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

Chapter 130 Ambush (3)

"Now then," the stranger said, brushing non-existent dust from his sleeves after dispatching the Shadow Walkers. "Let's discuss your rather... unique condition."

The transformed Levi remained motionless, his massive demonic form a stark contrast to the stranger's casual demeanor. Blood still dripped from his claws, each drop sizzling with corrupted essence where it hit the ground.

"Not feeling talkative?" The stranger took a step forward, head tilting slightly. "Understandable, I suppose. It's not every day one reveals such a... dramatic secret."

Still no response. The transformed figure stood perfectly still, not even the rise and fall of breathing disturbing its statuesque pose. The stranger's eyes narrowed slightly, something tugging at the edge of his awareness.

"You know," he continued, circling slowly, "I've hunted many beings with demonic traits. Most can't help but react when a potential threat moves into their space. Fight or flight response - it's hardwired into even the most corrupted entities."

The crimson patterns across Levi's transformed skin continued to pulse with power, but something about the rhythm seemed off. Too regular. Too... perfect.

"Yet here you stand," the stranger's voice took on a harder edge, "showing neither. Not a muscle twitch, not a shift in stance, not even a flicker of essence response to my presence."

The female assassin stirred from where she lay against a broken tree, consciousness slowly returning. She tried to speak but managed only a pained groan.

"At first," the stranger continued, pulling a peculiar dagger from seemingly nowhere, "I thought perhaps you were simply frozen in fear. It wouldn't be the first time my presence has had such an effect." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "But then I noticed something rather curious."

The dagger flew from his hand with impossible speed, aimed at Levi's leg. The blade passed straight through the transformed figure, creating a brief ripple in its form before embedding itself in a tree behind.

The stranger's composed demeanor cracked for the first time, genuine surprise flashing across his features. The transformed figure before him wavered slightly, like heat distortion over hot stone.

"An illusion," he breathed, understanding dawning. "A momento of presence... but when?

Then he brust into laughter.

"I haven't been deceived like that in... well, a very long time." His smile now held genuine anticipation. "I find myself quite looking forward to our next encounter."

The projection of Levi's transformed state finally dissolved completely, leaving behind only fading whispers of essence in the destroyed clearing. The hunt resumed, predators chasing prey through Paradise's wilderness, but now with an added edge of respect for their quarry's cunning.

The stranger's words carried on the wind as they moved out, "Run well, little beast. Run well. But know that no illusion, no matter how clever, will save you next time."

The chase was on.

****

Time seemed to slow as I assessed my situation during the fight with the Shadow Walkers. Even with my demonic transformation active, the female assassin's movements were becoming increasingly difficult to counter. Her essence control was masterful, each strike carrying layers of corrupted power that threatened to pierce my defenses.

'She's stronger than me,' I admitted to myself, a acknowledgment that sent ice through my veins despite my transformed state. 'Even like this, I can't win.'

The realization came with perfect clarity - I needed to run.

But of course, professional assassins wouldn't simply let their target walk away. I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.

I had just started toward it when a voice cut through the air: "Impressive thinking, beast."

The mysterious man from before stood atop a withered tree, his form silhouetted against the sky. The female assassin and her remaining subordinate emerged from the forest behind me, their essence signatures flaring with killing intent.

"Using an illusion to escape while we were distracted," the man continued, his tone almost appreciative. "And then following the monsters to find sanctuary. But I'm afraid-"

He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, his eyes widened slightly as he looked past me. A low rumble shook the ground, and I turned to see what had caught his attention.

The fleeing monsters had been just the beginning. A wave of corrupted creatures emerged from the wilderness - everything from low-rank beasts to things that defied description. All of them running, all of them desperate to escape whatever was coming behind them.

That's when I saw her - a flash of silver hair amidst the chaos. A girl, moving with impossible grace through the stampeding monsters. She showed no fear, no hesitation as she approached the portal. Our eyes met for a brief moment as she passed, and I saw something ancient in her gaze that made my demonic form shudder.

Without breaking stride, she stepped into the dark portal and vanished.

"Well," the man said, his voice carrying a note of genuine surprise. "This just became more interesting."

'Fuck'

I cursed underneath, seeing that.

It wasn't without a reason. The sanctum may be one with limited capacity and I just say Lyssandra enter the sanctum - it may have only one person limit for all I know.

'Just run!'

I didn't wait to think anymore. Using the chaos of the monster stampede as cover, I sprinted toward the rapidly contracting portal. Whatever was driving these creatures into such a panic was approaching fast, and I had no intention of being caught between it and my pursuers.

'Please,' I thought, watching the portal shrink with each passing second. 'Let there be enough space for one more.'

The female assassin's blade whistled past my ear. "Don't let him reach it!"

But the stampeding monsters worked in my favor, forcing my pursuers to dodge and weave, breaking their momentum.

[Evergreen Hell]

[Capacity - 1/3]

I reached the portal and thankfully, it had space and unfortunately - it still had space for 2.

But I didn't have time to think.

Without another thought, I dove through the dark portal. The last thing I heard was the mysterious man's frustrated shout, cut off as the portal sealed behind me, leaving me falling through absolute darkness toward whatever fate awaited.

Right now, survival was all that mattered.

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