The first thing Cain did when he returned to his body was to check the time. Time passed differently on each tiny world. Generally, the longer you could remain in a tiny world compared to how little time would pass on Earth determined the world's value. Other factors like native residents and climate also played a part, but the time dilation element was the key one most Contractor's would look for when buying world co-ordinates.
The clock on Cain's bedside table showed that only thirty seconds had passed since he had entered the world of the tower. Cain estimated he had spent one hour there, he hadn't really done much there aside from Contracting Chilled but that alone had taken him a fair chunk of time. The time dilation coming out at one second to two minutes wasn't terribly shocking to Cain. Training gyms would offer you worlds where one second on earth was one year in their worlds.
Cain began going over his gains and analysing what his next steps should be "Chilled will serve me well as a data bank and once she matures, as a trump card. Darius told me the tower was his duty so once I clear it out he'll have no choice but to follow me."
The thought of one day being able to unleash Darius as a commander of his forces excited Cain and fuelled his desire to grow. He reasoned that was why Darius had been assigned to guard the tower, to act as a further incentive to grow quickly. Cain was satisfied but confused. Why had his father left such a bounty for him?
Again, it didn't matter right now, he would grow strong enough to meet his father on equal footing, and then knowing his father he would still have to beat the answers out of him. Focusing on dominating the school's tiny world was priority number one right now.
"A jungular type tiny world will present me with numerous logistical and formational problems if I attempt to take a large army there. A small squad of elites will be better suited to the jungles. Ideally I want to get something that can ignore most poison and heat or as a last resort something that can control fire to burn the jungle down."
Cain had realised ,thanks to Mr. Smith's tip off, that Weiss Academy intended to test them on their skills at recruiting powerful elites rather than growing a huge force. The jungle environment had given away their intentions.
This type of test wasn't uncommon. Testing students generally revolved around how much of an army they could muster or their ability to recruit an elite few. The timespan of three months and the jungle all pointed to a test of elites. The students at Weiss Academy might have more advantages than most but a 13-year-old would find it hard to sustain more than 2 contracts. Cain was already above average as he could maintain 3, but this was still pitiful compared to even Stone Rank Contractors who had to be able to maintain 10 contracts to get their licence.
"10,000 credits are a lot for me, but for my classmates that will barely qualify as pocket change. I have to hoard every single man and beast with potential and sell them to my classmates. Of course, I'll keep the strongest ones for myself."
10,000 credits were indeed a low amount for most students of Weiss Academy. The richer students would waste more than that merely on duel arena bets. Selling Contractees could also be done over Battlenet but all trading sites would take commission. Cain needed every last credit for his long-term goals. He also felt that creating scarcity then providing supply would mean he could charge a little extra.
"Unfortunately, I never had time to socialise, if I had I might have been able learn who to target my sales to. Oh well business can wait until I've got my first product lined up."
Cain feeling good now that he had planned out his next actions, retrieved his laptop from the kitchen. Leaving the warmth of the bed had felt terrible but it was a price Cain was forced to pay. Opening the email which contained the school's tiny world co-ordinates Cain focused on the string of non-sensical numbers. The meditative state this time was much longer. When Cain's consciousness returned it was already night time, a whole six hours had been used to synchronise with the school's tiny world. This had the side-effect of filling his willpower reserves back up, meaning he was ready for another dive.
Cain had no time to waste, he lay back down on his bed, tucking his laptop under the bed. Focusing on the new co-ords in his brain Cain, for the second time that day felt his spirit transcend to a lower world. He hadn't felt much the first time but this time, he felt like his entire body had been encased in ice. Determined to continue, Cain pushed through the discomfort and pain until he felt he had reached the tiny world.
Upon opening his eyes Cain found himself floating above a massive forest, his view entirely consumed by the lush greenery. The trees continued on as far as his eye could see. This time Cain was prepared. He steadied his willpower and formed an anti-gravity membrane around himself. A small trick like this was easily done and cost next to nothing and was useful for Contractors to survey battlefields and scout worlds.
What struck Cain most about this world was that he felt like a fish on dry land here, the mana concentration was far too low. Mana wasn't necessary for Contractors to function, but it acted like lubricant. A low mana concentration meant it cost far more willpower to perform actions, while high mana concentration allowed for a near 1:1 transfer of power. To be fair Cain had just come from an Apex tier world, so his standard was maybe a little too high.
That anti-gravity membrane in addition to the strain of projecting and his Contract with Chilled meant Cain would only be able to project for an hour, two if he rationed his willpower. Any Contracts made would basically wipe him out and force him to retreat until he had recovered.
Cain floated in place as he surveyed the forest looking for a good place to begin his hunt for profitable beasties. Scanning the world could be done like he had done previously on the world of the tower, but the scan would reveal his location to anyone else who was currently in this world. Cain didn't want to let his classmates find him. He would come to them once he was good and ready. It would also cost too much power, which he had resolved to ration carefully.
He soon noticed a small gap in the trees to his west and upon investigating the gap Cain discovered a small cave in the ground, with 30 goblins resting inside it. Only 4 of the goblin's were physically mature, with 2 of them being too old and one being injured. The rest were all infants or toddlers. From this Cain gained a few insights.
Firstly, this was a world full of fantastical beasts. Secondly, the main force of goblins was currently away, most likely raiding for food or women. Goblins were one of the most common and versatile types of monster among all tiny worlds. They were often used as cannon fodder in training gyms and their species was well documented.
No one above the rank of Copper would be caught dead with a contracted goblinoid monster. Their species potential capped out at Tier 3 and while higher Tiers were possible with brute force or experimentation they were regarded as not worth the investment.
In this species of weaklings Cain saw something however. With the vast data banks of Chilled backing him up Cain's basic scan had become fearsome. He had a library on tap every time he scanned a creature. He refused to believe that there was no hope for these creatures with all the knowledge of Chilled to back him up.
They demonstrated intelligence far beyond what other low tier creatures were capable of and they showed remarkable bravery in the face of danger. Every goblin charge Cain had seen at the duel arena ended in them all being eradicated. The little green monsters always died bellowing at their enemies, never at the fear of death but in fury that they weren't able to kill their foes.
Dispelling the anti-grav membrane to save on willpower Cain entered the goblin lair. The creatures were too weak to even realise there was a god strolling through their home, their mana senses were too dull. Except for one baby goblin. The goblin was much like his brothers and sisters, save for his skin. Instead of the usual dark green goblin skin, this one was coloured a deep crimson, with piercing blue eyes. Cain was taken aback when he realised the infant goblin was staring at him.
To the infant goblin's credit, he didn't cry or try to roll away from Cain. He just stared at him. Cain had heard stories of goblin's with pigment mutations. They were generally killed in their infancy or were thrown out to fend for themselves. There was no evidence for their skin tone granting them any power despite superstition among trainee Contractors. Idiots would be idiots thought Cain.
Cain had only allowed himself 3 scans and had been intending to wait for the adult goblins to return before scanning them and finding one close to Tier 3 to sell. The situation had changed however and now that he was near certain this infant could see him, or at least perceive he existed, he had to scan the little goblin. Cain wrapped his willpower around the crimson goblin and the information flowed into his brain. Quite unlike when he had scanned Chilled and only gleaned a vague outline of the snake's powers, the Librarian Snake's vast library had provided him a detailed breakdown of the goblin child.
Species: Goblin
Name: Unnamed
Power: Tier 0
Age: 0 (2 days old)
Abilities: Mana Sense
Uniqueness: Destined for Greatness
Contract Cost: Minimal
Potential: Tier 4
Description- A goblin child born under the stars of potential, the blessing of the stars has broken the species limitation and accelerated the growth process.
Cain wasted no time. Tier 4 potential was enough to be useful until he reached Iron rank. Never mind whoever was on the first floor of the Tower of the Forgotten, if he could nurture this goblin it would be smooth sailing for months. Admittedly this would leave him only one Contract slot to use for business matters, but this goblin was a rare find. Cain felt his luck had been absurdly good today. He also was extremely pleased with the Librarian Snakes abilities. The ability to get hard numbers on creatures was worth the cost of that Contract.
Cain tried to form a mental bridge, but the low mana concentration once again reared its ugly head. The advanced nature of the mental bridge required mana to support its existence. You could substitute willpower, but Cain needed that for the Contract. He supposed he would just do it the old-fashioned way.
The crimson goblin suddenly heard a voice booming in his head
[The God of Bloodshed and Lies wishes to offer you his support]
The crimson goblin didn't know much but the old goblins were always praying to the gods for help. If a god could help him he'd take it. He didn't know much but he knew he was weak right now.
[The God of Bloodshed and Lies is pleased with your actions]
[You must now sign the Contract of Servitude]
Servitude? The crimson goblin didn't know that word. He saw funny looking shapes in his head and just thought of accepting. He just wanted to sleep, but that powerful presence had interrupted him.
[The Contract is now complete. The God of Bloodshed and Lies bestows you the name Hecares in recognition of your loyalty]
Hecares didn't know or care what a name was. He felt the overbearing presence retreat out of the cave and he rolled back over to sleep.
Cain had exited the cave. The pain of the soul bonding had been miniscule since Hecares was only a baby. His communication method was the old method humanity had first used. Instead of a mental bridge's method of using mana, this method used only willpower to transmit thoughts. It was referred to as thought implantation or thought implants. This method was only used in low mana concentration worlds, since in higher mana concentration environments, it was inefficient as it used too much willpower.
Cain had spent all his mental energy and so retreated back to Earth to end the day. After confirming there was no difference in time spent in the goblin world compared to Earth, Cain closed his eyes and fell asleep within seconds.
Back in the goblin cave Hecares was also asleep even as long tattoos began covering his body. Starting from the chest the tattoos spread out in a five-pointed formation with four of them going to each of his limbs. The lines were all serpentine in style and each one ended in a black dot. The fifth line went straight up the middle of Hecares' face ending in the middle of his forehead. Instead of a black dot Hecares' forehead showed an image of a sword pointed upwards towards the top of his head.
When the elder goblin discovered the changes in Hecares he bellowed for the other adult goblins who could move, to confirm he wasn't hallucinating again. He had prayed he was, hoped his kind would be spared war. Reality was cruel and the Gods had denied his hopes once the others confirmed his worst fear.
"An Overlord…may the Gods have mercy on us"