants that I can easily crush with my fingers! The best thing you can do is cooperate with me and everything will be alright. Because my beloved woman loves you...I'm willing to share her with you. Just bring her in my place and we can rule the world together. I will make you my right hand! Think of the massive power and wealth I can give you and the chance to rule the world beside me, think about it! If you cooperate with me, I can give you all..." he said.

The King snorted inwardly. 'Well, he was lying, he's not a fool to share Laura with this guy! After he brings Laura to his side, he will kill him and his men. He no longer needed them, he can rule the world without him by his side. But he's a bit weak right now. He needs to feed with Laura's blood, regained his full power, and finally leave this place. The black liquid is not the only thing that is holding him back from leaving this place...

Graven stared at the cursed King. He knows that once he brought Laura here, the King will get rid of him and his men right away. He's not stupid to believe his promises. "After leaving this place and I returned home, I discovered that Laura was abducted...and until now I'm still trying to find her!"

"Really-? Who seized her?" The King was trying to read the guy's mind while looking at his face.

Graven didn't answer. He couldn't tell the King that it was his brother who kidnapped his wife. That's one thing that puzzled him. If the King had successfully read his mind he should have known by now that it was his brother that kidnapped Laura. But the King continues to pretend that he didn't know, which confuses him.

"If you tell me a lie! I can easily capture the people who brought you here to join you and your men. Would you like that?" the King said.

Graven dropped his gaze. He knows exactly who brought him here, it's his friend Terros and Horace, they're probably outside waiting for them to come out. They won't leave the place unless they will know what is their current condition. Which means, they are in danger!

"Leave them alone! No need to touch my friends outside. I and my men are more than enough to satisfy your needs!" Graven said.

"Ah... I saw fear in your eyes! Those people outside must be your dearest friends because you want to protect them!" the King said with a knowing smile.

Graven sighed. "Released me and my men now! If you keep us for so long here, how can we find Laura? You are wasting your time! I thought you want to leave this place as soon as possible? How come you're still holding us here! The sooner you free us, the better for you, we can start finding Laura again! Released us now!" he demanded.

The King grinned. "You seemed to be excited about leaving here. I'm not done with you yet! Stay here and plan your moves well. If you don't bring Laura here soon, you are going to lose your men one by one!" he threatened him in a hard authoritative tone.

The King left the room.

Graven released a troubled sigh.

He just hoped that the cursed King is not planning to capture his men and Terros waiting outside the castle or else they will also fell victim to the King's scheme.

He closed his eyes eager to leave this place but he can't do anything! His power is nonexistent in this place! It's frustrating at the same time terrifies him. He has to focus on the bright side, for now, their problem with their breathing is finally over! The King and his men must have popped the antidote on their mouth while they're unconscious.

He wonders how many days the King is planning to hold him and his men underground. The first time they're here, they were freed on the same day. He hopes this time, they will be released right away. He feared that the longer they will stay here the King might be able to think of something sinister to torture his powerless men. It would kill him inside if he has to witness such a horrible thing especially that they're powerless to fight the king in his territory.

He released a deep sigh. He looked at the ceiling and stared at the two guards stationed near the door. The guards look like they're fully coated with the black liquid, the only color he can see in them is their white eyes, either they're vampires or slaves. He had a feeling that the cursed King will kill them or turn him and his men into these kinds of slaves after they delivered Laura to this place.

Meanwhile...

Outside the crumbling castle.

Terros coated Graven's men with the same invisible barrier that he used on himself to make sure that they're also protected from anything that will suddenly attack them. He knows that this is the enemy's territory. The cursed King can't leave the place but he can use his power to influence or manipulate everything that is near him, therefore anything can happen here.

So... it's better to be safe than sorry!

Seconds later after he just finished thinking about the unforeseen danger...suddenly...the ground beneath them starts to shake...

"Watch out! The ground is shaking, something is about to come out!" Terros warned the men.

They immediately rose in the air, floating higher, avoiding whatever that comes out of the ground.

Their eyes widened after seeing long roots sprang from the ground and trying to reach them. They rose even higher until the roots can no longer reach them.

They looked at each other in shock and amazement.

"Whoaaa! Sneaky roots!" one of the men said.

"Thanks, Grandpa, for alerting us!" said the other.

"Don't mention it," Terros said. "This is the enemy's territory, we need to be vigilant especially that the King already knows our existence outside the castle. I think he's planning to capture us! So... let's all be careful!" he added.

After realizing that their target is too far for them to reach, the roots gradually retreated underground.

Just when Terros thought that they're already safe... multitudes of bats exited the door of the castle and were flying towards them.

The bat's eyes so red can only mean one thing... they're ready to drink blood.

Terros looked at his companion. "Relax, those bats can't harm us!"

The men looked at the old man. "Are you sure, Grandpa?" they asked, remembering the bats attacking South Pond Town that injured several of their comrades.

"Just watched!" Terros replied.

The swarm of bats rushed towards the men ready to drink blood.

Unfortunately, they stumbled and encountered an invisible barrier enveloping each of the men, they can't get through the barrier, unable to take a bite of the men's skin.

"This is cool!" one of the men said.

They looked at Terros and gave him a thumb up.

Terros took a bottle from the pocket of his pants, rose higher, and sprayed the contents into the air...the black powder landed on the bats and they start burning.

A few minutes later, all the bats died.

"You're awesome, Grandpa!" the men said in chorus.

Terros just smiled at them. "Guys listened, I'm going home to take a rest. I have little sleep taking care of your master the whole night. My body is screaming for a few hours of sleep. I'll come back later in the afternoon. You can also go home if you want to and just come back later in the afternoon or evening," he suggested.

"B-but...what about Lord Graven and our comrades down there in the King's place?" asked one of the men.

"Don't worry... I think the cursed King won't harm them because he needs men in building his empire once he's freed from the castle. Besides, he needs Laura. And the only person who can deliver her to him is no other than Graven, therefore the King won't harm any of them. Besides you need to report to Horace and your friends about what's happening here. So you need to go home, take a good rest before returning here. Sooner or later, the King will surely release them," he assured them.

The men were convinced of Terros's statement.

Together they teleported back to South Pond Town.

Terros looked at the castle one last time before he teleported back to his place.