Sweat was dripping from my forehead as I looked at the monster. Just what is happening in the world that reincarnated beings are coming here? Could there be something making these reincarnated beings coming to this world? Do reincarnated beings become anything? From the Goblin King to this monster, they were more dangerous than any regular Demon. Just from looking at this monster I could tell how terrifying it was. 

The monster's white eyes looked at me waiting for my answer.

"Are you from Earth?" I said.

The dark shadow of a monster waved its tentacles.

"No," It said. "I'm not."

What? Was this monster from somewhere other than Earth? Maybe just stopping the Demon Lord won't be enough to save this world. Perhaps I can't die in the dirt after killing the Demon Lord. There was something strange going on in the world and I have to find out what it was. I dared not look away from this monster as more questions came into my mind.

"How do you know Earth?" I said.

"From the memories of someone I know," Nyarlathotep said.

"Are you a reincarnated being?" I said.

Nyarlathotep looked at me puzzled and curled its tentacles. The light kept flickering but I kept my focus on the monster. What was it and how did it come to be? If it was a reincarnated being, then I must assume that it is very powerful. I tried to look for any weakness the monster had but it only looked like pure darkness.

"What is that?" It asked.

"Something born in another world only to be born here again with their own thoughts and memories."

I looked at the dark monster who seemed to ponder in thought.

"No, I'm not that," Nyarlathotep said. "I've always been what I am."

"What are you?"

"Something my creator summoned."

"You have a master!?"

Nyarlathotep smiled with its large teeth.

So someone actually created this monster. That person must be very powerful to do so. I don't know if that person could be considered sane after witnessing Nyarlathotep itself. The powers of this monster were almost unimaginable. It could shape-shift and control others while looking at your thoughts. This monster was more like a God than anything.

"Memories of Earth came from my creator," Nyarlathotep said.

"Memories?" I said.

"My creator came from Earth," Nyarlathotep said. "I only peeked a little into his mind."

"Where is your creator now?" I asked.

"Dead."

The tentacles of Nyarlathotep seem to droop down.

"When did he die?"

"Some thousand years ago."

This monster was very old but it's strange that no one would've known about its existence. No, it wouldn't be given how powerful it is. Although, the creator of this monster has intrigued me quite a bit. What kind of person would be able to summon this monster? Its creator must have gone down in history as a powerful magician. I had to find out and asked this monster.

"Who is your creator?" I said.

Nyarlathotep curled its tentacles and then its tendrils started to flutter.

"I have forgotten his name but I do remember that people used to call him the Great Demon Emperor."

I was shocked and felt pale as a ghost. The Great Demon Emperor was the first of his people. He was the one to establish the Demon Territory to the north and he was the first scourge of humanity. The Demon Lord is said to be the scion of the Great Demon Emperor. He was a plague on the world but for some reason never sought to conquer it. If that Great Demon Emperor was actually a reincarnated being, it would make sense why he was so powerful.

"You actually smell like him maybe that's why you're so deliciously tempting," Nyarlathotep said.

The monster looked at the black ring on my finger.

"Yes, you are just like him."

I kept my sword ready in case this monster tried anything.

"You have a great mental fortitude," Nyarlathotep said. "Usually, men go insane when they see me."

"I'm not like other men," I said.

Nyarlathotep's white eyes sharpen on me and its tentacles wavered.

"I can see that," It said.

I point my blade at the monster and wait for its move.

"I don't want to fight you," Nyarlathotep said.

"Your actions prove otherwise," I said.

The monster laughed and it smiled at me.

"How about we make a deal?" It said.

"I don't make deals with devils," I said.

"We don't have to but aren't you pressed on time?" Nyarlathotep said. "I can wait until you die but can you?"

The monster was snickering.

"You won't be able to escape without me."

This monster already knew my thoughts and memories. If it also lived for a thousand years then the passage of my death would be nothing to it. Nyarlathotep had most likely already seen what it wanted from my mind. I couldn't wait here and battle with this monster while the Demon Lord still lives. I needed to know what it's thinking first before I deal with this monster.

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"Why?" I said.

"Because I can't leave," Nyarlathotep said. "I'm bored."

Its answer confused me.

"You've never left the North Mountains?" I asked.

"No, I can't leave," Nyarlathotep replied. "My creator trapped me here."

Was this monster trapped here In the North Mountains? No wonder it has lived for so long without being found out. It couldn't leave but used the Ghasts to lure prey here. Its creator was smart enough to not let this monster go free. The monster looked at me when rubbing its tentacles together. Or was this all a trick?

"I want to leave but I also want your delicious dreams," Nyarlathotep said. "You want to leave and you want to kill the Demon Lord."

I nod my head at the monster.

"Then we can make an arrangement," It said. "Let me use your body as a vessel and I can guide you through the North Mountains without any harm."

"And?" I said.

"When you kill the Demon Lord…your soul will be mine." 

I could see the teeth from inside its dark body form into a mischievous grin.

"How do I know you won't turn on me?" I said.

"We can make a contract using that ring of yours," Nyarlathotep said.

The monster pointed to the black ring on my finger using its tentacles.

"A contract bonded by that powerful artifact will have grave consequences that I dare not break," Nyarlathotep said. "Also, in return, you may use a portion of my power."

"This black ring can?"

"It was made by my creator."

The ring that had bonded to me was made by the Demon Emperor?

I had serious doubts about this but I didn't know if I could kill this monster. I was trapped in its lair and I didn't know what else laid about. If there were more frightening creatures here, I shudder to even think about it. No one would come save me even if they knew I was here either. I had no choice but to accept this monster's proposal.

I looked up at the monster who smiled at me.

"I accept," I said with some conviction.

So in the end, my life would be forfeit to a dark monster when my time comes.

"When you kill the Demon Lord…your soul will be mine." The smiling monster said.

"Then guide me and use your power to help me in this endeavor," I said.

Nyarlathotep swung its tentacles and tendrils wildly as the lights flickered.

"Raise up your hand and swear the contract on the ring."

I hold up my hand and swore on the contract with the monster. I felt a great power and the ring started to burn my hand. The monster Nyarlathotep only smiled at me. Suddenly the ring began to surge and suck the darkness into it.  I gripped my hand and I looked at the monster who began to laugh.

An energy filled the caves and the lights flickered wildly.

Nyarlathotep raised up its dark tentacles and soon the ring reacted to the monster. The ring started to drag the body of Nyarlathotep into it. It was as if the ring was devouring the monster instead. But Nyarlathotep did not care that his body was being sucked into the ring.  The monster smiled as the ring started to consume it.

Soon the body of Nyarlathotep completely vanished into the ring.

My face grimaced as I felt a new power surge within me. It was something strange but it felt nostalgic in a way. My mind felt free and clear like my worries had disappeared. I balled my hands into fists as the energy flowed through me. I looked at the black ring on my finger and saw that it became elaborate in design. Now instead of a pure black ring, there were white lined designs on it. I circled the ring around my finger and saw that the design looked like Nyarlathotep.

Only light shone inside the caves now and the dark shadows had disappeared.

Something voiced in my mind.

"Our contract is complete, good luck on your mission…Hero."

A faint laughter seemed to echo in the caves and my mind. A path opened for me at the bottom of the caves and I knew where I should go. I walked onto the bright path that laid before me. Everything seemed much clearer to me but there were some dark clouds in my thoughts.

There was a nagging ache in the back of my mind.

It itched and clawed at me like a scavenger.

I couldn't help but think that I made a deal with a devil.

And that my soul would burn for it.