It would be ideal for Henry to leave without giving away information to someone he didn’t know the allegiance of— of someone he was inevitably going to kill eventually— but given the man’s strength and proximity to whatever sect he was approaching it seemed likely that the man was a member or elder of it. Leaving could be possible, though given his strength and seeming counter to Henry’s only present ability it may also not be. Even if it was and Henry was successful he would likely encounter the man again if he truly was a high-ranking officer of this place he was soon to devour. It could be auspicious for him to make inroads with this… what was it, “Thai-chan?”

“Close enough,” he thought.

“My name is Henry and I’m here to collect—” Henry stopped himself before continuing. It could be disadvantageous to reveal his true intent in this place.

“...to collect enough power to kill Z— X—, what are your allegiances? Anyway, to take my rightful place in the world.”

Master Chen raised an eyebrow but said nothing until Henry finished.

“It seems you’re trying to be cautious with loose words. You do realize I’m aware you just tried to kill me?”

“No, I was just—”

“Every one of you juniors is the same. You all try to take what isn’t yours and pretend your hands aren’t the ones stained with the blood of those you just attacked right in front of their open eyes. Don’t lie to me or I might have to reconsider my patience and forgiveness.”

“Fine then,” David began, “If we’re being blunt, Thai-chan, you’re going to die by my hand one day… but judging by the fact you haven’t retaliated for today’s attempt or these words, there’s a reason for your eternal patience.” He practically spat the last words in a clear show of contempt for the geezer’s strength. It was a front, some trick. David would find out what it was and take the power hidden behind fragile glass, he only needed to determine the right angle to strike.

Master Chen was unperturbed, face as calm as a tranquil pond, and clearly showed his lack of nervousness.

“One day, but not today. Today you need me and today I have something you want.”

David knew instantly that his guess as to the man’s identity was correct, and felt nothing but spite for Amanda at having convinced Henry, who he hated ever-more in this moment, to allow her to venture into enemy territory. How stupid must they be to think any place in this world wasn’t hostile? No matter, he would collect what he came here for or they would all die.

Chen-Thai continued speaking.

“In return for the safety of your friend, I’m hoping we can arrange a mutually beneficial relationship with each other.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll find her unharmed,” he began, but when David showed no response quickly changed tack, “I hope you’ll find this a suitable acknowledgement of your strength.”

When David’s eyes focused for the first time in their conversation, Master Chen knew this was the correct approach to recruitment of this man.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“It seems you’ve finally seen past the pine straw. This place isn’t just a collection of rotten old powers like me, it’s a palace of ever-growing strength, and yet we’ve become threatened for it.”

“We don’t follow the new path you do, but also aren’t bound by the old ways and old God.”

“Get to the point,” David said bluntly.

“We’ve made enemies of the world in our acceptance of both new and old ways of magic, and our existence is threatened by it. I think you feel the same way and that we can form a mutually beneficial relationship for long enough to repel these threats.”

The old geezer was pragmatic, David would give him that.

“And what, exactly, do you propose to give me in this relationship?”

“Power.”

“Ancient techniques you don’t possess.”

“Knowledge found only in this world, in our sect.”

Somehow the man seemed to have seen through David’s identity. He raised an eyebrow,

“Who are you?” David asked.

“I already told you my name, it’s Chen-Thai, though you seem to have forgotten. Perhaps we can brush up on the basics too if your memory is impaired?”

“Oh please forgive my manners, I don’t mean to offend you, but if you’re truly as powerful and foreign as you seem in every way to be, then I fail to understand why you haven’t already conquered this place with your techniques from beyond the heavens, nor why you’ve failed to kill me. Perhaps you’re incomplete, and perhaps we can help with that.”

David supposed to one of advanced skill it could be apparent as to what he was.

“Then you do understand the temporary nature of your proposed arrangement?”

“Of course, but with our existence threatened we can hardly be picky about our allies. I know you’ll stab us in the back and burn everything we once stood for to the ground, but what good is tomorrow if we can’t make it through today?”

David would have to forgive, well, not forgive but overlook the man’s transgression of impropriety, but he supposed the bag of skin draped over crumbling bones was right. He did need “allies,” at least in name. He needed bags of blood to absorb and it would be quite convenient if there was a cause to act in to avoid attracting attention to his slaughters. One or two villages was a tragedy, ten-thousand bodies devoured by the carnage of war nothing more than a statistic overlooked as the attention of generals shifts to easier fronts. He would kill and kill and kill and butcher and pillage until he was strong enough to shed the bonds of allies, but until that day came it seemed pragmatic to accept this offer.

“Then we have an understanding,” David finally said after a long pause.

“Good. Just remember, we’re your friends, at least for now. Help us and we’ll help you. Leave us for last and we’ll keep things neat and tidy for you along the way.”

“...and why precisely do you think I’m going to kill everything? I haven’t alluded to any such goal.”

“Because it’s obvious, you just tried to kill me without provocation. More than that, all of you godkin have distinct signatures that are easy to see given the slightest bit of training.”

“Yours isn’t like the rest, it’s not confined to your body or stable, it’s leaking and hostile to the essence protecting this world. I can tell you’re not host to some god that came during the Great Scourge— you are The Scourge that attempts to wipe our protection away. Even your energy is the same as what I sensed at the moment the veil of our world was torn.”

“Supposing that what I am is opposed to the protection of Yaldabaoth, what makes you think I have the desire to destroy everything else? You’re a powerful man and your power would be useful to me— you must understand my actions here— there are many who are not so useful.”

“Opposition to armor isn’t a belief one can hold without supporting the killing of those who no longer wear it.”

“Fine then, but don’t forget your place.”

“And you yours. Just know I’ll make sure you extract a benefit from this relationship before you find out how to hurt me,” Chen-Thai concluded with a playful tone.