Chapter 38 A Simple Game

Just as the first few ants began to crawl up Slasher's leg, their tiny bites stinging even through the thick leather of his boots, he grunted with annoyance. With a cruel smirk, he finally removed his boot from Kaka's head, allowing the goblin’s face to emerge from the filthy depths of the bucket, now covered in a writhing mass of ants and clumps of dirt. Slasher shook his leg violently, dislodging the tiny attackers, their small bodies tumbling back into the bucket.

Kaka gasped as he was freed, his lungs burning as he desperately sucked in air, coughing and sputtering as he tried to clear his throat of the dirt and ants that had invaded his mouth and nose. His hands clawed at his face, trying to brush off the ants that still clung to him, their jaws locked onto his skin, their venom continuing to sting and burn with every passing second. His eyes were red and swollen, tears mixing with the grime on his cheeks as he blinked rapidly, trying to regain some semblance of vision.

He spat violently, expelling a mouthful of dirt and half-crushed ants, the bitter taste of their venom lingering on his tongue. His throat convulsed as he coughed again and again, each hacking sound filled with desperation, as though his body was trying to rid itself of the torment he had just endured. But no matter how hard he coughed, the burning sensation remained, the stinging bites on his face and neck only intensified his suffering.

The pain was unbearable, every inch of his skin feeling as though it had been set on fire, the venom from the countless bites sending sharp, burning waves through his body. His breath came in short, panicked gasps as he tried to steady himself, but the pain was too intense, his small body wracked with tremors as he knelt on the ground.

“Please…” he finally managed to whisper, his voice hoarse and broken, barely more than a croak.

“No more… please… no more…”

But Slasher only laughed, the sound echoing through the shed, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight as he looked down at the pitiful creature before him.

“Oh, Kaka,” he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

“We’re just getting started. Now, we’re going to play another game. It's called 'Catch the Hatchling.' A simple game, really. Even shit for brains like you will know how to play. I'll throw your precious little hatchlings into the bucket, and you’ll have to catch them. Simple, right? Or... you can let them fall into the ants and watch them suffer. You’ve already tasted what it feels like to be bitten by those ants. You know the pain all too well. So, it’s up to you, trash. Catch them, or don’t - it’s your choice. Either way, I will have a good laugh!"

Kaka’s heart pounded in his chest, his frail body trembling with a mixture of terror and exhaustion. The torture he had just endured had left him barely able to string a sentence together, let alone move. His limbs felt like lead, every muscle screaming in agony as he struggled to remain upright. His mind was a fog of pain and fear, yet through the haze, one thought shone through with blinding clarity: he had to save the hatchlings.

He could still feel the sting of the ants on his face, the searing pain that had ripped through his body with every bite. The memory of it made his stomach churn but he couldn’t let the hatchlings suffer that same fate. With a deep, shuddering breath, Kaka forced himself to move, his body protesting with every inch he managed to crawl forward. He could barely see through the tears that blurred his vision, but he kept his focus on the hatchlings, their tiny, vulnerable forms the only thing that mattered.

Slasher’s hand reached down, grabbing one of the hatchlings off the ground, its tiny body squirming helplessly in his grasp. The cruel smirk never left his face as he lightly tossed the hatchling into the air, aiming it toward the bucket. The poor creature tumbled and flailed, its small arms and legs flapping wildly as it hurtled toward the waiting mass of ants.

Kaka’s heart nearly stopped as he watched the hatchling’s descent. Every fiber of his being screamed in protest, his muscles seizing with pain, but he pushed through it, forcing his broken body into action. With a desperate lunge, he threw himself forward, his arms outstretched as he reached for the tiny creature. His movements were clumsy and uncoordinated, his vision swimming with the effort, but somehow, by sheer will alone, he managed to snag the hatchling out of the air just before it could hit the ground, tumbling in a heap of limbs and misery.

The moment his fingers closed around the hatchling, Kaka felt a rush of relief, but it was short-lived. His grip was too tight, his panic too overwhelming, and the tiny creature let out a choked gasp, its small body wriggling in his hand as it struggled to breathe. Realizing what he’d done, Kaka’s eyes widened in horror, and he quickly loosened his hold, cradling the hatchling gently against his chest.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” Kaka whispered, his voice cracking with emotion as he collapsed onto the ground, the hatchling still clutched in his trembling hands. He held the tiny creature close, his tears falling onto its soft skin as he rocked back and forth, his body shaking with the effort of holding himself together.

“I didn’t mean to… I didn’t want to hurt you… please, forgive me…”

The hatchling, though shaken and terrified, managed to let out a small, pitiful squeak, its tiny body trembling in Kaka’s arms. It clung to him weakly, its tiny hands grasping at the tattered skin of Kaka's body as it buried its face against his chest. Kaka’s heart ached as he held the hatchling close, his mind racing with guilt and despair. He had saved the hatchling from the ants, but at what cost? His panic had nearly crushed the fragile creature, and the thought of what could have happened made his stomach turn.

Slasher, watching the scene unfold, let out a bark of laughter, clearly amused by Kaka’s pitiful display.

“Well, well, look at that. You still got some steam left in ya!” he jeered, crossing his arms over his chest as he towered over the cowering goblin.

“You caught it. I have to say, I’m impressed, shitty Kaka. But don’t get too comfortable! There’s plenty more where that came from.”

Kaka didn’t respond, his focus entirely on the hatchling in his arms. He gently stroked the tiny creature’s back, trying to soothe it as best he could, his own body shaking with the effort of keeping himself upright. His breath came in painful gasps, the pain in his chest almost unbearable as he struggled to keep from collapsing entirely. The ants' bites still burned on his face, his skin raw and swollen from the venom, but he forced himself to ignore it, his only concern was the safety of the hatchling in his arms.

“I won’t let them hurt you,” Kaka whispered, his voice barely audible as he rocked the hatchling back and forth.

“I’ll protect you… no matter what…”

But even as he made the promise, Kaka knew how fragile that vow was. He was weak, broken, and barely able to stand, let alone protect the hatchlings from the horrors that awaited them. Slasher’s cruel games had only just begun, and the thought of what might come next filled Kaka with a deep, bone-chilling dread.

Slasher's cruel game continued with a relentless, sadistic rhythm, his every move designed to torment Kaka to the brink of breaking. He tossed the hatchlings side to side, forcing Kaka to leap frantically in a desperate attempt to catch them. Each throw intended to exhaust Kaka, pushing him further into despair as he scrambled across the dirt, his already weakened body deteriorating with every frantic lunge. Slasher's laughter echoed cruelly as he watched the pitiful creature struggle, relishing in Kaka's increasing desperation.

Kaka’s breathing grew ragged, his limbs trembling with exertion as he forced his body to keep moving, despite the agony that racked his frame. Every muscle screamed in protest, the pain from the earlier torture still fresh and burning on his skin. But he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t let the hatchlings fall. He had to protect them, no matter the cost. But as Slasher continued his merciless assault, the toll on Kaka’s body became impossible to ignore. 

Kaka’s entire body was shaking, every breath he took was a painful rasp that felt like fire burning through his chest. His vision blurred as sweat and blood dripped down his face, his skin raw and bruised from the brutal ants attack. The world around him seemed to spin, but there was one thing anchoring him to reality - his need to protect the hatchlings. The ones who looked up to him, helpless and terrified.

His limbs felt like lead, each movement sending waves of agony through his frail, tortured frame. He could barely lift his arms now, the effort making his muscles twitch uncontrollably. His legs were long past the point of collapse, the bones feeling like they would snap under the weight of his body if he tried to stand again. Yet, as he lay on the ground, face pressed into the dirt, he heard the faint, terrified squeal of a hatchling as Slasher tossed another one into the air.

The world seemed to slow down for Kaka. He could see the hatchling tumbling through the air, its tiny body spinning helplessly toward the hard earth. His mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused, frozen in pain and exhaustion. He gritted his teeth, his heart thundering in his chest as he summoned the last shreds of his willpower.

His arms shook violently as he tried to push himself off the ground. They gave out almost immediately, his face slamming back into the dirt, but he refused to stop. He clawed at the ground, trying to drag his limp body forward, inch by agonizing inch.

With a final, hoarse cry that was more a grunt of sheer desperation, Kaka threw himself forward, his broken body lurching beneath the falling hatchling. His chest hit the ground with a sickening thud, every muscle in his body screaming in torment. The hatchling landed on his back with a soft thump, tumbling off him and onto the dirt below. It let out a small yelp as it hit the ground, but aside from a few bruises, the little goblin was safe.

Kaka, however, was spent. Completely. He couldn’t even roll over. His arms sprawled uselessly at his sides, his legs limp and unmoving. His vision was clouded with black spots, his ears ringing from the strain. He could barely breathe, each inhale a shallow, ragged whisper of air that barely reached his lungs. His heart pounded unevenly in his chest, his entire body wracked with tremors from the effort he’d expended.

Despite his desperate struggle, Kaka’s body finally gave out. He lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his vision blurring as tears of pain and frustration filled his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move an inch.

Seeing that Kaka had reached his limit, Slasher sauntered over with a smug grin, his eyes gleaming with twisted delight. He crouched down beside the broken goblin, holding one of the trembling hatchlings in his hand. With a mocking smile, he wagged the tiny creature in front of Kaka’s face, treating it like a toy to be dangled and teased. He tossed it lightly into the air, pretending to drop it, watching closely for any reaction from Kaka.

But Kaka could do nothing. His body was completely unresponsive, his muscles locked in a state of sheer exhaustion. He couldn’t even muster the strength to raise a hand or utter a word. Only weak, pained moans and grunts escaped his lips, the sound of his suffering a twisted melody to Slasher’s ears. Tears streamed down Kaka’s face as he watched helplessly, the torment of his powerlessness cutting deeper than any physical pain.

Satisfied that he had broken his favorite slave yet again, Slasher stood up and walked over to the bucket of ants, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. He lowered the hatchling toward the writhing mass of insects, delighting in the panicked squeals of the tiny creature as it squirmed in his grip. With deliberate slowness, he dipped the hatchling into the bucket, just enough for the ants to begin swarming over its small body, their mandibles snapping eagerly at the fresh, vulnerable flesh.

The hatchling’s terrified cries filled the air, a piercing, heart-wrenching sound that cut through Kaka like a knife. His body convulsed on the ground, his mind screaming at him to move, to save the hatchling, but he was paralyzed, his strength completely drained. All he could do was lie there, tears streaming from his eyes as he listened to the agonized screams of the hatchling, knowing there was nothing he could do to stop its suffering.