The following days of training went by faster than Kal expected, and surprisingly there had been no backstabbing at least that he could determine. Ilgathar had insisted several times that Kal should consider making his way to the 392nd layer to be instructed by his master.

Of course, Kal never intended to go to any of the other layers if he could help it so he calmly rejected all attempts at persuading him and concentrated on the information he could learn. His soul had continued to flare up multiple times whenever he was in the demon’s presence. But he continued to ignore it, not letting it distract him from learning what he could.

The second day had resolved mostly on how arrays worked. In many ways they were very similar to how Kal constructed his skills but in a more practiced manner. Some he already understood but the butcher didn’t seem to trust in what Kal knew so it told him again anyway,

Arrays were a series of sigils or runes that guided the mana powering them to perform a specific action. Illgathar explained that the flesh tunnels Kal had fought his way through was a relatively basic security array from The Flesh Plains. It was good for some mindless or stupid threats like kuroxet or the weaker variants of garghounds but every array has a weakness. It just so happened that Kal’s wrath was chaotic enough to cause a cascading loss of cohesion. Ilgathar didn’t want to explain cohesion too thoroughly but he did end up telling Kal it was a felmatterium-specific topic.

The hardest part for Kal was the fact that he couldn’t read the abyssal script that the demon used so it was hard to understand what exactly he was looking at, at least at first.

After several hours of general instruction, Kal noticed that he was starting to get a sense of what each sigil did. But only with a couple and it didn’t take him long to see why. The array Ilgathar was demonstrating was a simple mana concentration array, it basically drew in atmospheric mana and concentrated it within the array. Ilgathar had explained that it was common in almost all arrays no matter the size to be used as a power source for a connected array.

The reason Kal was starting to understand the sigils was more because he could see the streams of abyssal mana after they were guided by each sigil. The concentration array was subtle but he could sense that the majority of the symbols in the array weren’t actually drawing in mana, instead they were simply preventing it from leaving by redirecting it back to the center of the array.

Kal wondered if a concentration array would help him siphon faster. He decided he would give it a try while the haven was active after the butcher was dead.

Ilgathar was apparently planning to follow the contract to the letter so he spent the entire third day instructing Kal on simple arrays. He would not have the tools to create any after leaving the butcher’s domain but noticing Kal’s interest in the concentration array it said, “After slaying this shell you may take whatever equipment that remains here that interests you. I will not be able to return with it either way.”

“Thanks,” Kal wasn’t keen on thanking the demon for anything, he still wasn’t clear on Ilgathar’s true intentions and the intentions of its master. Kal opened his status and checked the timer for the wave.

Wave: 2

Time: 7 days, 6 hours, 32 minutes, 9 seconds

The end of the wave was getting close fast. Even with the things he had learned and the titles he had gained Kal was still unsure if the lost experience of sitting idle was worth it. In the long run, there was no doubt getting this information was definitely better but with the third wave so close he needed to be strong enough to deal with whatever was coming next.

Almost as if Ilgathar had done the very same, he looked over at Kal across a rather complicated array that Kal had been struggling with for some time, “It is time for your testing mortal, it will take time and we must ensure we must slay this shell by the appropriate time.”

“Alright, what does this test involve?” Kal was weary about this part of their deal, all the other demons that had gotten a close look at his wrath did not take it well. Most flew into a mix of homicidal rage and scale-soiling fear, but the shadow who had been the most intelligent that Kal had met besides Ilgathar had done something similar but had also accused him of having something that he wasn’t supposed to have.

Kal had assumed that it had felt his wrath because of Slayer’s Intent, it seemed to have strange effects that he couldn’t understand on the things he marked.

Ilgathar loped over to one of the cabinets in the main room and gathered up an assembly of instruments that were clearly different in design but Kal recognized them anyway. It was a core divining array. Kal did not like the idea of the demon getting a glimpse at his core, especially since he had created himself Kal didn’t want to think about the repercussions of the demon learning he could forge his own skills and core.

“That is a core diviner, right? Why would you need to see my core to analyze my unique resource?” Kal asked.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Ilgathar paused, and if its face showed emotions in that way Kal suspected he would have seen surprise, “I see you have some knowledge of other arrays. You are correct, a core divination will give the best data on the composition of your resources and make it easier to determine the origin of your unique resource.”

It sounded awfully like the demon was trying to get more information than what was agreed upon, “I will not allow you to divine my core, that is far more personal than what we agreed. I will allow you to analyze my mana replacement resource and that is all.”

Kal expected Ilgathar to break the whole charade the moment it realized he wouldn’t budge but instead, it simply returned what it had gathered from the cabinet. When it turned back to him its eye flames were flickering but its face remained its perfect neutral expression, “Of course, in my excitement I have stepped beyond myself. I will accept a less invasive method of resource analysis. I have arrays that are capable of such but they require a specific kind of skill to get a proper reading.”

Well, that went better than expected… Strange, “What kind of skill?”

“The skill must use your resource directly, unhampered by any changes of affinity or effect. In other words, it must interact directly with the resource without any specific intent. Some examples of this are the great Arcane Hunter’s Mark-”

Kal’s hackles rose at the mention of the person from his first system guidance vision, it surprised enough that he blurted out, “How do you know that man?”

This time Ilgathar's face did twist into an expression that Kal couldn’t quite pick out, interest, or satisfaction.

“How does one that is not aware of planar contracts and the primal affinities know of the Arcane Hunter? Interesting. As for how I know of it, it was of the first universe we conquered. The most powerful mortal of that universe but in the end, it was just a mortal. He slew several of his own worlds to gain the power necessary to stand against us and still he fell.” The butcher’s face twisted again and Kal knew this time it was a smirk, “More universes fell after that and will continue to fall, but that is not what we are he to speak of is it mortal.”

If Kal needed any more reason to despise these creatures he had just gotten another dose. He needed to keep that in mind, the last few days had been surprisingly pleasant despite the smell but he also knew that it was only the demon’s orders and need to learn about Kal’s wrath, and intern Kal’s need to learn about his mana and continue his growth that kept the whole situation stable.

As for having a skill like the one the butcher inquired about, the answer was obvious and disturbingly close to what the demon had given as an example. Slayer’s Intent was basically a copy of Arcane Hunter’s Mark, the few changes Kal made were simply to make it not explode the moment he had wrath flowing through it. Perhaps this specific interaction with his wrath was why shadow had reacted the way it did, it could sense the wrath as it was without alteration. The question was how would the butcher react to seeing it?

Kal didn’t want to rush into the testing and a question that had come to him during the first day of their bargain, “I have a skill like the one you have mentioned but I have an unrelated question before we continue. What did you mean about the source of mortal mana being questionable?”

“Again your lack of knowledge surprises me mortal, but is the source your human kin draw from not obvious? Amongst those of the abyss, we gain our abyssal mana from the great abyssal horizon itself. It is obvious by the mana that permeates the air itself on all of the horizon’s worlds and layers. Mortals, especially those born into the system are often granted their mana by high-tier beings or as your kind like to call them, gods. This is not always the case, but most universes quake in fear at the indomitable advance of the horizon and will do anything to prepare.”

Kal spat internally but tried not to let it reach his face. It was no wonder he never had any mana, he had multiple problems apparently, not only was his core basically in ruins but the gods also needed to grant him mana. That was assuming the demon was speaking the truth but something about it resonated with Kal and he felt his birthr- soul flare up at the mention of it.

He let it simmer for now and moved on, “If what you’re saying is true, what tier could possibly be powerful enough to empower so many?”

“HA! HA! Far beyond anything you could comprehend mortal. But that is enough questions. We have a contract to resolve, perhaps if you” Ilgathar quickly scoffed a vial of cloudy liquid before continuing, “No if you please, activate your skill so that we may move forward.”

Kal ignored him, “I have one more question first. How can I return to my world?”

The butcher’s face twisted disgustingly into a sneer as its eyes flared but returned to normal before it answered, “Creating a portal from the horizon is impossible for all but the dreadlords without the assistance of the Great Lord. But the abyssal horizon is in the process of integrating millions of worlds as we speak. When that is the case it is possible to find cracks in the fabric of the horizon and cross back into those worlds. If you were to accept my lord's offer of hospitality he could easily return you to your world. But we can discuss that after you have shown me your resource.”

That had been the first time Kal had seen such an explosion of emotion since first meeting the demon and he could sense that he wasn’t going to get anything else out of him. Besides as the demon spoke the worlds being conquered he could feel his soul burning hotter and despite its containment, he could feel some of its influence reach his mind.

No, he wouldn’t be accepting any kind of hospitality. Countless people were being killed every moment while he stood here speaking with a pathetic corpse whose kin wished to challenge him at extermination. The past days of learning had been useful and would assist him in the future but as he stood before the demon he got the sudden urge to activate his mana sight and search for something he had ignored until now.

But his soul had a purpose, a purpose that Kal was only just barely beginning to understand. Kal had put aside his aggression and desire to kill the demon for his benefit but with what he had learned and what he believed he could now see.

Color faded from the world as his mana sight focused in on the chest of the demon standing before him.