Eric Sköll- The Devil Before Me!

"DIE!" I screamed with untamed hatred stabbing my hands through his head, getting the feeling I had hit nothing but air. He appeared by my side in an instant. Holding his hands behind his back, he pursed his lips as if he was cute.

"No need to be so angry, Eric. I am here to help you. My dear friend." he explained, but I could not feel any sort of legitimacy to his words. He was a damn devil. A bloody murderer who took pleasure in death and destruction.

"Nothing you say, Snow, will ever make me believe your words!" I roared, flooding the entire room with Worldly QI.

"Well, I do have the king within my dungeon. And I do control most of the realm. I am sure I can give you something. I hear your people were oppressed for the longest. I could change that, you know." He uttered like a demon upon my shoulder.

"The Sa'ar Mon'fae Do not need you monster!" Snorri venomously shouted, consumed in heavy malice.

"Sa'ar Mon'fae, is that the name of your clan? But it does not matter. I can either be your guardian angel or its destroyer. Think before you speak." The Devil spoke, not in the least intimidated or offended. It was like everything was already foreseen through his bleeding eyes.

Clenching my fist, the copper taste of blood touched upon my throat. "What is it you want, Arsene Snow!"

"Information," He said, taking a seat upon the cushion I had prepared. "Ragnar, and where the hell we are?"

Signaling for Snorri and Brandr to leave. Their bodies trembled but still complied. I could not fault them, for the Devil was before me.

"You were responsible for Tal and Sela perishing, were you not?"

Holding a solemn expression, he nodded, "Yes, but I did not know that Ragnar was so... well informed. The very mention of his name seems to have bells going off in his head.

"yet, you speak his name so freely," I scuffed in response.

"I am different from the likes of you and your merry band of rabble." he scornfully explained, holding an ingrain arrogance that held no bounds. "I can speak of anyone, and they would never know. The perks of being the second coming."

"You're delusional. Ragnar knows and see's all within the Seven Isles. I will not help you. Arsene Snow, no matter what you promise."

"Than I will just kill every single clan upon the seven Isle till I reach Yu'drol. I am sure you would disapprove of that. But for now. Eric, I need you to cool your anger for a moment and think. Think of the slaughter upon the main continent. think of all I have done, do you really think you have much of a choice?"

"You need me." I hastily said, with cold sweat trickling from my back.

"I need your souls. Something I can get simply by slaughtering you all. But I took this approach. Be thankful." He gracefully declared, devoid of any human emotions. "So I will ask once more what do you know of Ragnar?"

"You could still come after us right after I tell you everything," I said, fearing the worse. It was not Arsene's strength that sent shivers down my spine. But the power of his words. The Ashen King has always been weak. But with his weak cultivation, he was able to take over Midgard.

"believe it or not, I do not have the slightest interest in mindless slaughter. But we can make a deal if you would like. You tell me everything and help us with a specific task. And I keep the war away from the Isles." He patiently stated.

Studying his aloof expression, I felt the crippling weight of all lives gripping my mind. I was desperately drowning within his presence, and he knew it.

Delighted by my twisted expression, a veil of darkness swarmed my building. "Ragnar," I told with fear, " was a world God when I first met him long before he became the lord of the Seven Isles. Considered to be an ancient hero, he settled within these lands. It has been about a thousand years since he left."

"A thousand years, more than enough time to become a Demi-God." He solemnly said,

"I do not know much about his cultivation, but he resides upon he the Isle of Vae'ale. He, along with his wife, resides there in peace. Why he laid this curse on these lands, however, we do not know. But what I can tell you is that it was formed by the product of dark ritual involving sacrifice."

"A dark ritual?" He repeated, seemingly not understanding the difference. Although it's not surprising, demons and devils have a very different meanings of sacrifices.

"Meaning one must give up something close to them. A lover, a child, or even an emotion in order to cast this spell. I have even heard tales of some using their very memories as a price to curse their enemies."

"And how would one go about breaking such a curse?" Arsene asked, staring me dead in the eye with a solemn gleam. Turning my gaze from his, unable to hold, I continued.

"Depends on the curse. Some cannot be broken, and some could be broken when the one who cast it dies or if they teether the curse to an object. Unbreakable curses are rare and require massive prices, so I will say you will have to destroy Ragnar or the teether he has."

Clitting his tongue, the air chilled as a sliver of bloodlust glinted from his eyes like a blade. As if something from the very Nine was clawing its way out, I could not help but move away.

"You said he resides upon the Isle of Vae'ale. Which one is that? I believe there are seven Isle not including Yu'drol." He asked in a soft, gentle hum that seemed to mask the Venum pouring from his heart.

"It's the fourth," I rushed to answer, "We can secure you a ship in a month's time."

"See that you do." He said, in words that left no room for discussion," With that out of the way. I shall now tell you a ritual is about to be performed upon this land—one that will draw upon the power of a Foreign God. I would suggest you and your people go out in sizable parties or not at all. They have with them Tala Daeva. I needn't tell you how powerful she is?"