Universal Slave

The situation inside the large chamber worried Luke.

Looking at the situation of the people in this place, he could infer that the magical beast that was the owner of this territory was an insect.

Insect-type beasts were especially difficult to fight, they usually had great vitality.

He walked around the cavern, observing the people who were there, there were 57 people. There were six humans and the rest were Lunaris. The most striking were a group of ragged children who were unconscious, there were eleven children in total.

Luke focused Xylara's eye on one of the little ones.

*-Name: Goro

-Race: Lunari.

-Bloodline: Lunar Dragon (1.1%)

- Occupation: sacrifice.

- Age: 7 years old

- Health: 3/6

- Build: 2/4

- Strength: 0/3

- Agility: 0/3

- Spirit: 4 *

Luke could not help but sigh when he saw the information about the little Lunari. This little boy was in a terrible state of health. His base state was already bad, and on top of that he was now in a state of diminished attributes, probably caused by his current status: "sacrifice".

It was not the first time that Luke had encountered this type of human sacrifice. Certain churches of taboo religions used this type of sacrifice regularly. Most of the time they did it to gain power through the divine power granted to them by some deity.

In this case however, it seemed that the role of these people who were here was to become the food of these insects. With his Xylara eye that, in addition to allowing him to see the attributes of things and people, allowed him to see a little of the hidden truth. He was able to understand the process.

These people were parasitized with insect eggs, once the larvae emerged from them, they consumed the vitality of their prey, converting it into concentrated spiritual energy through a cultivation technique that was directly related to their bloodline. The resulting spiritual energy was not pure, but had a distinctive attribute that Luke could not identify. One thing was certain, the energy in that state could not be absorbed without first undergoing a purification process. Unless it was absorbed by a creature that had the same spiritual energy attribute as the larvae.

"If I'm not mistaken, these larvae are also the food of the other magical beast that is using them as livestock."

The humans served as food and fertilizer for the larvae, which after being "fattened" were consumed.

Understanding the situation, the scene in front of him became much more unpleasant. The magical beast that had this livestock system in action was clearly the owner of this territory. An insect-type beast.

The worst thing about this situation was that the prisoners were alive while they were being consumed, they were paralyzed but they could feel how they were slowly being consumed by the larvae that parasitized them.

Luke observed that there was nothing else in this place and turned around, intending to return to the first fork and explore the other path, where the magic beast was surely located.

He couldn't help these people, if he tried to rescue them he would alert the beast and that wouldn't help anyone. Although the people captured in this chamber were pitiful, they could only remain in their current situation, at least for now. After investigating the magic beast he could draw up a plan of action. If he managed to eliminate or at least distract the beast, he would try to help these poor wretches. Especially the children. Seeing the little children in that state really broke his heart.

Luke had moral rules that guided him, he didn't consider himself a saint who helped everyone, but if the opportunity presented itself in front of him and he had the conditions to help, why not do it? After all, it was better to carry the least amount of guilt and regret possible.

The little homunculus passed by the prisoners without paying attention to them, he was now heading back to the tunnel where he had come from. However, before he could get there, a small hand grabbed one of his legs.

Luke felt the slight pressure on the golem's leg and reacted violently. Even though the little golem didn't have a great capacity for combat and its main function was research, it still had the ability to cause a little damage to an unsuspecting enemy.

The little homunculus' arms transformed into drills that rotated at high speed producing heat, at the same time its hardness began to increase, reaching the consistency of a diamond.

Luke controlled the small golem and prepared to attack, but at that moment a weak voice echoed in his ears.

"Help! Please. My brothers, please."

The voice was weak and it was clear that the person speaking had enormous difficulty in getting a full sentence out.

Luke looked at the person holding the golem by one of its legs.

It was a young Lunari boy, a child with a desperate expression on his face. His small hand held the golem's leg firmly, holding on with all his remaining strength, fearing that if he let this opportunity slip away, there would be no other chance to save his family.

Luke looked at little Flynn, and his heart trembled. He had been in a situation like this before too. Desperate, he had sought help, but had never received a helping hand. 

"Why?" he thought.

"Why is it that this child who has just begun to live must suffer this fate worse than death?"

Luke looked through the homunculus' eyes, as the child waited expectantly for his answer.

However, before he could respond, a thin thread pierced the golem's body, destroying its core and dissolving the enchantment.

Luke lost the connection with his golem and a headache suddenly invaded him. The destruction of the mental connection between the two had produced adverse effects on his mind. However, Luke did not flinch, he was angry. He rarely let his emotions unfold freely. And this was one of those times.

He placed the two small tigers who were sleeping peacefully inside his clothes and activated a protection spell so that they had at least a little defense against a possible attack.

"Sorry little ones, but this time I must act. Things may get a little complicated."

With a movement of his hand, the defensive formation he was in dissolved.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, he moved at the maximum possible speed towards the cave.

Luca, who had entered the cave, looked at the boy who was asking the little golem for help, in surprise.

"What a pleasant surprise, it seems I have found a treasure without realizing it. That you can move even without having spiritual energy to remove the effects of the poison. Truly wonderful!"

Flynn looked at him in despair. He had used all his strength to ask for help, and now he couldn't move a finger.

"Change of plans boy, it would be a waste to use you as an incubator, it will be better for me to examine you in person. Maybe I can get some unexpected benefit this time!"

Luca was ecstatic! Like a child who had discovered a new toy. He took a step forward and appeared in front of Flynn.

He extended his hand planning to take the boy to take him deep into his lair, where his true body was.

Flynn, for the first time since he had woken up, closed his eyes. Tears flowed from his closed eyelids, he was only an eleven-year-old boy. No matter how strong he tried to be, the situation in front of him was simply terrifying.

A huge explosion sounded in the cave, and a slight tremor shook the entire place.

Flynn opened his eyes, and saw a scene he would never forget.

The fake Luca was crushed against the ground, above his head was the foot of a young boy who was now turning his back on him.

The young man turned around and smiled kindly.

"Don't worry, I'll help you," he said in a powerful and irrefutable tone.

Flynn couldn't help but have his eyes fill with tears again.

Luke looked at the puppet that was under the sole of his shoe, struggling to free himself from the monstrous spiritual pressure that constricted his movements.

A thin thread was connected to the back of his neck. Luke reached out and broke the connection.

Immediately the puppet lost the ability to move completely, and remained there on the ground, inert.

"It's a corpse, it's certainly easier to control a corpse than a living being," Luke said, analyzing the situation.

Flynn heard him say this and immediately asked him a question.

"He's my brother… Is he dead?" Flynn spoke with difficulty.

Luke simply removed the cloak that covered his body, revealing the disfigured corpse. Perhaps it was a little cruel to show him his brother's corpse so crudely, but the world was a cruel place, and it was better that he had no doubts. So he could accept reality and move on.

Flynn saw the deplorable state of Luca's body, his body was mutilated in several places, and had marks of having been attacked by beasts. Claw and tooth marks ran through his body.

Flynn looked away. Luca was dead, it was reality. He had always known it, but now he could finally admit it without a doubt.

"Thank you," Flynn said. He was a smart boy. He knew Luke's intentions.

Luke felt the movement of spiritual energy around him and knew that something was approaching at high speed.

"I need you to do me a favor, boy," Luke said as he pulled out a talisman he had made himself days ago.

He injected a large amount of spiritual energy into the talisman, and it began to emit a bright light.

"Tell me, sir. I will do my best." Flynn still spoke with difficulty.

Luke activated Xylara's eye and carefully observed the people around him. Using the eye's abilities he was able to identify the location of the eggs and larvae within their bodies.

He concentrated a ball of energy in his hand, and then casually threw it. The ball of energy dissolved into small needles that pierced the bodies of all the prisoners present, ending the lives of the insects without harming the people.

Luke took the two tigers out of their clothes and put them on the ground, next to Flynn.

"I need you to take care of my pets," he said with a comforting smile.

The young Lunari looked at the human in surprise. He was a smart boy. He knew what he was trying to tell him.

"The poison in their bodies shouldn't be hard to remove. If you need help, find Elian Calan, he's a novice of the church. He'll be able to help them. Tell him I'll come pay him the money I owe him later."

Flynn wanted to say something but stopped before the words escaped his mouth. Watching the human smiling kindly under the glowing light of the talisman, Flynn knew that some words didn't need to be said.

"I'll take good care of your pets," he finally said.

Luke looked at him approvingly. He tossed the talisman in his hand into the air, and it formed a dome of energy that covered all the people in the chamber. The dome began to spin, picking up speed.

Luke took one last look, turned around, and began to run in the direction of the fork in the cave.

"The talisman will take a moment to take effect. I'll have to keep that damn insect away in the meantime. This isn't like me, but sometimes I want to be the hero too."

He used his movement technique and his speed increased explosively, leaving behind countless afterimages.

He finally reached the fork and began to head in the same direction where he could feel a being with tremendous power approaching.

A few moments later, Luke was finally able to see the magical beast that was the ruler of this territory.

It was a woman, or at least she had the appearance of a young woman. Her long black hair and voluptuous body were eye-catching. But what would undoubtedly catch anyone's attention was her exoskeleton, and the eight legs that extended behind her back and formed a threatening image.

The owner of this territory, was a spider!

"It's unbelievable that an insect with such a cultivation level dared to enter my territory. I am a kind woman, but everything has its limits. I will have to make an example of you, boy."

The spider woman spoke flirtatiously. But Luke felt no satisfaction in listening to her speak. His back was covered in sweat. It was the feeling of being at death's door.

Luke did not waste his time talking to the spider woman. He had a plan in mind to keep her busy, and thus prevent her from noticing the transportation talisman he had activated.

He took out the stick from the system inventory and poured all his spiritual power into it. He then used all his power and attacked the spider woman who still treated him as an insect, completely underestimating him.

The moment Luke took out the stick, the spider queen knew something was wrong, that aura of divinity that emanated… It was not normal!

However before she could respond, Luke had already made his move.

The spider queen never expected Luke to be able to display such speed and power.

A scream of pain echoed in the depths of the cave that was located in the epicenter of the territory. The scream, full of pain and anger, was heard throughout the territory, causing the beasts that lived there to begin to tremble in fear.

Inside the cave, an incredible scene had appeared. Luke, with his stick in his hand, watched the queen indifferently. As if she were not the sovereign of this territory, but a simple insect.

In front of him, the spider queen was kneeling on the ground, covered in blood. Four of her legs had been torn off, and a large hole in the chest area had suddenly appeared in her once invulnerable exoskeleton.

The spider queen looked at him with bloodshot eyes and roared with fury.

"Human!!!! I'm going to tear you to pieces!!"

Luke saw that he had accomplished his goal and ran off at top speed. However, he was not heading outside, but deeper into the cave.

Behind him, the spider queen was furiously pursuing him.