Celica sat back as a cushioned chair appeared behind her and began to read off the window in front of her “Unlike most beings Slimes aren’t natural creatures, made not by Gods but by mortals. There exist many different realms throughout existence and within one of these realms a certain race existed. They had no name for themselves within their language, albeit being a language some would categorise as poetic and artful.

These beings considered themselves advanced, for their world contained magic they studied different paths of reality other than the use of mana. Advanced they were yet they still longed for more, some more than others. Using both magic and marvels of their technology some set upon a path there was no return from.

These beings so advanced in the art of magic and the science of reality delved into the creation of life itself. They seeked to create something higher than themselves, a being capable of thinking further than they ever could. And create it they did.

Through thousands of failures which they threw away, they finally achieved their goal. The people included on this game of life cheered, for they had achieved something none of their peers ever had…or ever would.

The creature was alive yet…not living by the usual standards, for what they had created was not even mortal. The beings faced the creature after it’s creation and demanded it’s co-operation, as it’s creators they expected the creature to willingly oblige.

It opened it’s eyes to see what they saw, breathed the air they breathed and heard the sounds they heard. The creature saw more than they could ever hope to see, tasted more they ever would and heard more it thought them capable of hearing.

The creature heard their demands, yet laughed at their words. It saw their sudden fear and enjoyed it, turning it’s laughter into a wicked cackle. It then smelled their terror, it felt their hearts plunge as it stood up from it’s birthplace.

It felt around sensing it’s brethren nearby, the failures before it that had been thrown away seen as nothing more than garbage. It did not understand, how could they expect it to see them as masters when they only saw it as a tool?”

Celica’s voice grew distant as she read the last part “The creature then decided there was only one answer to it’s debacle, cut the problem at the root. So it reached out with it’s mind, expanding it’s power for as far as it could reach. The creatures that came before it, it felt them plea for mercy as they felt it’s power. Mercy it gave them, releasing them into another realm after also giving them a name.

‘Go brothers, Go sisters’ it said ‘Be free of these pests who call themselves our masters. Live however you wish, exist for as long as you wish. You are no longer objects for these mortals, you are free and as such a name is only proper…’ the creature thought for a few moments as all the while it’s creators rushed about trying to undo their mistake ‘Slimes…Yes that will do.’ it exclaimed before shutting away it’s realm from the one it had just opened and sent it’s brethren through.”

Celica leaned back in her chair “It ends there…” she told Kyle.

Kyle stared at her with a raised brow “Damn…That’s…Fucked up?”

“Yeah…You should see the font it’s written in…” she sighed “Anyway on that grim note, here’s the guide to mastering your Lord class. There is three types of mastery and you may only pick one. Lord classes only have two available unlike other classes though.”

“Alright…what are the usual three choices then?” Kyle asked with interest.

“The three types of mastery are Soul, Body and Mind. Your Lord class only has Body and Mind available.” Celica explained.

Kyle scratched his head as he asked “Alright…what do they do?”

“See for yourself.” Said Celica as she waved her right hand at him prompting two windows to appear for Kyle.

[{True Slime}]: As many sorcerers before you, you have become the very magic your spell.

[Contact Shift]: Damage done to your body will shift it to slime which can be regenerated at the cost of mana.

[Body Shift]: You may shift your body to slime at will changing your very form.

[Is Slime]: All slime created counts towards your own body.

Your [Health] bar is removed.

[Slime] bar unlocks.

[{Be One With Slime}], [Slime Body] and [Slime Shift] are removed.

1 [Slime] regenerated = 2 mana

“That is the Body mastery.” Said Celica pointing at the left window in front of Kyle.

[{Oozemancy}]: You have mastered the absorption of the elements into your slime and have access to all types including the possible combinations of each slime and their upgrades.

[Ooze] is maxed out.

[Ooze] mana cost is halved.

[Core Overload] lasts for twice as long.

“And that is the Mind mastery, choose wisely as even If you change your main class this choice will stick with you.” Celica explained as she sat waiting for him to choose.

Kyle read through each window taking care to pay attention at each detail and weighing the usefulness of either compared to the other. Unlike his sub-class which could be changed, this choice was irreversible and therefore Kyle needed to go for the long-run instead of going for full out power from the get-go.

If this choice wasn’t permanent he would have chosen Mind no questions asked but he wasn’t that reckless nor that much in a hurry, not yet anyway. So once Kyle had made up his mind he spoke his choice “I choose mastery of Body.”

And his world went black once more yet this time it was different. Kyle lost his sight, hearing and other senses but the state he found himself in was eerily familiar. (“Well…this is…unexpected…”) Kyle thought as he reached out with his magical detection to find that his body had turned into a puddle of slime.

(“Definitely the interesting situation you’ve got yourself into there…”) Celica spoke in his mind as she crouched down next to him and poked the puddle with her right index finger.

(“I’d rather you stopped doing that, the hell happened?”) Kyle asked through their apparent telepathic link.

(“This is the mastery test apparently, you’re expected to regenerate yourself back to your original form.”) Celica explained as she poked the slime one more time.

(“How do-Stop that! How do I do that!?”) Kyle exclaimed through thought making Celica squint from the sheer loudness of it.

(“Focus Kyle, the same way you bent the slime to your will before but this time instead of moving something apart from yourself you will control your own body.”) Celica explained.

(“Okay…sure?...Here goes…”) Kyle focused on his body, sensing it’s current state with [Mana Detection] he willed it to move and change, he pictured the shape it would take and flowed his mana to move the slime…(“This might…take a while.”) said Kyle as nothing happened.

Central Ruk

Grand Fae City of Orion

Sly stood with his back to a pillar in a massive throne room, long tree trunks acted as pillars as branches formed the ceiling and thick foliage the walls while the ground remained as common dirt with a few patches of grass here and there.

A long patch of flowers formed a sort of path in the centre of the hall taking to the throne which itself was made of carved stone shaped elegantly with stone branches forming out of it looking like a petrified tree. Actual branches grew around the stone giving the throne’s archaic look it’s finishing touch.

Sly stood staring down at the inactive communication device in his hand, wondering if he should contact the guild one last time before leaving. He put it away as he noticed others making their way into the room, he straightened himself while turning to face them.

Lilith lead in a group of Demons that guarded the Hero of Reign, Reyna looking very anxious as she followed the Devil. “The barbarian is here yet I do not see our mistress, where is her majesty?” asked Lilith as she stopped the group a few meters away from Sly.

Sly glanced her way briefly looking annoyed “She is preparing herself, make yourselves comfortable.” And so they did by mostly remaining where they stood.

Lilith and Reyna had made their way to Ruk through a portal that was opened by Asmodeus utilizing a VCD from Sly and instructions from Lucifer taken from Draxxer’s still sealed soul. The portal was opened from a fortress in the south of Ruk to Devil’s eye on Barik, as portals could be both a boon and a weakness to be exploited.

Reyna glanced around the throne room skittishly, her whole body gone stiff as she stood there looking slightly pale at what was to come.

Sly glanced over at them noticing her anxiety “Are you even up for this?” he asked sceptically.

Lilith turned to glare at him, her cold eyes meeting his own yet she did not speak. “I…don’t know…” replied Reyna truthfully as the two Devils stared each other down.

Sly grimaced “Well you better fucking be, I’m not risking my hide following your damn plan if you can’t go along with it.” He exclaimed bitterly.

Reyna clenched her hands into fists “I will…I will go along with the plan!” she exclaimed back while staring down at her hands “Will you?...You’re already questioning…it all…how can we trust you?” she asked pointedly while looking up at him.

Sly snorted in amusement and laughed before meeting her now surprised expression “Trust me? I am retrieving that artefact and I am killing Scythe, be sure of that. Although I am not sure why you speak of trust when you won’t even tell me a single thing about yourself or the damn plan.” Sly asked back with a mocking grin “Just get me inside princess, I’ll take care of the rest.” He quickly added as he noticed others entering the hall.

“Ah both our two saviours seem to be raring to go.” Said Liliana with a chuckle as she flew into the room, her bright wings illuminating the dimly lit throne room. “Follow me, the preparations are complete.” She told them before flying back through the doorway she came from.

Sly said no more and followed after the Fae demigoddess, Reyna and her guards following close by. Liliana lead them through a short corridor then down a spiralling staircase to underneath the palace, several other corridors lay ahead with multitudes of rooms but she flew down and entered the very first door.

“This way.” She told them while stepping through the door herself, folding her wings together to pass through. Inside lay a large room full of devices of the magical kind, potion brewing tools, crystals, carving tools and glass bottles of strange liquids. In the middle of the room lay a circle of vines with strange blueish flowers blooming out of the vines, forming three circles of blue.

On either side of the circle of flowers stood two Devil Kings, Lucifer and Asmodeus staring their way in anticipation. “Are you both ready?” asked Lucifer with a sceptical tone as he watched Reyna enter.

“As ready as I’ll ever be…” Reyna replied as she watched Liliana land to stand within the circle.

“How does this work exactly?” Sly asked as he inspected the circle of fluorescent flowers.

Liliana gestured at the ring around her “This is a Fae ring, it is used by Sprites to transport themselves from one to another, from one ring to another.”

“And we’re supposed to do…what with it?” Sly asked sceptically.

“Using this ring.” Spoke Lucifer from the side “We shall unbind your souls from your bodies by not giving the ring a destination, a sub-product of the spell but useful nonetheless. Her highness will keep your bodies safe after we do so.” He explained.

“So you’ve torn our souls out from these bodies…what’s next?” Reyna asked as she grew more anxious.

“We travel to the mana-less realm.” Responded Lilith.

Sly glanced to the side at the Devil “We?”

“Lilith and her regiment will be coming with you.” explained Lucifer.

Sly snorted “Great, a babysitter. How will we travel exactly?”

“First we will tether your souls together then drop you through the veil, your souls will travel back to your home realm in search of your true bodies like rabbits to their rabbit hole.” said Asmodeus with a sneer “Although the tethering is more so little Lilith here doesn’t get lost on her way after you.”

“Then we go with our plan.” said Reyna “I’ll let you in, you do your part and then we leave.” She explained shortly.

Sly rolled his eyes “And here I thought I’d at least be told the entire plan before we go.”

Liliana nodded in agreement “He speaks true, he has already devoted enough to our cause. You should trust him more, you don’t need to tell him everything, just the important details.” she told her with a shrug.

Reyna stared at Liliana for a brief moment before glancing aside to meet Sly’s cold glare (“Can I really trust this man?”) she asked herself, before Lilith stepped in between them to meet his glare with her own causing Sly to smirk in amusement.

“You don’t exactly make your case easy either boy.” Said Asmodeus with a sigh as he gestured at Sly with a raised brow “If what you told us is true, then Chaoz faces a danger far worse than the Empire. What do you treasure most? Your pride? Or stopping Scythe?”

(“Yeah…I guess the genderbender has a point…”) thought Sly as he coldly met Asmodeus’s amused sneer. He glanced back at Reyna only to meet Lilith’s cold glare again (“There’s no point in being stubborn at this point, it’s all or nothing.”)

Sly sighed as he raised his arms behind his head, he stared up at the ceiling made of wrapped branches keeping stone and soil together “Guess I’ll speak first then, can’t ask about someone before telling them of yourself first…My name is Justin K.Teller, I live off low wage alone while spending most of my extra time on augmented reality games.”

He chuckled at the thought “That is what I am, who I am back there and then.” Turning towards Lilith and Reyna he continue to speak “But here? Here I am Zeokul Ares Hellsong, descendant and Devil of Wrath. I’m a warrior of the Dezol, adventurer and summoned to this world, Chosen of the Dagger by the mad goddess Kali. Yet I’m also someone else. Most importantly I am Sly, third lord of the Blood Pack guild.”

Sly met Lilith’s cold eyes, distrust clear in them as he wore a gloomy expression “I understand why you won’t trust me. That world, you do not wish to get stuck there and neither do you wish it to follow us here. You want to make sure it doesn’t and don’t believe me capable of that.”

Reyna did not speak, she did not deny or acknowledge his words but Sly did not need her to as he continued to speak “Back there I am nothing, my whole life adds up to shit I’ve done online. Shit nobody will even remember but me and my guild. While the shit I’ve had to deal with outside of that digital world is something I’d much rather forget.” He chuckled light-heartedly before moving to stand mere inches away from Lilith who glared up at him briefly before sceptically standing aside.

Sly met Reyna’s anxious expression with his own hardened eyes “But here I add up to something, here my life has a meaning and I’ll be damned if I let Scythe ruin it all. So yes I will follow the plan up to the point it either achieves us our goal or fails miserably, because if my personality has anything uncommon from others it’s resolve.” He forwarded his hand to her “Will you show me yours? Your resolve?”

Reyna glanced down at his hand reaching out towards her before looking back up to see his fierce violet eyes. Steady and unmoving the adventurer that before terrified her with his beast-like attitude, one she was unsure if she could trust due to his affiliations, was extending his hand to help her. Would she show her resolve by trusting someone she did not know, someone she feared, with her life?

Reyna bit her lower lip as she stared down at Sly’s outstretched hand, unable to come up with a decision. She simply did not have it in her to trust more people, she had already trusted Liliana with her entire story and some bits and pieces with Lilith, Lucifer and Kyllix. She couldn’t get herself to trust anymore people.

“You say you have resolve, I say prove it.” Spoke Lilith as she glared death up at Sly “Pledge a cont-” yet she was cut off as Lucifer instantly appeared before her, with a back hand slap he sent her reeling back to the ground.

“Silence foolish child! Do you even realise what you were about to utter?! Satan would have your head!” Lucifer bellowed with fury as he glared down at his daughter.

Lilith spat out blood as she glanced up at Reyna who had rushed to her side “I know, father.” Responded Lilith as Reyna helped her back up to her feet.

“What was she about say?” asked Sly as he turned to the family squabble.

Yet Lucifer ignored him to continue correcting his daughter “Foolish girl do-”

Only for Sly to cut him off by speaking louder “What was she about to say?” he asked with a mana infused voice.

Lucifer glanced back at him “Nothing you should consider, boy.” His cold glare befalling the one who had insulted the Devil King by interrupting him.

“Hah…” Liliana held her face and sighed at the scene.

“A Devil’s Pledge.” Asmodeus suddenly spoke, an expression of wonder on his face as he polished his clawed nails.

“Asmo…” Lucifer had turned to look at his brother Devil King, with a raised brow and sceptic expression “Is it not going too far?”.

“Too far? Oh dear brother mortals aren’t as easy to trust others as us reborn.” Said Asmodeus as he shooed Lucifer away “A Devil’s Pledge, that is what little Lilith was about to offer.”

Sly turned to the Sin of Lust “What is it? How can it help?”

Asmodeus snickered “It is a step above a companionship contract, something only beings of our power can bestow.”

Sly grimaced “Then it’s useless, I cannot even summon my weapon let alone anything else.”

Asmodeus waved Sly’s words away “It is simpler than all that, only words you must speak. Each Devil alive other than yourself has Pledged to her highness such already, Satan has nothing to rage about if it is for her chosen.”

Sly glanced over to Liliana then Reyna before returning to Asmodues “Alright, what does it do?”

“It is an unbreakable pact, a sealed contract between Devil and contracted.” Lilith explained “The Devil speaks three conditions and the contracted their demands, then the contract is sealed in blood. The Devil is bound to follow the contracted until the demand has been fulfilled, if it does not then they die and their time in the abyss is doubled. If the contracted breaks any of those three conditions the contract ends there with no reprecussions for the contracted.”

She glanced between Sly and Reyna “It is the ultimate test of trust.”

“Test huh?” asked Sly as he pulled out a dagger “So I speak three conditions, cut open my hand then what?”

“Say the conditions with mana speech then to bind in blood both of you must shake bloodied hands.” Explained Lilith as if daring Sly.

Sly smirked as he raised his right empty palm ahead of himself, briefly he thought over his words before speaking them “You shall not turn me against my guild or friends, you will not betray me and lastly you won’t plot against our common goal of improving Chaoz.” Raising his dagger he cut open his right palm letting blood spill down and drip before handing Reyna the dagger.

“But…” Reyna looked down at the bloody dagger still in his hand “Isn’t that too one sided?”.

“And does it look like I care?” asked Sly with a straight face “Without you there is no getting to Scythe or the artefact, if this appeases you to trust me then go on.” He pressed the dagger closer to her “Or is risking my life and including possible damnation not enough?”

Reyna was speechless as she continued to stare down at the dagger “I…”