Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 49: Binding the Soul Above

"I am the great Ramis, a formidable entity from the nine layers of hell. In the depths of the Bartholomew Hell, no one dares to negotiate with me except for the nine lords... yet you, a mere human, a pitiful insect..."

The devil finally spoke. This time, his voice lacked the previous warmth and the earlier dominance. Instead, within that voice, Darn felt a profound chill and a stifling heat, two opposing sensations bizarrely intertwined, leaving him in a state of immense oppression.

However, Darn paid no heed to the threat in the devil's tone, for he understood all too well that any deal with the devil must not follow his terms. Otherwise, regardless of the devil's standing in hell, he would ultimately meet a grim fate!

Even if I appear as insignificant as an ant in your eyes, my soul must remain under my own dominion. My destiny must be controlled by me alone; even if that destiny leads to death, I shall decide the manner of my demise!

With this thought, Darn's emotions calmed, and regardless of the devil's incessant murmurs and posturing, he remained silent, patiently awaiting the devil's final decision.

Sensing Darn's resolute intent, the devil spoke a few more words before falling into silence. This silence extended beyond Darn's expectations, lasting a full day and night without a single utterance from the devil. During this time, Darn was astonished to discover that, although he could not release the long sword from his grasp, his body had regained control.

Hmm, is this a perk before the execution? Eagerly surveying his surroundings for any edible plants or animals, Darn had completely surrendered his fate to the devil: either comply with my demands, or, well, just kill me, and you can remain in this desolate plain!

The grassland, deemed a forbidden zone by the orcs, was not vast, spanning only a few hundred meters. Thus, Darn quickly completed his inspection of his temporary "territory." Regrettably, apart from wild grass, he found nothing to satiate his hunger.

How desolate! Not even a single bug in sight. It truly is eerie where this sword resides! Contemplating the relationship between evil and all living beings, Darn's gaze drifted towards the distance. Beyond the invisible, orderly circle, the orcs remained vigilant, their eyes fixed on Darn, showing no signs of departure. When they saw Darn appear with the long sword, he distinctly noticed their expressions darkening.

Hmm, these creatures were already quite unsightly, and now, with their scowls and furrowed brows, they are even more repulsive... If possible, do I have a chance to snatch some food from the orcs?

As his stomach protested, Darn naturally shifted his thoughts from the orcs' appearance to the food in their hands. Watching the glistening, roasted chunks of meat being savagely torn apart and swallowed by the orcs, Darn suddenly felt even hungrier.

"Looks incredibly delicious, doesn't it?" A voice echoed, the devil's voice.

"Well, it's not that appetizing," Darn replied casually.

If only some spices were sprinkled on it, it would surely be more fragrant and delectable! But given the orcs' intellect, how could they possibly comprehend the benefits of advanced cooking? A sprinkle of salt is likely their pinnacle of culinary skill! Darn's stomach grumbled as he mused.

"I haven't eaten in ages. Ever since I lost my body, I haven't dined at all. I truly miss my days in hell! The exquisite flavors, accompanied by the delightful screams of the food... Well, what are your thoughts? Write them down!"

Exquisite? Delightful screams? What does the devil eat? What do they consume? Uh, has this devil agreed to my request?

After pondering several questions, Darn suddenly realized, and a flicker of joy blossomed within him. Heh heh heh! A human capable of forcing the devil to concede might just be the first of my kind!

Amidst Darn's burgeoning pride, the golden contract reappeared, but this time, it was entirely blank.

What should I write on it? This is a significant issue; I must be cautious and absolutely must not allow the devil any loopholes!

After much contemplation, Darn's brow furrowed. Although he had gained a concession from the devil, he did not feel relieved or pleased. On the contrary, as he earnestly considered the contract's content, he felt an increasing weight of pressure and anxiety.

This is a contract with the devil! A moment's carelessness could leave a gap for the devil to exploit, and any opportunity for the devil would undoubtedly equate to opening the door wide for him to butcher me. Such occurrences are well-documented in various tales involving devils.

The logic must be airtight, every word must be scrutinized, and no detail overlooked. I must clearly articulate the rights and obligations between myself and the devil. But how do I strictly define our rights and obligations?

With his brow nearly forming a turbulent river, Darn struggled to think deeply. After a long while, the white quill finally stirred in his mind, and the first word appeared on the golden scroll.

"In the name of all gods, in the glory of all gods, I hereby establish this contract..."

Drawing upon all his knowledge and experiences, recalling every human document and contract he had encountered, Darn guided the white quill with his thoughts, slowly and meticulously drafting a contract.

The content of the contract was remarkably simple, with obligations and rights so minimal they were nearly nonexistent. Darn made no earth-shattering demands; conversely, his obligations to the devil were diminished to almost nothing.

The contract stipulated that as one of the parties involved, Darn only required the devil to provide suggestions when he made requests and to offer methods when he faced danger, while any direct assistance from the devil was firmly rejected.

In return for the devil's suggestions and methods, Darn promised that when the devil made requests, he would, within his capabilities and without violating any morals, laws, or his own safety and interests, consider providing assistance. However, this assistance could not directly affect the devil and must not be linked to the devil's essence!

By avoiding any contact with the devil's power and solely utilizing his own, I should never inexplicably become the devil's meal! Furthermore, the devil cannot directly wield my power, nor can there be any connection between my power and his. In that case...

Satisfied as he watched the final word materialize on the contract scroll, Darn finally wore a reassuring smile.

The golden contract was complete, its content clear, lacking only the clause stating that both parties would mind their own business, ideally never crossing paths again. This notion repeatedly floated through Darn's mind, while the devil, as the other party to the contract, remained silent.

Surely, the devil must be displeased with such a contract! But who cares? To ensure a peaceful existence in the days to come, I must avoid any further contact with the devil. Thus, heh heh heh! This contract, nearly devoid of rights and obligations, is the best kind!

Though the devil remained unresponsive for a long time, Darn was not anxious. After all, he was already teetering on the edge of a cliff, with numerous orcs on one side and the terrifying devil on the other. A misstep could plunge him into an abyss, so he awaited his fate with a calm demeanor, hoping for a small turn of fortune.

"Though you are merely a pitiful insect, I must admit, you are the cleverest insect I have ever encountered!" At last, the devil's voice resonated in Darn's mind once more, laced with deep resignation and anger.

Yet, following that resignation and anger came a decisive action. The white quill flashed, and the corner of the golden contract bore several new words-words that Darn could not comprehend. However, the invisible force on the golden contract conveyed to Darn that those were the devil's name.