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Chapter 763 Mammon Bargain

  After the collapse of the Tree of Scars, Stones was enveloped in silence, like a forest guarded from crowds, as if nature was holding its breath to honor an unusual presence. There were no sounds of spirit birds, no whispers of roots, only the soft footsteps of Fitran walking slowly among the altars now shrouded in a thin mist, sweeping the surface of the altars covered in moss and dust, deepening the nostalgia for lost times.

  In the midst of emptiness, a beam of dark light split the space, forming a magical rift like a crack in glass, the light gently touching the ground, only to vanish again. The air grew heavy, the scent of damp earth mingling with the antique aroma of old books, and from within the rift emerged Mammon—in the form of a little girl, with obsidian horns, as if she embodied the emptiness itself, dressed in a simple black gown that danced in rhythm with the wind, and her golden eyes burned with an ambiguous gaze between childhood and eternity, hinting at many secrets buried deep within her soul.

  Behind Mammon, hundreds of old books spun in the air, each book seemingly alive, its pages shimmering in silvery-blue hues, depicting ancient tales that whispered, bringing to life the atmosphere of the Forbidden Library, which now seemed to suppress and swallow all outside sounds, becoming a silent witness to the forbidden knowledge preserved in ink that would never fade.

  Mammon descended the stairs of illusion, each step seemingly defying gravity, walking amidst the majestic pillars that seemed to separate the real world from fiction, her curves casting vibrating shadows full of magic around her. She smiled faintly—there was no sadness, only an aura that everything in this world—contracts, promises, knowledge—would ultimately be settled. Her smile was not just an expression; it signified a larger game, inviting Fitran to step deeper into a world ruled by darkness and light, where his fate would intertwine with desire and destiny.

  Fitran gazed at Mammon in silence. Under the dim light filtering through the tall windows, Mammon's shadow appeared to grow larger, resembling an ancient god who was eternally youthful yet held the wisdom of thousands of years. There was no fear, yet within him, Monarch felt the current of Mammon's ancient power, a demonic force that refused to bow to the drama of the world. Like the storm raging outside, that flow of energy coursed through him, making his heart beat faster.

  Mammon twirled a book in her palm, each page reflecting the memories of Stones: — the withered tree, its leaves dry like fading hopes; — the Knight who lost his name, rusted armor lying in the embrace of time; — the lost voices, whispers that once existed now only echoes between walls made of memories. All neatly written, yet it did not touch his heart, as if those pages were fragments of alien memories, trapped in a labyrinth of dark thoughts.

  Mammon: “So, the time has finally come to collect the debt.” Mammon's voice was light, as if reading a children's story, yet there was darkness behind it, casting the weight of a world on the verge of collapse. As if every word she spoke was a spell calling back all the consequences of the past, stirring the buried anxiety within Fitran's heart.

  Fitran merely nodded, seeking tranquility, yet that unease was hard to ignore. “Not a debt of blood or soul. Just an old contract that must be fulfilled.” His words seemed to create a whispering wind, piercing through the dusty corridors of time.

  Mammon laughed softly, her voice spreading through the air, creating bubbles of laughter that filled the space, yet it seemed to invite all the ghosts of lost agreements. “I have played in the human world for too long—they always think all demons demand sacrifice. In truth, sometimes we just want all transactions completed, all agreements settled, and all feelings neatly arranged on shelves.” Behind her smile lay a deep longing for simple and peaceful agreements, like morning dew that soothes the soul.

  The space transformed: the bookshelves expanded beyond the altar of Stones, forming a labyrinth of written and unwritten stories. Among the winding shadows, the soft voices of the past echoed, adding a ghostly feel to the room. Mammon's contract books opened one by one, each page vibrating like a breath. The names of sorcerers, kings, spirits, even ancient beings—all once bound by debt, all trapped in a web of intricate fate.

  On the highest shelf, Fitran saw his own name—written in blue-black ink, flanked by Mammon's notes: knowledge, curses, and agreements, each speaking of unspoken agreements, like ripples on the surface of calm water.

  Mammon plucked an old book with a silver seal: “The Book of Remaining Contracts of the Stones World.” Gently, she brushed off the dust, realizing that every fiber held a story, and from that book flowed light dancing above the altar, soft as moonlight slipping through leaves.

  Mammon: “I will not sacrifice today. I only come to collect, to fulfill the old agreement you and Beelzebub made with me, when time was on the brink of collapse—on the edge of darkness waiting behind the light.”

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  Fitran sighed, “Then what do you ask for today, Mammon?” The tension flowed between them like hot steam, fearful of the answer that might burden his soul further.

  Mammon nodded, then raised one finger: “A one-way contract. I only come to return what rightfully belongs to you. Nothing more, nothing less.” As if revealing a long-buried truth, her words flowed through the air with grace and power, carrying unexpected consequences, leaving a trace of anxious anticipation for the next move.

  Mammon stood in a circle of magic, surrounded by the ancient aroma of storytelling books, summoning the glyph of the contract in the air. Ancient letters glowed red and gold, creating a web of light that enveloped Fitran and the Tree of Scars, as if the world of magic wanted to listen to their confession. Every second felt like thousands of years, with a gentle breeze whispering softly among the warm dust.

  The roots of the withered tree formed a circular pattern beneath Mammon's feet, as if alive in a slow dance depicting death and rebirth. The light from the glyph reflected moving shadows, adding a mystical nuance to the altar.

  The books opened, their pages trembling, reflecting symbols and numbers of old contracts—the debts yet to be settled, promises once forgotten. The books seemed to scream tales from the past, waiting to be read and understood, while the dust of time floated gently in the air.

  Mammon: “Once Beelzebub asked me to guard your power, sealing it in a crystal of memory. Today, because Beelzebub has redeemed the promise, and the world of Stones has paid the price in memories, I will return your power, Fitran Fate.” Her voice echoed in the mysterious room, carrying the weight of millions of hopes and fears buried deep.

  Fitran closed his eyes, relinquishing the energy flowing like a river that had long dried up, finally opening the floodgates. In the suffocating silence, he felt the vibrations from the roots of the earth rising, as if calling forth forgotten names to awaken once more.

  Mammon opened her palm, a small black crystal floated above it, glowing blue-white, pulsing gently like the heart of a world on the brink of death. This crystal, a symbol of hope and departure, seemed to vibrate with unexpected power, as if struggling to break free from her grasp.

  Mammon: “I am merely a settlement, not a sacrifice. From this day forward, the contract between the world of Stones and Mammon is complete. You are free to use your power. And I, return to being a witness who only laughs from behind the bookshelves.” What she conveyed spoke more than words; it was an agreement between two souls, each note containing deeper meaning, vibrating in their consciousness.

  "You look boring now, Fitran," Mammon added.

  As Mammon's crystal shattered in the air, an explosion of magical light washed over the altar of Stones: — the roots of the Tree of Scars that had turned black became charcoal, then seeped into the ground, leaving a hollow silence. The sound of trickling water from a nearby river seemed to respond, creating a symphony of nature that complemented the moment, softly echoing in the ears.

  But above that hollow, a small sprout of the Tree of Genesis began to grow—seemingly reaching for the sky with new hope, producing its first leaves, glowing softly, like stars just born, as if absorbing the remnants of Monarch's power that had now returned to Fitran, providing warmth flowing through every fiber of his being.

  Fitran's aura changed: brighter, more assertive—all wounds, curses, and bitter memories merged into a new source of strength, shining in the darkness, ready to write the next chapter of the world of Stones, reweaving the threads that connected them all with a new burning purpose.

  Mammon closed the contract book with a click, slowly disappearing into the shadows of the shelves, shelves filled with ancient knowledge and forbidden secrets, leaving behind a soft laughter, like the whisper of the night wind sneaking into the corridors, like a story that had just been read, and all the debts of the world were finally settled without bloodshed. As if the universe took a deep breath, paving a new path for those who dared to move forward.

  Fitran stood on the altar, surrounded by the dim light dancing gently on the cold stone surface. The aura of his old power restored—not as a burden, but as a choice, like a river's flow guiding him in the right direction. Rinoa gazed at him from the side of the altar, her eyes reflecting the glimmer of hope, feeling that they were truly starting anew—stepping into the darkness filled with new possibilities, with the power of Monarch restored and a world without contracts waiting to be rewritten.

  Mammon vanished, yet her voice still lingered on the walls of Stones: "Not all demons need sacrifice; sometimes the world just needs to settle debts, to be ready to write a new tale." That voice echoed, filling the silent space as if the gentle whisper of the wind carried a message from the realm where they stood. Each word hung in the air, creating tension between the old and the new, between sorrow and hope.

  The altar of Stones no longer wept, the moonlight gently illuminating it, providing warmth to a place once filled with sorrow. It was just waiting for the next chapter to begin; the atmosphere seemed to vibrate with hope. Fitran and Rinoa stood together, holding each other's hands, every heartbeat becoming a symphony united, accompanied by the remnants of light left from Mammon's ritual. They felt the pulse of time, like the sigh of the wind whispering through the windows of the forbidden library that still held secrets.

  And among the newly sprouted roots, winding like unpredictable fates, the world of Stones—for the first time in a long while—felt the meaning of being settled: not without wounds, but without the old debts overshadowing the steps toward hope. Every leaf that moved seemed to celebrate the newfound freedom, creating a harmonious symphony of nature, embracing them with awe—a new stitching on the canvas of life that had long been wounded.

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