Wet

  That was all Alex had felt for the past three days. After signing up, Alex joined Leo’s group as a bag boy. The captain was a man named Roman. He was tall, lean, with pale white skin, and built like a star athlete. A few scars dotted his arms and face, unsettling Alex, since scars were supposed to be impossible to get after becoming a Soul Walker.

  When a Soul walker dies, a piece of their soul is torn off to rebuild the body. It will always be reconstructed to its original form before receiving the blessing from Death. That means any scars, cuts, or abnormalities a person had on their body were present before they met Death and became a Soul walker.

  ‘What kind of life did this guy live?’ Alex thought to himself.

  Shaking his head, he focused on what was in front of him. They were wading through mud so high it reached their waists. They were venturing into a new part of hell. This area was south of the Castle of Hell. King Virel wanted to establish a new foothold in this area.

  The previous kings of the Soul Walkers made many attempts to enter the Castle of Hell, but they all failed. Many creatures resided in the Castle of Hell, the most dangerous being the god who ruled that domain. Nobody knew the god's name, but the Soul Walkers dubbed her the Keeper of Souls.

  King Virel wanted a new area of attack so that further expeditions into the castle could yield new results. The group trudged on, looking for a place to set up camp. The primary hunters raised their weapons above their heads to avoid getting muddy. Alex and Leo had the honor of carrying the group's packs.

  Alex thought he had gotten used to heavy loads, but this was another level of agony. His muscles were screaming in pain as he kept the heavy pack raised above his head while moving forward. A few twisted trees were high above the mud. Their roots were like vast networks hidden away in the mud. Occasionally, an insect-like monster would attack the group, but the hunters were skilled enough to repel them easily.

  After five hours of walking, they found a clearing where the mud didn’t reach as high. Alex cried in relief, not knowing how long his arms could have held out. Dropping the packs, Alex and Leo sat breathing heavily, trying to recover as much energy as they could in the time they had.

  “Hey, Leo,” Alex muttered in a tired tone.

  “Yeah, Alex?”

  “Fuck you.”

  Leo let out a hearty laugh before sitting up straight. Shaking his head, he gave Alex a hand to help him to his feet. Getting up, Alex dusted the mud flakes that began forming on his pants.

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  …

  The hunters had set up a perimeter around the campsite while Leo and Alex pitched tents for the others to stay in. The group had come back and started a fire. Bill was the head chef of this hunter group. Well, whatever could be passed for cooking down here. Soul Walkers didn’t need as much food as ordinary people. A passive effect of the blessing. But they still required some amount of food, or else they would slowly starve to death.

  Bill began roasting peppers and strange meats that Alex had never eaten before. He didn’t care, though. All he could think about was the sweet sensation of a full stomach and how much hunger gnawed at his insides.

  “Lovely weather we’re having,” Roman said as he sat down. His voice was deep and smooth. He spoke with practiced ease, not having to raise his voice to be heard. The others chuckled in amusement. “Anyways, tell us a little about yourself, Alex.”

  “What do you wanna know?” Alex responded.

  “Let's start with some basics. Where were you from topside, occupation before death, that sorta stuff.”

  “Hmm,” Alex thought momentarily before answering, “I’m from Ravenbrook if you’ve heard of it. It’s an island region off the coast of the Kingdom of Frecor. I was a researcher for mana batteries.”

  “I’ve been there once. I had to take care of a job there.” Roman responded. “Beautiful area, I’ve got to admit. I’ll even consider settling there once my business is handled here.”

  “Hey Roman, what did you do for work topside?” Alex felt stupid the moment the words left his mouth. Being that blunt with someone dangerous was foolish, but it had already been done.

  Amusement crept into the corners of Roman’s lips as he responded, “I was a mercenary for hire—a damned good one at that. There’s only one job I haven’t gotten to finish yet.” Roman looked off into the distance toward the Castle of Hell. “Hey, Bill, when will that food be ready?”

  “Give me ten more minutes, boss!” Bill responded. His voice was clear and robust, with a warmth behind it. He was a heavy-set man who always carried a large hammer. He had a beard like a Viking and golden locks to match. The muscles in his body screamed of years of training, but his gut spoke of years of feasting.

  The other members of the group, which consisted of seven people, were chatting among themselves. Their faces resembled those of warriors trained in harsh combat, but they seemed at ease chatting while waiting for the food to be prepared.

  Alex chatted with Leo briefly before Bill dropped his hammer to get everyone’s attention. “Foods ready! Line up and help yourself.”

  Everyone lined up, with Alex in the back. He didn’t mind since he was just a bag boy, starving after walking through mud all day.

  …

  After resting for a few hours, the group gathered their gear and continued their trek. The swamp they found themselves in was hot and humid. The deeper they went, the more overgrown the trees seemed to become.

  When the trees seemed too thick to pass through, a clearing opened out of nowhere. Roman raised his fist as a sign to halt. The group stopped right at the treeline before hitting the clearing. He motioned for one of the hunters to come to him. It was a short woman with black cropped hair named Eve. She looked tense as Roman whispered something to her, and she nodded.

  Alex watched as Eve weaved her body through narrow gaps in the trees. She entered the clearing and scanned around her before nodding and returning.

  Alex whispered to Leo, “What’s happening?”

  Leo responded, “I think they're scouting the area. Roman has these gut feelings sometimes.”

  Roman spoke before Alex could say anything. “There’s an entrance into the castle in this clearing.” The other Hunters grew tense, with some drawing their weapons. “You eight will stay here. Eve, you're with me.” Eve nodded her head and drew daggers from her waist.

  They passed through the trees and entered the clearing. Turning toward the Castle of Hell, Roman walked up and excavated a small hole near the wall of the grand structure. Alex could barely see a corridor leading deeper into the building. It was large enough to fit a school bus and dark as far as Alex could see. Roman proceeded, followed by Eve's disappearance.

  The other Hunters formed a perimeter around the hole as Roman and Eve entered the Castle. Leo and Alex were behind the Hunters, their bodies tense, and their faces tense with fear. Bill glanced behind and saw the two standing stiff as the trees.

  With a wide grin, he said, “Hope you packed lunch. We’re gonna be here for a while.”