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

Levi had gained two artifacts from Kai—one was the red sword, a weapon-type artifact, which he desperately needed, as he had no other weapon to use.

----[Blaze]----

Type: Weapon

Rank: Vile

Description: [A sword blessed by Fire itself.]

Abilities: [Will Fire]

[Will Fire]: The stronger the will, the stronger the fire.

----[Blaze]-----

Though it had only one skill, its power was immense, as it did not rely on Levi's essence but on his willpower. Essence was still required to envelop the sword in flames, but the intensity of those flames was entirely dependent on his will. Even without its ability, the sword was formidable, with an incredibly sharp blade that lived up to its Vile rank.

"I thought he might have something stronger," Levi mused, though he knew it was natural for Kai not to possess higher-level weapons—not because the Makalani family was poor, but because what good were powerful weapons if Kai couldn't even wield them?

The second artifact was the ring he was currently wearing—a Fallen-rank artifact with two attached skills.

----[Ring of the Fallen]----

Type: Accessory

Rank: Fallen

Description: [A ring crafted from the ashes of a long-forgotten kingdom.]

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Abilities: [Mind Shield], [Essence Flow]

[Mind Shield]: Protects the wearer from mental attacks, fortifying the mind.

[Essence Flow]: Gradually restores essence during battle.

----[Ring of the Fallen]----

This ring was far rarer than the sword. Not only did it offer defense against mental attacks, but it also restored essence during battle—exactly what Levi needed most at the moment. When Levi was in his demonic transformation, he could utilize its regenerative ability to maintain his essence.

But since he couldn't afford to use Demonic Transformation recklessly anymore, he had been seeking a way to restore essence naturally, and this ring was the perfect solution.

Aside from these two artifacts, Levi also had Kai's spatial ring—though, of course, it was locked. He had asked Franz to help unlock it, and surprisingly, Franz agreed. Seizing the opportunity, Levi also gave him the spatial ring he had taken from the fat boy, which was still stored in his Mercenary Federation locker.

Franz said unlocking both rings would take time, and Levi didn't mind the wait, as he had other plans before heading to the Favored Ones Academy.

First, he needed to visit his friend—Ian!

***

The monastery, nestled in the craggy peaks of the United Asian Country, remained as still as ever. The skies had begun to darken with the onset of twilight, casting long shadows over the hilltops. The monks went about their evening routines, some meditating, others tending to the ancient grounds. Their movements were deliberate, slow, and peaceful.

But not all was serene beneath the sacred tree.

The towering monk, who had earlier conversed with the disembodied voice, sat alone, his eyes closed as he inhaled the chilled mountain air. His imposing figure, with muscles honed from years of ascetic training, radiated strength, yet his spirit was calm—a still ocean in the storm.

Without any sound or movement to herald it, the air before him seemed to darken. A wisp of shadow unfurled, growing more tangible by the second until a form emerged— it was the same individual who was watching Levi's duel with Kai, the one who dwelt in the darkness.

"Have you found the one?"

The monk asked without opening his eyes having noticed the presence of the shadowed individual, his deep voice cutting through the silence like a blade. The sacred beads in his hand clicked softly as he shifted slightly in anticipation of the answer.

"I have," the individual responded, their voice smooth yet carrying a weight of tension. "But the situation is not ideal."

The monk's eyes opened, revealing his sharp, discerning gaze. "Explain," he commanded.

The individual stepped forward from the shadows, taking the form of a tall, spectral figure cloaked in darkness. Their face was obscured, but three gleaming eyes shone with the knowledge and secrets they held. They clasped their hands together as if contemplating the words they would say next.

"That boy….he is more mysterious…than I thought," it began. "And he is not alone. There is…something sinister that dwells within his shadow….. " The figure hesitated.

The monk raised a brow but remained silent, waiting for more.

And they continued, their voice barely a whisper, though each word carried immense gravity.

"A raven was gliding in his shadows but that wasn't what I saw - it was something….more sinister. It acted on its own as if the boy…. wasn't even aware of its existence. I don't know what it is, but it has power—power that feels... unnatural."

The monk's expression remained impassive, but his fingers tightened ever so slightly around the meditation beads. "A creature from the boy's shadow... how unusual and even you can't see anything? Is it a trait?"

"I do not know," They admitted. "But that is not the problem right now - Mercenary Federation has taken the role to protect him - and if they weren't, I don't know if taking him here is safe - that boy, he is reckless and unpredictable."

The monk closed his eyes briefly. It was rare for his friend to speak this much, and it was clear he was deeply unsettled by what he couldn't identify in Levi's shadow. Now that Levi was under the protection of the Mercenary Federation, they would have to bide their time. Any rash action could risk revealing their presence, and that was a danger they couldn't afford.

"Keep a close watch on him for now," the monk said, setting the matter aside for the moment. "How goes the infiltration of the Favored Ones?"

"It's progressing well," the individual replied. "Two of our people have successfully gained admission to the academy, and no one suspects a thing. Once they are inside, we can begin the next phase of our plan."

"Good. Tell them to remain cautious and vigilant. We're running out of time."

The figure nodded before retreating into the shadows, disappearing into the void as silently as they had appeared.

The monk was left standing alone once more, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The world around him seemed calm, untouched by the machinations stirring beneath its surface. But he knew better.

War was coming—and it was a war they desperately needed to survive.

----***----

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