KASAKI'S EYES SPARKLED with recognition as Junkong stepped into the office. Though he hadn't crossed his mind often, Kasaki hadn't forgotten the old wizard.

"Smoking now, are we?" Junkong remarked, a smile playing on his lips.

Kasaki rose from his seat, welcoming Junkong warmly.

"Remember when I predicted all this?" Junkong turned to Yojiro, he seeking Kasaki’s confirmation of his prophecy.

"Yes, sir. You said a samurai from Tiger Valley would overthrow Misuki. It feels like a lifetime ago," Kasaki replied.

"You've matured remarkably in such a short time. Congratulations. You've truly become a man," Junkong observed, glancing at Kishira, whom he easily identified as Kasaki's girl. Kasaki grinned, enjoying the company of astute individuals.

"So, Yojiro brought me here for a reason. Can you tell me how I can be of service?" Junkong asked, accepting Kasaki's invitation to sit, while Kasaki returned to his seat, dismissing any notion of it being a "throne."

"Well, Mr. Junkong, I'm not sure if Master Yojiro has already briefed you on the details. But I'll give you a quick overview. The situation is this: Misuki struck a deal with Satan. Despite our victory over him and his forces, he's now immortal. You could stab him, mutilate him, or reduce him to ashes, and he won’t die."

Junkong's expression was a mix of fascination and apprehension. This was the realm of high-level magic. Satan, the Lord of black magic and evil, was a formidable adversary. Despite his intrigue, Junkong couldn't shake off a sense of fear at the mention of Satan's involvement.

"To seal that pact, Misuki sacrificed the soul of a boy, one of his hostages. Additionally, Amane, another captive, was also taken by Satan in exchange for granting Misuki a spell that now ensnares us all. Our goal now is to rescue those children and, if possible, undo these pacts. We need to strip Misuki of his immortality and liberate ourselves from the constraints of a virtual life bar."

"What kind of spell are we talking about, the one that you all are under?" Junkong inquired, his curiosity piqued.

In response, Kasaki retrieved a knife from the desk and pierced his forearm. Junkong watched in astonishment as Kasaki's life bar materialized before his eyes, displaying the #BG balance within it, which decreased by a few points. It wasn't a perilous drop; Kasaki's bar remained nearly full.

"Our very lifespan now hinges on that cryptocurrency you just witnessed: #BG. It's generated by supercomputers and relies on oil production. If anyone under the spell depletes their #BG, they'll perish instantly, regardless of age or health," Kasaki explained.

"I see," Jungkon murmured, his eyebrows arching in comprehension. "Misuki truly is an evil genius. It seems he aimed to make the entire country dependent on oil, and consequently, dependent on him."

"Exactly," Kasaki affirmed, nodding with approval at Jungkon's astute observation. "Our immediate priority is to annul these pacts. Misuki's immortality poses an immense threat. If he remains alive, he'll perpetually endanger our nation and our people. In a century's time, when the last of us passes, he could easily regain power, leveraging his immortality to his advantage."

Junkong's demeanor shifted from intrigue to genuine fear. Throughout his life, he had taken care not to mess with wizards more powerful than himself. Now, faced with the prospect of messing Satan himself, the fear gnawed at him. He lowered his head, almost burying it between his legs, and covered his face with his hands, a tangible display of confusion and frustration.

Observing Junkong's reaction, Kasaki and Yojiro exchanged concerned glances. It was evident that Junkong wasn't pleased with the news he had just received. After a moment, Junkong collected himself and let out a heavy sigh.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"What do you envision will come of all this?" he inquired, his voice betraying a hint of apprehension.

"I expect to retrieve those children, undo the #BG and Misuki's immortality spells. That's all," Kasaki responded resolutely, his gaze unwavering.

"But what about Satan's response to being challenged?" Junkong pressed further, his tone laced with concern.

"I don't care," Kasaki declared, reaching for a cigar and lighting it. "I'm prepared to face him."

"He's immortal too, Kasaki. Are you aware of that?" Junkong persisted, his worry evident.

Kasaki simply shrugged, taking a slow, deliberate drag from his cigar.

"I assumed as much. But what other choice do we have? If there's a chance to confront him, I'll take it. Our peace won't last if Misuki remains immortal anyway," Kasaki replied with steely determination.

“There is only one way to challenge Satan, boy. And you won’t like it,” Junkong said with a cryptic smile, his eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and seriousness.

Kasaki's expression hardened as he leaned forward, his brows knitting together in concern. "Tell me," he demanded, his voice steady despite the turmoil brewing within him.

Junkong leaned back in his chair, his smile widening slightly. "You have to die," he said matter-of-factly, pausing for dramatic effect, "and go all the way down to hell. There, he'll meet you. And if you defeat him, he'll give you the kids back, or whatever you ask of him, really."

Kasaki's jaw clenched as he absorbed the weight of Junkong's words, his mind racing with the implications. After a tense moment of contemplation, he finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper,

"I'll do it," Kasaki declared firmly, his resolve unwavering despite the gravity of the task ahead.

Kishira rushed towards him, her hands trembling as she grasped his tightly. "Please, don't do this, Kasaki. You promised me you'd never leave me alone, remember?" she pleaded, her eyes pleading for him to reconsider.

Kasaki gently soothed her, his touch a comforting anchor amidst the storm of emotions. "I understand your fear, Kishira," he murmured softly, his voice a balm to her worries. "But I can't stand by while those children suffer. I have to try."

After assuring Kishira that everything would be alright, Kasaki turned to Junkong with a determined expression. "But if I die, how can I fulfill my promise to bring back the children? Will I remain trapped in hell for eternity?" he inquired, his voice tinged with concern.

Junkong's lips curled into a knowing smile as he addressed Kishira's fears. "Fear not, young miss," he reassured her, his tone laced with wisdom. "As a wizard, I possess the knowledge of temporary death. I've employed it countless times, aiding those seeking to escape debts or vanish into exile. Time operates differently in death than in life. In mere minutes, Kasaki can descend to hell, confront Satan, and, if victorious, I can revive him. Satan may be a piece of shit, but he adheres to certain rules. Throughout history, others have faced him and emerged triumphant, earning a single wish in return. This is our only path. The souls of those children are in his grasp. To reclaim them, Kasaki must descend into hell and claim victory."

"This might sound crazy, and maybe I'm crazier for saying it, but I'm actually liking it," Kasaki remarked with a nonchalant shrug, a faint smile playing on his lips. Kishira's expression was a mixture of worry and resignation. Deep down, she knew she couldn't dissuade Kasaki once he set his mind to something, no matter how perilous.

Turning away for a moment to collect his thoughts, Kasaki eventually faced the group once more. "And what about Misuki? How do we break his immortality spell?" he inquired, his voice laced with determination.

Junkong met his gaze with a knowing nod. "Once you retrieve the souls that were bargained away to Satan in exchange of granting those spells, the immortality spell will dissolve. The same goes for the life bar spell. Once you defeat Satan and reclaim those children's souls, you'll have the power to end Misuki's life. His immortality will be no more," he explained.

"Well, that's exactly what I needed to hear. I’m in," Kasaki declared, his resolve unwavering.

"Alright, I'll need a special poison to stop your heart, along with plenty of adrenaline and oxygen to bring you back to life. Leave that to me. Just designate someone who can transport me to the necessary locations. As for that flying spell you use, I'm not familiar with it. It seems to be linked to the #BG currency spell, which I'm not privy to. Apparently, it provides immense energy levels, allowing one to manifest anything they imagine into reality. Unfortunately, that's not within my arsenal. I know some old-school tricks, but accessing the power of #BG is beyond me," Junkong explained.

"It's simple, though," swiftly making a shallow cut on Junkong's arm with his sword.

Junkong winced, but his pain ceased as he beheld the life bar materialize before his eyes. Now, he too was under the spell, endowed with a bar brimming with #BG energy.

"Now you should be able to fly, or even transform into a dragon. That's a hefty amount of #BG for any magic," Kasaki observed.

"I can feel it coursing through me. It's invigorating. I'm certain I can fly now. I feel energized and ready. I'll gather what I need on my own, then. I'll return tomorrow night. My advice is to bid farewell to your loved ones. There's no telling if you'll return," Junkong advised.

Kasaki nodded solemnly as Junkong transformed into a majestic black pelican and departed.

THE END