“Vyn teymai ishkar en Vel’Araeyn, ee thaemar lai’ri en ilaeth nyro thar ves…”
Outside the mansion, the sky darkened unnaturally.
The intricately drawn magic circle on the floor began to glow, its previously dim lines now radiating a sharp white light that grew stronger with each passing second.
Alfred, watching tensely from the sidelines, frowned deeply.
Something was off.
‘The sacrificial component…’ he thought, panic creeping into his mind. ‘In order to activate the Eternal Slave Pact, you need a significant sacrifice—specifically, the life force of a Golden Ranker!’ His eyes darted to Velc, who remained silent, focused on the incantation.
“Master!” Alfred called out, his voice tight with concern. “Should I summon one of our Golden Ranked soldiers to complete the sacrifice?”
Velc ignored the question, his concentration solely on the scroll. He didn’t stop reading, his voice steady, unwavering. But then, something else materialized before him… a golden, shimmering card.
It hovered in the air, radiating with raw energy. The card bore four brilliant golden stars in each corner, with a hollow fifth star in the centre, indicating Velc’s maximum potential was level 100…. However, his current strength sat just around level 60.
Alfred’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you… Are you going t–” he whispered in shock.
Velc smiled, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course,” he said proudly. “It’s for my son. As his father, I must do what’s necessary.”
Without hesitation, Velc placed the scroll on the ground and clasped his hands together, chanting, “I hereby offer my levels to initiate this pact!”
THUNDER!!!
Xara, who had been sipping tea with Delphine in the yard, flinched at the sudden sound. Both women glanced up their eyes widening in astonishment as golden chains materialized from the depths of the brooding clouds as they slowly descended!
“Chains of the Eternal Slave…” Xara whispered, her face paling as realization dawned. Delphine’s eyes filled with dread as she muttered the same words, their tea forgotten.
Back in the ritual chamber, Velc watched as his golden Arcane Card’s stars began to fade one by one…. The magic circle beneath Ether’s feet now glowed a blinding gold!!
“Cough… Cough…” Velc sputtered, blood trickling from his mouth. His body was weakening, rapidly deteriorating as the ritual drained him… His skin turned pale, his once-strong frame trembling as his levels continued to drop.
The numbers flashed before his eyes:
[Level: 55↓]
[Level: 51↓]
[Level: 49↓]
[Level: 45↓]
[Level: 42↓]
…..
…
His levels plummeted at an alarming rate until they hit 30, at which point it stopped.
Velc heaved a sigh of relief, wiping the blood from his lips with a trembling hand, “Not bad,” he muttered, his voice shaky. “Thirty levels and three stars… a worthy price for a former Chosen One.”
But then, horror filled Alfred’s face, “M-Master!” he cried out, his voice filled with panic. “Look!”
Velc’s eyes snapped open in alarm as he saw the fourth star on his card beginning to fade. His heart seized with fear, “N-No!” he gasped, “Stop! I can’t afford to lose any more levels!” If the ritual drained him further, it would destroy his body—leave him broken, useless!
Without a second thought, Alfred stepped forward, “I will offer mine!” he declared, summoning his own Arcane Card….. His card bore five radiant stars, indicating his maxed-out level.
Thud!
Velc collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. His level had been reduced to a mere 21.
He barely had the strength to speak. “I-I’m sorry, Alfred…” he rasped, struggling to stay conscious. “The records… they said only thirty levels were required…”
Alfred gritted his teeth, his face contorted in pain as the ritual began draining his own levels, “That’s because none of them are Chosen One!” he shouted through clenched teeth, his body trembling as his strength ebbed away.
His five stars faded, one by one, until three had disappeared, leaving him dangerously weakened.
Thud!
“Is it… over?” Velc asked breathlessly, his vision swimming.
Alfred, pale and shaking, collapsed to the ground beside him. “-Ha-ha… My level…” He coughed violently, blood staining his lips, “It’s barely 17 now…”
Velc stared at the magic circle, his body cold with dread. The light from the circle was almost blinding now, the golden glow so intense he could hardly make out Ether’s form within it.
But he could sense that the ritual was nearing its completion…. Ether was standing there, motionless, trapped within the overwhelming power of the spell.
“F-Father?” a voice called timidly. Velc turned to see Kai, standing at the edge of the room, his face streaked with tears. The boy’s wide eyes were filled with fear and confusion.
Velc’s heart softened as he looked at his son, “My boy… be brave,” he whispered, forcing a pained smile, “Make sure you don’t waste our sacrifices. Be strong… for all of us.”
Kai sniffled, wiping his eyes furiously as he nodded. “Y-Yes, Father! I promise… I’ll make you proud!”
Velc turned his gaze back to Ether, his expression hardening once more, “Remember what I told you, Ether,” he said, his voice weak but firm. “Are you willing to form the Eternal Slave Contract with Kai Frostblade?”
Ether, with his hollow eyes and lifeless expression, nodded mechanically, “I understand… and I ag—”
“STOP!!!”
THUD!
The door to the chamber burst open and two furious women stormed in.
Xara, her deep, dark eyes burning with rage, stood at the forefront. Her gaze landed on Ether, her eyes trembling with emotion before they turned to her husband, “Velc! Stop this at once!” she screamed, her voice laced with fury, “What the hell are you doing to a child?!”
Delphine stood beside her, her usually calm demeanour replaced by a look of pure horror as she took in the sight of the ritual.
Velc’s expression hardened. His voice, sharp and unyielding, cut through the tension, “This does not involve you, Xara… I am doing this for my son!”
“OUR son!” Xara shouted back, her voice trembling with fury. Her gaze snapped to Kai, her eyes filled with both urgency and fear, “Kai, come to my side.”
Kai hesitated, flinching under the weight of his mother’s command, but before he could move, Velc’s voice thundered again, “NO, KAI!” His eyes locked with Xara’s, his glare fierce and resolute, “The pact has already been initiated. No one can stop it now!”
Xara’s jaw clenched, frustration and desperation boiling beneath the surface. She took a deep breath, her gaze shifting to Ether, her voice soft but pleading, “Ether, just say, ‘I don’t agree!'”
Velc’s face darkened, “Brat! Say the words I told you. If you say anything else, I’ll kill you.” His tone was ice-cold, devoid of compassion.
Ether’s blank, emotionless eyes met Velc’s. He stood there, expressionless, as if the threat didn’t reach him.
“Ether, please…” Xara whispered, her voice now gentle and filled with maternal warmth. She took a step toward him, her hand outstretched, hoping to reach the broken boy.
But…
“I understand and I agree,” Ether replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion, repeating what had been ingrained into him by Velc’s coercion.
SSHHHNNNnnnnnnnnggggggg!!
The golden light flared, blinding everyone in the room.
clang, clang
Golden Chains sound echoed as they shot out from the magic circle.
The chains wrapped themselves around Ether’s body, tightening viciously… not just around his wrists and ankles, but encircling every part of him, binding him completely in a web of gleaming, unyielding links.
As the chains tightened around Ether, Xara and Delphine both winced, instinctively recoiling as though the excruciating pain was their own… Ether, egoless and emotionless, did not react.
He couldn’t feel the searing agony that coursed through his body, even as it was constricted tighter and tighter!!!
Velc’s grin widened as he motioned for Kai to approach Ether, now ensnared in the magical chains, “Kai,” he commanded with a firm but expectant tone, “stand before him.”
“Kai! NO!” Xara’s cry pierced the air as she rushed forward, intent on protecting her son. But before she could reach him—
BOOM!
A force struck Xara with terrifying speed, throwing her back across the room. She crashed into the wall, grimacing in pain as golden light enveloped her, preventing her from interfering further.
While Xara lay on the ground, struggling to regain her footing, I… found myself screaming!!
“ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!”