Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 46: The Mission

Liam didn’t waste a second. The moment the dwarf made his smug remark, Liam was already moving. His hand shot across the counter like lightning, grabbing the dwarf by the front of his shirt and yanking him halfway over the table.

"Why did you bond him?!" Liam growled through clenched teeth, his eyes fierce and cold.

The dwarf, wide-eyed and suddenly very aware of how strong Liam was, began kicking and squirming. His thick arms flailed for balance, boots scraping against the wooden floor as he tried to gain footing. Dwarves were known for their physical strength and unshakable endurance, but Liam’s grip was like steel—unrelenting and fueled by fury.

"I didn’t do nothin’!" the dwarf croaked, grasping at Liam’s wrist. "Let me go, you overgrown brat—"

But Liam’s arm didn’t even flinch. The others watched tensely, not interfering, not yet. The tension in the room was thick, and even the regulars at the inn backed away, slowly edging toward the exit or pretending not to see anything at all.

Just then, a gust of cold wind swept through the room—and Sera walked in through the side doorway, her hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes glowing faintly with magical energy. She froze for a split second at the sight of Liam holding the dwarf like a rag doll across the counter.

Her expression darkened.

She raised one hand and whispered something low and ancient—no loud declarations, no grand theatrics. Just a soft, sharp spell that hit its target like a dagger through the heart.

"Ah—!" Marcus screamed, collapsing again to his knees where he stood. His hands clutched his chest, body trembling violently.

Sophia and Jason immediately rushed to his side, trying to support him, but there was nothing they could do. The pain was magical, deeply rooted, and triggered by the very bond they had come to unravel.

"Let him go," Sera said calmly, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Unless you want him to suffer more."

Liam’s grip loosened, not out of fear, but out of consideration. His jaw tightened, and he shoved the dwarf back roughly, sending the smaller man stumbling against a stool.

Sera slowly walked toward them, eyes never leaving Liam’s.

"You came back. Good. That means the bond is working as intended."

"Why?" Liam snapped, stepping between her and Marcus. "Why would you do this to him?"

Sera stopped a few feet away, hands folded before her. "He signed willingly. Don’t forget that. I gave him a choice, and he gave me his word. I merely sealed it the only way it would matter."

"He didn’t know what he was getting into," Eleanor hissed, standing beside Liam now. "He thought it was a joke."

Sera raised an eyebrow. "Then maybe your group should take blood covenants more seriously. They’re not games."

Liam’s hands clenched into fists, but he held himself back. Not here. Not yet.

"I’ll release him," Sera added after a moment. "Eventually. But not now. There’s still something I need from him. Something he promised."

Marcus groaned again, still weak, and Sophia looked up at Sera with cold fury in her eyes.

"You’re enjoying this," she said. "You like watching us squirm."

Sera tilted her head slightly, her smile unreadable. "I like seeing people honor their deals. It’s rare these days."

Jason stood now too, gripping his staff tighter. "Then cut to the chase, Sera. What the hell do you want from him?"

Sera’s eyes flicked to Marcus, then back to Liam. "All in due time. But for now... A mission for us."

Liam stepped forward again, his presence towering and dangerous. "If he dies..."

Sera didn’t flinch. "He won’t. As long as you play by the rules."

The room fell quiet again, tension still thick like fog. Liam’s system window flickered faintly in his vision... reminding him of the warning: Blood Covenant Active – Secondary Phase Imminent.

He exhaled slowly and glanced back at Marcus, who was now breathing heavily but conscious.

"Fine," Liam muttered, not taking his eyes off Sera. "But this isn’t over."

Sera smiled faintly and turned away. "It never is."

The heavy silence in the room hung over them like a storm cloud, only broken by the sound of spoons clinking against bowls and murmured whispers from the other men in the inn. Rough-looking patrons—some mercenaries, some traders, and others who clearly had seen their share of brawls—had turned their attention toward the group. It wasn’t every day that a powerful warrior grabbed a dwarf by the collar or that a silver-haired elf cast spells without batting an eye.

Still, Liam and his group didn’t flinch under the stares. They were used to eyes on them by now.

Liam remained calm, eyes focused on the dwarf who was still patting his shirt, brushing off the dust from where he had been manhandled. "So," Liam said slowly, voice low but commanding, "what’s the mission?"

The dwarf grunted and rolled his shoulders, scowling at Liam but choosing not to retaliate. "Ah... we’re going halfway across the world," he muttered as if it were a simple walk to the next street.

"Halfway across the world?" Eleanor’s voice rose, sharp with disbelief. She was already on edge, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. "No way. That’s insane."

"Yes... or he dies," the dwarf replied coolly, flashing a crooked grin. The wicked smirk on his bearded face showed that he was enjoying this far more than he should. "Covenants ain’t just fancy handshakes and sweet promises, sweetheart. There’s teeth behind those words."

Liam could see Eleanor fuming beside him. Jason shook his head and looked toward Marcus, who was still pale and recovering in his seat. Sophia moved closer to Marcus instinctively, as if guarding him. The tension was ready to snap again—but before it could, Sera stepped forward, her voice like silk as she gently broke through the weight in the air.

"Come," she said softly, a trace of amusement in her voice. "Sit down. Let’s talk this through."

Liam turned to his group and gave them a subtle nod. "Relax. Follow my lead," he whispered.

One by one, they took their seats at a large round table near the center of the room. The moment they sat, the atmosphere in the inn shifted slightly. The curious gazes lingered, but none dared to approach. Even the barkeep seemed hesitant to interrupt.

Sera gracefully sat across from Liam, folding one leg over the other with practiced ease, while the dwarf pulled himself onto a stool with a grunt.

Liam leaned forward slightly. "You knew what would happen," he said, eyes locked on Sera. "You intended to use the covenant on me... but Marcus took my place, didn’t he?"

Sera didn’t deny it. She offered a small, sly smile. "Let’s just say... the bond needed someone of value. Someone with potential. I couldn’t get to you...but him. Fate chooses its own threads."

Liam’s fists clenched under the table, but he kept his expression unreadable. "And now you want us to travel halfway across the world to do what?"

The dwarf pulled out a crumpled old map and spread it on the table between them. "There," he said, pointing to a spot deep in a distant continent. "A ruin lost for centuries. We need what’s inside."

Eleanor scoffed. "Let me guess... we do the dirty work, fight some ancient monster, get cursed, and you two walk away with the treasure?"

The dwarf chuckled. "Something like that. But hey, you get to keep Marcus alive. Sounds fair to me."

Jason frowned, leaning closer to the map. "What exactly are we looking for?"

"An artifact," Sera said simply.

Liam looked at Marcus, who hadn’t said a word. His face was a mix of pain, shame, and confusion. He was still processing it all, but Liam could see the guilt brewing in him. And the frustration. He’d been tricked.

"We’ll do it," Liam said eventually, his voice flat and steady. "But we move on our own terms. We lead this mission. Not you."

Sera studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Agreed. But don’t take too long to prepare for this. Time doesn’t favor broken covenants."

The dwarf added with a smirk, "And who knows what kind of pain poor Marcus might feel... if things get delayed."

Liam stared at him, gaze sharp enough to cut through stone. "Push me again," he said calmly, "and I swear, you’ll regret it."

Marcus, still a little pale but recovering, finally found his voice. His tone was cautious, edged with frustration. "What kind of artifact are we even risking our lives for?"

He looked between the dwarf and Sera, trying to read their expressions, searching for some clue. "If I’m the one this whole mission depends on, I think I deserve to know what I’m walking into."

The dwarf leaned back in his chair and let out a low, mocking chuckle. "Deserve?" he repeated, as if the word tasted funny in his mouth. "You lost the right to demand anything the moment you signed that covenant, lad."

Sera was more composed. Her tone, while softer, wasn’t any more comforting. "Some knowledge is too dangerous to hand out freely," she said, her emerald eyes glinting in the dim light of the inn. "If we told you what it was, it would change how you approach it—and not in a good way."

"Bullshit," Eleanor snapped, her patience thinning. "You’re sending us across the world, risking our necks, dragging us into gods-know-what—and you won’t even tell us what we’re after?"

Jason folded his arms, his staff resting beside him. "At least give us something to work with. You want us alive when we get there, right?"

"Want is a strong word," the dwarf muttered, and Liam’s hand twitched under the table.

Sera ignored the jab. "You’ll know more when the time is right."

Marcus looked down at his hands, frustration building in his chest. He could feel the weight of the silence that followed. The rest of the group didn’t push further—but they didn’t hide their irritation either.

Sophia shook her head. "So we’re just supposed to blindly walk into this, huh? Real nice."

Liam finally spoke, voice steady, but heavy. "We don’t have a choice. Marcus’s life is on the line. That’s all the leverage they need."

Everyone went quiet again. No one liked it, but it was the truth. Their hands were tied.

The dwarf smirked again, clearly enjoying their helplessness. "Glad we understand each other."

Liam stared at him, hard and unblinking. "Enjoy it while it lasts."