...Did I just hear a cat?
As if reading my thoughts, Nemo snorted. ’You lot call it like that, but it’s not a real cat. It should be a rare type of nightmare beast. Besides,’ the wolf growled low in its throat, a sound like shifting tectonic plates, ’that creature... it is not of this world. It can walk through my domain as if its rules don’t apply to it at all. Its master, the parasite, is currently outside, watching the battle, waiting for the exact moment I exhaust myself against the bloody human.’
Nemo looked at me, his violet eyes burning with urgency.
’And when that moment comes, he will use that cat to jump straight into my Heart.’
’I see.’
I nodded slowly as the full picture formed in my mind.
It was a classic pincer attack.
On the outside, the Blood Marquis was hammering the shell, forcing Nemo to expend massive amounts of energy on defense. On the inside, Bane was waiting to bypass the defenses entirely and strike the vital point.
’So you are stuck,’ I summarized. ’If you focus on the red envoy guy, Bane tames you. If you try to hunt Bane, the Red Mage breaks through.’
’Precisely,’ Nemo snapped, evidently hating to admit his vulnerability. ’It is a stalemate. One that will end in my enslavement if I do not act. And...’
’This is where you come in,’ the wolf continued, its mental voice turning sharp.
’Me?’
’Yes. You will go to my Heart. You will wait there.’
Nemo’s lips curled back, revealing fangs made of obsidian.
’When the Parasite arrives, thinking he has won... You will be the surprise he does not expect. You will attack him with that strange power of yours. Buy me the split second I need to catch and crush him.’
I almost laughed.
’You want me to ambush Prince Bane? A man who plays with Overlords like chess pieces? With all due respect, Sir Nemo, if you can’t stop him, what makes you think I can?’
’I will assist within the Heart,’ Nemo replied instantly. ’In exchange...’
The wolf paused, letting the offer hang in the silence.
’...I will let you and your little friends leave this place alive. I will even grant you a fragment of my power.’
My eyes narrowed.
It was a tempting offer.
Too tempting since it didn’t lie just now.
But I would be an idiot to easily agree to its demands.
’And if I refuse?’
’Then you die here,’ Nemo said simply. ’I will consume you and your friends right away to recover a fraction of my strength. It is a pitiful amount, but better than nothing.’
I stared at the wolf.
This barely qualified as a negotiation. It was more like an ultimatum.
’I see.’
I let out a long sigh, dusting the imaginary dust off my pants.
’Well, Sir Nemo. That sounds like a plan. But...’ I looked up, meeting those violet eyes. ’How can I trust you? You are a monster, after all. Once I do your dirty work, you could just squash me like a bug to tie up loose ends.’
Its eyes widened a fraction, probably in surprise at my answer.
’...You think you have a choice?’
The voice in my head deepened, becoming a menacing growl that shook my very soul. The shadows around us spiked, turning into jagged teeth.
’Actually, I do.’ I shrugged, looking completely unbothered. ’I can choose to die right now.’
I spread my arms wide, exposing my chest.
’Go ahead. Eat me. Recover that "pitiful amount" of strength you mentioned. But remember this... if I die, there is no one left to stop Bane and his subordinates. You will be enslaved. You will wear his collar for eternity.’
I smiled, a cold, sharp thing.
’So, tell me, Sir Nemo. Is my life worth your freedom?’
Nemo didn’t answer with words.
WHOOSH!
The darkness exploded.
Thousands of black blades materialized from thin air. They shot toward me like a torrential rain of obsidian.
My instincts screamed at me to move, to dodge, to cower. But I forced my feet to stay rooted to the spot. I forced my eyes to stay open, locking gaze with the beast.
Swish-swish-swish!
The wind from their passage cut my cheeks. A blade grazed my ear. Another sliced a few strands of my hair. They struck the ground all around me, encircling me in a cage of vibrating darkness.
But not a single one pierced my flesh. They missed by millimeters, a display of perfect, terrifying control.
I didn’t blink.
Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, the blades dissolved into black mist.
’You...’ Nemo’s mental voice was a mixture of fury and grudging respect. ’You are a truly annoying insect.’
’Fine,’ the wolf huffed, looking away. ’What do you want? Speak quickly before I change my mind.’
I smirked inwardly.
’Got him.’
The moment he admitted I was the only one who could help him, he had handed me the reins. He thought he was the predator giving orders, but in reality, he was a desperate king begging a mercenary. And mercenaries didn’t work for cheap.
’Especially me,’ I chuckled, recalling my previous bargain with an even more terrifying existence than it. But there was a slight difference between then and now.
’Thank you for your magnanimity, Sir Nemo,’ I replied, bowing slightly to keep up the charade of politeness. ’I only have three conditions.’
I raised one finger.
’First. My friends. The barbarians, the girl, everyone who is still trapped in here. You will send them out of your domain immediately and safely.’
’...Fine,’ Nemo spat, the vibration in my head feeling like a migraine. ’They are insignificant trash anyway. I will throw them out of my domain. Is that all?’
’No.’
I raised a second finger.
’Second. That fragment of power you promised.’ I narrowed my eyes. ’I don’t want just any scrap. Instead, I want something that can elevate my Darkness Affinity to a higher grade. As high as possible.’
I paused, letting a respectful, almost revered tone seep into my mental voice.
’Since Sir Nemo is the King of the Darkness, the absolute ruler of this element, surely it won’t be hard for you to find something like that, right?’
______ ____ _
[ A/N: A New Journey Begins! ]
The promised surprise is here:
🎉 A Brand New Story: Sovereignty Of Zero 🎉
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This story holds a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to share this new world with you. If you’re looking for your next read, please give it a chance! A vote, adding to the library, or commenting on the first Chapter would be an incredible show of support as it starts its journey.
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