A dark blue aura enveloped the room, saturating everything.
"When you signed that contract with Shalahora, you sold your soul to an Old One."
The emanation pulled down as Schema said, "I will give you this opportunity out of grace. Answer ."
Schema's voice hardened.
"Why shouldn't I kill you?"
I smiled, "Can you?"
I pressed out with my dinsional wake, pushing Schema's aura back.
"I will warp you into the center of a black hole where ti will be stretched to infinity. It is a kind of death and easily done."
I stood tall.
"Alright, enough ssing around then."
I cracked my knuckles, each pop like a grenade detonating in rcury.
"I'm probably harder to break than you imagine. Try ."
"Do you believe your status and skills will save you from an inevitable failure? Do you think your success in a fistfight can determine the outco of the Old Ones? You are a fool. A prideful, arrogant, and ignorant fool."
"Try ."
Schema's voice oppressed the room but not .
"Then you will be taught a lesson. Dwell on it for eternity."
The tugging sensation passed over . My surroundings blurred before I let go of my physical form. It fell into so unknown place, likely Leviathan or so other blackhole.
Schema murmured, "It is a sha."
I materialized from the ether.
"It is?"
I stood the way I had before my body was sent away. Schema and I faced off for a mont.
The AI said, "You have learned incorporeal recomposition. Was that learned before the lottery as well?"
I pointed a thumb at myself, "Schema...I'm not the sa scared boy that escaped from Bloodhollow. I've changed."
"That is evident."
"But not with how you're treating . Yeah, I signed that contract with Shalahora. You wanna know why?"
I scowled as Schema's aura pressed from all angles. I pushed it further back.
"I signed it for survival and because I know what's coming. If anyone else knows, it's you. You're holding an entire society together. Of course, you know they're coming. If I survive for 30,000 years, I think I stand a chance to pull us the hell out of this situation. If I can't by then, I won't be able to. Ever."
"The Old Ones cannot be destroyed. You have given them another powerful avatar. 30,000 years may seem like an eternity to you, but it is a mont to them. It is a mont to ."
I narrowed my eyes.
"And I was told that Yawm couldn't be killed. That Lehsion was an unconquerable god. Hell, people told Valgus was invincible because an Old One made it so."
I grimaced.
"I killed him. I can kill them too."
Schema's aura maintained its pressure, pushing onto mine. I peered around.
"If you're going to oppress soone, you must condense this. It's too disparate. I'm like a ball of iron in an ocean. Wrap around all you want; it won't make budge."
Schema ceased applying pressure.
"You genuinely believe in your chances?"
"Believe? Who cares what I believe? What other options do I have?"
"Hm. None. A position I understand all too well."
A screen notification appeared in the corner of my vision.
"I will send the purging team to Mt. Verner to inspect your personnel. Leviathan-7 is your planet, and you will be granted 3 days of uncompressed ti to go there, 4 months total of your planet's ti yearly. I will personally ensure future system bugs are no longer an issue for you."
I put my hands on my hips.
"Ah man, thanks-"
"I am not finished, Harbinger. You will be rewarded with 5,000 levels to your cap and current total. You will be granted a legendary skill compendium and sovereignty over the Solus solar system. Your guild, the Harbinger's Legion, has been elevated to empire status and gains the rights of such."
I nearly fell back.
"Do not disappoint ."
I collected myself and spread my hands.
"Of course not. You know . I've got no problem with a little overti."
"That will be the minimum. I anticipate your progress. However, there is one last condition you must accept."
"Oh, co on now. What does it involve this ti?"
"You have shown a willingness to sign contracts that warp the fabric of reality. Here is another."
In front of , a black page burned into existence, along with a quill floating with white ink.
"Read the cipheric contract and sign it."
I pulled the page out of the air, reading the cipheric runes. It took about an hour to parse the legal jargon, but Targask's lessons on legal mumbo jumbo saved . I could almost see the guy grinning at with satisfaction, and that burned. I shook that off before peering up.
"So you want to sign a self-expungent clause under certain conditions?"
"Yes. It is the only way I can be certain."
I shook my head.
"This is ridiculous."
I signed the contract, and it disappeared.
Schema said, "If you believe it is absurd, why did you sign it?"
I rolled my shoulders.
"I'm no pawn. I'd rather die."
"Hm. Noble. Good luck with your cosmic goals, Harbinger."
I grinned.
"Hah. Sa to you."
A similar sensation of being warped pressed over , but I condensed my wake to its utmost, slowing down the pull.
"Naw, you'll need to have a Sentinel or Overseer warp from now on. I want to see where I'm going."
I could almost hear a laugh.
"Such is to be expected after my threats. Maintain that vigilance, would you?"
I smiled.
"Of course."
A few seconds later, a Sentinel tore through the fabric of reality. I helped pull apart the dinsional fabric, and it stepped through. It tilted its head at .
"You wish to return to Earth, correct?"
I nodded.
"Aw man, more than anything."
The Sentinel sliced through the veil, and I approached a tiny circle showing Earth. I gazed down at Mt. Verner before I gave the Sentinel a two-finger salute.
"Till next ti."
Reviews
All reviews (0)