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Chapter 443  [443] A battlefield of despair.

[Tower of Trials, Elijah Ardor POV]

[I am...the one you summoned.]

The voice answered, I could hear it from all directions.

'What?'

"What?"

Alan seemed to have the same thoughts as me, confused. The pain in my head only increased.

"Stop it."

[Kekeke...]

After Alan had said that...the pain disappeared, however the sensation of the abominable gaze was still present. It was coming at me from everywhere, yet it was most prominent in front of me...gazing right into my soul.

"What were you trying to do?"

Alan's body shifted, and my eyes followed it. He was trying to discern the position of the gaze...

'Hmmm?'

Can he not feel it was in front of him? Or is it just me? Both were plausible, either that thing was aware I existed...or it was the other way around.

[Nothing.]

It answered, the malicious voice changed into that of a sweet, innocent voice. Devoid of any trickery.

"You did something."

However, Alan was adamant. He firmly believed that the voice, or "You did something."

However, Alan was adamant. He firmly believed that the voice, or whatever it was had messed with him.

[Kukuku...]

It's cynical laugh rang out, and my heart skipped a beat.

A surge of power emanated from everywhere, and surrounded Alan. It put a great pressure on him, and I experienced every bit of it.

My blood vessels were obstructed, my bones felt as they would be crushed and my organs were churning. It was as if a hydraulic press was compressing each and every inch of my body, destroying it slowly and painfully.

It was just like the pain of the headache, except this time it was physical instead of mental.

"Stop it."

Somehow...Alan was doing just fine. He was not disturbed by it at all. Even when the entity did it before, he seemed to be unfazed.

He was only questioning it's actions, not going against it...?

[Fine.]

The pressure stopped, and I could breathe again. I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

"One more time...Who are you?"

And then we were at the start once again, Alan asked the entity it's identity...and instead of it being vague like before. It properly answered. And the entity was listening to him as well. This is strange.

[I am the abyss.]

Abyss? What does that mean? Is it referring to the home of the demons? 'Ah...'

It must be a high ranked demon with the name or moniker of Abyss. I found it hard to believe it...after all The Abyss is just the land where the demons reside...or multiple lands.

From what Agri was able to tell me, it was a near infinite number of different layers, each filled with demons. The strongest layers were the single number layers. I heard that 72 demons ruled the Abyss... Each rulers of the first 72 layers of the Abyss, along with a few other layers they had for fun.

It must be one of them...I am sure of it. The waves of power this exudes matches Agri.

No...I hate to admit it but it surpasses Agri.

[I am the one you called, with your hate.]

[With your passion.]

[With your Potential.]

A chill ran down my spine once again. However, Alan, still unfazed asked it another question. He should be scared right now but like a curious child he was asking questions.

Trying to find out more...which would most likely result in a bad outcome.

Of course that would happen, it wasn't the suspiciousness of this being...but that's how those tales often went.

Curiosity killed the cat...I have a feeling something similar will happen here.

[Do you want strength?]

And when it asked, I was certain.

Something bad will happen, My eyes gazed at the endless abyss in front of me, feeling my mind was clouded or rather empty. Staring at it for long seemed to have negative side effects.

"...?"

Thankfully, Alan was not convinced, he was still questioning the existence of the entity. Should I be glad he is still dubious? Or should I be horrified that he doesn't know of it?

Of course this thing is a demon...I refuse to believe it is anything else...So why do even I feel dubious?

Confused at it? My mind is...slowly...going numb. can't stand being in the presence of this thing. All of my rationality, my sanity, is slowly being driven away...leaving me with nothing.

"Ugh...."

I groaned...At the same, I was wondering how Alan was still fine...Isn't he supposed to be a child right now...?

[Did you not see how your parents were brutally murdered?]

Ah, I had a feeling in my guts...It had begun.

The notorious corruption of the demons always begins with a simple question that targets the victim's trauma.

"Alan! Don't answer it!"

I tried to warn him...but would he ever hear me?

"...Yes?"

I guess not...

[What did you feel when your sister's legs were crushed? When she was put under a curse?]

"...Angry?"

[When you were yelled at by the man?]

"Angry..."

Alan...Alan stop!

Stop it!

"Agh!"

My head feels like it's going to split apart again. Clutching my head, I screamed yet again.

"Alan stop! Don't answer any more!"

Yet no matter how much I tried...I was only a spectator here, I would never be able to influence the outcome.

[Good...Did you feel anything else?]

The entity asked...and the moment it's voice rung in my ears it was as if a needle had impaled my ears. Going deeper into my brain.

"AGH!"

[Did you feel the need for revenge? The need to be...stronger?]

And when it spoke again, The pressure which it exerted before had reappeared...crushing all of my body. I could not even scream at this point.

Everything was numb, yet at the same time so painful. I could feel nothing but pain...a torturous amount of pain.

"URGH!"

Blood escaped my mouth, ears, eyes and nose, But it was not red blood... It was pitch black.

Alan...Stop!

[Did you feel it?]

"Yes, I did."

[Do you want to avenge them?]

"Yes...I do."

Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!

[Good...]

The voice, satisfied with the answer stopped, but the pain I felt did not go away. It was not like last time.

Whenever I stared at it, whenever I even thought about it, I felt as if my mind had been hit with a machete and was being pulled apart. As if my brain was put into hot oil and being fried.

"STOP!"

[Accept it...take my hand.]

A hand materialized out of nowhere, right in front of Alan. It resembled an ordinary human hand...but that was too Alan.

I saw something else, I saw a hand that was rotting away, covered in puss and vulgar things, dirty nails, and pieces of bone sticking out.

Stop! Alan don't shake that hand.

Even though I knew this would do nothing, I was still trying. I don't know what kind of resolve...I don't know what kind of motive fuels me but I feel as if I must try at the very least.

Try...try to save him.

Alan moved closer to the hand...and asked.

"What is this?"

The voice answered, barely able to contain it's glee so the child would not get suspicious.

[Your path to revenge, your guide to strength.]

It answered with such sweet words that Alan was tempted.

He moved closer...and closer...

Whilst I, like an idiot was still screaming even though my entire body was splitting apart into a mess of flesh and gore.

Alan! Stop! Stop! That hand is cursed!

Stop Alan, stop. My voice echoed, but reached none. It travelled through each corner and crevice here...but did not reach the one it was intended to reach, even though he was right in front of it.

Alan extended his hand...And I swear on my soul I heard the voice laugh. It was only for a moment...but it laughed. It laughed at the child's naivety, the foolish arrogance and curiosity of a child whose mind did not mature just yet.

Alan was just about to shake the god-forsaken hand when...

A ray of hope shone down upon me when he hesitated, his brows filled with sweat and his body shivering. He stopped, just before he shook that hand, an intense feeling of joy filled me, I ignored the pain I felt. When I had seen him hesitate...I felt as if my efforts had been rewarded. The pain I suffered and the echoes of my dying voice had been heard...

Yes! Yes! Move away now!

I tried to advise him...but the hope I had just received came crashing down when the hand moved forward.

It swiftly moved forward and clasped Alan's hand, and shook it. The disgusting hand firmly shook Alan's small, frail, childlike hand.

Ah...

And then it was done, Alan, knowing or unknowing...had doomed himself.

He had done the unthinkable, the unforgiveable.

He had signed a contract with a demon.