Forsaken By The Gods, I Made A Contract With the Demon King

"Now then," the stranger said, brushing non-existent dust from his sleeves after dispatching the Shadow Walkers. "Let's discuss your rather... unique condition."

The transformed Levi remained motionless, his massive demonic form a stark contrast to the stranger's casual demeanor. Blood still dripped from his claws, each drop sizzling with corrupted essence where it hit the ground.

"Not feeling talkative?" The stranger took a step forward, head tilting slightly. "Understandable, I suppose. It's not every day one reveals such a... dramatic secret."

Still no response. The transformed figure stood perfectly still, not even the rise and fall of breathing disturbing its statuesque pose. The stranger's eyes narrowed slightly, something tugging at the edge of his awareness.

"You know," he continued, circling slowly, "I've hunted many beings with demonic traits. Most can't help but react when a potential threat moves into their space. Fight or flight response - it's hardwired into even the most corrupted entities."

The crimson patterns across Levi's transformed skin continued to pulse with power, but something about the rhythm seemed off. Too regular. Too... perfect.

"Yet here you stand," the stranger's voice took on a harder edge, "showing neither. Not a muscle twitch, not a shift in stance, not even a flicker of essence response to my presence."

The female assassin stirred from where she lay against a broken tree, consciousness slowly returning. She tried to speak but managed only a pained groan.

"At first," the stranger continued, pulling a peculiar dagger from seemingly nowhere, "I thought perhaps you were simply frozen in fear. It wouldn't be the first time my presence has had such an effect." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "But then I noticed something rather curious."

The dagger flew from his hand with impossible speed, aimed at Levi's leg. The blade passed straight through the transformed figure, creating a brief ripple in its form before embedding itself in a tree behind.

The stranger's composed demeanor cracked for the first time, genuine surprise flashing across his features. The transformed figure before him wavered slightly, like heat distortion over hot stone.

"An illusion," he breathed, understanding dawning. "A momento of presence... but when?

Then he brust into laughter.

"I haven't been deceived like that in... well, a very long time." His smile now held genuine anticipation. "I find myself quite looking forward to our next encounter."

The projection of Levi's transformed state finally dissolved completely, leaving behind only fading whispers of essence in the destroyed clearing. The hunt resumed, predators chasing prey through Paradise's wilderness, but now with an added edge of respect for their quarry's cunning.

The stranger's words carried on the wind as they moved out, "Run well, little beast. Run well. But know that no illusion, no matter how clever, will save you next time."

The chase was on.

****

Time seemed to slow as I assessed my situation during the fight with the Shadow Walkers. Even with my demonic transformation active, the female assassin's movements were becoming increasingly difficult to counter. Her essence control was masterful, each strike carrying layers of corrupted power that threatened to pierce my defenses.

'She's stronger than me,' I admitted to myself, a acknowledgment that sent ice through my veins despite my transformed state. 'Even like this, I can't win.'

The realization came with perfect clarity - I needed to run.

But of course, professional assassins wouldn't simply let their target walk away. I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.

As I parried another of her lightning-quick strikes, my mind raced through possibilities. The weight of Eternal Vigil against my chest seemed to pulse, reminding me of its presence. Of all its abilities, Forgotten Echo might be my only chance.

I waited for the perfect moment, timing it with the death of the second assassin. In the split second when their attention was divided between their fallen comrade and maintaining their formation, I activated Forgotten Echo. The ability drew on my essence, creating a perfect projection of myself from moments ago, complete with the demonic transformation.

The timing couldn't have been better. Just as I slipped away, leaving my echo in my place, the mysterious man appeared. His dramatic entrance and confrontation with the Shadow Walkers provided the perfect distraction.

I silently withdrew, my transformed state allowing me to move with unnatural stealth despite my increased size. Part of me burned with curiosity about the newcomer - his power was obviously extraordinary - but survival took precedence over curiosity.

'Who was he?' I wondered as I put distance between myself and the clearing. 'To handle Shadow Walkers so casually...'

My thoughts were interrupted by a distant shout of rage - the man must have discovered my deception. The echo wouldn't last much longer, and when it dissolved, both he and the remaining assassins would be in pursuit.

I pushed my transformed body to its limits, my enhanced muscles burning as I crashed through the wilderness. The morning light that had seemed so threatening earlier now worked in my favor, illuminating potential paths through the dense vegetation.

A rustle in the undergrowth ahead made me skid to a halt. A massive shape burst from the foliage - a Vile-rank monster, its body writhing with corrupted essence. Under normal circumstances, such an encounter would demand immediate attention. The creature was easily twice my size, even in my transformed state, its multiple limbs ending in wickedly curved claws.

"Of all the times-" I started to curse, but something strange happened.

The monster, instead of attacking, ran past me as if I didn't exist. Its massive form crashed through the vegetation, heading deeper into the wilderness with single-minded purpose.

That's when understanding dawned. There was only one thing that could make a Vile-rank monster flee with such desperate abandon - the presence of a sanctum!

The rifts in space excluded thick essence which were known to attract corrupt beings, their purifying essence acting like an invisible barrier that most monsters instinctively avoided.

'A sanctum,' I thought, hope flaring in my chest.

'If I can reach it...'

I didn't finish the thought, instead taking off after the fleeing monster. It became my unwitting guide, its path of destruction easy to follow. Behind me, I could sense multiple essence signatures in pursuit - the Shadow Walkers and their mysterious man hadn't wasted time once they discovered my deception.

My lungs burned despite my enhanced endurance. The transformation maintained its drain on my essence, and I knew I couldn't hold it indefinitely. Already I could feel my muscles beginning to tremble from the extended exertion. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

More monsters appeared, all running in the same direction. Corrupted beasts of various ranks charged through the wilderness, their usual territorial behaviors forgotten in their desperate flight. The air grew thick with their combined essence signatures, a chaotic mixture that might help mask my own trail.

"There!" a voice called from behind - too close. "The essence disturbance!"

An arrow whistled past my head, its corrupted essence leaving a trail of darkness in the air. The Shadow Walkers were gaining ground.

I pushed harder, my claws digging into the earth for better traction as I ran. The monster ahead of me crashed through a thick wall of vegetation, and I followed without hesitation.

The scene that greeted me on the other side stole what little breath I had left.

A massive clearing stretched before me, at its center a structure that could only be a sanctum.

A pitch-black portal hung in the air, its edges rippling like liquid darkness against the morning light. The very sight of it made my transformed essence roil uneasily.

I had just started toward it when a voice cut through the air: "Impressive thinking, beast."

The mysterious man from before stood atop a withered tree, his form silhouetted against the sky. The female assassin and her remaining subordinate emerged from the forest behind me, their essence signatures flaring with killing intent.

"Using an illusion to escape while we were distracted," the man continued, his tone almost appreciative. "And then following the monsters to find sanctuary. But I'm afraid-"

He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, his eyes widened slightly as he looked past me. A low rumble shook the ground, and I turned to see what had caught his attention.

The fleeing monsters had been just the beginning. A wave of corrupted creatures emerged from the wilderness - everything from low-rank beasts to things that defied description. All of them running, all of them desperate to escape whatever was coming behind them.

That's when I saw her - a flash of silver hair amidst the chaos. A girl, moving with impossible grace through the stampeding monsters. She showed no fear, no hesitation as she approached the portal. Our eyes met for a brief moment as she passed, and I saw something ancient in her gaze that made my demonic form shudder.

Without breaking stride, she stepped into the dark portal and vanished.

"Well," the man said, his voice carrying a note of genuine surprise. "This just became more interesting."

'Fuck'

I cursed underneath, seeing that.

It wasn't without a reason. The sanctum may be one with limited capacity and I just say Lyssandra enter the sanctum - it may have only one person limit for all I know.

'Just run!'

I didn't wait to think anymore. Using the chaos of the monster stampede as cover, I sprinted toward the rapidly contracting portal. Whatever was driving these creatures into such a panic was approaching fast, and I had no intention of being caught between it and my pursuers.

'Please,' I thought, watching the portal shrink with each passing second. 'Let there be enough space for one more.'

The female assassin's blade whistled past my ear. "Don't let him reach it!"

But the stampeding monsters worked in my favor, forcing my pursuers to dodge and weave, breaking their momentum.

[Evergreen Hell]

[Capacity - 1/3]

I reached the portal and thankfully, it had space and unfortunately - it still had space for 2.

But I didn't have time to think.

Without another thought, I dove through the dark portal. The last thing I heard was the mysterious man's frustrated shout, cut off as the portal sealed behind me, leaving me falling through absolute darkness toward whatever fate awaited.

Right now, survival was all that mattered.

---***---