Phantasm looked on the Samukai for a while, before turning his back and saying:

- No, we are not going to camp. We are going for another crystal

- Listen, we are going to camp, because we all need a while to rest

- You need to rest. I am capable of walking for days without getting tired

- Will you ever stop thinking about yourself and focus on others!

- And why should I? I've already told you that you are working for me. You will act like a meat-shield or do other useful stuff. I also carry the will of Lucifer and I will fulfill it as soon as I can!

- So we are like objects to you? Tools you can use to advance?

- Yes, what's wrong with that?

- What's wrong?! Noktum you heard him? He is asking what's wrong with using people as tools!

Noktum and Fenfir were slowly joining the arguing two. Both shadow and hell hound were limping a little. Magician had his robes up, showing his burned legs.

- Phantasm is a demon, so he might have a different view on humans- Noktum tried to somehow excuse the demon.

- Oh come on! Don't say that you are on his side. Demon- samurai called- can you somehow help them?

Warrior pointed at the magician. Those burns looked rather nasty, all hot red.

- No, because I don't need any magic that's related to healing

- So if can't do something about this then we are staying here until they are in better condition

- Samukai, seriously it's not that bad, I mean I can walk

- Yes now, but if you lose an arm or leg will you tell me the same?

- Well no...but I am a shadow so it wouldn't be a problem if I did lose one

- Noktum, I know that shadows are like golems, but losing a limb is something that shouldn't happen to a teammate

Phantasm was getting more and more annoyed by the warrior. Just what the fuck was he talking about? Teammates? Is this a new term for slaves or workers? Besides, what's wrong with losing a limp? They are soldiers so things like that are common for them.

- Teammates, who told you so?- he asked.

- You know, people who make a team are usually teammates. It is common knowledge

- Yes, people, humans, MAGGOTS! You were a human so I knew that you would stick to stupid ideas like those. But believe me, in this world only the strong survive. And you get stronger if you stay as far from humanity as possible. I AM a divine being. I have nothing to do with humans nor I want to. So you can take your teammates and stick them in your ass!

Samukai was trying to not lose his temper. He really did not want to lower himself to his level.

- Can you explain to me why you are getting angry so easily? Really, there might be something wrong with you

- I am getting so angry because some walking talking metal shit is trying to compare to humans and then dares to say that I have a problem! - this sudden outburst startled all of them. Even birds that were sitting on the trees flew away.

- So you cannot stand being even mentioned alongside humans,mind telling me why?

- I have my reasons!

- Leader, you said that you were in a team before, so why aren't you with them?- Noktum asked with hope to calm down the demon a little.

- Guess why, most of them are fucking dead!

Oh, now Samukai felt a little bad for the demon. That might have been a reason why he acted so weird. Dealing with the death of the teammates can be really hard.

- Six of those fuckers got into range of my spell when I told them to not, and the remaining two! One fucking run to this world and the second one is a motherfucking coward!

As it turned out, the demon once again had not surprised the warrior and acted just like he imagined, just as he somewhat expected that deep down in his soul, he didn't have a problem with their death. Narcissistic dick was just a narcissistic dick.

- So you are fine with their death?

- Of course I am! It only meant that they were shit and not soldiers!

- Also what's your obsession with the entire soldier thing? I get it you are Lucifer's lap dog. Somebody to his use, but not everyone is. Listen, I know that you will ignore this, but you need to understand that not everyone will agree with you or be like you. In fact I doubt that majority would even agree with you, want to know why? Because it this point you are being just plain stupid. I guess you are fine with being nothing more than a soulless puppet for your master to send out straight into the battlefield, because he is too busy doing who knows what. But, believe me or not, I have spoken with few demons and neither of them were as fixated on this as you are. Seriously there is something wrong with you

- And the fuck can you know? For how long have you been in Hell? I bet not even for a century, so you don’t know how it really is down there. Being able to serve our lord is the greatest privilege one can have. He gave us our home, a place where we don’t have to be constantly hunted down by the angels. Lord Lucifer is also very benevolent, no matter how many times we have shown disrespect to him, he had not doubted us. Even now he gave a truly important task. Besides I am a leader, so I...

- SO ACT LIKE ONE!- this time Samukai shouted.

- What?

- You are saying that you are an important person who stands above others. So act like that person would act. You can't be selfish. For fuck sake, even humans can understand this. If you can't, that means that you are worse at something than humans. That's what you want? Do you want to be worse?

Demon stood there confused. Worse than humans? How could he be disrespected like that? There is no way that humans are better than him. He had to be lying right? Yet he didn't feel a single lie from the warrior.

- You want to become stronger, right?

- Y..yes?...

- So believe me, team makes you stronger

- How's so?

- You can learn many things from your teammates. From me, for example, you could learn martial arts. And since you use scythe, you would be able to turn it into deadly weapon

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- You say that if we become teammates, I will become stronger. I quite don't believe it

- Trust me, it will make you stronger. Who knows, maybe you will become a prince of hell?

- A prince of hell you say...- Phantasm stood still for a while thinking what he should do. After a while he said:

- Fine, you will make me stronger and I will turn you into true soldiers. But if you lied then I will not hesitate to kill all of you

- Don't worry, you will not be disappointed- Samukai reached out for the demon.

- What are you doing?

- Handshake?

- No, not doing it- the demon then held his hands closer- so what am I supposed to do now?

- You mean to be a leader?

- I guess?

- It's easy, just treat us like equals- he got an irritated grimace as an answer- so let's rest for now. This quarrel tired me pretty well

- A deal has been made

- Yea, whatever you want to call it

This time Phantom made a fireplace. Of course if a wild fire could be named a fireplace. Noktum, Samukai and Fenfir rested on the left side and demons on the right. He was still thinking about the deal he made. He had to admit that the warrior was convincing and wondered if he used this ability before to help himself.

Noktum on the other hand was glad that it was probably the end of all of these arguments and quarrels. Maybe they could finally fulfill this mission in peace.

Samukai was proud of himself that he was able to convince the demon. He didn't expect it to work at all. He was already bracing himself to get hit by a spell. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

- Turn us into soldiers huh? What do you mean by that?- samurai asked with curiosity.

- I just mean that I will make real soldiers out of you. Of course if you will be capable. Only the strongest can achieve this greatness. Who knows, maybe you will get the rank of the devil?

- Only devil?

- Don't expect too much. You are only a beginners

- Meh, that can do to

- Oi, magician give me the book- Phantom called out to Noktum. Shadow put his hand inside the bag and after a few seconds, he handed the Necronomicon to the demon.

- You really want to learn necromancy?- Samukai asked, pointing at the weird book.

- No! Believe it or not, I also have standards. Do you seriously think that I would hide myself behind an undead?

- Well no. You are the type to just cast a spell onto everything

- Spells may not be a solution but are always an option. Lord Beelzebub taught me this

- You mean that weird fly thing? Ugh, he creeps me out

- Don't like insects?

- You could say so. Well I am going to sharpen my swords- after that Samukai grabbed two stones. He went to the bigger one and placed his katanas on it. He then started his work.

- It isn't the best tool to use, but it is better than nothing

Demon watched the warrior for a while. It seemed that he cared for his weapons. Kinda weird because he could always get a new one, but hey, humans had their weird habits. His gaze then turned to the book. He didn't know why, but he thought that maybe opening it wouldn't be a good idea. But in the next second he decided to do it. What did he have to lose? Book's a book, it may look weird, but it can't hurt him.

The cover itself was rather nice in touch. He expected it to be more unpleasant, but it seemed that time didn't affect it. He opened it on the first page. There was something written in the middle.

That is not dead which can eternal lie and with weird eons even death may die

Yea, definitely a necromancer fucked up thoughts. Death may die, what was that even supposed to mean?

Suddenly he felt a little light headed. Black dots appeared in front of his eyes. After a few seconds they were gone. When he looked at the book again, he wasn't prepared to see this.

Everything as far as he could see was now gray. Everything stopped doing whatever it was doing. When he looked at himself, he saw that his colors were still on him.

Just what in the hell happened? Was this some sort of mind trick? Were they attacked by some illusionist? No, that couldn't be. He would feel an arts being casted. Maybe this all was from exhaustion? It had to be it, there was no other way.

He then carefully turned the pages. On the next page was a drawing of something weird. This thing was all black, something like bat wings on its back. There were words under it. Dark Pharaoh was written there. Rest was some gibberish for example he was buying strange instruments made of glass and metal and combining them into yet stranger.

After he finished reading about this pharaoh, he felt a terrible headache. But it wasn't coming from the damage or anything of the sort. It came from the terrible aura that was closing in. He felt like he was about to vomit.He was now shaking. Just what was that thing? Suddenly he felt this right behind him.

Come on Phantom, it is not time to fear he thought to himself.

Demon turned slowly to the visitor. His fear only grew bigger.

Behind him was a pretty tall black figure. It had a slim body with four black, bat wings. It had many tentacles for legs on which it crawled. Its hands ended with sharp claws. It had no face, only a long smile full of teeth that looked like blades. Despite having no eyes he could feel that he looked deep into his soul.

Its clothes looked like that of a pharaoh. Dark silk robe on its upper body. Various jewelry made of gold, and on its head cap crown with the side elements of the atef.

- Hmm, you seemed far more endurable. But I guess that even I can be mistaken- its voice was both male and female, old and young, low and high pitched.

Demon only stared at him, unable to think.

- Well I think that I do not need to tell you who I am. Besides, it is rude to read personal information about someone, don't you agree?

- Just what are you?- Phantom said between pants.

- I wonder who I can be, hmm?- it then pointed at the book.

- Black Pharaoh?

- So you ain't stupid. That's great!

- What do you want? It better be something important, because I will not hold back to kick your ass

- Oho, those are some bold words. Worry not, this something that you might seen as attractive

- What's this?

- You see, I seek someone to amuse me- those words set off the demon.

- You say that I should be some fucking jester!- after those words, another headache kicked in.

- Oh, you always think about the worst. But no, you can amuse me by spreading Chaos. I saw your battle against that king. I'm glad that I found someone who can stand against them. When I tried that on people before you, they just died! Humans in this world are really fragile, don't you agree?

Saw his battle against this elemental? Just how? He didn't feel his aura back then. Actually, when did he come here? It all made no sense. And this proposition. Did he lose his mind? Spread Chaos? What was that prick talking about?

- I swear if you call me prick once more, you will splattered all around the universe

- How did you?!

- Reading minds is easy. I mean I'm not called a god for nothing

- A god? How, when... just what are you!

- I would have told you, but yours poor head won't survive it

- Did you just call me stupid

- You said this, not me. So, yes or no?

He needed to think about this. Spread Chaos. Just what was Chaos. He has never heard about this. And this pharaoh didn't say what he will do, if he will agree.

- I'll take your silence as yes

- Wait, no!

- Too late- Pharaoh came closer to him- listen well, do not disappoint me and I will reward you greatly. You will, and I will make sure that you'll end as the others. I possess strength greater than Lucifer, so I hope that you will take those words to heart. Are we clear?

Phantom said nothing.

- Are.We.Clear?

- I guess so- he was trying so hard to not panic right now.

- Great! I think this might be the beginning of something great! If you want to contact me, you know how. Oh, and before I forget, write your name down there- paper materialized in Pharaoh's hand- it's a contract

Was this a joke? He was a demon, so he made people sign contracts, or so he was supposed to do so, but now he had to? He didn't remember when, but his name was already written.

- You are mine now- after saying these words, Pharaoh vanished.

Black dots appeared once again. When they also vanished, he saw a hand waving in front of him.

- Okay, he's fine. I guess- that was Samukai's voice.

- And why shouldn't I be?

- Why? Look at yourself! That black thing was pouring down for a long time. It only stopped a few seconds ago. And your eyes went black! Just what happened to you?

- Nothing, just exhaustion

- Please show it in less creepy way

- So are we resting longer or are we going?- Noktum asked.

It was already dawn. Just how long did he talk with this thing?

- I think I am ready. Let's go for the next crystal

It will either be his luckiest or unluckiest mission. Probably only sisters of fate have known which one it will be.