"You lost."
Duke leaned in close to Tahm, speaking in a low voice as he released the demon's hand. In that brief moment, he had transferred nearly four-fifths of his magic into Tahm, so much that Duke could barely remain standing.
But the outcome was worth it. Mixed with slivers of his own soul, the surge of magic allowed Duke to seize temporary absolute control over Tahm.
"No wonder he's an ancient demon, my current magic reserves were almost depleted just keeping up."
"And yet... my power is enough to control even a demon of this age. Just how far can I go?"
Duke marveled inwardly. Meanwhile, Tahm looked momentarily dazed, still puzzled as to why he had suddenly sneezed out of nowhere.
Still, the demon recovered quickly. Let the brat win one round, he'd pull him into the abyss slowly, inch by inch.
What he didn't realize was that he had already stepped into a deep pit Duke had been digging, and the odds of ever crawling out were slim to none.
"Kid, looks like Lady Luck's on your side!"
Tahm tugged at his collar, his face betraying no hint of disappointment. Instead, he grinned widely, an eerie, unsettling smile full of hidden malice.
"I'll honor our wager."
"Now, what was it the loser had to do again?"
Duke slowly drew out a blank parchment scroll, followed by a feathered quill that came with the contract.
"Just sign this. That's all."
"Of course," Tahm said casually, reaching out for the parchment.
But Duke dodged his hand with a graceful sidestep. "No rush."
"What's the matter? Something wrong?"
Tahm Kench feigned innocence. He had no idea that his disguise had already been seen through. For years, he'd wandered countless cities, deceiving others with masterful disguises, it had always worked like a charm.
Duke shrugged. "Just need to add a few details."
He picked up the pen and swiftly jotted down two short lines on the scroll.
Curious, Tahm leaned in for a peek, and his eyes went wide.
What Duke wrote was nothing short of a slave contract.
"From this moment on, the signee pledges absolute loyalty to the holder of this contract, Duke Sánchez.
They shall obey unconditionally, never disobey, never betray. No matter the place, no matter the time, the signee must appear when summoned and carry out any command, even those that contradict their own principles.
Any violation shall be met with the most horrifying punishment.
Final interpretation of this contract lies solely with the holder: Duke Sánchez."
Tahm blinked rapidly. The next moment, he almost coughed up blood.
"What the hell is this?! This is slavery!!"
What was this brat plotting?
Where did this devilish kid even come from?
How could he be more twisted than an actual demon?
With a flourish, Duke signed his name at the top of the parchment, filling in the "Contract Holder" line. As long as Tahm signed now, he would become Duke's worker drone.
Sign the parchment, become a corporate slave.
"I'm ready. Your turn."
Duke's face bore a malicious grin, completely unmasked now. There was no need for pleasantries anymore, not with a demon who'd devoured gods knew how many lives. Duke had already achieved his goal. No point playing nice.
"I refuse!"
Tahm snarled, "You said I had to leave my name, you never said where!"
"I could carve my name anywhere and that'd count!"
Of course, he wasn't going to fall into the trap that easily. Him? Tahm Kench? Always the one pulling strings, never the puppet. When had he ever been fooled?
Plus, that parchment radiated a sinister aura. Sign it, and the price would be catastrophic.
"Sorry," Duke said coldly. "That's not an option anymore, Mr. Tahm Kench."
Hearing his real name out loud, Tahm's eyes narrowed. A murky shimmer spread over his skin as he dropped his disguise.
"So you knew who I was all along."
"Just had a convenient little gadget," Duke replied, holding up a glass vial containing a blue, glowing eye, the Vision of God. Faint arcs of magical light danced across the surface, giving it an eerie, divine beauty.
"I was fooled by a mortal?!"
Tahm roared, his voice vibrating with fury. "You knew I was me, and still dared to mock me?! You're bold for a mortal!"
"What's wrong?" Duke said nonchalantly, still spinning the glass vial in his fingers. "Is the great demon of greed, Tahm Kench, backing out of a deal?"
Unbeknownst to him, Duke's magic had already started circulating through Tahm's body, ever since that fateful sneeze, the outcome had been sealed.
As Tahm's disguise dropped, his body began to grow, larger, more grotesque. His presence pressed down with suffocating force, evoking a primal, instinctual terror.
"You dare trick me! Trick a mighty demon? A king among kings?!"
"The river will drown you. You'll know true horror."
Moisture thickened in the air around the slaughterhouse. Tahm opened his grotesque maw, razor-sharp teeth unevenly packed, with only shimmering darkness visible within.
"Tell me, mortal, boiled, fried, grilled, or steamed?"
His eyes flashed with sinister delight. He had given up the act.
He was going to crush Duke.
No more games.
Time for pain.
No one had ever deceived him before, and lived.
"Shut up."
Duke set the parchment and quill calmly on the table, pocketing the Vision of God.
With those two words, the enraged Tahm found himself suddenly unable to move. His wide-open jaws snapped shut in an instant, beyond his own control.
"Mmmph!"
Tahm let out a muffled grunt, his tiny bead-like eyes staring at Duke in confusion.
"I told you, Tahm Kench."
Duke smiled.
"You lost."
"In every possible way."
"There's no turning back now."
Tahm tried to retort but found himself mute, only able to glare furiously.
"You're too tall. Shrink a little, I'm getting a neck ache."
Tahm scoffed inwardly at Duke's command.
Him? The River King?
Obey a mortal?
And yet,
His body obeyed before his mind could resist. Shrinking rapidly, his bloated form compressed into something far less intimidating.
"Your aura's too oppressive. Dial it down."
Tahm's oppressive presence vanished instantly. His rage shifted to confusion as Duke continued:
"Now then, sign the contract."
"NO!"
Tahm struggled to regain control, and managed to let out a single bellow.
"The control is weakening," Duke muttered, frowning.
He stepped forward, laid his hand on Tahm's chest, and poured more magic into him.
"What... what have you done to the great Tahm?!" the demon howled.
"Tell me!!"
But Duke ignored him. Telling the truth would only help the old bastard counter it. Better to let the fish sign and seal the deal.
With his magic reinforced, Duke once again wrested full control.
Tahm, powerless, could only watch as he was guided toward the contract. His stubby arms reached out and seized the quill.
"No!!"
"I refuse to submit!!"
Tahm raged inwardly, but his hand moved with shocking speed, leaving a graceful, elaborate signature on the parchment.
The moment he signed, the ink burst into flames. A brilliant fire consumed the words, then the entire scroll.
Hiss!!
As the parchment disintegrated, a chain emerged from the void. One end latched onto Duke's right hand, branding a seal. The other shot toward Tahm, wrapping around his body and burrowing deep into his soul.
Just like leashing an unruly beast.
The moment the one-sided, absolute contract was complete, Tahm let out a bone-chilling, anguished howl.
"NO!!"
"NOOOOO!!!"
"You arrogant mortal! You dare enslave me?! I will NEVER obey your commands! I'd rather be shattered, incinerated, devoured by holy light, I'll never submit!"
"Smile."
Duke released his control.
And the furious, roaring Tahm suddenly broke into a goofy grin, his tongue lolling out like a dim-witted husky.
Realizing what just happened, Tahm yanked his tongue back and glared furiously.
"How dare you?!"
"Roll over."
Duke raised a finger.
Tahm dropped to the ground and rolled like a well-trained puppy.
The contract's power was terrifying.
"Dance."
Tahm grimaced, extended his tongue like a guitar string, and began twirling to his own accompaniment.
By the end of the dance, the rage in his eyes had faded, replaced by an emotion even he failed to notice: fear.
"Sing a song."
"Lalala DEMACIA!!"
"Do a somersault."
He did.
"Fetch the grenade."
Duke pulled the pin on an ice grenade and tossed it. Tahm pounced like a mad dog.
BOOM!
A frozen statue.
"Alright," Duke said, clapping. "Time for the final test."
Emerging from the ice, Tahm had a very bad feeling.
"Take off your coat. Go to the main street and"
"WAIT, NO!!"
"Please, master! Anything but that!"
Tahm cut him off mid-command, panicked. He was at his limit.
End of chapter...
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