Chapter 241: Phase Two
"S," Jack interrupted Oscar’s internal comntary, focusing on the contract demon. "Did you get any of the docunts back yet?"
S’s expression shifted to sothing that might have been satisfaction.
He reached into his jacket and withdrew two pieces of parchnt, both identical to the ones Jack had obtained earlier.
"Only two so far," S replied. "The generals move quickly when they need to, but bureaucracy has its own pace even in demon fortresses."
{DOCUNTS?!} Oscar’s ntal voice exploded. {WHAT DOCUNTS?! WHEN DID WE GET DOCUNTS?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!}
Jack took the parchnt from S, examining them briefly before giving them back. A smile crossed his face, it was small, but genuine.
"Alright," Jack said, his voice carrying certainty. "Prepare the rest. It’s ti for Phase Two to begin."
{PHASE TWO?!} Oscar practically scread in his mind. {THERE’S A PHASE TWO?! WHAT WAS PHASE ONE?! WHY AM I ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW ANYTHING?!}
"This one does not understand what Master ans," Kyren said, tilting his head. "This one thinks Master has plan. Good plan? This one hopes good plan."
S’s smile widened, showing teeth. "Phase Two. How delightfully ominous. I assu this involves the blood contracts you had
prepare?"
{BLOOD CONTRACTS?!} Oscar’s voice went up another octave. {THE PARCHNT WAS BLOOD CONTRACTS?! YOU SLIPPED BLOOD CONTRACTS INTO OFFICIAL DOCUNTS?!}
’Yes.’
{THAT’S...} Oscar paused. {Actually that’s brilliant. Evil, but brilliant. When did you plan this?!}
’Before I even entered the fortress.’
{You’ve been planning to subvert Pho’s entire command structure since BEFORE the infiltration started?!}
’Obviously.’
{I HATE that you don’t tell
these things! I’m your WEAPON! We’re supposed to be PARTNERS!}
’You are my weapon. That doesn’t an you need to know every detail of every plan.’
{This isn’t a DETAIL! This is a MAJOR STRATEGIC OPERATION!}
"This one thinks weapon is upset," Kyren observed. "This one can tell. Master holds weapon different when weapon is upset. Weapon does not like Master’s plans?"
"Weapon will adapt," Jack replied simply.
{I’m RIGHT HERE! I can HEAR you talking about
like I’m not here!}
------
The throne room felt colder than usual as Loryn approached the elevated platform where Pho sat.
The Deathfrost Demon’s blank white eyes tracked the skeletal general’s movent with a particular intensity.
"Master Pho," Loryn said. "I have news about the experint."
Pho leaned forward slightly, frost spreading across his throne’s armrests. "The control chanisms are complete?"
"Yes. The binding runes are stable, the containnt field is holding, and the subject integration process has been perfected." Loryn’s bone-thin fingers gestured as he spoke, his enthusiasm bleeding through despite his attempt at professionalism.
"I just need to find the right demon to complete the final phase. Once the yellow eyed demon shows himself. It will all be over."
"Good." Pho’s expression showed satisfaction.
Loryn paused, his stitched-together face showing sothing close to hesitation. "But there’s sothing else. Sothing more... concerning."
The temperature in the throne room dropped further.
Ice crystals began forming in the air around Pho, small at first but growing larger as his attention focused completely on Loryn.
"Go on."
Loryn’s eyes fixed on Pho with unusual intensity. "I believe soone has infiltrated your fortress. Soone dangerous."
"Explain."
"I witnessed sothing yesterday when I was running so errands," Loryn said carefully. "A demon signed a docunt, and it burned away imdiately. Leaving no residue, ash or trace of ever existing."
Pho’s blank white eyes narrowed slightly. "Administrative magic can cause docunts to transfer...."
"No." Loryn’s voices rged into absolute certainty. "This was different. I’ve seen administrative transfers. I’ve seen magical filing systems. I’ve seen every type of docunt magic used in fortress operations. This was none of those."
The frost around Pho intensified, spreading across the floor.
"Only one type of magic burns docunts completely without leaving evidence." Loryn continued. "Soul magic. Specifically, the kind used in binding contracts. Blood contracts that seal with the signer’s essence and leave no physical evidence."
Pho stood slowly, his three-ter fra towering even at a distance.
The temperature plumted, frost spreading across every surface of the throne room. Ice spikes erupted from the floor randomly.
"You’re suggesting," Pho said, his voice carrying the sound of cracking ice, "that the Soul Warden is in my fortress."
"I’m not suggesting. I’m telling you." Loryn didn’t step back despite the visible aura of power now radiating from Pho.
"Soone with soul magic infiltrated your operation, disguised themselves as one of your demons, and is currently subverting your command structure from within."
The aura around Pho exploded outward.
Power flooded the throne room in a wave of freezing energy that would have killed most demons instantly.
Ice spikes erupted from every surface, creating a forest of frozen blades.
The air itself crystallized, each breath becoming visible as demons throughout the fortress felt the sudden temperature drop.
But Pho wasn’t angry.
He was excited.
"The Soul Warden," Pho said, and sothing that might have been joy colored his voice. "The one who killed my brother."
An ice spike erupted directly beside Loryn’s face, so close that its edge caught his stitched cheek and opened a clean cut from temple to jaw.
Dark blue blood seeped from the wound, but Loryn didn’t flinch. He didn’t even try to move.
He simply stood there, waiting for Pho to finish processing the information.
"He’s here," Pho continued, his blank white eyes seeming to glow with anticipation. "In my fortress...."
The ice spikes stopped forming. The temperature remained frigid, but the wild fluctuations ceased as Pho brought his power under control. He looked at Loryn, at the cut on his face, at the blood dripping onto the frozen floor.
"You didn’t even flinch," Pho observed.
"You weren’t trying to kill ," Loryn replied simply. "You were excited. Your power reflects your emotions. I’ve served under you long enough to understand the difference between excitent and killing intent."
Pho smiled, genuine and cold. "Do you know who it is? Which demon is actually the Soul Warden in disguise?"
"No. But I have suspicions." Loryn suggested.
"Soone new. Soone strong enough to survive, but skilled enough to hide their true nature. Soone who’s been positioning themselves strategically since arriving."
"Jakar."
It wasn’t a question.
Pho said the na with certainty, his blank white eyes boring into Loryn as if daring him to contradict.
Loryn said nothing, which was answer enough.
"The demon who wields Oscar without dying. The demon I just made overseer of the slave pits."
He laughed, the sound like ice cracking on a frozen lake.
"Perfect. Absolutely perfect." Pho descended the steps from his throne, his movents fluid despite his massive fra. "I was wondering when the tower would send soone interesting. The human thinks he can infiltrate my fortress and walk away alive."
"What are your orders?" Loryn asked, his wound still bleeding but apparently forgotten.
"Nothing." Pho’s smile widened. "Do nothing. Say nothing. Let him continue whatever plan he’s executing. Let him think he’s being clever, that his infiltration is successful, that he’s turning my fortress against ."
Loryn’s multiple eyes widened slightly. "You want him to succeed?"
"I want him to commit fully," Pho corrected. "If we move now, he’ll abort his plan and flee. But if we let him continue, if we give him enough rope to hang himself, he’ll reveal everything he’s capable of. All his tricks. All his bound souls. All his Soul Warden abilities."
The Deathfrost Demon’s aura pulsed once, a visible wave of power that made the air itself shimr with cold.
"And when he’s completely committed and decides to make his move against ..." Pho’s blank white eyes carried absolute certainty. "I’ll freeze him solid and add his soul to my collection. A Soul Warden bound to serve . Now that would be interesting."
Loryn nodded slowly, understanding the strategy. "What about the generals? If he’s used blood contracts, so of them might already be bound."
"It won’t matter."
"Understood." Loryn turned to leave, blood still dripping from his cut face.
"And Loryn?" Pho called after him.
The skeletal general paused.
"Thank you. For bringing this to my attention. For understanding that so battles are worth savoring rather than ending quickly." Pho’s smile returned. "The Soul Warden thinks he’s hunting . He has no idea he’s the prey."
Loryn bowed once, then left the throne room.
The only sound in the throne room that could be heard was laughter.
It sounded like soone who had just lost their mind.
Reviews
All reviews (0)