Chapter 38

The demon warriors stopped moving with only meters between us.

Araphanion moved closer alone on his horse.

He didn't look strong if i just judged by his health and mana. But i could not shake the feeling of unease as he came closer. Something about his didn't seem normal, or like the other dungeons i had entered. Even his skills seemed stranger, stronger and even more sinister.

Araphanion stopped 5 meters in front of me and Erik, dismounting his horse, taking a few steps forward, before he spoke.

"Greetings human. I am Araphanion, the emissary of my world. It pleases me to finally make contact, however this is much sooner than i would have expected."

My senses screamed that this persona was a threat to not just me, but the entire world. This was the first time a dungeon monster had spoken like this, with a deep sense of selfawareness and intent.

I had to find out more about him. What did he mean by his world? And by making contact, and sooner than he expected?

My whole body was on guard, feeling this encouter was very crucial as i made my reply.

"Greetings Araphanion. I name is Frey Raven, a simple human... How is it that you are able to speak in this manner, when no other monster i have encountered could converse like this?"

A quick change in his body posture revealed that the demon was surprised by my question, but quickly tried to hide it. But i had allready noticed that something was off.

He removed his helmet, letting me see his face.

Long black hair fell over his shoulders, shining deep and beautifully in the rays from the dungeon sun. His face was that of a young man, yet bore the attitude and wisdom of a much older soul. Even the most handsome man on earth, could compare to the extraodinary beautifull features of this person. His eyes was dark and yellow, promising strenght and power, yet they were alluring and draws you in. His mouth formed perfectly with full red lips as he spoke again.

"To answer your question, requires a question of my own." He looked traight into my eyes, "for how long have your world been awakened?"

I didn't know what he meant at first. But thinking about it, i thought i knew the answer. But i wanted to limit what i told him, becouse he felt dangerous, but at the same time i allso wanted information from him.

"My world was attacked by something strange just seven days ago. Our technology was wiped out and portals fell down from the sky. Do you know what it is, what have happened to us?" I hoped that was enough to tell him.

Araphanion smirked, seeming to be growing more confident by the second.

"It seems i am the first then." He said, allmost to himself as he smiled and continued.

"I will tell you this. Everything in existence is at war. New worlds join the network of portals every now and then, just like yours. However i have never heard of a world joining the network as soon as yours. Usually it takes many of your years before the new world and habitants are considered ready."

He took a pause and i continued to observe his every move. He looked like he was genuinly deep in thought, pondering why, or how, my world had joined his so-called network allmost immediately after awakening.

I had to interrupt him in his thoughts, as he didn't seem to continue his talk.

"Before all this happened, we didn't even know that skills, portals or whatever you want to call it, existed. It was pure imagination for us. But having experienced everything myself, i will accept what you have just told me. But that does not explain why you are here, from another world you say?"

Araphanion turned his gaze back on me, the initial allure in his eyes had been replace by a sense of greed for power.

"As i told you before, everything is at war. The gods who started it have gone missing, maybe they are all dead! But the war remains. Mana, our lifeforce, has the ability to open portals between worlds. Conquer a world, and your own grows stronger."

He took a step forward, and i instantly drew both my swords. Erik posed his shield in front of him and raised his own sword. All the spear units took a similar stance.

That made the demon stop in his track, as he noticed our fast and strong defensive posture.

"My apologies. I did not intend to frighten you." He seemed confident, yet still reluctant, as if he wasen't sure about our real strenght just yet.

"You said you hadn't met any monsters who could converse with you. By monsters i expect you are referring to the mana creatures that reside inside the power portals. And by that i mean all the natural portals that will endlessly appear on awakened worlds. They are meant to be a way to test the world and its inhabitants. Preparing them to join the network, and eventually the war.

As we didn't drop our guard, he simply continued to talk, trying to gain our trust.

"Every world can have one portal connected to another. Just as my world is now connected to yours, through my dungeon here."

After hearing that, i had a burning question. Preparing myself for battle, i asked him.

"Araphenion. It sounds to me like you are here to take over my world." I could feel Erik tense, like the string of a bow being pulled, ready to fire.

"That is true." The demon didn't react as i thought he would. He just looked at me with a calculating stare.

"However, though our initial purpose was to conquer your world and grow our own, you have provided me with information that change that. Your world is so new. Full of rich materials in your new world portals. Usually that would have deminished as time goes by and the world is getting ready to join the network." 

He continued to look at me with his calculating stare. I felt he genuinly considered an alternative route.

"I therefore propose a deal. As the emissary of my world, i propose an alliance. On behalf of my world, i will assist your world in defeating others that might find you. In exchange, i want full acces to your worlds portals."

I didn't know exactly what to say. There was still so much i didn't know. And i had yet so many questions. However i had a strong old fasion gut feeling that i could not ignore.

"And how would that alliance work? Didn't you just say that a world could only connect to one other world? It seems a very one-sided deal to me!"

He made a sigh that made his black hair wave in the sun. Extremely attractive even for me i thought.

"It is true that a world can only connect to one other. But on the contrary, many other worlds can choose to connect to the same world. Alliances has been known to do this. To attack a world with many portals, making the world they want to conquer, that more of an easy target."

I had to think about that for a second.

"So what you are saying is that, my world could potentially be attacked by countless other worlds, that can make a portal of their own here. And you offer to help me close those portals when they appear?"

Araphenion finally made a very charming smile, and his eyes glinted as he answered.

"Yes. That is the deal i offer. However. Once a world has been invaded by another, other worlds in the network can only make their own connection to that world within 24 of your hours. Otherwise the invaded world will be locked in battle for a minimum of one of your years. That is why alliances is crucial in the wars. So you see, me beeing here has allready bought your world another year of survival. And my offer for you to join my worlds alliance is allready a heavy token of friendship, on my end."

My gut feeling was becoming that much stronger by the second.

"And all you want in return, is access to my worlds newly formed portals?"

He took a step forward, thinking i was ready for the deal. Extending his hand as he continued.

"I have a suitable skill for these kind of situations. It is called Dark Pact and will bind our terms in agreement. If one betray the other, they will die. I Araphenion, swear to attack any other worlds who try to conquer yours, in exchange for free and unlimited access to your worlds portals."

His hand was reaching out, waiting for mine.