Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

Chapter 40 Massacre, Reaching the City

The cultists, their faces contorted in a mix of fear and reverence, struggled to comprehend the sight before them. Their god, their dark savior, had returned...but something was amiss.

"Oh great lord," the cult leader stammered, his voice trembling, "we know you are displeased by these restraints, but they were necessary to prepare the vessel."

William's eyes, now burning with an unnatural intensity, scanned the assembled figures. They were weak, their power paltry compared to the demonic energy coursing through his veins. Only the leader posed a potential threat, but even he would be no match for a surprise attack.

A cruel smile twisted William's lips. "Ah, is that so?" he purred, his voice dripping with false reassurance. "Forgive my... outburst."

The leader, momentarily relieved, gasped as a searing pain pierced his chest. He looked down to see the obsidian blade protruding from his heart, its dark surface slick with blood.

"B-but why...?" he choked out, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Those were his last words. He crumpled to the ground, lifeless. A notification flashed before William's eyes, confirming the kill and the experience points gained. It was the first time he had taken a human life.

He had slain the demon, of course, but that felt different, less...real. He should have felt remorse, guilt, but those emotions were strangely absent. Instead, a dark satisfaction bloomed within him, a thirst for vengeance against those who had sought to sacrifice him.

With a roar, William lunged at the nearest cultist, his sword a blur of deadly motion. He cleaved through flesh and bone, severing limbs, heads, and torsos.

Blood splattered across the altar, staining the stone floor crimson. The enhanced strength and agility granted by the demonic energy made each attack effortless, each strike precise and devastating.

The cultists' screams echoed through the chamber, their desperate pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears. William, consumed by a terrifying rage, cut them down without hesitation.

Some attempted to fight back, one even managing to plunge a dagger deep into William's shoulder. The pain was intense, but in that moment of adrenaline-fueled fury, he barely registered it.

The carnage ended. Silence descended, heavy and oppressive. William fell to his knees, the reality of his actions crashing down upon him.

He had just slaughtered a room full of people. Blood stained his hands, his clothes, the very air he breathed. He buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed by the enormity of what he had done. He tried to convince himself it was self-defense, that they had intended to kill him first.

But a nagging voice whispered doubts in his ear. Was this truly him? Or was the demonic energy influencing his actions, pushing him towards violence?

He rose, his legs shaky, and stumbled out of the chamber. Following a set of wooden stairs, he emerged into a grand mansion, nestled deep within the forest.

This was the cult's headquarters, a place of dark rituals and sinister secrets. He briefly searched for valuables, hoping to find something useful, but found nothing of interest.

Outside, he washed the blood from his body in the cool water of a nearby well, scrubbing at his skin until it was free of the crimson stain.

He changed into a simple peasant's outfit he found within the mansion, the rough fabric a stark contrast to his usual attire. Two horses grazed peacefully nearby. Recognition sparked in William's eyes. These were the horses stolen from him and Gorn.

'Those bastards,' he thought, his anger rekindled.

He returned to the deserted town, the tavern looming like a specter in the eerie silence. Most of the townsfolk had been present at the ritual, leaving the streets deserted. He found Gorn pacing anxiously in front of the tavern, his face etched with worry.

"Lad!" Gorn exclaimed, rushing towards William and pulling him into a tight embrace. "What in the world happened?"

"I can explain on the way," William replied grimly. "Let's get out of here!"

Gorn nodded, mounting one of the horses. William followed suit, and they rode out of the cursed town, leaving the horrors behind them.

William recounted his harrowing experience, carefully omitting the details of the demonic energy absorption and the ensuing massacre.

He claimed to have been captured, but concocted a believable escape, attributing his freedom to a combination of luck and resourcefulness. Gorn, though sensing some gaps in the story, trusted William implicitly.

"I'm glad you managed to escape that dreadful situation," Gorn said, relief washing over him. "And they were the ones who stole our horses? Mother fuckers!"

"Yes," William confirmed, eager to put the ordeal behind him. "I found them outside that mansion. Honestly, the whole experience was rather traumatic. I'd prefer to focus on our journey now."

"Agreed," Gorn said, steering their conversation towards safer topics.

They resumed their travels, the magic school drawing ever closer. The remaining journey was uneventful, a welcome respite after their harrowing encounter. While William appreciated the peace, a part of him craved excitement, a yearning for adventure that simmered beneath the surface.

That excitement arrived in the form of two magnificent griffins. Gorn, ever resourceful, had arranged for these majestic creatures to carry them over the treacherous mountain range that lay ahead.

"Gods above!" William exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe. "Why are we riding griffins?"

"We're entering a mountainous region," Gorn explained, "and traveling by horse would take far too long. These magnificent beasts will carry us to the city where your magic school awaits. It should take no more than seven days."

The final leg of their journey had begun, and with it, a sense of anticipation and wonder filled William's heart. He was ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that awaited him at the academy.

A nervous thrill coursed through William as he clambered onto the griffin, tentatively stroking its beak as the handler had instructed. The creature, surprisingly docile, responded with a soft chirp. With a powerful leap, they took to the sky.

William gasped, the wind whipping through his hair, the world stretching out beneath him like an endless tapestry. He had never experienced flight like this, the freedom and exhilaration unlike anything he could have imagined.

Gorn soared beside him, a wide grin splitting his weathered face. "Magnificent, isn't it?" he shouted over the wind.

The towering mountains, their snow-capped peaks gleaming in the sunlight, painted a breathtaking panorama. William, mesmerized by the sheer beauty of it all, took a moment to respond.

"It's incredible!" he yelled back, his voice filled with awe. "This is the best part of the journey!"

"You bet it is!" Gorn roared, guiding his griffin into a graceful arc.

And so, seven days passed. William savored every moment of the journey, and then, from a mountaintop, he beheld the city that would be his home for a considerable time!

It was enormous, with towering stone walls and even taller buildings. A short distance from the city, on an even higher part of the mountain, stood a colossal structure, encircled by a rampart and a blue barrier, like some magical shield.

"That's the magic school you'll be attending," Gorn said, pointing towards it. "But first, we'll take a break in the city. You still have a few days before your exam, I believe."

"Understood," William replied.

Excitement thrummed through him. He had finally reached his destination.