Brown month, day 34.

  “Wakey wakey!!!” - A person in a coma quickly opened their eyes after being splashed with water. They looked around. They were strapped to a strange chair and were located behind bars in a stone room that was most likely underground. On the other side of the bars stood a person leaning against the wall. This person held a small bucket in their hand…The one they used to pour water on the person.

  “Don’t even try using your abilities by the way. Besides the fact that I had a helmet made of Oceanite put on your head....which is the only Oceanite item I own, so don't even try breaking it! I can guarantee that you won’t get out of this underground place alive. Unless…unless you tell me everything I need and be a good girl! (The person leaned against the bars. Now even closer to the person behind them.) We could start by you telling me your real name…and not some stupid number…I’m Sand by the way.”

  The terrified Thirty three did not respond. Afterwards she looked at her hand, where one finger was missing. A tear fell from Thirty three. - “A silent game? I thought so…Well then! We’ll see if you change your mind in two days!!”

  Brown month, night 27.

  Two swords met edge against edge. These swords belonged to Horwann and Two. Around them stood fifty surviving people from Two’s group. Around and near them lay hundreds of fallen members of Horwann’s united army. The defeated fought the victor for survival, the victor fought the defeated for entertainment.

  In the crowd of people from Two’s group stood Ten, whom someone tapped on the shoulder…It was Ninety two. - “So?” - asked Ninety two. Ten was very confused about what Ninety two could want. Then he realized. Ninety two was one of the archers on Two’s side. Meaning Ninety two observed the entire battlefield from a distance…Therefore he must have seen some part of the fight between Seven and the elite unit.

  On the other hand, Ten was very calm, because he killed Seven only after the signal that Ninety eight gave. Therefore Ninety two surely was only interested in how the fight ended and where Seven was.

  “A huge failure…Seven died in my arms. I didn’t realize it in time…so…(Ten began shaking and speaking very disappointedly.) so I was afraid to use the yellow Crystal. It was too risky for my life…'' - “I understand…But what about the blue Crystal?” - Ninety two did not care much about Seven’s death. The only thing that interested him were the Crystals…So that together with the others Ninety two could fulfill the great goal.

  “I didn’t obtain it. While my attention was on Seven, Aqua grabbed the trident…And together with his unit escaped. I…I apologize…I'm very sorry.” - “Oh…A great disappointment. Then we must hope that Horwann accepts Two’s conditions.” - said Ninety two, while Two cut Horwann to his chest in the middle of the circle that the other members of Two’s group formed around Two and Horwann.

  “FIRST HIT!!! So Horwann I must say…You really surprised me!!! I thought I would have to hold back, but I truly have to try…One small mistake and maybe you could actually hit me! Truly impressive!!!!!” - “Shut that mouth of yours already. You wanted to talk to me. It’s clear to me I won’t leave here alive…You won. So don’t waste my time…And tell me what the hell you need!” - Horwann finished the sentence and once again lunged toward Two despite his injuries.

  Two opened his third eye, which he had kept closed during the entire duel, dodged Horwann’s strike, spun his sword quickly and hit him in the stomach with the blunt end. - “You’re right! I got carried away too much…You know…I really enjoy competing with my rivals. Anyway! Time for the big talk!!!”

  Brown month, day 36.

  Sand entered the room where Thirty three was held. In his hand he carried a daily ration of water and some bread for Thirty three. From her cell came screaming…Terrible screaming…Screaming from pain.

  Sand approached the bars separating Thirty three from freedom. - “Allow me to explain what is happening to you right now! And I REALLY hope that afterwards we will finally be able to talk!!”

  “As you probably already realized, the chair you are sitting on has a small opening underneath. This opening serves so that a plant, which I borrowed from the great jungles of Southles, can pass through. It is called bamboo!”

  Sand looked at the screaming Thirty nine with a wide smile and an expression that truly inspired fear. Sand wanted information and was willing to do anything to obtain it. Meanwhile Thirty nine was on the edge of collapsing from pain, because what Sand invented was truly monstrous.

  “As you probably also realized, bamboo grows upward VERY quickly. So it takes one to two days for the bamboo to grow to the opening of the chair. But as you probably know…The opening of the chair will not stop the bamboo…The bamboo continues on its path!! And it grows through all obstacles.” - Sand’s tone of voice became much harsher. By this he made clear to Thirty three what would happen within a few days.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  The bamboo had already begun growing slightly into Thirty three’s body, which was the reason for the insane pain. Fortunately only a small part had grown into her backside so far, but within a few days it would grow out of her mouth if Sand did wont stop the growth.

  “So Thirty three…Let’s make a deal. For every question you answer, I will cut off a piece of the growing bamboo as a reward. Once you answer all the questions I want to ask…Then I will let you go! Deal??” - Despite all the pain, Thirty three managed to nod her head.

  “Wonderful!! Then let's begin.”

  Brown month, night 27.

  “I wonder, (Two dodged Horwann’s strike and cut his leg.) what your favorite food is!!!” - “This is what you wanted to talk about, Two? My favorite food??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” - Two’s question enraged Horwann. He thought Two was mocking him. Horwann looked at his light superficial wound and intended to continue their duel. Two, however, placed his sword on the ground.

  “I’m not joking! Not at all!! I’m genuinely interested!! Please…what is your favorite food?” - Horwann felt like he would explode from anger, but at the same time tried to focus, because he did not want to be defeated in battle so easily.

  “I would tell you… I would tell you my favorite food…IF WE WERE SITTING IN A TAVERN DRINKING PIVSON TOGETHER…NOT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL ME!!” - “Thank you Horwann…A solid answer.” - Two picked up his sword again and was ready to continue the duel. Horwann, however, had no idea what's going on.

  “HUH?? Can you explain what you’re trying to do?!” - Horwann wanted answers, but Two lunged at him and cut him again before Horwann could react.

  “I didn’t want to hear what your favorite food is… I wanted to hear your answer to the question!! An answer can tell more about a person than the core of the answer itself! Based on your answer you are the person I thought you were…And I am glad…because you have a sufficiently developed mind for the offer I am about to make you!!

  Brown month, day 36.

  “So Thirty three…What is your real name?” - “Elizabeth!” - Thirty three immediately shouted the answer. She wanted the pain to end as soon as possible.

  Sand thought for a moment about Thirty three’s answer, then slammed the bars. - “DO YOU THINK I CAN’T TELL YOU’RE LYING?? DO YOU THINK YOU’RE THE FIRST PERSON I’VE EVER TORTURED??? After all…That name sounds far too…made up. Well then! I suppose I’ll have to come back in a few hours, once you actually want to give me the real answer.”

  Sand turned to leave, but Thirty three shouted at him. - ‘’I AM NOT LYING! I’m really not lying…You know…where I come from, names like mine are completely normal…Actually…they should be completely normal everywhere…I mean really…sand?? Sand is your name??’’ - Thirty three forced the response out with all her strength. Her entire face was covered in tears caused by the unbearable pain of the bamboo growing inside her body.

  Sand entered Elizabeth’s cell and cut off a part of the bamboo. Afterwards, he ordered the guard standing around the corner to pull out the piece of bamboo that remained in her backside.

  ‘’Thanks…Now please leave us…It’s time for a private interview.’’ - The guard left and Sand returned to the other side of the bars.

  ‘’That bamboo. I cut it precisely. Soon it will touch your body again. But of course…we can prevent that together. (Sand sat down on the ground and leaned against the wall.) You mentioned that where you come from, the name Elizabeth is completely normal…What place is that? Oh and…did I say Elizabeth correctly?’’

  Elizabeth thought for a moment about whether she wanted to answer. However, she did not want to feel that bamboo inside her again. - ‘’Yes, you did. And that place is…That place is Endor. A continent located northwest of Middleworld.’’

  Sand smiled, cut another piece of bamboo through the bars, and said. - ‘’Finally…Now we can really get started! I’ll come again tomorrow once the bamboo grows back. Unless you don’t want to risk anything…then you can spill everything today!!’’ - ‘’I’ll spill it today.’’ - Elizabeth answered, terrified. Who would have thought bamboo could cause so much fear.

  Brown month, night 27. - A short distance from the collapsed mountain.

  The completely broken Six hit the ground. Suddenly he was lifted back into the air thanks to a pillar Bowler created. Then Bowler destroyed the pillar again and Six hit the ground once more.

  ‘’Come on Six…we can do this all day…But just say the word and I’ll end your pain.’’ - Six vomited blood. He looked at it sadly. He wanted to wipe his mouth with his hand, but all the bones in his arm were broken. - ‘’I-I… I w-will a-answer.’’

  ‘’Great. I only want to ask one thing. Actually, my task was just to kill you, but this genuinely interests me. Why. Why did you attack us?’’ - ‘’I-it… it w-was m-mentioned. A t-threat is coming. W-we…we w-want to s-stop it.’’

  Bowler realized he would not get much more out of Six, so he got straight to the point. - ‘’Bullshit. I’m not interested in that! It’s obvious you’re doing this for yourselves. But if your threat is truly real…then show it to me.’’

  In the cave.

  ‘’Why do you think you lost, Horwann?’’ - said Two while knocking Horwann to the ground. - ‘’Because I failed as a king.’’ - Horwann answered.

  ‘’And that’s where you are DAMN wrong. You know what, Horwann? I think you are a great king. You united most of Middleworld against me, you and the others created a great plan…Yet you still lost in the end. Not because the plan was bad, but because…because the winner of this ‘raid’ was always decided. There is no reality where I lose this raid. And that is because of one small thing you failed to consider in your thinking.

  Brown month, day 36.

  ‘’Good choice, Elizabeth. So then…Tell me about your goal. You know, you attack Middleworld, you say you want the Crystals, boom bam yada yada. I don’t like that. I want to hear the whole story.’’

  ‘’Alright…So.’’ - Elizabeth considered one last time whether she should tell Sand the truth. In the end, she decided to do so.

  ‘’Our goal is clear. To complete the task that One gave us before he died.’’