The next morning, Zevin stood atop the city wall, rallying the troops just as he did when Selim first met him.
“Reinforcements will arrive soon, and the One-eyed Frog Monster has already been defeated by our Hero.”
“Now, it’s our turn to take the initiative! Let us prove our valor to the Empire—His Majesty the Emperor will not hesitate to reward the brave.”
The crowd below erupted into thunderous cheers.
“Alright!”
“Drive out the Beasts!”
Promising the impossible to those beneath you—seems to be a mandatory lesson for everyone in power.
After all this, Zevin nodded to Selim. Seeing her collaborator was at least reliable, Selim nodded back, well satisfied.
He led a group of Guards and Mercenaries to set up defenses near the town. Only when scattered sounds of fighting echoed from afar did Selim turn to call Cecilia.
“Little Cecilia, it’s our turn to move.” She shook the Shadow Cloak draped around her and continued, “Stay close to me. If you run into any Beasts, don’t act rashly. Get in my arms.”
“Okay, Sister Selim.”
The two began to make their way deeper into the Forest, choosing a path far from the battlefield.
Just as Selim had expected, the frontal battle drew most of the Beasts’ attention. Coupled with the Shadow Cloak’s effect, their journey avoided the majority of the monsters.
Even when a few Beasts chanced upon them along the way, they ended up defeated, returning to nourish the Forest.
“Sister Selim, look! Is it over there?” Cecilia parted the grass taller than herself, lowering her voice.
Ahead, nestled in the woods, stood the Bone Altar—an ominous pedestal of stacked bones, atop which a Green Finger Bone glimmered faintly.
Selim compared the altar before her with the images she’d seen in the One-eyed Frog Monster’s memories and confirmed it was the culprit.
For such evil things, there was no need to discuss morality—just call Cecilia over, ready their best moves, and blow it up together.
『Soulwhistle Arcane Shot』
『Sunfire』
They unleashed their most powerful area attacks at once.
Just as the two were about to hurl their spells, the Green Finger Bone suddenly flashed. A Green Apparition emerged above the bone, followed by a voice deep as a bell.
“You’ve come? I’ve waited long, only for such a paltry show?”
“Cecilia, throw it!” The instant the apparition appeared, Selim knew something had gone awry.
This was not the time for conversation, no matter what it was—blast it first, talk later.
Boom—!
Both attacks detonated at once, the blast wind making the great trees groan and creak.
When the smoke cleared, under the protection of that green light, the altar was completely unharmed.
“Interesting.” The apparition whispered. “How do you wield the power of Our Familiar? Could it be His new authority? My curiosity grows ever deeper…”
Selim ignored its words and conjured another Soulwhistle Arcane Shot, flinging it again.
Though the altar remained intact after the huge blast, the green glow shielding it dimmed a little.
Seeing her attacks were working, Selim’s eyes brightened. This meant victory was not impossible.
“Cecilia, ignore its bluster—keep attacking.” At the same time, countless Soul Tentacles hammered the green barrier.
“I understand, Sister Selim.” Even as she spoke, Cecilia hurled another blazing spear, causing the green light to fade noticeably.
“Enough, mortals!” As if enraged by their actions, the bell-like voice thundered, “This is blasphemy against a god!”
“Hah, what a joke—a god? More like a fiend. Cecilia, blast it again.” Selim tossed another Soulwhistle Arcane Shot without pause.
Back when Selim first arrived, she was playing through the mid-point of this game’s version, so she knew about half of the new expansion’s content.
Of all the Supreme Lords and their Familiars destined to cause massive future casualties, Selim remembered them vividly.
Yet, among these Supreme Lords, this green fellow was the only one she had no clue about.
At best, it was a minor Supreme Lord from Subspace—during its incursion into the real world, unless it used its Familiars, it couldn’t exert much of its power.
Such a thing was really just there to serve as a Summon Experience Baby for Players in the early stages. Of course, when it’s weak, you should take its life.
Under their relentless attacks, the green light was finally on the verge of collapse.
Just as the two were about to press their advantage, the Green Finger Bone melted halfway. The apparition on top flared with green light and raised a finger. Their attacks vanished instantly.
“Even a Familiar of His is but a mere mortal. How dare you defy the will of a god, again and again?”
“Fine, then—let me show you the power of a god.”
The bones atop the Bone Altar rose with no wind, gradually assembling into a skeleton.
With a surge of green light, the white bones grew flesh—two One-eyed Frogs, each exuding a presence even more formidable than the last one they had defeated.
“Run!” Faced with this, Selim’s face changed, and she tried to signal Cecilia to flee.
“Hmph! Think you can escape?”
Just as they turned, the green light solidified, trapping them both inside.
“Croak~”
The two One-eyed Frogs sprang to life, standing to the left and right behind the Green Apparition like Guards.
“To spare your lives is already a divine favor.”
Seeing there was no hope of escape, Selim forced herself to appear calm and asked, “What do you want?”
“Very simple. Accept My favor.” A ball of green light drifted over to Selim.
“Forsake your Old Master. Become My Familiar. You will receive the power I bestow.”
『Notice: You have received the Blessing “Life’s Silk Weave”. Your tier has risen to Moonlight Tier for 5 minutes.』
『Notice: “Life’s Silk Weave” offers a deal: Do you agree to sell your soul, become its eternal slave, and exchange for the class—Disaster Knight?』
Feeling the immense power coursing through her body, Selim would almost have believed the entity’s favor if not for the prompt from her Player Template.
If the price of strength was slavery, then she’d rather not have it. She had no intention of accepting this deal.
“It’s truly powerful… but… why me?”
“To bask in divine favor is your fortune.” The apparition spoke coolly.
“If you won’t tell me why, I can’t wholeheartedly follow you. Besides, I believe my Old Master will save me.” Selim had no idea who the so-called Old Master was, but that didn’t stop her from borrowing the name for leverage.
After a long silence, the Green Apparition finally replied, “He… has gone farther than we. You are His latest creation, perhaps useful to Me.”
“I offer you My proudest creation and My power in exchange for what you now possess.”
『Notice: “Life’s Silk Weave” proposes to exchange your soul for “Disaster Knight”.』
Looking at the prompt before her, Selim pursed her lips. The other party had no sincerity at all—not only seeking to take what she had, but even if she received a new class, she’d still end up a slave.
How was this different from daylight robbery?
“Sister Selim, don’t agree! Don’t be tempted by fake power. If it’s just strength, I’ll definitely gain enough one day to help you.” Seeing Selim lost in thought, Cecilia hurriedly reminded her.
“Noisy!” The Green Apparition conjured a ball of energy and hurled it at Cecilia.
Seeing this, Selim quickly shielded Cecilia and said, “I have one condition: let her go now.”
“Very well.”
“Sister Selim—!”
Cecilia was flung beyond the barrier, but she didn’t flee. She battered the shield with her fire spear, her cries ceaseless until the green curtain finally closed.
“Is that enough?” the apparition asked. “Let her stay by your side. Submit.”
“That’s enough.” Selim lowered her eyes.
“Excellent. Worship Me…”
“I mean—” Selim’s eyes snapped open, a wicked grin on her lips, “I’ve stacked enough! Thanks for the power!”
『Soul Extinction (Red)』
While Selim and the apparition had been haggling, her Soul Tentacles had only lessened their attacks—they hadn’t stopped. Those hits had already stacked up to the maximum limit allowed within a set time.
Even better, with the temporary power boost granted by her enemy, this move would deal damage at Moonlight Tier stats.
Under the massive strike of Soul Extinction, the Green Apparition was instantly devastated—frozen in place like a disconnected puppet, even the two One-eyed Frog Monsters it summoned collapsed to the ground, their control lost.
Now, all the defenses of the Bone Altar crumbled away as its controller fell.
“Cecilia! Blast it!”
The next second, the Bone Altar disintegrated into ashes.
As it was reduced to dust, the Green Apparition in front of Selim grew as thin as a shadow.
She pointed straight at the apparition and unleashed 『Soul Devour』.
A god’s soul? Let’s see how it tastes!
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