I chuckled softly. "You’ll believe me soon enough. But for now, I need an answer. Can you get me to a demon world?"
His response came instantly, almost too quickly. "Two of them. I can take you to two of them." His gaze hardened. "But what do I get in return?"
"Your freedom," I said simply.
He let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. "I don’t trust you humans anymore."
I nodded, not offended in the least.
"Fair enough. But unlike Roland, I have no use for you beyond the information I’m asking for. Of course, I could find what I want through other sources... but you could provide me with much more useful information, couldn’t you?"
That made him pause. The cell went silent except for Lara’s faint breathing behind him. His crimson eyes locked onto mine for several long seconds, weighing me, measuring my intent.
Then, finally, he gave the smallest of nods.
"Yes," he admitted quietly. "I can be of use." His jaw tightened. "But I still don’t trust you."
"You don’t need to," I said calmly. "Just hold on to your part of the deal."
"I always do," Primus replied, his tone clipped and heavy.
"Then let me take you out of here."
I raised my hand, and shadows rose like living smoke, curling around both him and Lara. Their forms blurred as I activated Phantom Dive.
Darkness swallowed us, and in the next instant we slipped straight out of the prison. When the shadows peeled away, we stood inside the teleportation chamber above.
"What...?" Primus muttered, his eyes wide with shock, his voice trembling with disbelief.
I ignored him. My focus swept across the fort, confirming no one was nearby.
Satisfied, I summoned the shadows again, wrapping the father and daughter before either could question me further. With a single thought, I vanished into the darkness, rushing through the tunnel like a streak of night itself.
My speed reached its peak in an instant. The flames of the wall barrier blurred beneath me as I tore past them, reappearing atop the castle wall with a soft thud. The shadows unraveled from around them, dissolving into the air.
Primus blinked against the sudden light.
His eyes landed on Ragnar and froze. His whole body stiffened, and he staggered back a step, trembling violently before forcing the fear down.
His hands clenched, his chest rose and fell like he was struggling to control his breath, then he placed himself firmly in front of Lara again, shielding her with his body.
"As I said," I told him, my voice even, "these are my companions. So you don’t need to doubt me anymore. I still have something left to do here on Peanu, but once I’m done, I’ll take you away. Do we have a deal?"
I met his eyes without wavering.
His gaze flicked from Ragnar, who sat like a boulder of living menace to Knight, calm and poised, and then to Lyrate, who lounged on her throne with her sulking expression.
He straightened a little, shoulders firming. Finally, he gave me a nod. "As you say, old sir."
I tilted my head. "Old sir?"
That was when it struck me, I was still in disguise.
"Oh," I muttered, almost to myself. With a thought, I let the illusion unravel. My false form shimmered away, and in seconds I was back in my true body.
"I’m not old," I said with a chuckle, amused at the stunned expression on Primus’s face. His crimson eyes widened. I couldn’t help but grin at his reaction.
I winked at him and pointed toward the castle. "Go. Stay inside for now. We’re about to have a battle here. Keep out of it."
He hesitated only a moment before nodding. Scooping Lara into his arms he flew toward the castle. He gave Lyrate’s throne a wide berth, avoiding her gaze altogether, before landing behind her and hurrying inside.
"I think you frightened the demon," Knight remarked lightly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
Ragnar scoffed, unmoving, his massive form seated cross-legged on the stone wall. His eyes never shifted, locked firmly on the tunnel ahead, as if the guests beyond were the only thing that mattered.
I sat down, letting my body relax for a moment. For a while, I had considered following Roland again, but I gave up on the idea. It was pointless. Better to wait for the emperor here.
It didn’t matter how many Grandmasters they brought—honestly, the more the merrier. My summons were restless, itching for an epic battle, but given their strength, it looked like no one here could give them the kind of fight they craved. Even the emperor of Peanu would be nothing more than a plaything for Ragnar if he ever got serious.
This trip wasn’t really about combat anyway. It was about me fulfilling my quest. Once I had the core in my hands, then maybe I’d unleash chaos—or maybe I wouldn’t need to at all, depending on how things turned out. If I ranked up after this, everything would change.
The possibilities buzzed in my mind, excitement building until it made me jittery. I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself, then pushed to my feet.
"Hey, Ragnar," I called out. "Want to spar again?"
The giant cracked his eyes open and slowly turned his head toward me.
"Will you act serious this time?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.
I shook my head with a grin. "You know I can’t. I’ll only use one law, no physical strength."
Ragnar let out a low growl, a sound halfway between annoyance and anticipation. Then, without another word, he rose to his feet.
"Fine."
We both flashed forward, shadows streaking across the ruined cemetery until we stood in the center, barely ten feet apart.
"I’ll go all out this time," Ragnar rumbled. His massive frame leaned forward, muscles coiled like a bowstring.
In the next instant, he vanished. He reappeared right at my side, his towering body taut as he swung the giant club straight for my head. The wind screamed around the weapon, its weight tearing the air like thunder.
"It is time," I whispered, raising my hand. With a snap of my fingers, a ripple pulsed outward, subtle yet unstoppable.
The world seemed to drag. Ragnar’s club, which a heartbeat earlier promised to crush me into the dirt, slowed mid-swing, just enough. I sidestepped, my clothes brushing the rushing air as the strike missed by an inch.
"Foooohhh," I let out a laugh. "That was close."
Ragnar had thrown his entire weight into that attack. The sudden disruption of time around him made his strike falter, and for a moment the unstoppable giant stumbled forward.