AN: Tomorrow's chapter will be a dual post, with one of them being extra special. Torture, but not what I've written about so far. I enjoyed writing it, which is really weird when said.

In any case, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

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"The Lord," shouted an unknown from within the forest village near our main base of operation, "The Lord has returned to us!" This being, coupled with the whole of the village rushed out in order to surround my person and the now frightened rescued dragonfolk. These clung to one another, as I strode forward with staff in hand to greet each and every one of them.

"Thank you Lord," whispered many females, "My child was returned to me just as you said." Yes. As I have said before, those of whom are considered as my servants are allotted various guarantees. Such as the respawn, of which grants them an additional chance at living the same life over before their untimely demise.

"Master," Sia appeared before my person, and knelt down with her arms crossed over one another in an eternal salute, "We did not expect your return so soon. Is everything alright?" These words seem to spark a mass of mutterings as they noted only a few short creatures and the twins. Of whom were keeping close to my person whilst staring about themselves.

"Peace," I held up my right clawed hand, calling all attention upon my person and silencing their words, "I am merely here to give the newcomers a new place of rest. They were scheduled for the block, and are in need of food, clothing, baths, and much rest." The "Block", by the by, is nothing more than a platform in which a slave, or group of slaves, stand to be sold to the highest bidder. It is a common term amongst the worlds which have slavery.

Upon my words, a sea of golden eyes turned towards the others which were now shivering with fright, whilst a few did their best to stand between them so as to act as some sort of protector. "Be at ease," I stepped towards this group with a slow and steady pace, "You are safe. You are home. You do not need fear the outside world anymore."

"Re-really?" Asked a small voice from within, as a pair of hopeful, sparkling emerald eyes fell upon my person.

"Really, really," my lips cracked into a soft smirk, "You will all be fed, bathed, clothed, and given rest. However," a few had sighed at these words, before catching their breath when I raised a single, clawed forefinger, "However, you will be given work later on, and I will be needing your assistance for what is to come."

"Wh-what is to come?" Asked another voice within the group, as the sea of dragonfolk surged forward from behind my person to absorb the newcomers into their number.

"Revolution."

*****

"What do you mean all gone?" Howled King Ramses, as his large, clawed hands gripped the messengers' shredded black suit. His own attire was of a regal purple velvet which was crafted into the shape of a tight fitting robe. Upon his head was a thing circlet with a multi facetted ruby in the centre. Yes. He could have worn his crown, but with so many of the poor and middle class out for his blood, he could not risk losing such a symbol gifted to him by the main land's king.

As to where they were, it was inside a box shaped room high above and to the right of the main stage in which the auction was to take place. Within such a room was many rich and beautiful coloured fabrics all leading to several piled of cushions for himself and three other guests. One of which was to his son, Ramses the second, and one of his many wives. They both wore a matching attire to the king, as well as the same circlet, but it was of silver with a blue gem in the centre.

Along the edges of the room were nine lion beastmen in full plate armour. Each held a long kite shield with a standard spear, of which was planted upon the ground, whilst a few gripped their weapons tightly. They assumed there would be a fight of some sort, as their lord and master was now hoisting the poor messenger high and throwing it into the wall opposite him. This created a dent in the wall, as the one thrown fell into a heap of broken bones and blood pouring out of its head.

"One of you find Re'ohn," he growled, as his eyes became thin slits, "and have him meet me down in the pits beneath this shit hole."

"Shit hole!" Repeated his son, who was then shushed by his biological mother as the feral eyes of the king fell upon them.

"We'll be fine, dear," she shivered at the other, hugging her now squirming child close. After such words were spoken, only one of his guards were left to watch the pair as he made his way down a flight of stairs with the rest.

His decent did not go unnoticed, as many were still in the halls below. These dashed to the sides to kneel, salute, or bow to one such as he. Only after he passed did they gossip about what they saw or felt. Of course, the words muttered only increased when others came to them with news of the king entering the pits for some odd reason. This, coupled with a muffled roar caused those gathered to wonder why.

For within the room which led to the slave pits were signs of a great battle. This sight was what caused the king to roar with frustration over such a thing, as he and his descended into the chaos of what had taken place just a short time ago. Of which was made apparent, as many of the bodies had yet to grow stiff do to the lack of blood flow.

"What happened here?" He growled slowly, as a body with the features of a bear beastman slowly melted into a puddle of flesh. What is more, the muffle sounds of footsteps below alerted his person to survivors. "To the pits!"

The journey to such a place was short, but had left an imprint of madness upon each of their minds. As they approached the iron door leading into the cells of where the slaves were kept, the king and his guards noted the long scars upon the door. This, along with the fact that it was torn into two pieces, alarmed the guards. Of which led to them holding up their shields and spears, as many of their number entered the quiet area before them.

"What happened here?" King Ramses repeated slowly, as they noted the bars of iron had been twisted and bent, their contents missing.

"Who's there?" Shouted one of the guards at the front of the group. This led to the rest standing closer to their lord, so as to protect him from harm.

"Please," came a pained whisper, as something waved at them from further down the hall.

At a nod from the king, three of the guards peeled away in order to investigate the unknown voice. Of which belonged to another lion beastman, but was heavily injured and would not last for much longer. For you see, the one before them had its breastbone ripped from its body, along with any protective armour, and exposed the insides.

"Please," he whispered, as his heart continued to beat and blood flowed around the gaping wound. What is more, the horrors inflicted upon such a being did not come into their minds, until a torch was lit the moment their liege lord came into view.

The ribs and solar plexus were indeed missing from the beastman, of which should have killed him almost instantly. However, he was being kept alive from the magicks which coursed through its body. Of which were the colour of crimson and sapphire, and crackled around the heart and lungs.

"Who did this to you?" Whispered one of the guards, as the rest of the group came forward to view such a spectacle, only to have several, including Ramses, turn away to release the contents of their stomachs upon the ground.

"Please," it whispered once more, then coughed up a mouthful of clotted blood. Of which splattered upon the floor. Whereas the visible organs shuttered as it continued to draw breath. "The Dragon..."

"What dragon?" The king's head whipped towards the tortured beastman, as he stooped closer, "Which one did you-?"

"The Dragon... It is coming... For you... King Ramses..." At these words, the magicks keeping it alive cease to function. Of which caused its innards to slowly fall out of the body, whereby it began to decay rapidly as the rest of the body melted into a pool of bubbling flesh.

"My Lord," shouted the guards as one, ushering him away from the mass of liquefied flesh and bones, "It is not safe here. We must hurry and be away."

"Of course," he spoke absentmindedly, as his mind raced as the thought of a dragon coming specifically for him caused his entirety to shiver with great fear.

*

"A dragon is coming for you?" Whispered King Nero, as the other sat across him within the large crystal, "Did you find anything else out?"

"Only that it stole away the entire stock of slaves," Growled Ramses, whose features had grown pale after the ordeal of earlier that evening, "Not to mention we found a few of those rebel corpses lying about. Probably killed one another."

"We can only hope," the growl was echoed with his own, as he had problems with his own brand of rebels who did not understand that he was in charge and nothing they say or do will ever cause him to give that up.

Which is why he appealed to the "Idiot" and his band of females to help him destroy much of the rebel bases who were disrupting everything, and to kill the dragons which plagued their world. Of course, the journey to accomplish both of these tasks were long and arduous, as they had appeared nearly a full century ago before the issues with the continent Ramses was on cropped up.

'Yes. The humans were upon this world in the Abyss far longer than I was, and had performed many deeds both good and ill for King Nero the First. However, this is a tale for another time.'

"In any case, this is good news for us," muttered the elder of the pair.

"How so?" The younger perked up at the hidden musings of the one before him.

"If a dragon is coming for you, then it would be easier to slay."

The other groaned as such words were spoken, as he opened his maw to whine, "But we do not have a dragon slayer."

"No. Not yet you do not."