Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 210 Already Chaos

"I think this makes us even…

…Rhys Wilder."

The body of the woman that was trying to seduce Rhys hasn't even fallen yet — perhaps it doesn't even know that she was already dead; sharp pieces of her skull, her brain matter, her flesh, even her eyes were cut into hundreds of pieces.

Talia was approaching Rhys, but Rhys was completely focused on the bits and pieces of the woman's head. Rhys already knew that her invisible attacks were in the shape of a cross, but to think she was also able to make them small enough to dismantle a head like it was diced onion.

Rhys was also thinking it was a shame — if the woman's breaths truly did work as an aphrodisiac, then that would have been extremely useful for Rhys. But then again, Rhys had his power long enough to know that sexual desires only cover a fraction of the Hearts.

"I've only been gone for a few hours, and you already let someone sit on my throne," Talia then just grabbed the headless corpse by the shoulders and casually threw it away, causing it to roll a few times across the yard.

The yard was almost empty by now, as most of the inmates just decided to rest in their cells until the situation was over.

"...And I see the flies have gathered," Talia then let herself fall on the sofa, not even minding all the blood and flesh on it as she sat beside Rhys while looking at the remaining prisoners in the yard.

Rhys have actually already noticed them too even before the random woman came to seduce him… but everyone who remained in the yard seemed strong.

There were 3 groups, with the two Nobles being obviously the leader of their respective groups. As for the last one, the leader was a Commoner, but just by looking at the people behind her, she had the strongest people amongst the three leaders.

"You know why they're here, right?" Talia then let out a small scoff as she looked at the leaders one by one, "They want to recruit you under their gang and join their ranks of sorry excrements — people with no shame who would flurry like flies around a lowly dregger."

"Gangs… so, they really exist in prisons," Rhys squinted his eyes as he looked at the groups. And it is as Talia said; as soon as Rhys met their eyes, the leaders of the gangs started approaching him and Talia, "...But what exactly do they do?"

"Play kings and queens," Talia crossed her legs and just let herself relax on the sofa, "Pretend like they even have a semblance of authority in this place, unlike me… the one who holds the true power in this place."

"Fish," the first person to reach Rhys was one of the Noble leaders, a short man with orange glowing hair, "I'm not going to mince my words — you are either with me or against me. Your chances to survive this place are infinitely higher if you choose the former."

"Ha. You ain't gonna get the brother like that, Art," the other Noble stood next to the orange-haired Noble, Art.

"I am not done talking to the fish, Mike," Art scoffed as he glanced at the large dark-skinned man who invaded his space; the man's head, almost like a light bulb as his bright golden buzz-cut hair almost imitated the moon hanging above the prison.

"Really?" Mike then suddenly placed his arm over Art's shoulder, causing Art's men to quickly take action and try to surround Mike. But at the same time they did so, however, Mike's men also rushed forward to meet them; the two groups, now in a complete standoff,

"Because it looks to me that you're done — let the big boys negotiate. Now, look here, Mr. Popular…"

Mike then let go of Art and continued to approach Rhys, twirling his hands as he let out a stuttered, almost hiccuping chuckle.

"I'm offering you the same as my homeboy back there," Mike then smiled, "If you're not with us, then you know what that means. But if you're with us… you're not gonna have to worry about nothing."

"These Nobles know nothing."

"It's not your turn to speak, Dominique," Mike let out a small scoff as finally, the only female and non-Noble leader stepped forward; not by herself, but with her gang. Mike seemed to still want to say something, but he just smiled and playfully bowed to make way for Dominique.

"All these Nobles know is how to have people beneath them following their orders," Dominique's red hair almost did not reach her ear; swept to the side and faded on the sides, "If you join me, then you wouldn't be joining a gang…

…you'll have family."

"Oh, there she goes…" Mike let out a small chuckle as he heard Dominique's words. His chuckle, however, completely halted as she was the only one Rhys responded to.

"...You're military?" Rhys asked as he looked at Dominique from head to toe, and as soon as he asked that, a confident smile crawled on Dominique's face.

"Underworld Corps," Dominique nonchalantly saluted, "And so are the rest of the people behind me."

"Rhys Wilder," Rhys also saluted, "Suicide Squad."

"I fucking knew it," Dominique licked her teeth as she nodded along with her gang, "I knew only someone like the corps could produce someone like you, I could smell the Underworld from you as soon as you arrived — you even have the missing limb as a souvenir."

"Tch," both Mike and Art could really only click their tongues as they saw the smile on Dominique's face.

"Uncouth dyke always ruins everything," Art scoffed before turning to look at Rhys, "Your camaraderie outside means nothing here, fish — choose the strongest group."

"Oh…" Rhys blinked a couple of times as he looked at the 3 leaders; a hint of confusion, obviously planted on his face, "...I thought we were just introducing each other. I'm not planning on joining any gang."

"Wait," the happy expression on Dominique's face instantly faded away, "Don't tell me you're actually planning on just sticking with that fucking dictator's dog? Didn't she oppress your people!?"

"Well, I suppose this calls for an unexpected scenario…" Art then placed his hand on his chin before turning to look at the two other leaders, "...Are the two of you thinking what I am thinking? There are no guards."

"Just say what you want to say and get on with it," Mike smiled as he glanced at Talia.

"Meaning there is no one to blow our necks off," Art snapped his fingers, and as soon as he did so, his men all turned their hostility toward Talia, "And that means we could finally get rid of this old woman."

"Hm," Mike shrugged as he continued to smile at Talia before turning to look at the headless corpse she killed without even blinking an eye, "I'm not one to form alliances, but I am a little pissed off that you killed one of my girls like that. So… you have to go, Granny."

"Rhys," Dominique stretched out her hand toward Rhys, "I will give you one final chance, join me… or die along with that dog."

"I don't know…" Despite all the threats they were receiving, Rhys just joined Talia and rested his back on the sofa to relax, "...I like the odds of my team."

"We are not a team, dregger," Talia just clicked her tongue and scoffed as she slightly leaned away from Rhys, "And get off of my sofa."

"You heard her!" Dominique still had her hand stretched, "Join us, brother."

"Okay…" Rhys then stood up, causing the expression on Talia's face to turn serious as she just looked at Rhys's back, while a smile once again crawled on Dominique's face, "I'll join…

…but only if the three of you are willing to work under me."

"Ha!" And before the three leaders could even express their disapproval and shock at Rhys's words, Talia was the first to react as she clapped her hands and raised her voice. The other leaders as well as their men could really only look at each other, as this was the very first time they've really ever seen Talia act like that.

As for Rhys, he wasn't focusing on Talia's laugh at all, but on the Hearts floating above her head — one of them, now suddenly completely filled up.

"It's funny, no?" Talia's thick accent slightly showed itself as she also stood up from the sofa and looked at the 3 leaders, "All these schemes, very cute. You've said that there are no guards at all…

…but how come none of you ever wondered why that is? Out of all of you, only this dregger seems to have noticed."

Rhys only glanced at Talia before a small smile crawled on his face.

"The reason why there are no guards patrolling is that there are no guards left…" Talia's breaths slightly fluttered as she tried her best to collect and prevent herself from laughing further,

"...is that there are no guards left, I killed all of them."

"You—"

"Yoohoo," Talia then playfully breathed out and whistled as she suddenly grabbed something from her pockets. And as soon as the other inmates saw what it was, they all just took several steps back; horror, painting their eyes. How could they not be afraid, when Talia was now holding a remote that is used to trigger the thing in their necks?

"That's right," Talia shook the remote, "I hold your lives now, but I won't kill any of you, not yet…

…because I also just accidentally killed the Warden."

"What...!?"

"And once they realize that in a few weeks...

...they are going to send an entire army after us."