Chapter 4: The Trap |
"Demonic Language?" The rat demon''s anger dissipated in an instant, replaced by an equal measure of greed.
"Your fluency in Demonic Language doesn''t exactly suit a Holy Knight!"
In the Material Plane, villages and towns were often garrisoned by two to five clerics.
Among them, Priests needed to master certain divine arts, while Holy Knights were required to master the holy breathing technique, enabling them to draw upon their life origin at any time to slay demons.
These clerics all needed a certain level of knowledge and understanding of demons. Demonic Language was considered an elective study, so it was completely abnormal for someone from such a remote place to be so proficient in it.
"A man must always be prepared, otherwise how can he succeed?" Nemus offered this justification before cutting straight to the point. "Let us sign a contract, demon."
"I know a method to separate you from your current physical medium and allow you to exist long-term in the Material Plane."
"I will help you escape your current form, and in exchange, you must lend me your strength to accomplish a few tasks!"
Nemus stated his supposed goal; he knew the cognitive circuits of these lesser demons far too well.
"Hehehe... It seems you are a man of ambition!" The rat demon chuckled darkly before spewing a mouthful of black blood.
The blood emitted black smoke as Abyssal Power was stirred. A Demonic Contract brimming with Abyssal Power materialized in the air between them.
A Demonic Contract was the only Abyssal Authority a lesser demon possessed.
It allowed them to use their identity as a demon to draw upon a fraction of the Abyss''s power to enforce the agreement.
Soon after, the black blood the rat demon had spat out formed into demonic characters and landed upon the parchment.
"Come, ambitious Holy Knight, sign your name!"
Nemus accepted the contract, his fingers rubbing against the texture of the paper. It was ordinary demon skin parchment. As for the clauses, a single glance was all he needed to spot the massive pitfalls hidden within.
"I believe a few modifications are required. This does not align with the principle of balanced rights and responsibilities." Nemus grasped the contract and channeled his intent, causing the terms written on it to shift.
This was a basic manifestation of Abyssal Power. It ensured that even an ordinary person who could not read Demonic Language would understand the contents upon touching the contract, while also providing the power to easily amend it.
Of course, this linguistic comprehension was strictly limited to Demonic Language.
The rat demon stared blankly at the changing contract. ''Why does this Holy Knight seem even more professional at this than I am?''
Its gaze was irresistibly drawn to the newly formed terms.
"Clause 1: Nels Dartmenerly shall provide a method for the demon to permanently reside in the Material Plane and shall assist the demon (—) in completing this method."
"Clause 2: The demon must cooperate with Nels, minimizing external attention and maintaining secrecy."
"Clause 3: After the method is completed, Nels must guarantee not to trap or harm the demon, ensuring the method''s continuous effectiveness."
"Clause 4: After the method is completed, the demon must provide assistance whenever Nels requires demonic power."
"Clause 5: Upon the establishment of this contract, neither party may reveal its existence through any means, hints, or actions."
Upon seeing Clauses 3 and 4, the rat demon sneered and immediately altered them to read:
"Before and after the method is completed, Nels must guarantee not to trap or harm the demon, ensuring the method''s continuous effectiveness," and "After the method is completed, the demon shall provide assistance depending on the situation whenever Nels requires demonic power."
"With such a petty contract trap, you actually thought you could swindle a demon?"
Nemus played along with an awkward smile, then signed his current identity''s name: Nels Dartmenerly.
"Please, sign an excerpt of your True Name as well!"
The rat demon paused in its motion to sign a fake name. Realizing this Holy Knight was an expert, it had no choice but to draw upon Abyssal Power and sign an excerpt of its True Name: Krog.
With the contract established, the tension in the air instantly eased.
Simultaneously, Nemus could feel his Oath-Keeping precept being subtly triggered by the formation of the new contract. The Qi Instrument hidden in the shadows also received a certain degree of reinforcement.
"Follow me!" Nemus said nothing more, leading Krog straight toward the sheep pen.
Seeing this, Krog knew that the existing contract was the greatest guarantee for both sides. Thus, it melted into the shadows and followed close behind.
Along the way, Nemus vaguely inquired about who had summoned Krog, but he did not receive a clear answer.
The summoner had never shown their face. They had merely used sacrifices during the summoning to directly sign a few agreements, instructing Krog to cause a commotion while restricting it from going on a mass slaughter.
Clearly, the summoner was extremely cautious.
Inside the sheep pen, Downs was waiting anxiously. He had completely lost interest even in his usually beloved sheep swaying their soft, plump rears in front of him.
His breathing grew ragged, and his entire body trembled faintly. He was waiting—waiting for the turning point of his destiny.
Once he grasped power and became an elite, a man above men, he would never have to live in this foul-smelling sheep pen again. By then, he could do whatever he wanted in the village... No, in all the surrounding towns!
Just as he was excitedly dreaming of his future, footsteps echoed from outside.
"Is... is that Lord Nels?!"
"Now, listen to me!" Nemus stepped into the sheep pen, stood before Downs, and issued a direct command.
The flames of the torch danced wildly, making Nemus''s silhouette appear to writhe and twist in the flickering light.
At this moment, the desires surging through Downs'' body had reached their absolute peak. His mind was entirely consumed by the thought of grasping power and becoming a man above men.
He was exactly like those fools blinded by the promise of massive profits, ready to fall for even the simplest of scams.
Upon hearing Nemus''s words, Downs immediately froze like a puppet on strings, waiting for his next command.
"Cut your finger and let your blood drip onto the soil in front of you." Nemus drew the Knight''s Sword and presented it before Downs.
Downs'' movements synchronized with Nemus''s instructions. He reached out, gripped the sharp blade, and sliced his own finger.
"Good boy!" Nemus praised. Using the Knight''s Sword, he traced lines in the blood-soaked soil before Downs, quickly forming a crude inverted pentagram.
"Now, repeat after me!"
Downs had no idea what he was doing anymore. Operating purely on instinct, he followed Nemus''s lead and unconsciously began to chant.
"Listen to my desires, gaze into my soul, drink my blood!"
"My body is destitute, my soul is yearning, and my very being radiates emptiness."
"Please enter my body... demon!"
As the word ''demon'' left his lips, Downs suddenly froze. Only then did belated realization strike as he understood what he had just recited.
However, before he could even react, a mass of black shadow lurking in the darkness was drawn out. Like smoke and water being violently siphoned, it surged directly into his body.
"Hehehe, your body belongs to me now..."
"No! Lord Nels, save me! Lord Nel—" Downs felt everything that made him who he was being forcefully stripped away.
It was precisely at this moment that Nemus completed his follow-up action. With a slight flick of his sword, he scooped up the blood-stained soil that formed the inverted pentagram and launched it directly onto Downs'' body.
The original inverted pentagram was thus stamped onto Downs'' skin, forming a seal.
"Let me teach you some common sense. ''Before and after the method is completed'' does not include the exact moment of completion, you foolish lesser demon!"
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