image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]
In the realm of Hell, a day had elapsed with Arbious' human body in an unconscious state. His spirit immediately returned to its divine form, but a noticeable detachment had grown between himself and the host body he had grown accustomed to. He was not too concerned about his mortal body, which allowed it time to recover.
Seated upon his infernal throne deep within the confines of his citadel, Arbious resolved to set his plans in motion to restore glory to Hell. The first step in accomplishing this daunting task was to expand their borders by establishing a wall for the fourth sector of the citadel.
To achieve this objective, Arbious required a representative who would faithfully execute his will. Recalling Sigfi, who had proven to be a capable servant by aiding Alpos with his duties, Arbious decided to summon Sigfi to the throne room, utilizing his dark authority.
Sigfi was taken aback by the sudden summons, his eyes widening in surprise. Finding himself within the grandeur of the throne room, his sight beheld Arbious, the formidable Lord of Hell, his demonic form exuding an aura of power. Sigfi instinctively bowed his head in deference.
"My lord..."
"Sigfi, I have a task for you," Arbious proclaimed, his voice resonating with authority.
"How may I serve one as mighty as you?" Sigfi inquired, his voice cracking under pressure.
"Gather the idle Impions, those who are not currently engaged in any significant tasks. Once you have assembled them, invoke my name, and I shall appear before you to provide further instructions."
"As you command, my lord,"
With a wave of his hand, Sigfi vanished from Arbious' presence, returning to his previous location.
Lost in contemplation, Arbious sought to comprehend the events that had transpired. It was evident that something had caused his host body to lose consciousness, but what had caused it? Could it be a depletion of his mana inside the vessel? Perhaps his human form was resisting his will? The question troubled him, as he had grown accustomed to the vessel he had crafted. The human form had elicited unexpected emotions within him, and although it granted him greater insight, it also bestowed upon him the capacity for feelings, a most peculiar occurrence for an entity such as himself.
Alpos strode into the throne room, accompanied by his elite vanguard of imps. With an air of pride, he made his way along the extended red carpet that adorned the floor, leaving Arbious to ponder the reasons behind this unexpected turn of events.
"My lord, I have come to give you the report you asked for in regard to your human body," Alpos announced. "It appears that your human form experienced a failure, so I took the liberty of arranging for its treatment. As for the construction plans for the stockpile, we have finished building the storage, towering five levels in total, ready for your inspection. The forges are now operational, and we have located the uncle you have been searching for."
Arbious' interest piqued immediately at the mention of Mila's uncle. "Bring him to me," Arbious commanded.
"My lord, I had anticipated your request... The one you're looking for is waiting just outside the gates," Alpos replied.
Alpos turned to his vanguard, nodding to signal them to escort the uncle inside.
The gates of the citadel swung open wide, and the vanguard pushed the supposed uncle forward, though he resisted against his restraints. Reluctantly, he had no choice but to comply and advance.
He was an elf of stature; his ragged clothes spoke volumes to the terrible conditions he had lived under during his captivity. His gaze was one of despair, the scars on his body evident of the torture he had endured.
Once positioned in front of the throne, Alpos snatched a spear from the hands of one of the vanguards and ruthlessly thrust it into the right leg of the elf before Arbious, inflicting excruciating pain upon him. Outraged, Arbious swiftly interjected, "Stop, Alpos! That is enough."
Taken aback by Arbious' sudden intervention, Alpos froze in surprise, leaving the long spear embedded in the elf's leg to prevent him from bleeding to death.
Fixing his gaze upon the wounded elf, Arbious addressed him sternly, "You are Mila's uncle?"
"What does it matter to you?!" the elf defiantly retorted. "Have you harmed her in any way, you monster?!"
"He is my lord," Alpos interjected, his anger evident in the face of the elf's disrespectful manner.
"What is your name, insignificant elf? Let it be known among us," Arbious demanded.
The elf glanced around, realizing his chances of escape were nonexistent, especially with the spear impaling his leg. With a wavering voice, he concluded that further resistance would be futile. "I am Clovis... Clovis Vo Burnen."
"Vo Burnen?" Alpos questioned.
"Is there an issue with that, Alpos?" Arbious questioned.
"My lord, please forgive me for acting so rashly earlier, but I believe this family holds a royal lineage..." Alpos interjected respectfully.
Arbious's attention was immediately seized by the enigmatic elf captive before him. "Is this true?" he inquired.
"It is... and my family would be willing to offer a generous reward for my release."
"AHAHAHAH! LOOK! AN ELF ATTEMPTING TO BARGAIN FOR HIS OWN LIFE!" Alpos remarked as he burst into sarcastic laughter. The vanguard behind him joined in with a mirthful chuckle, and even Arbious couldn't help but find the situation somewhat amusing himself.
"How much can your family afford?" Arbious questioned, amusement lacing his tone.
Clovis turned his head, concern etched across his face, fearing he may have misspoken. After refocusing his gaze upon Arbious, he cautiously replied, "How much would you ask for...?"
Arbious needed to say something ridiculous, something he surely couldn't pay, as to not look like a weak leader. But the true goal here was to set him free more than anything else. Perhaps Mila would take it as a gesture of his goodwill. But he doubted it.
Alpos chuckled sadistically. "As if someone as pathetic as you could ever afford our ransom."
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
In a commanding tone, Arbious spoke with authority. "One hundred thousand gold. That is my demand."
Alpos and the vanguard turned their attention towards the throne, clearly taken aback by the exorbitant sum Arbious had demanded. It was an intentionally ludicrous price, a test of Clovis's response. Clovis's eyes widened in shock upon hearing the demand, the weight of the situation dawning upon him.
Alpos approached the throne, bowing respectfully before Arbious. "My lord, why would you ask for such an unreasonable sum? We both know he will never be able to pay it."
Arbious's gaze shifted to Clovis, observing his deep contemplation. His eyes darted around as if he were calculating something in his mind.
As Arbious pondered the potential outcomes, a plan formed in his thoughts. If he could safely return Clovis to his family, it could serve as a testament that negotiations with someone like him were possible. It would not only provide funds to oversee operations but also fulfill a favor for Mila while spreading his name and reputation.
However, if Clovis refused or failed to meet his demands, he would have no choice but to end his life.
Within a matter of seconds, Clovis broke the silence. "I... I can do it," he muttered under his breath.
Alpos's expression was filled with shock upon hearing the words. The sum Arbious had asked for, and he agreed to it so easily. It was a testament to Arbious's incredible powers.
A wicked smile curled upon Arbious's metaphorical lips. "Gooood..." His voice echoed throughout the citadel. "Very good... But I will require more than your mere words. You must sign a contract with Alpos, that is if you wish to leave here, alive..."
Alpos rose from his bowing position, turning to face Clovis. "Alpos, bind him to his word. If he fails to meet our demands, his soul will be yours to consume."
A malicious grin stretched across Alpos's face as he forcefully grabbed Clovis's hand, locking eyes with him. "Will you enter into such a contract?" Alpos asked, his tone filled with anticipation.
With a gulp, Clovis nodded, his apprehension palpable.
"So be it," Alpos declared.
Alpos retrieved his sacrificial dagger, a blade carried by elite demons for the purpose of creating blood contracts. With precise movements, he engraved a pentagram on Clovis's hand, chanting the newly acquired 5th-tier "Word of Law" spell upon the mark.
image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]
5th Tier Spell: Word of Law
Word of Law is a potent enchantment that establishes a binding contract between parties. Should either party violate the terms of the contract, the agreed-upon consequences are automatically enforced, often leading to the demise of the violator. This ancient form of magic requires careful execution and, despite being a 5th-tier spell, can only be nullified by the incredibly advanced 10th-tier spell known as Contract Break. It is important to note that the Word of Law spell can only be cast if both parties willingly agree to its terms.
image [https://i.imgur.com/lhqCDcB.png]
Clovis's hand bled as Alpos completed his ritual, the mark on Clovis's palm glowing with an ominous crimson hue, signifying the activation of the spell. "Unholy Healing," Alpos chanted, his voice resonating with dark power.
Chaos-infused energies enveloped Clovis, swirling and mending his injured hand and leg. However, the spear remained lodged within him. As the healing process concluded, Alpos swiftly removed the spear, reopening the wound momentarily before casting the spell once more to heal it completely.
Gradually, Clovis regained his footing, his injuries mended. The pain still lingered, but the unholy effects of the spell nullified most of it. Now, he sought clarity on his current status. "Am I... am I free to go now?" Clovis asked, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and uncertainty.
"Yes, go and secure the ransom for us," Alpos confirmed.
"Wait!" Arbious interjected. "Before you depart, enlighten me. How do you plan to acquire the gold I demanded?"
Alpos appeared taken aback by the inquiry, realizing that he had overlooked discussing the specifics of the gold acquisition.
"I don't recall having to disclose my methods to you," Clovis replied, his tone tinged with a touch of defiance. "Now, may I be released as agreed?"
Though Alpos seethed with anger at Clovis's remark, the demons were bound by their word.
"Take him away," Arbious commanded Alpos, his voice firm. "Return him to the human world, and Alpos, he doesn't exactly have to have a comfortable journey back."
Confusion flickered across Clovis's face, but having already insulted them, he dared not question the intended fate that awaited him.
With a devilish grin, Alpos, accompanied by his loyal vanguard, along with Clovis who was restrained by iron cuffs, departed from the throne room, leaving behind a lingering silence within the chamber.
Arbious pondered the situation. So that's taken care of now... Still, perhaps I should have demanded for more... How is he even going to get all that money? I mean, that is no small amount, maybe I should assign a watcher on him... It's been a while since I've made one of them...
"Watcher of the shadows, heed my call, arise from the darkness and serve your master once more as you've done in ages past... Summon, Watcher."
image [https://i.imgur.com/lhqCDcB.png]
Summon Spell: The Summon spell allows the conjurer to call forth a mystical creature of their choosing in exchange for mana. The power and potency of the summoned entity correspond to both the tier of the creature being summoned and the tier of the caster performing the summoning. The summoner can also decide how many of a certain creature they want to summon, however, they must specify the quantity in the incantation, otherwise, it will default to a summoning of one.
Watcher: A creature of magical origin, the Watcher manifests as a diminutive embodiment of the all-seeing eye of the legendary Demon God. In ancient lore, the Watcher faithfully served during the primordial conflicts, displaying unparalleled vigilance and insight. Watchers are estimated as first-tier creatures, as they are incredibly weak in nature.
image [https://i.imgur.com/Qj0qq7o.png]
As the incantation of the spell reached its culmination, a spectral eyeball materialized, suspended in the air, eagerly awaiting its given task.
"Go forth, my Watcher, and shadow the elf known as Clovis," Arbious commanded, his voice laced with authority. "Monitor his every action, observe his every move."
With a swift flick of his hand, Arbious channeled his dark energies, teleporting the Watcher into the human realm, where it would carry out his bidding, becoming his vigilant eyes and ears.
"Message. Sigfi."
image [https://i.imgur.com/lhqCDcB.png]
3rd Tier Spell: Message
The caster of this spell can communicate with anyone they know within a nearby radius. This is the most basic version of this spell, as it can go up to tier 7.
image [https://i.imgur.com/Qj0qq7o.png]
"Master...?" Sigfi's voice held a note of uncertainty.
"Have you completed the tasks I assigned you?" Arbious inquired.
"Yes, my lord. The forces have been gathered at the stockpile as you requested. They await your command," Sigfi confirmed.
"Very well. Stay there and maintain vigilant. I shall join you shortly,"
With a flick of his hand, Arbious dismissed the message spell, allowing his thoughts to focus on the next steps he needed to take. There was much work to be done, and he needed to prioritize the most efficient path forward.
It comes down to the construction of the fourth wall. We really can't continue with confidence if the wall is not erected first...
As his thoughts coalesced, Arbious tapped into his dark authority, utilizing his powers to locate his human vessel. However, upon sensing his body peacefully resting in one of the rooms, he decided to relinquish his hold over it and instead grace his demonic armies with his divine presence.
"Arise, Mirror of Darkness, and unveil to me the hidden truths of this realm."
A scorching mirror materialized before him, engulfed in ethereal flames that danced with infernal energy. Fixing his gaze upon it, he commanded the mirror to reveal the locations of the stockpiles where his loyal minions had assembled under Sigfi's guidance.