~~~Lee~~~

Lee stared at those big black eyes he knew were looking back into his own from behind the hazy edge of a Temporal Shift.

"Are we killing them, then?" Amy asked.

"Maybe..." Lee tried to weigh the pros and cons before him as he replaced the bubble with a fresh one. A smaller one that only enclosed the D-grade within. There was a single instant between shifts where it might have tried something, but it didn't move.

It was possible he was overreacting with the bubbles. The invader shouldn't be able to attack him without dying instantly. But what if it could run away? What if it went and hid somewhere out there until the timer ran out? Everyone would be as trapped as Lee. A monster like that could wage guerilla war on them, and they'd be screwed.

He didn't think it would. At least, not while the prince lived. There was no telling what it would do if he actually killed the prince. Would it die from failing its contract? What if it ran away with the prince?

They could take the prince hostage, but Lee definitely didn't want him inside Three and... Wait. "Trak, you can't sense my... stuff unless you're in the same room, right?"

"Yes, my..."

Trak barely finished nodding before Lee turned to Jeremy. "Can you stick the prince in my apartment?"

He didn't have anywhere else to put him that wasn't already occupied. This way, at least, they'd have another point of leverage against the D-grade. Even though the prince was already a hostage. Technically.

The unconscious alien prince vanished and reappeared in Lee's apartment upstairs. Then Lee waited to see if that would count as breaking the parley, a thought he hadn't mentioned to Jeremy because the poor guy didn't need the extra stress right now.

Nothing happened. No warnings or notifications, no canceling of the parley.

So Lee finally let the shifted time end. Then he watched and waited to see what would happen when the alien noticed his missing prince.

It reacted immediately with alarm and a twitch of its head, then calmed back down almost as fast. Maybe its contract told it the prince was alive? "Unnecessary. But good choice. Bargain better than violence."

"Don't be too happy about it," Lee said. "Your prince just made a solid case for making sure he never leaves. I can't risk him or his father..."

The alien held up a hand. "Prince speaks truths and lies. Father is king. Powerful. A-grade. Could burn entire world. Truth."

It looked down at where the unconscious prince had been moments before. "Lies about coming back. Too expensive. Doubtful would even find world if tried. He won't reach heights necessary. Too weak. Too stupid. No threat to you."

Those black eyes came back up to rest on Lee. "King, father, is a threat. But this prince only one of many. Below many others. King won't care if weak prince complains, but..." It hesitated for the first time. "King might care if son dies. Truth. Also might not, but better not to kill."

"How do I know you're not just saying that to save yourself?" Except he was pretty sure the alien wasn't lying. Unless its soul didn't work like everyone else's...

"Prince is stupid. But connected. Caution always better when uncertain. I did not wish to attack this place."

"But you did."

"Told him to leave without fighting. Refused. No authority until intervention required. Then ordered withdrawal."

"Your partner sure seemed to do his damnedest to kill my friends!"

"Had to fight. Feared you would pursue. Can't withdraw unless combat ceases. Zynthar used booster to end fight faster. Should have worked, but didn't. I came to help. Wasn't fast enough. Surrender good choice. Only way to protect the prince if we fall."

Lee braced himself for one last revelation, preparing to place a bubble as he did. "Zyn... whatever his... her name is. They can't leave with you."

It didn’t react other than to say, "Zynthar. I am Zylar."

Lee wasn't sure what had happened with the other one, since the alien shouldn't have felt his soul from inside the elevator room, but it had seen something. Maybe it noticed the source inside Three when the building attacked it? Whatever it was, its soul had a telling mix of awe and fear. Almost as if it knew it had seen too much...

On that note, Lee sent a thought telling Three to exercise more restraint when the prince woke up. Assuming he did indeed want to keep the weakling alive... which it seemed he did. Luckily, it shouldn't take much effort to kill or, more likely, contain the E-grade.

"Zynthar will accept. As will I. Provided our charge goes free."

"How bad is your contract that you're willing to abandon your partner so easily?" Amy asked, butting into the conversation.

"Contract is not what you think," it replied. "More than life and death. We are a zhint pair. It is honor. Pride. The multiverse knows us as the greatest dungeon bodyguards for hire. Everyone knows we do not fail. Whatever the cost."

Lee didn't know that... but then he didn't know a lot of things.

"Pair? So, there's like always two of you?" Amy asked.

"Indeed."

Lee's mind got stuck on something else. Something that sounded a lot like his own situation, and not in a good way considering current circumstances. "What does it mean to be a pair?"

"Bonded at mind and soul. Work together better. React faster."

Lee tensed. "Bonded? Are you communicating right now?"

"Can't. Building is blank. Know pair is within, but not more."

Its soul felt sincere... "What do you mean it's blank?"

"Can't sense past walls. Can't identify anything past threshold. Blank. Powerful shielding magic would be my guess. Perhaps even soul magic."

Identify... Lee hadn't noticed any magic coming at him this entire time—not like Nicholas' skill, but the actual fighting had been chaotic. Perhaps he'd missed it? "Do you have an appraisal skill? What does it tell you!?"

"Not appraisal. Identify. Tells much, but never enough." It looked away toward the wall, and Lee caught the zip of moving mana that time as it shot to the wall and back. "Greenfield fort walls."

It looked toward one of the slowly gathering humans outside Three. "Human. E-grade. No titles. Two traits. Adaptable and... mmh, that one is interesting. Changes things. You are a new species. Monsters, no less. Very good. Will attract attention."

"I've heard that before," Lee said with a glance at Trak. "Supposedly, it will get us all enslaved."

"Anubi," it said, nodding at Trak. "Fallen monster race. Lost their world eons ago. Now slave race, generally crafters." It looked back at Lee. "Yes, your slave is correct. You will be hunted by slavers."

"He's not a slave!" Lee growled, feeling Trak's gaze on him.

"Honest mistake. Have never met free Anubi. Still correct. You will be hunted." It glanced around curiously. "Surprised you have not seen them yet. Perhaps world is protected? Or just lucky?"

"What about you? Your people? Are you..."

"Zhints not slaves or slavers. Contracts much better. Both parties get what they want."

"What about your prince?"

The invader hesitated briefly before nodding. "Yes and no. Serith race not slavers, but will use slaves."

"How is that different?"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Some hunt the dungeons only for slaves. They are slavers. Others only use them. They are not slavers. Only lazy. Honorless."

"What about your army?" Lee asked, eyeing the docile group lounging beneath the open walls.

"Slaves not good soldiers. Only fodder. Risky, too. Fighting gives them chance to evolve. Chance to escape or turn. Even prince not that foolish. He use father's soldiers. They obey me now. Ordered to protect prince and wait for withdrawal. No threat now, but you may wish to know their skills to decide the price?"

Lee shook his head but turned to ask for someone to... everyone here had been through it. Even though the fight had only lasted minutes at most, he wouldn't know it by listening to their souls.

Luckily, he had one group that had come through unscathed. Physically, at least. Because they hadn't done anything when his friends were dying! Or... "Could you have helped, Harold?"

The man shook his head without taking his eyes off the D-grade. "No," he whispered, his soul horrified. "We would have all died. How... how are we supposed to survive against monsters like that? How is anyone..."

Lee poked him in the ribs before the hysteria could escalate further. "Hey! Can you guys go find Alejandro and help him find out what skills that army has?"

"I... what?"

"Find Alejandro. Tell him to find out what skills the army has and to decide which ones we want."

Harold obviously hadn't been following the conversation very well, but he still nodded and left with his team. All of them went very wide around the D-grade.

Lee turned to Trak next. "Do you know about these zhint pairs?"

"I have heard of them, my lord. But only in passing. I did not know who they were or what they did. Only the name."

"What about this parley thing?"

"I am fully unaware on that subject, my lord. Forgive me." Trak only bowed halfway before his nose twitched and he rose to growl at the zhint while stalking closer. "Do not think to judge my lord, merc! You speak of honor as if you alone hold it, but my lord has crushed you beneath his paw without ever..."

Lee winced when Trak left Three's threshold, because Zylar immediately cast his identifying spell on him. He had an instant to decide as the mana rebounded off the anubian... and made his choice. He shredded the spell before it could return.

Nothing happened to the parley. Which left Lee questioning just how strong it was if nothing he'd done so far would break it. How was disrupting a spell not considered hostile? Or was it because the spell had been cast on them?

"Trak?" Lee said. "I don't care what he thinks so long as he gives me what I want... and so long as he doesn't cast anymore magic at my allies without permission." He glared at the zhint who had sense enough to nod in acknowledgement.

"Apologies!" Trak's soul flared with shame as he backed up and dropped to his knees. "I speak above my..."

"Should I remind you of your orders, Trak?" Lee asked, interrupting him. He would let the anubian do as he pleased, but to a limit. There would be no groveling. Though technically, he couldn’t order him not to grovel without going against the order to do as he pleased...

Trak's shame turned to embarrassment as he hesitantly stood up. Then pride filled him as he straightened. "No, my lord."

The alien outside said nothing as it watched the exchange, but its soul was curious.

Lee had already tentatively made the decision to let the prince live, even if it meant he would be releasing a slave trader. He was okay with that. He'd do whatever he had to if it kept his people safe. It sucked, sure, but his family mattered more to him than people he didn't know.

So he left that topic alone. He currently had more important things to worry about. More urgent, at least. "What are you expecting me to do with Zynthar? Kill him? What about oaths of fealty? Will your contract prevent your other half from swearing? Or will they refuse? If so, I'll have to kill them."

The disgust and revulsion coming from the invader seemed to seal the fate of the other one. "No oaths! The Zhint swear no oaths! Death is better! Contracts only."

Or maybe not? "I don't have anyone with a contract skill for that."

"Zynthar can make it. All Zhint are adept with contracts."

That left another issue. "I'm not going to pay him for losing."

"Surrender contract. No cost to you, but will serve well."

Looking at the pair, one with his eyes and the other through Mana Mind, Lee had another thought. "Aren't you a pair? What can Zynthar do on his own?" Actually, he knew exactly what the invader could do solo, unless there was something he'd missed. More importantly, "Will he still be a D-grade?"

Obvious reluctance radiated from Zylar's soul. "Grade depends on penalty. Truth, we are far more as a pair. Alone, Zynthar will provide less value, but... I would request that you allow my pair to live and myself to depart."

Lee only had to think back to a few minutes ago, when the lives of his friends and family had teetered on the precipice. Fresh anger rose in response. "Why the fuck would I do that!?"

Zylar ducked his head. "No requirement. Only request. Obvious you have secrets. Afraid of discovery. Keeping us both reduces risk. Would provide you best bodyguards in multiverse. Ask for favor. Trust. Allow myself to return with prince. Collect reward from contract fulfilment. Will benefit Zynthar here. In return, will increase duration of surrender contract. Double. One year."

That was a lot to take in. Lee didn't think it was threatening him with the mention of secrets; its soul was clear on that front. Also, Lee couldn't help but notice Amy's soul bristling when it mentioned the best bodyguards in the multiverse. It seemed she took offence to the claim.

"Penalty worse if we stay," Zylar added. "Both likely lose D-grade. Still might if Zynthar remains. But might not."

Well, that was some bullshit. These aliens thought they were badass bodyguards, but Lee knew they'd both have gotten slaughtered if they weren't a grade above everyone else. So what good were two E-grade bodyguards? It was better to kill both now and get two D-grade cores. Which he didn't want to do if he wanted to avoid killing the prince and potentially drawing the attention of what Trak would most likely consider a god.

Except he would also get a core for letting them go... but he couldn't let Zynthar go. He couldn't kill him, either. At least not until after the parley, when he might no longer be D-grade.

Well, perhaps it didn't matter too much. Maybe they’d get lucky. He refocused on the skills up for grabs.

While D-grade cores could be very useful for pushing someone into the next grade, in this case, it might be better to take the skill. "Tell me all of your skills, especially about that boosting ability."

It didn't like that; probably hoping he'd go for the identify, but the invader told him anyway.

The skill wasn't as good as Mar's, but it also came with smaller drawbacks... Though, thinking about it now, Mar should have been faster than she was. Had she not used the boost? If not, then where was her beast during the fight? He hadn't seen it at all...

Later.

Alejandro was coming back, and he was smiling. Behind him, the enemy army was stripping themselves of their equipment under the watchful gaze of the fort defenders. Once inside, he handed over a sheet of paper containing a list of skills.

"I think this will be good, Lee. It was close, but we're coming out ahead. You okay?"

Lee realized he was frowning and staring at the blood stains down Alejandro's front. He forced a smile and met the man's eyes. "Yes. Thanks. Oh, could you get someone to go strip the prince upstairs? I especially want his ring."

"It won't work," Zylar cut in before Alejandro could reply. "A soulbound storage. Only he may access."

"Can he use it to track me if I take it?"

"Doubtful. Weak connection. Only enough to lock. Can't risk damage to soul."

"Then it's mine. He can go home naked..." Lee shuddered as his attention finally noted another very different anatomical feature between humans and whatever that three-eyed bastard was. "Never mind, let him keep his underwear."

Oh god! Why did I ever learn Mana Mind!? And why does it have pincers!?

The ring wasn't as exciting as he'd hoped. Sure, it held the single most complex enchantment he'd seen to date, but otherwise, it was a paperweight. A magical ring linked to its own pocket dimension and a paperweight. Zylar had confirmed the ring's properties while restating how Lee would get no use out of it.

Despite that, Lee had some ideas on how he might go about messing with it, but first, he'd make sure every crafter got their chance to study it. Even Trak had some ideas he wanted to try... Lee would like to get whatever was hidden inside, but he would settle for potentially learning to make their own. Hell, the magic was beyond any of them. He'd settle for learning even pieces of it.

Before any of that could happen, there was one last thing to finish. Lee looked over his parley notification, one that looked passingly similar to the contract he'd made with Nicholas.

There were no terms, really. Only a list of names with skills beside the names. All the... people who would go free. As well as what he was getting for each of their lives.

All except the prince; Vary Cotex. Lee would get nothing from him. At least skill-wise. Zylar had been adamant about that. Part of his contract, presumably. Lee had looted the guy's armor and storage ring, so at least it wasn't a total wash.

Then it was the moment of truth. He could kill them all, he could force both zhint to stay, or he could take the deal that was in front of him.

He knew a D-grade shard could be a game-changer pretty soon. No one was close enough yet, but they would be soon. He was sure there’d be a discussion about what to do with one... let alone two.

But there was one other factor that had him leaning toward accepting the deal. While he wasn’t sure how much a favor from Zylar was worth, having a much more knowledgeable D-grade on his team—a civilized D-grade no less—had to be valuable.

"I accept the terms of surrender."

Over a hundred aliens' mana dimmed, then they vanished into thin air, and the expected notification followed.

Victory...

Lee watched them go, very curious about how the system would transport them, but he got nothing. There was no surge of mana, no twisting space, not even a portal like the invaders arrived in. They just vanished.

Along with their departure, cores manifested directly in front of him, falling down into a pile at his feet.

That only took part of his attention. The rest was on a certain alien currently sitting inside his elevator room, and on how much its mana dimmed. More specifically, he watched to see if it would drop below D-grade.

He'd taken a gamble that the creature would be more useful alive than killed for a skill shard. Regardless of his other ideas, it would definitely be far more useful as a D-grade...

Its power drained right along with the others, but it didn't vanish. It also felt like it was still a D-grade.

Surrender Contract with Zynthar is in Effect.(09:11:29:23:59:59)

What the hell?