Chapter 63: Only Punishment... Eternal Suffering (Patreon)

"For him, death is salvation. He deserves a true punishment."

Aurelius’s scarlet eyes gleamed ominously, casting an eerie glow as he continued.

"Sebas is a level 100 NPC, created with precision, dedication, and immense resources. Yet, despite his worth, despite everything invested in him, he dared to betray the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick."

His foot remained planted on Sebas's head, blood seeping into the ground as he spoke the next words, each one heavier than the last.

"And so his punishment shall match the magnitude of his betrayal. Every ounce of strength, every bit of power invested in him—shall be stripped from him once he returns to Nazarick—using World Class Item [Soulbinder Orb] and conducting the Ritual of Unsurpation by the 8th floor hierarchy."

“!!!”

As soon as Aurelius uttered the method of Sebas’s punishment—using the World-Class Item [Soulbinder Orb] and the Ritual of Unsurpation—chills ran down the spines of everyone in the room.

Though none of them had witnessed these tools of torment firsthand, memories implanted in their minds told them of their cruelty.

In their memories, they recall many now-forgotten NPCs who were once stripped of their strength but couldn't bear the pain and died of shock.

The slow, excruciating process of stripping power would cause the target an incomprehensible pain that transcended any known form of suffering.

However, Aurelius remained unmoved by their reactions, his voice growing sharper and commanding absolute authority.

"The experience points stripped from Sebas will not be wasted. They will be transferred, given as a reward for the meritorious service to one who is deserving. Someone loyal. Someone who understands devotion and serves Nazarick without question. Unlike this traitor."

His foot pressed harder into Sebas's head, and Sebas could feel the weight of impending doom crushing him further. 

"And as for Sebas's true punishment—since he dared betray Nazarick, we will hand him over to the residents of Nazarick... for their enjoyment."

The weight of Aurelius's words left all present with a sense of dread, knowing the horrors Sebas was about to face.

"Sebas will no longer possess the strength to resist. He will be reduced to the level of a mere mortal, completely helpless. And when he is powerless, he will be left to the mercy of Nazarick's denizens. They may torture him, mutilate him—whatever pleases them. Amputation, endless torment, degradation—it is all permissible."

Aurelius’s lips curled into a merciless smile.

"But there will be one restriction."

He paused, letting the silence drag, building the suspense.

"He must not be killed. Sebas will suffer for eternity. He will endure his punishment for as long as he draws breath, and should anyone attempt to end his suffering or grant him the mercy of death, they too shall be labeled as traitors, arrested, and treated the same. Sebas’s torment will continue, unceasing, until time itself forgets him."

The very thought of an eternal punishment—far worse than any execution—shook even the strongest of Nazarick's Guardians to their core.

Stripping someone of their power and delivering them to the unrelenting torment of Nazarick's residents was a fate no one wanted to imagine.

Despite this, Albedo, standing near Aurelius, looked at him with shining eyes, her heart pounding with admiration and love. His ruthless judgment only heightened her affection. This was her Supreme One, the embodiment of perfect authority and absolute power.

He not only made sure that Sebas would pay a price for his disloyalty, but he also established a precedent that others would never forget.

The other Guardians were equally awestruck, though fear still gripped their hearts.

Demiurge’s lips twisted into a satisfied grin, his mind already working to analyze the ripple effects Aurelius's decision would have on Nazarick’s internal structure. Cocytus’s gaze sharpened, burning with renewed loyalty, his fingers gripping his weapon tightly as if to reaffirm his commitment to Aurelius.

Even Solution, standing near the door, felt a strange sense of pride despite her terror, while Victim watched the scene quietly.

But beneath all that fear and admiration, the Guardians shared one unspoken relief. They were not in Sebas’s place. Aurelius had given them an outlet to reaffirm their loyalty by punishing the traitor, and in doing so, they could dispel any doubts their Master might have about their own dedication.

As the room slowly settled into an uneasy calm, Aurelius's voice once again sliced through the silence, cold and commanding.

"But remember this, everyone." His gaze swept across the room—each Guardian, Solution, and every soul present. "This punishment is not just for Sebas. It is a lesson for everyone."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in.

"Let it be known throughout Nazarick... loyalty is rewarded. Betrayal will not be tolerated. Disobedience will not be excused. It will be punished. And the only true punishment… is eternal suffering."

The suffocating silence lingered for a moment. Aurelius's crimson eyes gleamed with malice as he turned back toward Sebas, still pinned beneath his boot.

"Do you have any last words?" he asked, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Sebas, broken and defeated, knew that nothing he could say would change his fate. His body throbbed with pain, but the weight of his failure and shame bore down on him far more heavily than any physical agony.

He remained silent for a moment. Then, finally, his hoarse, defeated voice broke the silence.

"Will there… be any atonement for me? Will I ever be forgiven?"

"No. Once a traitor, always a traitor. No mercy. No second chances."

The finality of those words hit Sebas like a death sentence. He lowered his head once more, resignation sinking in. Aurelius turned away, as if to leave, but just as he took a step, Sebas’s desperate voice rang out one last time.

"Aurelius-sama… Please, save Tuare!"

When he heard this, Aurelius stopped, and his eyes narrowed as he turned his attention back to Sebas, who was bloodied and crushed, pressing his forehead to the ground, choking on his shame.

"Please, protect her... She did nothing wrong. Save her. I will take any punishment you deem worthy, Aurelius-sama," Sebas begged. "But please, save that girl. I beg of you… spare her!"

But instead of the acceptance or refusal Sebas had anticipated, what he received was far worse.

With brutal force, Aurelius's boot came crashing down, smashing into Sebas's crotch without mercy.

Bang!

"AHHHHH—!"

A sickening crack echoed through the chamber, drowning Sebas’s scream of pure agony.

Sebas felt his balls shatter.

The excruciating pain ripped through his body like a wildfire, seizing his breath and leaving him gasping.

"Even in your final moments, you think of that prostitute? You grovel before me, pleading for her life when you should be begging for your own. Pathetic."

Sebas writhed on the ground, gasping for air, his body crippled with pain, but his mind still clung to the hope of saving Tuare.

However, Aurelius wasn’t finished. His lips curled into a wicked smile, and his voice dripped with sadistic amusement.

"Ah, Sebas. Let me enlighten you. The one kidnapped... was never Tuare."

Sebas’s heart skipped a beat as the words sank in.

"The real Tuare has already been taken into Nazarick. The one you’ve been so worried about? The one you thought you needed to protect? That was nothing but a mere doppelgänger," Aurelius said, his voice full of mockery. "You’ve been wasting your breath, worrying over a fabrication."

Sebas’s body froze. A fresh wave of despair washed over him as he realized the futility of his efforts.

Aurelius’s smile twisted into something darker as he delivered his final blow. "And now that you’ve reminded me of her existence, I think it’s only fair that I pass judgment on her as well."

He turned to face the room and spoke ruthlessly.

"Since there is such love between Sebas and that human woman... let them share in their punishment. Tuare, the girl he loves, will also be delivered to the residents of Nazarick. They can do whatever they want to do to her—break her, rape her, or use her as a toy. They will have the freedom to torment her as they please, for all eternity."

Hearing those words filled Sebas’s eyes with horror, and he felt his soul crushed under the weight of Aurelius’s decree.

"However, there are two conditions. First, she must not be killed. She will suffer, just as Sebas will, without the mercy of death. Second, whenever either of them is punished, the other must be present to witness the suffering. Let them partake in each other's agony, observing the other's disintegration, day after day, until they develop a deep-seated hatred for each other.