Hundreds of cartoonish and large eyes swirled around Yan again. It took some seconds for them to fade away. John assumed the Salt was rebuffing.

Staring at Lilly, Yan said, “Long story or not, I need to know how you’re in a child’s body. Is there more to our dark gift than I was aware of? The full story. Start from when we last parted ways.”

Lilly smiled. “Everything has a price, Yan. Especially information. And let’s get this out of the way.” A ball dropped from Lilly’s hand and dozens of curved beams of light stretched out of it and went all over the area, even high into the sky where the spy drones hovered.

“That just blocks the snoops and keeps what’s said between us, between us. Okay, looks like you two are at an impasse. Let’s lay it all out and see if we can find a solution.”

John noticed Lilly was smiling in a way no child should, and standing as she would in an adult body, in a way men would find sensual. He, again, felt pity for his former wife. She acted very differently when he was in her Mind’s Eye and she looked as a woman, with the full power that gave her over men, than how she behaved while in a child’s body. Usually. He figured some habits were hard to break, or some realities too hard to accept.

“You want my husband…,” John was about to interrupt Lilly when her eyes darted to him and she corrected herself, “Ex-husband to join willingly. You know that’s the only way he’d behave himself. You won’t kill him, and he won’t be able to force you to. You could take him kicking and screaming but you know he’d do his best to piss off the wrong demon and get himself killed.”

Turning her head to smile at John, Lilly said, “He’s stubborn. He won’t budge. Not if he thinks he’s right. Pressuring him will only make him dig his heels in. I’m figuring you’d have used mental compulsion by now if that was your plan.”

With a disgusted look, Yan said, “Only a dog would entertain such an idea.”

Lilly, still looking at John and smiling, said, “So, Adon, tell us why you won’t sign the contract. You think it’s a trick? Why?”

John was silent for a moment as he put his thoughts in order. “What everyone seems to forget is who brought the demons to Earth. Not the Forsaken. Both Exalted I heard speak before the Tribulation, Magnus Gar’tar, and Sublime Ton-Oi think this planet is tainted by some sort of blasphemy.

“I think they want us to make a deal like this. They want us to become what they believe we are. They want a good excuse to kill us all. Swearing to the Forsaken is probably all the excuse they need.”

John shrugged before continuing. “I don’t think the demons would treat humans well. They’d be treated worse than scabs. But demons wouldn’t get much of a chance to do anything. That Sublime up there would descend and purge this world and think he’s right for doing so.

“No one asked for Betrayal to do what he did here. His tests. Only us three outright accepted any sort of blasphemy. The rest are all innocent. The least I can do is stand with them. Stand against everyone meaning them harm or slavery. Stand until I can’t. Just as I swore. A meaningful death.”

After some seconds with no response, John turned to Yan. “How has Circle Xakariz not figured the same out? There would be no staging grounds or invasions of other worlds from here. There’d be an empty world. Free of humans, free of demons, free of blasphemy.”

Silence reigned over the battlefield for a long moment. Lilly was the first to break it. “So? Fuck this planet. If there’s members of any Forsaken sects at Yan’s circle, I can survive in the Nether long enough to make it to a livable planet. If the Favored are gunning for this world, that’s even more reason to sign the contract, not less. It means we really need to get the fuck out of Dodge. This is our best way. Look, Adon…”

Yan interrupted. “One moment. I disagree with your statement, Elder Brother. Master Baggodon and Master Ith'tas aren’t fools. Master Ith'tas signed a contract with the Favored. Things aren’t as you think they are. I’m certain. There’s also rules regarding invasions. You’re missing a big piece necessary to see the full picture.”

Lilly stared daggers at Yan. “You’re just going to interrupt me like I wasn’t talking, fuckface?” Turning back to John, she said, “As I was saying, you’re not top dog anymore. You have to accept that. Some things are way above you and completely out of your hands. There’s nothing you can do about any of this besides ensure you and yours make it out alive. Besides the scab. He’s dead every way this plays out if you’re right.”

John grunted. “Not if we win. If we don’t join the Forsaken and we win. The Favored won’t have their excuse.”

As Lilly’s mouth opened to speak, Amber spoke up. “You’re wrong, John. In this form, I have a natural dislike and distrust of magals. I still know the Favored wouldn’t do that. They wouldn’t commit genocide because an ancient old one made a couple vampires. You always think you’re more important than you really are. You can’t really believe the demons signed a contract saying they’d all be murdered? No one’s that stupid.

“And how would we even win this fight anyway? We can’t beat a Salt. We’d just die. Who does that help? Earth is only doomed if you doom it. Just sign the contract.”

John remembered back to when Sparta and Athenai went to war. Athenai controlled nearly all the islands to her south in the Archipelago. One island was neutral. He racked his brain thinking of the name of the place, but nothing came.

Athenai laid siege to the island and gave the residents an ultimatum. Surrender or die. They refused to surrender. In the winter, when they finally did, it didn’t go well for them. Athenai killed all the men and made slaves of all the women and children.

Sparta eventually won the war and control of the island. John had no idea if things would’ve turned out better if they had surrendered to Athenai from the start. The island was stuck between two greater powers. He often wondered if there was a way they could’ve gotten out of their situation unscathed, or at least in better shape.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Sighing, John’s shoulders slumped. The island rolled the bones and made a choice. There was honor in the attempt, regardless of the outcome. He remembered the knight, oathbound, honor demanding he charge forward as his fellows fled. He remembered the mother, bitter, too much taken from her, her futile attack.

John knew he had little chance of winning a fight against Yan. He also wouldn’t condemn the people of his world to death, and, at best, if his prediction was wrong, slavery. Once he was gone, if Earth gave up and submitted to the demons, that’d be on them.

If John couldn’t win, he could at least refuse to submit, come what may. He could fight.

John hoped his actions and sacrifice would ignite a spark that started a fire. He hoped that fire burned in the hearts of all mankind, and they stood defiant, and chose to die free rather than submit. Chose to fight, and fight, until there was no one left to, or they figured out a way to win and stood victorious.

In fighting, in standing tall and defiant, there was hope, a chance of victory. Only in submission was there hopelessness.

John increased his strength and speed with vital essence. As he jumped towards his enemy, sword out, plasma ring discharging, he let loose a mighty yell of hope and despair.

As the beam from John’s ring was absorbed by the air around Yan, he cast [Flashburst Pulse] and was surprised the Salt let him finish the casting. While he was manifesting the spell, his orb-eye saw a giant foot stomp on Hubaba and fly towards Amber as she turned invisible, sending her flying away on impact, visible again.

And as Amber flew past John, she morphed from demon into a bear, dashing at Yan. As she blurred towards the Salt, the giant foot still managed to stop her charge and kick her far off into the distance.

A sense of danger flashed above John. He slashed up at the giant foot descending on him as the three sparks of [Flashburst Pulse] were also absorbed by the air in front of Yan.

Gird and Defiance bounced harmlessly off the foot and John was nearly stomped on. He quickly discarded both sword and shield and barely managed to keep his feet while holding the giant foot above his head with both hands. His orb-eye saw Hubaba struggling to stand.

Yan calmly said, “Stay down, scab.” The vampire hadn’t moved during the whole ordeal. John wondered, what the hell kind of concepts is he using?

The foot crept lower. John only managed to stop its descent when the foot’s weight was borne by his neck and shoulders too, his body straining with great effort.

With his assault ended so quickly after it began, John revised his chance of winning to be far lower than the very low odds he had given himself at the start of it. His orb-eye noticed Lilly banging angrily on an olive-colored circle of essence surrounding her, the same type of thing Stretch was still trapped in, her mouth yelling out words he couldn’t hear.

The foot disappeared from John’s shoulders and Yan walked towards him on two whole legs, stopping only a pace in front of him. “I’m peak Empty. I’m not as old as you, but I was very old and strong before the Tree of Life. Elder Brother, be reasonable.”

After sighing, Yan said, “Please stop attacking. This is senseless. You’ll never overcome the tier difference. You do know what tier Empty is, right? It’s also called Salt.”

John grunted. “I know what tier it is and what it means. It matters little to me. I knew attacking meant my death. Even if I’m wrong about the Favored, you’ll not make slaves of my people while I live. I will never surrender while I draw breath. Kill me and have done with it. Don’t toy with me. Let me die with honor in battle.”

“No. You’re wrong about everything,” said Yan, passionately. “Humans won’t be slaves. Scabs aren’t slaves either. It would be no different than a warrior caste running things. The humans that can become strong Forsaken will be valued. There will be sects and schools to make strong warriors. I’ve met some Forsaken. They’re treated decently well. I promise you. Terrans are my own people too.”

“Then act like they are,” snapped out John. “Fight with us. Fight beside me. Earth will not submit. Never. I won’t.”

After a moment of silence, Yan said, “You’re reminding me of Master Quy. Anh. He was sick of life. He had no joy. He wanted to die but wouldn’t take the leap on his own. You were his hope. I won’t be yours. Life can be better.

“Elder Brother, let me teach you how to love life again. We have a new road to travel. A whole universe to explore. Universes. Whatever realities are too. So much to see and discover. Don’t let melancholy defeat you.”

John wanted to scream back that he wasn’t defeated, especially not by melancholy. Before he got a chance to, Yan spun around and sputtered out in surprise, “How’d you get out of that?”

Lilly exited a hole in the olive-colored bubble she was entrapped within. “I have my ways, fuckface. You’re really starting to piss me off.”

“You’re a Wood with unopened dantians and meridians. Seriously, how’d you do that?”

“Dantians and meridians? And you won’t use compulsions. Jesus Christ, you should really sign that contract, Adon. You guys are two peas in a pod.”

Yan looked back at John. “You use the correct words? You call them dantians and meridians? I’m so sick of demons saying cores and channels.” After John confirmed, Yan asked, “What do you call…um, spirit? Vigor?”

“Shen.”

“Ha! You know those words are translated incorrectly so use the right ones, Elder Brother.” Yan turned back to Lilly. “Sit next to the scab.”

“Fuck you, pal.”

While Yan was distracted, John took the opportunity to attack. He quickly bent to grab Gird, but Yan’s staff tapped his arm before he reached it, then the staff tapped his other arm, causing them both to go completely numb. The staff hit lightly and caused no damage, so the automatic essence-shield of his armor didn’t even activate.

John feigned a kick and then jumped in for a neck bite. The Salt easily flowed out of the way and tapped his staff on both of John’s calves.

While on the ground, lying flat on his back, John’s arms and legs began to tingle. He hoped to get the use of them back soon.

Lilly ran over to help John. He yelled out, “Get away! Don’t touch me!”

Lilly sat a couple arm lengths away from John, looking dejected. Yan said, “Scab, go sit near those two.” Hubaba silently complied.

“Enough of this. Lilly, I need to know how you’re in a child’s body and how you escaped my field. That wooden construct is a Gold and could never escape it. We want all of our kind so you’re coming through the portal too. It will go better for you if you tell me now. I can force you to talk, though I’d much rather not. Please, explain.”

Lilly laughed. “If you want me to live, you aren’t taking me through the portal, dickhead. This body is only seven and I haven’t strengthened it enough through vital essence. I won’t last long as I am in the NetherRealm. I could live long enough to make it to another world, but it’ll have to be planned out ahead of time. I won’t have long. As to how…”

Lilly was interrupted by Yan spinning around, his hand disappearing. A moment later it reappeared in giant-form, dragging a scaled demon covered in ridged spikes. As Amber was dragged closer, she said, “Sorry. I tried. He can see me when I’m hiding.”

As Yan’s hand returned to his limb, he said, “It’s no problem for me. Please, go sit next to the scab. Remain peaceful. Lilly, what you stated will be arranged. Please explain the rest. For my own curiosity, start from when we last parted ways.”

The last thing John wanted was for other people to know his own business or know how his former wife shamed him and made him no man at all. This particular story was one he never wanted anyone else to know of as long as he lived.

But John needed time for his arms and legs to recover. And to plot. He wasn’t nearly strong enough to beat Yan in a fight. That didn’t mean there wasn’t a path to victory. Like Sunshine always advised, he just needed to think. Really think.

John said, “Yes, harlot, start from that day. Tell them all of it. What a fool I was. How you made the husband you claimed to love so little.”