857. Deal with it from the start

"What?" Galvan asked confused, having a hard time grasping what was happening. A human suddenly materializing a soul contract was too far out there for him to comprehend quickly. The crowd had also fallen silent, seeing Seth whip out a soul contract.

"A soul contract, so you pesky bugger won't come whining to me afterward or keep getting on my nerves later on," Seth explained nonchalantly.

He knew this kind of character. Galvan was that annoying fly that would keep getting in their way if he didn't deal with him from the start. That was why he wanted to give him a chance, and when he still decided to bother Seth, the blacksmith would get his soul.

Seth was not afraid of losing. He didn't intend to, but in case he did, he simply left out any consequences for the case of his loss. It was the typical "If you lose, I win, if I win I win "-contract.

"Hmph! Fine," Galvan said and signed the contract after checking for any fine prints. Despite thinking there was a trap, at no point did it come to the arrogant bard's mind to add a condition for Seth's loss. It seemed that he was too caught up in his vision of making an example out of the blacksmith and the others.

Having come to an agreement, they prepared the traditional match. Unlike modern flyting that involved fighting in addition to taunting and poetry, traditional flyting was only done through demonic music, like a magic duel.

They would also need to follow a theme for their battle, which was chosen through a ritual. Their lyrics and melodies had to be improvised on the spot. This was the only part Seth was not 100% confident in. He had trained the production side and the practical side pf his bardic skill, but not the poetic side. The bard could only trust his skill and items.

~Don't worry, If you need help, I'm here." Oz, the demonic lyre in his hands assured.

Right, he had a powerful demon lyre on his side and a legendary armor blessed with divine and demonic music talents. What was there to fear? (He had decided against using the Anvil or the Wheel Fiddle, since he didn't intend to kill the audience, yet.)

He was confident that he could suppress the whole crowd with force, if he wanted to, so losing meant little to him. The bard only played along, because beating Galvan was the more satisfying method to end this situation and had the least consequences.

"I will now activate the theme," the referee announced before mumbling cryptic phrases over the magic circle. Sparks of light rose from the circle and started shaping a word.

"Critique- Disparage your opponent!"

"Kekekek, My favorite theme!" the gaunt demon cheered and jumped from joy.

A coin was tossed to see who would begin, making Galvan even happier as he got the right to start. Seth lifted Oz and awaited the signal to start, bracing himself for what Galvan would do. In most cases, it would have been common sense that going second would be more advantageous, but in a duel of demonic music, it was easier to build up power and momentum by going first.

And what momentum he was building. With a strum of his lute, Galvan multiplied, as if his body went through a prism there were two copies of him with a slightly shifted color scheme. The three started singing in sync while his lute played a dark, somber tune.

"By the power of Bael!

Mot...Rot...Morzan...Noita...

Zoketh...Turgoth...Tanak...Vonnith...

Sorak...Zellcat...Tigmu...Watajet...

Amagon... Ark...

Schmu... Drog'Thog... Soll'gut... Mach'gut...Turok...Verreth..."

With every demon they named, the atmosphere in the courtyard darkened. Galvan called upon so many demons, that Seth knew only a few of them. Even if he didn't know their names, he could feel the pressure on the arena rising. He understood why the faculty members buckled.

"As you see I have friends in high places,

With the power to put you on the run.

Well, forgive us these smiles on our faces,

I'll show you what true power is , that will be fun

Son..."

Dark, toxic smoke filled the stage, and demon faces appeared in the darkness that filled the courtyard, even shocking the audience. The three Galvans kept dancing, as they were accompanied by a piece of dark music from the shadows. They kept appearing and singing from the dense fog.

"You're playing with the big boys now,

Playing with the big boys now,

Ev'ry chord and gesture,

Tells you who's the best, you're

Playing with the big boys now "

The three kept growing in size, every word with booming power and every step of their dance shook the arena. It was clear that the demon tried to use overwhelming might to beat his opponent. The tremors made it hard for even the audience to stay on their feet, yet, Seth stood there unimpressed. He was more interested in how Galvan endured the backlash from the damage his armor reflected.

"You're playing with the big boys now

You're playing with the big boys now

Stop this foolish session

Watch a true musician

Give an exhibition how

Now pick up your ears, boy

You're playing with the big boys now!"

As the verse ended and he paused, the demonic faces started singing their names in a choir of wrathful souls. Suddenly, a warm and upbeat melody crashed into the grim scenery, and the dark fog was invaded by a crimson hue. The bard had decided that now was the best time to interject. When Seth's voice rose empowered by the <Voice of Seth>, it was oozing with spite and derision.

"I must admit, Your parlor tricks are amusing. I bet you've got a granny writing your text!

Now here's your chance to get the best of me, Hope your hand is hot! C'mon, clown, show me what you got!"

A sequence of notes revealed the three copies hiding in the fog with shocked impressions. Seth could feel the power of <Apollo's Poetry> and <Inspiration of Phenex> flow through him, but he also felt another, foreign, power strengthening his play.

"You tried to slam me with your hardest stuff,

but your triple whammy, wasn't up to snuff.

I'll set the record straight

You're simply out of date

You're only second rate!"

Seth didn't move, but the crimson power of his song was predating on the demonic face, spaghettifying and absorbing them, as Seth's song swelled on and his image seemed to grow, while Galvan was forced to step back. Galvan opted for force, but Seth chose a psychic attack.

"You think your song's a meanie,

But your texts are tame

You've got a lot to learn

About the skaldic game

So for your education,

I'll reiterate

You're only second rate!"

Tendrils of dark crimson power were grasping for Galvan and his copies, but he didn't back down, as the notes of his lute reinforced the dark somber melody of his shadow realm and they belched out their song, trying to drown out the fun tune of the demonic lyre.

"You're playing with the big boys now

You're playing with the big boys now

By the might of Purson,

you will kneel before us,

kneel to our symphonic power!

"

As his phrases grew quicker and stronger, his shadow realm regained it's standing against Seth's crimson tendrils and the chanting demon faces reappeared. His pompous piece grew, trying to overpower Seth's jazzy tune. However, it was not enough, to stop the infernal scald.

"You will cower at the power

In my pinky

My skill is number one

On every list

But if you're not convinced

That I'm invincible,

Put me to the test!

I'd love to lay this rivalry to rest!

Go ahead and zap me

With the big surprise

Snap me in a trap,

Cut me down to size

I'll make a big escape

It's just a piece of cake

You're only second rate!"

The forces were now competing almost equally, but Galvan's strengthened once more as he released his clones.

"You put up a front, You put up a fight!

And just to show I feel no spite,

You can be my acolyte!

But first, boy, it's time to bow

(Bow down!)

Or it's your own grave you'll dig, boy (your own grave you'll dig, boy)

You're playing with the big boys now

Playing with the big boys

Now!"

His singing had become quicker and quicker building up to a tremendous blow. With his last word the whole of the realm of darkness and demonic figure Galvan built up rushed against Seth, pulverizing the arena floor, and enveloping the blacksmith into a dark cocoon, trying to crush him. Blood splattered on the ground, as the feedback hit Galvan.

The demon had obviously chosen wrong, trying to use force on Seth, but how could he have known the power of his armor. His lute fell out of his bloody hands. His energy was spent and he had no reserves to keep going with his song.

Galvan had called upon as many patrons as possible to quickly built up strength and thus exhausted himself. Seth had no need to rush things and played an open radio station. He had been broadcasting since the beginning without someone specific in mind. Now, as he intended to deliver the finishing blow, the foreign power he had felt before swelled on, giving him another slew of inspiration.

"You know, your hocus-pocus

Isn't tough enough

And your mumbo-jumbo

Doesn't measure up

Let me pontificate

Upon your sorry state

You're only second rate!"

With nothing in its way to stop it, Seth's music wormed its way into the demon's brain, planting visions into his head as the scald kept singing faster and faster. Channeling malicious power directly into the song.

"I can hardly wait

To discombobulate

your brain and leave you with

the mind of an invertebrate

You'll make a better living

With a spinning plate

You're only second rate!"