Ric casts a frustrated glance at the orb of light hovering at the center of the room, his plans for amusement thwarted once again before it began.

By some absurd twist of fate, the room had become even brighter, a feat that seemed implausible. Ric spat in disgust, watching as his saliva dissolved into wisps of light before it could even leave his lips.

“I am in fucking hell,” he confirmed, his frustration boiling over as he found himself trapped in an endless cycle of torment, consisting of comfort and heavenly fragrance.

Ric’s entire being revolted, yet only rainbows emerged from his mouth. “Not very godly of you,” he remarked, wiping his mouth in vain, which was already dry and minty fresh.

Ric conquered the darkness in his previous world or this one. He still grappled with the concept of immortality to pinpoint his location. The current setting was similar, but filled with darkness when he conquered the death affinity before ripping the world a new one. Now he had vanquished the light to find death and start the cycle again.

“New world, new system?” Ric queried, only to be met with silence from the light. “I don’t kneel.”

“Unless you desire it,” the light countered.

“Unless I desire it... Hey, we might actually get along.”

“In my kingdom, son, there’s no concept of kneeling,” the Light declared.

“Oh... I intend to change that. What’s the use of power if you don’t assert it over the world?”

“There isn’t a response for which you don’t have a counter,” the Light sighed.

“I like how you phrased it as a statement,” Ric smirked. “See, we’ll get along just fine. Now bow, bi...” He cursed and smiled, pointing at his feet.

“I’m neither male nor female, child,” the Light corrected.

“What’s with the feminine voice?” Ric pressed.

“I will not fall for such an obvious trap.”

“What trap?” Ric shrugs innocently.

“I say I am what one imagines me as and you counter with; that makes you a girl in my sight... my B word.”

“Now–now... it’s no fun when you flatten it out like that. Have some fun.”

“You're offended that there is someone stronger and smarter than yourself.” The light huffed.

“I certainly did not!” Ric protested. His eyes narrowed into slits, and a deep frown etched across her face, revealing the unmistakable signs of offense. “And is that pride? Not so holy of you, hey?"

A shimmering light passes through Ric as the light scans him. “Envy, anger, flustered, frustrated...” she declares.

“I am the demon king; of course, I am filled with those things,” Ric retorted.

“Emotions?” the Light queried.

“Yeah... that.”

“Here you are but a leaf on the grand tree of life,” the Light subtly nudged the topic away.

“Where is here?” Ric probed.

“The Arcane Sanctum.”

“Is that between my world or the new one?”

“Neither,” the Light chuckled, the sweet sound making Ric nauseous.

“Not so holy, after all.”

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“Wouldn’t you rather figure out the knicks on your own?” Light deflected.

“Maybe after my revenge,” Ric scoffed.

“What’s the point in killing if everyone is from and later joins the tree?”

“Hmm... so you aren’t the final boss, just a peon who pushes the paperwork around," Ric deduced.

“Better than being a paper,” she retorted, chuckling.

Ric covered his ears. “Stop that!” he snapped at the orb. “I hate holier-than-thou types like you.”

“It’s commonplace to call the grapes sour when one can’t reach them,” the Light remarked.

At every turn, Ric found himself speechless. Once he stumbled in their verbal sparring, the light goddess took control and never slipped up since then. When she did, she deftly shifted topics before he could realize and corner her. The only positive points in Ric’s account were the snippets of information he gathered from her, and even those were deemed common knowledge by the light as she scoffed at him, enraging him further.

The ever-present light or life force is accessible to anyone, yet individuals often opt for other affinities due to the demanding level of focus required.

Controlling two affinities or contracts is likened to navigating two boats to two different locations with one leg in each. The more affinities one aligns with, the more challenging their concentration becomes, even after forming a contract.

In Ric’s case, he was born with a singular affiliation or the hope of forging a contract. Should the Light goddess in the orb reject him, he would become a human without a contract, rendered powerless.

The rationale behind the contract holders or mediator gods distributing contracts remained a mystery, and no amount of cunning on Ric’s part coaxed the Light into revealing the benefits of their contract.

Ric remained puzzled about whether the Light had the authority to deny him the contract. According to her own words, all were interconnected through the tree, drawing sustenance from it to survive. The more one devoted themselves to its service, the greater their ability to draw from the mighty tree of life.

She imposed a blessing onto the damn horns for brains before ushering Ric out of the Arcane Sanctum. Without the contract, Ric would have to struggle in vain until he made a contract by himself. This process was unprecedented and outright foolish, as it inevitably led to the same contract they were destined to sign in the first place.

Ric was as obstinate as a Minotaur when faced with a blank sheet of paper. The ethereal white “Kagaz” sent shivers down his spine, a sensation more unsettling than any challenges he faced during his demon days.

Ric exerted his will and set the contract ablaze, amazed that he could pull such a feat without relying on any magic. But before a victorious grin taunted the goddess, his elation was snuffed out, as he was certain he caught sight of the blinding light’s sly grin.

As a parting gesture, the Light shocked him further by declaring him a human, of all the creatures. Ric brushed off her declaration, deeming it useless in his pursuit of power.

Their paths diverged as the light orb connected Ric to the upper roots of the almighty tree, and Ric issued a challenge to transform the tree of life into the tree of death.

How could a mere tree alter the course of the Demon King?

“You’re back,” Henzo greeted with a smile.

Ric ignored the comment from the brat, already putting their skirmish behind him as he focused on the diminished light powers.

“Now you don’t wield the same power as before. Both your power output and control are gone,” Henzo informed.

“Stolen,” Ric spat.

“No,” Henzo shook his head. “The initiation stage is a person’s highest potential they might reach if they stay true to the contract. That stage is only meant to pave one’s path. Now you have to follow it.”

“Stolen,” Ric repeated, disregarding the rest and sticking to his theory.

“I don’t understand why you desire the death affinity, but I don’t have such a contract,” Henzo remarked.

This information piqued Ric’s interest, making his ears twitch. Unable to contain his curiosity, he inquired with innocent hellhound eyes, “What do you have?”

“So you listened. Good,” Henzo smiled before walking away.

“Great! Now even he is smarter than me,” Ric sighed and got up with a grunt.

They walked in awkward silence until Henzo blurted out the question he withheld, “So... you were aiming to get a death contract?”

“What gave it away?” Ric rolled his eyes.

“A couple of things.” Henzo counts and stops when his bond interjects. “—That was rhetorical.”

“Oh, was it?” Henzo turns to Ric.

“I can’t pick up on what you two spoke.”

“Oh, forgot! He said it was a rhetorical question.”

“Ah… he.” Ric smiles.

“A male forms a contract with a male,” Henzo states.

“Oh... fuck.”

“Shouldn’t a human already know all of this?”

“I—” Ric halted as he noticed Henzo facing the wrong direction and conversing with the air. “Ah! His contract,” Ric realized, observing Henzo’s gestures and argumentative tone directed at the unseen presence.

After he is done, Henzo glances at Ric with suspicion. “Even this time, I only heard your nonsensical mumbles,” Ric groaned, rolling his eyes.

“Let us make a deal,” Henzo proposed with a smile, extending his hand.

“What’s in it for me?” Ric stepped closer.

“I will tell you everything I have learned, perceived, and witnessed, and you tell me yours. This way, we hold on to each other’s secrets,” Henzo offered, forcing his hand onto Ric, eager to strike a deal. “Oh, and I will also try my best to restrain my bond from killing you,” he added with a smile. “My bond says until you keep up your side of the bargain.” His smile widens, consuming his eyes.

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