I Died and Became a Chapter 385: Dreknar’s Favor Part 4

Chapter 385: Dreknar’s Favor Part 4

Jack’s consciousness abruptly returned, akin to a sudden awakening from a vivid dream.

One mont, he’d been kneeling in Dreknar’s shrine, wind howling, chains thrashing violently. Next, he stood in the throne room itself.

The black stone walls stretched overhead, swallowing light. Red drapes hung between massive chains, their deep color almost a shade of purple in the dim illumination. Lanterns flickered with black flas that cast dancing shadows across the floor.

And there, sitting upon his throne of bones and dark tal, was Dreknar the Black Fla.

The demon god’s jet-black skin seed to absorb the scant light that existed in the chamber. Green veins pulsed across his massive fra, bright against the darkness.

His horns curved back from his skull like a crown, and his eyes, burning with green fire, observed Jack’s arrival with keen interest.

"Back already?" Dreknar’s voice rumbled through the chamber, making Jack’s chest vibrate. "I pulled your soul here seconds ago, and you’re already bothering

with your presence."

Jack t those burning green eyes without flinching. "Do you have a fourth task for ?"

Dreknar leaned back in his throne, the bone structure creaking beneath his weight. His massive arms crossed over his scarred chest as that sharp grin spread across his face.

"Presumptuous little lamb," the demon god said, amusent was evident in his tone.

"What makes you think I have another task ready? Maybe I was planning to let you stew for a few months. Build so anticipation. Make you wonder if I’d forgotten about you entirely."

"Because you don’t waste ti," Jack replied. "And you wouldn’t pull my soul here just to tell

to wait."

Dreknar’s laugh bood through the throne room, loud enough to make the black flas flicker violently.

"Smart," the demon god acknowledged, his grin widening. "You’re learning. Good. I hate explaining obvious things to mortals who can’t think past their next al."

He shifted forward slightly, those green flas intensifying as they studied Jack.

Jack thought internally for a mont.

Last ti Jack was here, Dreknar gave sothing to Jack for free. It puzzled Jack profusely because God’s don’t give things out for free without having so type of motive.

Jack received the Demon Arts. A fighting style Dreknar had shared without demanding anything in return. Two techniques that Jack had used against Rhys during their duel.

The Demon Arts were unlike any fighting style Jack had seen. It was aggressive, with no fear of being hurt. Pure aggression that only worked when pushing through with brute strength.

"Last ti you gave

information for free," Jack shouted.

"Because watching you fumble around with that spear like so untrained conscript was painful. You have power, little lamb, but you fight like a human. The Demon Arts focus on what actually matters. "Unadulterated power, decisive force, and assertive control over your adversary."

The demon god’s clawed finger tapped against his throne’s armrest.

"Those two techniques were just the beginning. A taste of what a proper demon in combat looks like. You used them well against that elf prince, I’ll give you that. But there’s so much more to learn." His grin beca sharp. "Which brings us to your fourth task."

Jack waited, his gaze fixed on Dreknar’s face.

"This one is different," Dreknar said, his voice carrying weight that made the air feel heavier. "Three parts instead of one. Each part tests sothing specific. Complete all three, and you’ll earn a reward that will make your previous gains look like table scraps."

He raised one massive hand, extending three clawed fingers.

"Part one," Dreknar began, lowering one finger. "Consu enough demon hearts to reach your next threshold of demonic essence. When you hit that next level, I’ll know."

Jack’s mind imdiately went to his current status. 100 demonic essence. Maxed out at his current threshold. But what was the next one? How many hearts would he need to consu to reach it?

’System,’ Jack thought. ’What’s the next threshold?’

[Current Demonic Essence: 100/100]

[Next Threshold: 1,000]

[Hearts Required: Unknown. Depends on the strength of the hearts you eat.]

Jack kept his expression neutral despite the staggering number. The number was staggering. He could eat 10 powerful hearts and get there, or he could have to eat 500 hearts to reach the threshold.

"Part two," Dreknar continued, lowering another finger. "Kill at least two demons holding the rank of Infernal Baron or higher."

The demon god’s grin widened, revealing those perfect white teeth.

"The demon hierarchy annoys ," Dreknar said flatly. "All these self-important titles and political gas. Barons, Viscounts, Counts, Dukes, all of them thinking their rank ans sothing to a god." He leaned forward, green flas burning brighter.

"I want you to kill at least two of them. Show the Demon King that his precious hierarchy ans nothing when soone strong enough decides to ignore it."

Jack’s mind swirled as he processed what Dreknar was asking. The demon hierarchy mirrored European nobility structures, just with "Infernal" tagged onto each title because they were demons. Baron was the lowest noble rank, sitting just below Viscount, but still above common demons.

The power level of an Infernal Baron varied wildly depending on the individual demon. So might be comparable to Disaster-class threats. Others could be significantly stronger. Jack wouldn’t know until he actually found one and fought it.

"What do I do with them after killing them? Are they mine to use as I see fit?" Jack asked.

"Entirely," Dreknar confird. "Consu their hearts. Bind their souls. Mount their heads on spikes. I don’t care. Just make sure they’re dead and that their deaths piss off the right people."

"And part three?" Jack prompted.

Dreknar’s expression shifted to sothing that looked almost contemplative. He lowered his final finger, his massive hand settling back onto the throne’s armrest.

"Beco a contractor," the demon god said simply.

Jack’s eyebrows rose slightly. "A contractor?"

"Yes, little lamb. A contractor." Dreknar’s tone conveyed the gravity of soone conveying an important concept. "You’ve been binding souls to your army, forcing them into servitude through your Soul Magic. That’s useful, but it’s not the sa as forming an actual contract."

The demon god gestured broadly with one hand.

"Find a beast in this tower. Sothing powerful. Sothing worthy. And form a contract with it, not as master and slave, but as a contractor and contractee. The beast shares its power with you. You gain its power and beco stronger. A partnership."

Jack’s mind imdiately went to Alaric and Drakon. His father had a contract with the ancient dragon. Jack had sensed and seen the dragon when he was fighting Rhys. It wasn’t soul-binding or servitude. It was a mutual agreent. Partnership born from respect and shared benefit.

"Any beast in the tower works?" Jack asked.

"Any beast," Dreknar confird. "Though I’d recomnd choosing sothing actually powerful. Contracting with a rabbit would be pathetic, and I’d probably kill you just for wasting my ti."

The demon god settled back into his throne, those green flas studying Jack with satisfaction.

"Complete all three parts, reach your next essence threshold, kill two Infernal Barons or higher, and form a contract with a beast, and you’ll earn your reward."

[DING!]

[New Quest: Dreknar’s Favor Part 4]

[Objective 1: Reach 1,000 Demonic Essence (Current: 100/1,000)]

[Objective 2: Kill 2

demons ranked Infernal Baron or higher (Current: 0/2)]

[Objective 3: Form a contract with a beast in Tartarus Spire (Current: 0/1)]

[Reward: Demon Arts Compendium Vol I, Demon Arts Compendium Vol II, Demon Arts Compendium Vol III, Demon Arts Compendium Vol IV, Demon Arts Compendium Vol V, ???, ???]

[Ti Limit: None]

[Accept Quest?]