Contract with the Demon

Kiass sighed, and Arsi looked surprisingly serious.

- What has already happened? - Ink felt a slight irritation. He began to get annoyed that all the time his new life began, he had to constantly run away from someone or hide.

"If you think about it, only a few days have passed, but so many things have happened ... I wanted to achieve power, but I always run off somewhere like a rat hiding in a hole. I went to Michaelon to give free rein to my feelings, but in the end I run away again ?! Do I have to run like this all my life? "

Ink understood that while he was nothing of himself, he did not know much about the world around him, he did not understand from what angle to start his path to greatness. Keenra's capabilities attracted him, but he did not need to be seven spans in his forehead to understand how far this was from the real power. His simple tricks could help him to cope with some difficulties in the arena, but still require a lot of practice. This is not something you can learn in one day. It seemed to Ink that if he had been able to adjust his own brains on his own, it would be enough to repeat some technique several times and then fix it "manually" at the level of reflexes in his mind.

Theoretically, this was possible, but in practice he still did not understand how everything was arranged in his head. The situation seemed funny. He was shown the atoms and informed that their compounds form the matter of all things. Can he now just by intuition create one substance from another? Ink did not believe it. In the process, he would rather receive radiation from a destroyed atom than new matter.

"I love life too much to take such risks"

While Ink was thinking, his comrades told him about what had happened earlier. He remained unconscious for almost a day. Grank and Kiass managed to scout the surroundings, learn about the presence of normal fertile land at some distance, and also met with local residents. We met them not too warmly, trying to capture them. Fortunately, Glam's students managed to fight back.

- Kiass scared them with his strength? - Ink did not immediately believe what he heard.

"Exactly." He began to look noticeably friendlier. "This small world is like a blessed land for him." He became surprisingly strong.

"Because of the absorbed metal?" Ink guessed , remembering the behavior of the alchemist.

"Yes," Kiass nodded . - Let's just say that I also have some secrets and the assessment of the points scored does not quite correspond to the amount of real power.

- well! " Ink was very pleased with the success of the fellow practitioner." Having gone through so many obstacles together, he could not help but feel some unity and kinship with the members of his small group. "Then why are you saying that you will have to meet with the archdemon again?"

"She will tell you better," the motorcyclist with a touch of respect on his face shook his head in the direction of Arsi .

"Not only I will tell, but I will show," the girl lifted her head up with a proud smile.

"Can you do without my help already?" - Ink w seemed strange that she easily holds the body shape in her adult version without crutches in the form of his force field.

- I can! Arsi's eyes flashed like gems in an uneven light. Ink only now noticed that they were in a cave and the uneven entrance was illuminated by the pale light outside. This happens from the full moon on a cloudless July night. - Thanks to the thing that I got out of the captured man. Now I have my own body. Look!

Arsi's body swam, as if covered in a cloudy film of molten metal. It hesitated slightly, the girl slightly adjusted her figure and again became like an ordinary person.

"Clothing ..." Ink began , but was interrupted.

"She is from my spiritual energy." I also need to train in her control, "explained Arsi . - By the way, my new body is very strong and goes well with the abilities chosen in the world of reflection.

A small fist flashed a bright spot and crashed into the wall of the cave, leaving behind cracks. Then thin fingers cleverly bit into the stone. Arsi began to squeeze her palm, leaving streaks of extruded rock. As a result, she tore a significant part of the wall.

"It inspires," Ink was forced to admit . Immediately, he noted one seemingly insignificant detail. - You said, "pulled out of a man." He seemed to be someone close to you. No?

- Close to me. I keep her memories, but the personality is already completely different. His salvation was my last duty to that, former, me.

Ink wanted to ask more questions, but was interrupted by the girl's gesture. After tempering his curiosity, he watched as Arsi waved her hands, creating a multi-colored screen on the side. Spots gradually formed into the image of a room familiar from the many cells.

"Can you contact the arena?"

"No, these are just the memories of my other part." I left her in that room when we were taken on a tour. Instead of that magical snake. Do you remember?

- The same was created by you during the first battle? - Having seen the girl's nod, Ink thought about how the arena workers should have been surprised to notice two snakes. "No, she's not so stupid as to leave such a clear discrepancy ..." - And the second snake? ..

Arsi smiled and part of her body turned back to metal. The girl opened her vest in front, revealing a view of the diverging in the neckline. Seeing a small cavity inside her new body with a sleeping magical creature, Ink experienced a mixture of admiration and horror. He was impressed by the arrogant determination of Arsi , but at the same time he did not want to think about how much time such a dangerous creature was next to him.

Meanwhile, the situation on the screen has changed. Something flew into the room. Glam beat Narkert. Their mentor was very angry, but from the conversation it became clear that they really knew each other and acted together. When it became clear that Narkert was to blame for everything, Ink did not even know what to think. Such idiocy did not at all match his understanding of the world. He did not believe in the existence of such unreasonable people, but the facts proved the opposite.

"... The plan is nowhere simpler. We cause the anger of the magicians, they attack, I call the heavenly army, a little verbiage and my students are protected in the zero world. A few days for the whole operation. All you had to do was take them by the hand to Michaelon and bring them back safe ...

Ink continued to listen attentively to Glam's words. The opportunity to enter the first world without rebirth was explosive. It was clear how great the significance of the second chance was in the form of rebirth or ascension, but the ability to go there directly ... Ink really wanted to know how exactly this could be turned.

... Instead, you sent them to a small world from which no one has yet managed to return. Pray that all is well with my students. The girl took them there, but we will not wait until they themselves return from there. Every debt, every addiction creates a gap in consciousness, because of which it becomes harder to develop, the practice's spirit is polluted, and it becomes more difficult for him to move forward in development. All debts must be repaid. I would prefer that my students should be just me, and not create karmic ties with it is not clear who! I took them because of their talent in sairen. Before I get anything from them, I must first give something. And my tribute was to be an umbrella of protection. I can't even imagine how much I'll have to give now to resolve all the debts and regrets that may remain with them after such an adventure.

Ink saw that Glam had suspended his angry rebuke and noticed a change in Narkert's face. It is not difficult to guess at whose expense he will begin to compensate debts.

"I still can't believe it." To intimidate my students simply because someone there guessed something. I really want to break some bones to you, but I myself will not break this wall. Come on! And call all of yours, let them help you work out your mistake ... "

The picture blinked and it became noticeable as Glam commanded a group of fighters in the arena in an attempt to break through the wall. Narkert really began to resemble a beast. The color of his hair changed, long claws grew on his hands. Small pieces bounced off the stone, but even the efforts of many fighters did not lead to a positive result. The wall was restored before our eyes. Ink wished to see the whole scene in great detail, but the snake into which part of Arsi turned into remained far enough away from the scene. The show ended unexpectedly, but it was clear that Glam and the rest had no hopes for a speedy breakthrough into this small world.

Ink was shocked by thoughts of "debt" and a willingness to develop. It was so amazing that it made him reconsider the words about the relations between people, which hurt his former.

"If communications are debts, then ... No! No, no, no, " Ink immediately rejected the thought in order to develop it into a new form. - Not only debts, but interests! Relationships are relationships ... relationships ... debts ... interests ... need. Right! It is necessary to make sure that I was simply necessary for everyone. It will not work to become irreplaceable, and it's dangerous if you think about it ... but to become someone so amazing, sought after expert ... to be one you can do without, but really do not want to ... yes ... for sure ... Exactly! Isn't my power of blood awakening the same ability? "

Ink thought, appreciating all the ideas this way and that. He did not see any absolutely safe approach to the realization of his ambitions. It appeared that the risks were too great on either side. If the balance between the individual fractions in the buffer is not shaken, then they simply agree on how to operate it in turn, without any doubts and advantages. Abandon the threat of your death? Ink did not believe that he had enough courage. Pain, torture, torture of the body and mind? He believed that only a naive fool could believe that his will was indestructible.

"It is easy to say," I will endure all torture, but I will stand my ground. " Even a simple splinter delivers significant inconvenience. Perhaps I will suffer simple beatings, but if it will be targeted torture? History knows too many cases when people were forced to say things that they did not want and confess all imaginable sins if they were just allowed to die ... "

Ink thought that no one would put too much pressure on someone who could rewrite the very fate of others, but after some thought he realized that things were not so simple. Against the background of paranoia, it suddenly occurred to him that it would be nice to leave some protective mechanism in the bodies of others for his safety.

"Website developers leave backdoors in their designs, which are deleted only after full payment for their services by agreement. Why am I worse? I'm not so white-faced that no one dares to try to deceive me. "

Ink could not come up with a protective mechanism , because he did not even know how his ability worked, but he remembered the importance of protection. And there was one more moment - how to break the unity of the buffer fractions, so that at the time of its appearance they could not just agree with the service?

"Wait a minute ..." Ink suddenly regained his sight , " Kiass , this small world ... What do you think should be done so that the fractions of the buffer fight for the right to own it?"

The golden-skinned raised his eyebrows in surprise, but still answered:

- Just because they will not quarrel. The order has long been established, there are intrigues, but these are trifles. If you are hoping for major unrest, then ... In this small world there must be something truly amazing.

"Is this black metal that you absorb suitable?"

"No," the alchemist only shook his head, "this is a great jewel, but it is too small." Even the last drunkard will not fight for a teaspoon of alcohol. Is there anything worthy of embroiling everyone here? I do not even know…

Kiass frowned and after some doubt asked:

" Ink , why do you want to make chaos in the buffer?"

"To survive, gold-skinned." I have a talent that many will value very highly, but I don't have the strength to maintain my independence. If everyone needs me ... only if they have mutual discontent, can I go between the two hurricanes. Otherwise, they will simply agree and my opinion will not decide anything. I do not need them to be friends with me, enough if they are friends against each other.

Ink was thinking about how to crank out the most infamous trick that occurred to him and realized that there was simply not much choice in this matter. When life and freedom are at stake, moral torment seems a little too insignificant. At the thought of his desire, Ink could not help but feel shame. He felt his face burn, but he did not intend to give up his goals.

"Do you think the archdemon knows the way out of here?"

"Surely," Arsi nodded . - He raises his servants here, he should be well aware and controlled by this territory.

"Good," Ink nodded . - I agreed with the internal demon, I will find an approach to his senior colleague.

Leaving the cave, he noticed that the others had noticeably turned pale.

"Are you kidding me about having a demon sealed in you? ..," Kiass stumbled .

At Ink and jaw dropped. He wanted to ask how they could even think of something like that, but in the end he just waved his hand. It seemed to him that the comrades decided to play him and cheer up before meeting in a dangerous creature. Analyzing his reckless act, Ink realized that due to the development of consciousness and a sense of mood of people, it did not seem dangerous for him to approach that image of the black-footed one. Only after thinking more and more carefully did it become clear that such a strong creature did not need to be hostile to him. People do not look at the ladybug that has sat on them with hatred, they simply remove it: either carefully, or with a gigantic finger compared to an insect. It depends on the mood.

"I was too naive ... It's time to turn on the head and finally begin to work with the brain. So, the question remains, how can I be of service to the archdemon? And how to make him do what I need? "