The Rise of the God of Death
Chapter 54: Mally's Bakery
The second section buzzed with life—shops, stalls, and crowds moving in every direction. The three walked through it like ghosts, keeping to the plan. Finding Mally's Bakery wouldn't be easy. The district had too many bakeries, too many faces.
"Mally's Bakery, huh?" Nil muttered, scanning the street.
"There are so many bakeries. How are we supposed to find that one?" Lucy asked, eyes darting from shop to shop.
Darren returned from asking residents, shaking his head. "Nobody knows anything. It's like it doesn't exist."
A soft, familiar voice answered from behind Lucy. "I know where it is."
"Lydia!" Lucy said, relief flooding her features.
Darren frowned. "How could a weapon know that?"
"My old holder used to come here often," Lydia said, her tone slow and precise. "So yes—I know where it is."
"Show us the way," Nil said, a spark of excitement in his voice.
Lydia's voice turned cold. "Beware. This place is the only place without laws. Dangerous people stay there."
Nil glanced at Lucy. "Umm…"
"What now?" Lucy asked, suddenly nervous.
"Are you not confident in your own power?" Darren snapped, petulant. "You can cower away if you like, but I do what I want." His tone had a bite Lucy had rarely heard.
Nil and Lucy exchanged stunned looks. "I didn't know Dandelion could talk like this," Lucy whispered.
"It's not time for arrogance," Nil hissed back. "We might die there."
Even Lydia agreed. "He's right. It's dangerous—but trust your master's decision."
"What?" Lucy and Nil both gasped. Darren only smirked, crossing his arms.
"You are right," Nil said slowly, steadying himself.
"Alright then. Where do we go?" Lucy asked, looking to the staff.
"Go north until you reach a large training area. On the left you'll find an abandoned-looking hut. That's the bakery," Lydia instructed.
"An abandoned hut?" Nil repeated.
"It's a magical hut," Lydia explained. "Small and shabby on the outside, but the inside is very different."
"Okay. Thank you, Lydia," Lucy said, grateful.
"Lucy's mastery is still weak. I may not be able to communicate with you for the rest of the day. Take care." The staff dimmed and fell silent.
Nil beamed. "What a useful thing."
"Yeah, I'm lucky," Lucy replied, smiling.
Darren glared at them and then at the greatsword on his back. "Why can't you act like that, stupid dragon?" he snapped.
The sword's reply was cold and mechanical. "I do not care if you die."
"Shut up, useless!" Darren barked, slamming his palm against the blade's hilt.
Lucy leaned toward Nil and whispered, "Didn't Master Manmand say he couldn't access that weapon?"
"Yeah," Nil whispered back. "And he said to communicate with a weapon, you need to make a proper contract."
Darren, who'd been eavesdropping, shot them a look. "What are you whispering about?"
"N-nothing!" the two stammered, faces flushed.
"Then what are you waiting for? Let's move." Darren turned and started walking. Nil and Lucy shared a look, then hurried after him.
They walked north for more than ten minutes, passing alleyways and training grounds. The training area looked active, but when they reached its center, both the left and right paths were blocked. It felt like a dead end.
"Yeah, it's a complete dead end," Nil said, disappointment plain in his voice.
Darren scoffed. "So my sword isn't the only useless thing today."
"Don't compare that useless sword to my beautiful staff!" Lucy yelled.
Then a voice cut through the argument. "The path is inside the training area."
They turned to see a short man clad in black step forward. He moved smoothly, as though he belonged there.
"Umm—thank you. But who are you?" Nil asked.
"Someone going there too," the man in black said, then began walking away. The three looked at each other, then followed him into the training area.
---
Outside the base, in the forest, Daimon sprinted through the trees. His cloak whipped behind him.
"Jarvis!" he called.
[YES, MASTER!] the system answered.
"I sense a lot of people ahead."
[MASTER'S SENSE IS CORRECT. AROUND THIRTY BARON-RANK SOLDIERS. THEY ARE GUARDING SOMETHING.]
"Do you think I can take them?" Daimon asked, voice flat.
[YES, BUT IT WILL COST MUCH. BETTER TO PASS BY THEM.]
"What if the thing they guard is interesting?"
[THEN MASTER SHALL DO WHAT PLEASES HIM.]
Daimon crept closer and hid behind a tree, watching them. He triggered a scan.
[SCANNING…]
[IT APPEARS THEY GUARD AN ARTIFACT THAT STORES POWER BELONGING TO SOMEONE IN YOUR MEMORIES—NAMED VAND.]
"Vand," Daimon muttered.
[WHAT IS MASTER'S NEXT DECISION?]
"Same as always," Daimon said. His eyes gleamed. "Strike them."
Jarvis replied without hesitation.
[EXECUTING.]
The leaves trembled as the two prepared to move. The path forward would be stained with blood before the day ended.