Hero of Darkness

With her previous arrogance and dominance shattered, the Beguiling Queen, now identified as Melisandre, wore a countenance filled with a mixture of rage and humiliation.

The tables had turned drastically, leaving her unable to move due to the magical seal expertly placed on her by Speki.

"What is your name?" asked Maximus.

Maximus's inquiry cut through the air, demanding to know her name. In a tone that hinted at her disbelief and the dent in her pride, she reluctantly admitted…

"It's Melisandre." spoke the high vampire with an incredulous expression.

The situation was undoubtedly a blow to her ego, as she found herself incapacitated and controlled by the very individuals she had attempted to manipulate.

Her inner turmoil was evident, her expression a mixture of seething anger and incredulity. She had underestimated her opponents and was now paying the price for her arrogance.

Meanwhile, Speki, displaying his resourcefulness, summoned a kettle, a jar of water, and rare, deep-earth scented coffee beans.

Skillfully utilizing his summoned fire, he commenced the process of brewing coffee. The members of the party, recognizing the need for a respite, took this opportunity to rest and rejuvenate, perhaps taking a moment to revel in the ironic twist of fate that had befallen the once-dominant High Vampire.

Melisandre's expression remained a volatile mix of fury and humiliation, a stark contrast to her current immobilized state due to the effective magical seal cast by Speki.

The once-commanding High Vampire was now confined by the very magic she had employed to manipulate others.

The bitter taste of defeat and her own arrogance was palpable, leading to an inner struggle she couldn't ignore.

Accepting the fact that she was being restrained by Maximus, whom she had intended to control, was a tough pill to swallow.

Not long ago, she treated all of them like livestock and enjoyed demeaning them as if she was emasculating all the males of this Hero's Party. But now... the fate had played a joke on her.

As Speki orchestrated this brewing process, the rest of the party recognized the importance of seizing a moment of respite.

They settled down, their bodies tired from both the battles they had fought and the psychological onslaught they had endured.

Amidst this brewing silence, Kahn's voice cut through the air, a touch of sarcasm lacing his words.

"You men are the biggest trash of the planet." Melisandre's assertions echoed in the backdrop.

"Who told you try all of them?" he continued, directing his words to her with a matter-of-fact demeanor as they awaited the completion of the brewing coffee.

Melisandre's attempts to salvage some semblance of her pride were met with Kahn's biting retort. The tension in the air remained thick as the conversation turned towards the dynamics between genders.

Melisandre's attempt to cast herself as the victim clashed with the pragmatic and unyielding logic presented by Kahn.

"You're all a bunch of vermin who think ganging up on a woman is powerful." she lashed out in frustration, her words hinting at her resentment towards the party.

Kahn's response was swift and calculated, a verbal counterpunch that left her momentarily speechless.

"So it was justified if all of us were females?" he posed, his words cutting through her argument with sharp precision.

In an instant, her perspective was exposed, her skewed logic laid bare.

The moment hung heavy with the weight of introspection. Melisandre was forced to confront her own contradictions, the inconsistency in her reasoning glaring in the face of Kahn's simple question.

Her silence spoke volumes, a testament to the unassailable truth of the matter.

As the conversation settled, Kahn's snicker pierced the air, accompanied by the sound of sipping the coffee cup handed by Speki.

The irony wasn't lost on anyone present – a guardian who had once sought to manipulate and subjugate others now found herself ensnared in her own web of contradictory beliefs.

Melisandre's tenacity remained unwavering even in the face of Maximus' forceful interrogation. However, Kahn's intervention brought a different kind of pressure to the situation.

His words were sharp and laced with a kind of authority that demanded obedience.

"Hey, this dishwasher is now irritating me." Kahn's remark cut through the tense atmosphere, accompanied by Melisandre's immediate indignation.

"What did you just call me?!" Her retort was swift, a sign of her resistance and defiance.

"Shh... just shut up," Kahn's response was calm but firm, effectively silencing her.

He continued, his tone tinged with a mixture of exasperation and disappointment...

"Entitled and delusional women like you give a bad reputation to actually all the good women across the world."

The weight of his words hung in the air, a critique of her behavior and a broader commentary on the potential consequences of actions like hers.

Melisandre was reminded that her actions had broader implications, and her entitled attitude did a disservice to women everywhere.

"Just be obedient and tell him what he wants or I will have to step in." Kahn's voice turned ominous, his words promising a stark choice.

"And believe me, you do not want me stepping in." He concluded with a chilling warning.

The implication was clear – defiance would not end well for her, and Kahn's intervention could result in something far more dreadful than her current predicament.

Maximus' questions hung in the air, pressing for answers that could potentially shed light on the mysterious circumstances they found themselves in.

"Now tell me, where is the exit from this realm?" Maximus' voice was stern, a clear indication that he wouldn't tolerate any evasive responses.

"And what powers does the next guardian have?" he continued, showing his strategic mindset by wanting to gather information about the upcoming challenges.

"Also, who is the last guardian?" Maximus' inquisition remained unrelenting, his determination evident in his unwavering gaze.

"And why are you people stuck inside Babylon in the first place?" The final question carried a weight of curiosity mixed with a tinge of frustration at their predicament.

Kahn's attention was fully captured by Maximus' probing questions. These were topics he too had been curious about, and he leaned in slightly, awaiting Melisandre's response.

The answers to these questions could potentially unravel the mysteries of this realm and the purpose of these guardians within it.

After an hour of relentless questioning and a mixture of threats, occasional beatings and sarcasm, Melisandre finally succumbed to the pressure.

"I will talk... So please stop." she conceded, her defiant tone replaced with resignation.

Maximus pressed on, firing his questions with precision.

"What is the next terrain like and what are his weaknesses?" he inquired, his desire for information undiminished.

However, Conan, the white tigerkin swordsman, interrupted with skepticism.

"Sylvana already told us what we needed to know. So why bother asking her?" he questioned, suggesting that they already had sufficient information.

Kahn's expression turned annoyed, his patience clearly waning.

"Haven't you realized it yet?" he retorted, frustration lacing his voice.

"Realize what?" Conan's confusion was evident.

"That the information she told us was only half-truth. As a matter of fact, I believe her memories were distorted.

After facing the Darkness Assassin and the Chimera who used mind control abilities on us, I am certain she was manipulated to speak those words without even realizing it." Kahn analyzed, revealing his astute observation and his suspicion that they had been fed manipulated information.

"His name is Kaadrum, and he is a metal elemental archer." Melisandre began, her voice heavy with resignation.

"The terrain is made of millions of metallic tendrils that he can use as cover, distractions, and even to immobilize opponents for a decisive killshot."

Maximus absorbed the information, nodding thoughtfully.

"Good. And where is the exit?" he inquired.

"It's inside the throne room of my castle." she answered, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.

"Alright. Then how do we deal with Kaadrum effectively?

You all seem like a team designated to these different realms within the God's Domain," Maximus pressed on, his curiosity apparent.

Melisandre hesitated before divulging the strategy to defeat Kaadrum, her expression showing a mix of resignation and defeat.

"See, it wasn't that hard, was it?" spoke Maximus.

"This better be useful later. Or I'm coming back to kill her again." spoke Kahn with a deathly gaze, acting as the Bad Cop in this investigation.

"Now, the most crucial part..." Maximus's voice grew firm, capturing everyone's attention.

"Who are you people? How long have you been trapped here? And why?"

Melisandre's expression shifted, showing the internal struggle of her memories.

"That... I don't remember. I don't know how much time has passed.

The flow of Time within the God's Domain is... unclear." she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Then, tell us about the last guardian and how to defeat him." Maximus demanded with urgency.

"His name... his name..." Melisandre's speech faltered as if she was grappling with her own recollections. But in the next instant...

BANG!

Splatter

Her body erupted in a violent explosion, sending gore splattering across the ground.

Shock rippled through the group as her form disintegrated before their eyes.

And suddenly...

A set of black eyes appeared in the sky.