The Soul Prism far surpassed the Devil’s Contract and the Magic Slavery Contract in all aspects, except for the sowhat awkward condition that resembled a transaction. As for a regular servitude contract, it wasn’t even worthy of being ntioned in the sa breath.
Once a soul was imprisoned and controlled by a Soul Coin, it was fundantally enslaved and objectified, able to be molded into any shape one pleased. Its essence was that of a cold, hard currency; a standard item from the Nine Layers of Hell, valued by souls. Being an item, it naturally had no freedom or human rights at all.
David simply couldn’t imagine what great illness had befallen the Drow’s mind to place such a thing before him. If the roles were reversed at this mont, David even felt he could overco his psychological barrier: the mont it was discovered, he’d secretly stuff it into his own backside to keep it out of enemy hands. That ant he would be directly mortgaging his own soul.
He took a deep breath, then peered deeply into the eyes of the Drow, who seed carefree but resolute, considering a possibility.
"State your demands, Drow."
He had no reason to refuse.
The Drow, betting correctly, also breathed a sigh of relief and, looking up at the Red Dragon, said, "You know, we now have a common enemy, and I hope you’ll cooperate with to take them down and seize their ship. This Soul Prism is our guarantee of joint cooperation, eliminating any fear you might have of betrayal from my side before or after the battle."
Just as I thought... David squinted his eyes and tilted his chin, gesturing for her to continue.
The Drow bowed her head, saying, "After the battle, I hope you will let return to Spider Nest City once. As long as I can co back, the control over the second half of my life is yours. Just as I said before, whatever you want to do, Krista Hiatt will do. You are now my only and loyal master."
"Is it that simple?" David still found it hard to believe. anwhile, the word ’loyalty’ seed incongruous coming from a Drow, but a rare Soul Prism from the material plane had indeed such transformative power.
"It’s that simple."
"I’m a bit curious about what kind of thing is worth such a price to you," David expressed in wonder.
With the guarantee of a Soul Prism, everything was completely different. Even if his current opponent was a Devil proficient in making contracts, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to have a discussion.
But the Drow just gave a self-deprecating smile, saying, "Even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe ."
"Hmm, then never mind," David shrugged his sowhat droopy dragon wings.
Krista Hiatt had apparently not expected the Red Dragon to be so anable, but she quietly breathed a sigh of relief because her secret remained undisclosed.
Consequently, with Krista Hiatt’s complete cooperation and under the cautious and conflicted supervision of Tania nearby, David completed the ritual of imprisoning the Soul Prism. A Red Dragon mark with two horns on its head, like a brand, erged from the Drow Krista Hiatt’s smooth abdon. It’s worth noting that the location of this mark was suggested by Hiatt herself.
She knelt on one knee, proclaiming, "Krista Hiatt, the Drow Shadow Dancer, pays homage to her master."
David made an indifferent gesture with his dragon claw, motioning downward. At that mont, Miss Drow let out a muffled hum, her entire body breaking out in a sweat, her complexion flushed, as she prostrated herself on the ground like a completely submissive slave, both in body and soul.
David, satisfied with the outco, wrapped things up. The joy of gaining a Drow enforcer for free imdiately outweighed the misfortune of nearly being crushed by a heaven-sent dragon ’sister’, making his footsteps much lighter. Tania and Krista Hiatt, who had already sold herself cheap, of course had no objections and followed him.
"Eh?... What about ?"
Only the Drow Mage, still maintaining a posture of head to the ground and bottom to the sky, was left confused, shouting to the two dragons and her leader, "I can accept either a Devil’s Contract or a Magic Slavery Contract, you know!"
David turned and issued his first command as a master, saying, "Right, Hiatt, go hunt us so food to bring back. We need to be well-fed for the fight ahead."
"Okay, Master." Hiatt imdiately turned invisible, seemingly rging with the shadows, and disappeared on the spot.
"...The Soul Prism isn’t out of the question! My soul is pretty small; I could squeeze in there with the boss too!!!" The Drow Mage started to panic. This damn forest is now crawling with High Elves!
"Ah, my legs are getting weak again," David shalessly declared.
"I’ll support you!" Eager to be needed again, Tania promptly went forward to help her ’half-paralyzed’ brother, while continuously casting Minor Healing on David using her just-recovered Magic Power. David humd in comfort, as if enjoying an invisible paw massage, though he occasionally winced from the pain when the healing touched his wounds.
"..." the Drow Mage.
"Suddenly working with the infamous Drow, you as a Silver Dragon don’t feel uncomfortable about it, do you?" David took the opportunity to probe.
"...How could that be? You always co up with ways to turn the situation around, unlike Tania who’s so dumb. Now that I think about it, it feels kind of thrilling to break the old rules."
"Ah, this..." David couldn’t help but feel that he had inadvertently led a perfectly good Silver Dragon astray. He thought about it and decided he’d better wait until after they dealt with the imminent threat of those High Elves before having a proper talk with his ’heaven-sent dragon sister.’ Although he had a vague idea of her origins, he felt a bit of emotional complexity stirring inside him.
The Drow Mage behind them, seeing that this group had completely ignored his presence and his offer to surrender, imdiately forgot his dignity and pride as a Spellcaster. He huffed and puffed as he ran behind them, shouting self-promotions, "Two respected Dragon Lords and Boss, don’t leave behind! As a Mage, I don’t eat much!"
"WAAAH!!!"
After a hearty al and with the continuous Minor Healing from the attentive little ’Priest’ Tania, David had recovered so strength. He promptly led the Silver Dragon and the Drow towards the port, planning to strike at the High Elves’ retreat and supply line just like before—their Elf ships.
But when David and his companions were ready for a battle with the ship’s guards that might be as intense as the one in the South Foothills, they found nothing but air. After searching the entire ship, they couldn’t find a single Elf...
So there was only one explanation. The High Elf commander had actually scattered all his troops to find them, leaving not a single one on the ship, apparently not fearing that just any Barbarians could co and cut the ropes, setting sail away.
If one were to say who was most shocked by this outco, it would undoubtedly be Hiatt, who was of Drow heritage. To get a ticket back to the Old Continent, she had sold her soul to a Dragon. In the end, that ticket turned out to be sothing that could be taken for free. Even with her strong mind, standing at the railing of the ship, she felt sowhat dazed.
Regret? Maybe just a little, as is human nature. But she was willing to accept the consequences of her gamble. At least, having nothing and even being in debt, she still got the chance to take her brother ho and latch onto the promising thigh of a Red Dragon. As for freedom? Being a Drow, there was no freedom to speak of, not to ntion the possibility of being mistreated by her master. But that was a Red Dragon! Thinking about it, isn’t that quite exciting? She was even starting to look forward to her master reaching adolescence.
David, still unaware that Hiatt, whose soul he had imprisoned, was already having inappropriate thoughts about him, also marveled at the High Elves’ military style. "She’s really daring!" he exclaid.
"But that’s very much in line with the Pride of the High Elves, isn’t it?" Hiatt, who had already adjusted her mindset, couldn’t help but Taunt her old nesis. The High Elves arrogantly believed that re Barbarians couldn’t possibly have the guts to sail away with their ships.
"Exactly, they’re always so proud," the Drow Mage, who had a low profile at the back, quickly chid in to support his boss.
"Wait, soone’s coming," Tania, whose ear fins twitched, warned.
Hmm, David, also catching the movent, imdiately put on a confident smile and said, "Too daring, to think she would dare to co back under these circumstances." David suddenly found himself admiring the decisiveness and Courage of that High Elf commander.
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