“I do not expect you to do them very often or at all, but they are the most valuable form of… ‘trade’ between us. Or rather you and your fate. I don’t necessarily need to be the recipient of the sacrifice’s value. I will put a premium on any Demonics that you give me though. They are the truly evil beings of this world and all of us Demon Lords hate them. They have either done ritualistic sacrifices, or many other evil acts to cause as much suffering as possible. Usually, it is a combination both.” He explained further.
“Alright, so what about Demonic plants?” I asked.
“They would be an exception to the rule since reasons for their corruption by miasma is usually outside of their control. Some plant and plant monster species can be prone to attracting it as well causing them to demonize regardless of where they grow and where they grow is usually the main factor when it comes to them becoming demonic. Having a multitude of evil acts done in their vicinity can also cause it.” He replied.
“Ah… um…” I said, not really knowing how to word my next question. Gluttony seemed to pick up on this and elaborated a bit.
“I will leave the judgment of the plants up to you and they generally fall under ‘tributes’ rather than sacrifices. Anything more concerning them is considered uncommon knowledge but nothing you need to know about unless it comes up nor would it attract undo attention if you did. However, I should not have to tell that you should not be sharing how you upgrade your fate with others. Only demons and demonics have this sort of knowledge so letting it be common knowledge about you will only cast suspicion on you and your origins.” He told me and I nodded my thanks.
The meat pile was gone by then and my skill’s tongue was licking the floor. As annoying as that was and adding in the fact that I could taste with it too, made me thankful that the ‘not-floor’ was clean and didn’t really taste like anything other than the meat juices. The ‘Demon Lord of Gluttony’ seem to find it amusing though and got up to get more meat for me without me asking.
“Another armful should do it. I’m almost…. ‘full’ I think.” I told him and I saw his head nod in acknowledgment.
He put the meat down on the floor again when he came back and, to my relief, the skill took its time with it in reflection of how much less hungry I was. I think I was almost full like I had told him, but I hadn’t felt like that in so many years I was wondering if I had forgotten what it was like. While it ate, the demon watched it, and I was getting the impression that he was hesitant to ask me something.
“What?” I prodded. He hesitated a moment longer before speaking.
“If… you are feeling up to it, I would like you to collect the Archon Stone Thumper’s blood as soon as possible and hand it over to me. Fresh monster blood is a rare and valuable ingredient and the higher the level monster it comes from the more value it has.” He answered.
“Um… wouldn’t it be spoiled by now?” I pointed out to him, and he put his fingers together.
“Technically yes, but time passes differently here, and monster blood takes longer to spoil than normal animal blood but, even so, you – we – are running out of time to preserve it at its optimal condition. I am able to make potions for you, but I require materials to make them and containers to properly store them. With such a large amount from such a relatively high-level monster at such an early stage for you is quite the windfall for you and will serve you well in the coming years if you can harvest it in time.” He explained to me earnestly and I eye him with suspicion.
“That all sounds a bit too good, and it sounds like you’re really trying hard to sell me on getting this for you. What aren’t you telling me?” I asked as my skill finished eating. It felt ‘satiated’ to me, and I was no longer hungry myself, which was a nice feeling that I had missed. It did ruin the seriousness of the moment by giving a discreet belch after it had cleaned the floor, but I ignored it as I waited for Gluttony’s answer.
“It will be… very ‘unpleasant’ for you to be out there. You may not feel the effects of it here but you still have Miasma Taint V. Aside from halving your stats without a resistance to miasma, you will also feel very sickly too. Also, since your Demon Form hasn’t recovered yet, you will be without its help as well.” He replied and my face scrunched up with disgust and reluctance.
“Not really looking forward to that. Will it even be worth it? I don’t think I can get it fast enough if that’s the case.” I pointed out and he turned hesitant again, even worse than before.
“That is… another thing I wish to discuss with you. I can help but I will need you to trust me for it. I know –” He said before I raised a hand to stop him.
“What is it?” I asked him, wanting him to get to the point. By the way he was acting, I was fairly certain I wouldn’t like the answer and, sure enough, I didn’t.
“I will… need to take control of you for a while.” He finally answered.
I sighed, leaned back and rubbed my face in exasperation. My skill also threw in its two cents and growled at him. The rumbling noise made the teeth vibrate and my chest to tickle and itch.
“Stop that!” I muttered at it, slapping a hand on it to get it to comply before turning my attention back to the demon.
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“You’re right. That would take trust, and you haven’t really done much to earn that trust either.” I agreed, rubbing the of my hand before glaring at him.
“What you have been doing is mostly abusing me.” I point out angrily to him and he grimaced in shame. I sighed again.
“Just so we’re clear. I don’t have to go out there right now, but I probably should so I don’t miss out on getting some really good stuff, possibly the quest, and a lot of food. Assuming that the meat will all spoil in the time I get my Miasma Taint down to more bearable levels. Is that correct?” I asked and he nodded.
“More or less.” He replied.
“And if I let you – and I do mean if – take control of me, I’ll be able to get more?” I asked him and again he nodded.
“Would Silky, Bruce, and Salazar all be safe from harm while you are in control?” I asked him and I expected him to nod right away like he had the previous two times but he didn’t. He looked thoughtful instead and it took him a moment to answer me.
“I know of Salazar, but who is this ‘Silky’ and ‘Bruce’?” He eventually asked me.
“Bruce is a cave spider monster that decided to be friends with me and Silky is a white mana spider sling that I rescued.” I told him, eyes narrowing. He wasn’t really looking at me but at something I couldn’t see.
“Would you consider them ‘Your Prey’?” He asked me next, and I found myself jumping to my feet in outrage with my skill echoing my sentiments with another rumbling growl.
“They are not-!” I started but he held his hands up in a placating gesture.
“In the same sense that Salazar is.” He stated and I sensed something was up.
“Yes. I consider Silky and Bruce as my prey the same way Salazar is.” I told him and I saw him nod in confirmation of something.
“Can you tell me what is going on now?” I asked him.
“It had something to do with the Agreement we made during the trial. I would tell you more, but we have limited time right now. Just know that they are safe from me. As for me controlling you, I need your permission to do so. Because of the Defiant soul trait, you can create an Agreement that I must follow while I am in control. If I try to go against it, it will hinder me and aid you in getting back control of your body.” He explained to me.
“So, no mind control then?” I asked.
“That would require a separate skill that I do not have, and it wouldn’t really matter if I did have one. Your Defiant Soul trait naturally makes you highly resistant anything that would seek to control your mind.” He pointed out to me. His words helped me to calm down enough to think clearly once more.
“If I agree to let you have temporary control of my body, can I make the agreement say that you aren’t allowed to harm other living things?” I question.
“That would be inadvisable, but it would be possible. You can make any demands you like on your end.” He told me and I thought a bit more on what I had said.
“You can’t harm any living things except in defense of my life.” I amended and he nodded in approval.
“That is better. Is there anything else you want to add?” He asked me and shook my head after a moment of thought.
“Nothing serious right now. We can see about after the monster’s carcass is stashed away.” I replied.
“Fair enough.” He said before a semi-familiar transparent window appeared in front of me.
It wasn’t blue like the normal ones I had been getting so far but something that was a crinkly looking yellow white that made me think of aged parchment or something very similar to it. Jagged ivory edges that reminded me of teeth framed it while the archaic print was a faintly glowing gold.
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AND AGREEMENT HAS BEEN MADE BETWEEN THE DEMON LORD OF GLUTTONY AND FATE BEARER SAMUEL JACKSON
IN RETURN FOR LETTING THE DEMON LORD TO TAKE TEMPORARY CONTROL OF THE FATE BEARER’S BODY THEY WILL:
FULLY PAY ALL AND ANY COST OF SKILLS USED
AID IN THE CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF SKILLS USED
LISTEN TO ANY ADDITIONAL ORDERS, DEMANDS, OR DIRECTIONS OF THE FATE BEARER WHILE IN CONTROL
WILL NOT HARM ANY LIVING BEING NOT PROTECTED BY ANY PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS UNLESS IN DEFENSE OF THE FATE BEARER’S LIFE
BREAKING, RESISTING, OR FAILING TO PROVIDE ANY OF THE ABOVE TERMS BY THE DEMON LORD WILL CAUSE THEM TO BE BOUND AND CAUSE A CONTEST OF WILLS TO BE INITIATED BETWEEN AGREEMENT HOLDERS.
ANY AND ALL BREACHES IN THE ABOVE TERMS IS AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINED BY THE FATE BEARER DUE TO THE BEARER’S CORE SOUL TRAIT BEING DEFIANT
THE DEMON LORD ALSO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND CONTROL AS THEY NEED TO ATTEND TO THEIR OWN NEEDS
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DOES THE FATE BEAR SAMUEL JACKSON ACCEPT THESE TERMS? Y/N
CAUTION: AS THIS IS YOUR FIRST POSSESSION AGREEMENT, THE DEMON LORD OF GLUTTONY WILL NEED TO PREFORM A PROCEDURE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OF YOUR BODY WHENEVER PERMISSION IS GIVEN.
THIS PROCEDURE NEEDS ONLY TO BE DONE ONCE.
BY ACCEPTING AND WILLINGLY UNDERGOING THIS PROCEDURE, YOU WILL HAVE COMPLETE PROTECTION FROM POSSESSION BY ANY ENTITY WEAKER THAN ‘LORD SOVEREIGN’, ‘DEITY’ OR ANY OTHER BEING OF EQUIVALENT POWER.
DUE TO THE DEMON LORD OF GLUTTONY’S TITLE: DEVOURER OF GODS YOU WILL HAVE PARTIAL PROTECTION FROM ANY ENTITY THAT HAS STRENGTH EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN A ‘LORD SOVEREIGN’ GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO RESIST THEIR CONTROL.
