Moments Earlier in the Kingdom of Rodrian
"Your Majesty, as a precaution, we should inspect everyone to uncover any infiltrators from the Dooms faction."
"Yes, you're right. After the last incident, they've already embedded themselves among the [Guardians]. Summon everyone. We must identify if any Dooms agents are hiding within the kingdom."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The soldiers were gathered in a wide-open courtyard. Some appeared confused, while others speculated it was a call to war.
'So, this is how it's going to be,' Darwin thought to himself, having been included in the inspection.
"Form groups of thirty! Enter one by one to begin the screening!"
A commanding officer issued orders, his voice ringing across the courtyard.
"Feels like the [Guardian] entry exams all over again," one soldier joked.
"Haha, you're not wrong."
Among the troops, a few chuckled as they chatted casually.
"Witches, prepare yourselves! Group one, step forward!"
"Yes, sir!"
The first group of thirty entered the designated inspection zone—a large courtyard surrounded by high walls. At each corner, witches stood poised, chanting their spells.
[Seal]
...
"Clear. Move on to group two!"
The first group passed without issue. The second group entered next.
[Seal]
'Heh, they won't catch me. The spell shielding my demonic energy is flawless,' A soldier smirked to himself.
"Found them! In this group—third row, first from the left! Fifth row, fourth from the right!"
The witches pointed decisively. Chaos erupted as two soldiers tried to flee, but others quickly subdued them.
'Damn it! How was I detected despite the enchantment?'
The leader of the witches approached the captives, who were dragged into a holding chamber.
"You think masking your demonic energy would save you? How naive."
"How did you know we were infiltrators?!" one of the captured Dooms agents demanded.
The witch smirked. "Did you really think we relied on detecting your energy? No. We identify the binding marks placed on every soldier in the kingdom."
"What?! So, you..."
Before he could finish, the witch cut him off.
"His Majesty has already decided—your capture will serve as the opening act of the kingdom's declaration against Dooms."
With that, she turned and left to continue overseeing the inspections.
"They're too sharp. It's impossible to fool them, especially her—one of the kingdom's Seven Guardians," Darwin muttered, bitterly resigned to his fate.
---
"Darkness... Where am I?"
I woke up in a void of shadows, unsure of where I was.
"Ken, can you hear me?"
"That voice... It's familiar..."
I turned to see a figure—an eagle-headed beast with a lion's body and massive wings.
"Stattlich?"
"Ah, finally, you're awake."
"Where is this place?" I asked. Everything around me was pitch-black, except for Stattlich's glowing form. Strangely, I couldn't see my own body. Even when I reached out, my hands were invisible.
"We are inside your body," Stattlich explained.
"What?"
"This is your soul's vessel. Yours is different from most humans—vast and resilient. That's why your consciousness can't be easily overridden, even in dire situations."
"I still don't get it. What do you mean?" I asked, trying to piece together his words.
"As I said before, a body—a vessel, a physical form, whatever you call it—is simply the manifestation of the soul. It mirrors the essence within, and every body contains only one soul."
"So, what I'm seeing is your soul, and we're inside my body?"
"Precisely. And it's perplexing, even to me. Your vessel is so vast it can house more than one soul at once."
I frowned. "Wait, does that mean I've been... carrying extra souls this whole time?"
"Exactly."
"Ugh... does this mean I'm dead?"
"Not quite. I slowed your blood flow to keep the poison from spreading. I'm also in the process of neutralizing it."
I sighed in relief but grew concerned. "Won't burning the poison damage my body?"
"I'm not burning it. I'm raising the temperature around the poison, isolating it. It's a safe method."
'As long as I don't end up crispy, fine.'
"Indeed. I have no intention of leaving this body prematurely."
"Wait... you can read my thoughts?"
"You're just realizing this? I've been able to hear them since the start."
"Oh... right."
It was strange, reflecting on how far I'd come—from a bullied nobody on Earth to someone called a [Hero], destined to save this world. Yet here I was, struggling to stay alive.
"By the way, Stattlich, will I still have my clothes when I wake up? They're all I've got."
"Your clothes? Oh, they were shredded by Redan's attack."
"Great. Just great," I muttered. "Humans value dignity, you know."
"You humans are so peculiar."
"Oh, don't act like you're above it. Haven't you ever had human friends?" I asked.
"Once, long ago. But enough. Focus. Let me finish healing you."
---
As Stattlich purged the poison, I realized I was buried beneath the earth.
"Ken, to avoid this situation again, I suggest we forge a contract."
"A contract? What kind?"
"You'll gain access to my fire element with a single word. Perfect for someone who can't use elements on their own."
"That sounds... too good to be true. What's in it for you?"
"Through the [Transfer] skill, I've glimpsed your memories and knowledge of countless worlds. That alone is enough for me. And I know you're not malicious, Ken."
His words caught me off guard. Reflecting on Earth, I remembered the bullying, the isolation—but also the strength I'd forged from it all.
"Alright. Let's do it. What's the deal?"
"Simple. Our souls will be bound. You can end the contract anytime. If you're incapacitated, I can take over. And lastly, you must choose the command word to access my power."
He listed the options:
5:5 = Mutual
7:3 = Dominate
8:2 = Slavery
10:0 = Absolute
"Wait... I can cancel the contract anytime? Doesn't that seem... unbalanced?"
"Knowledge is power. That's why you hold the final say."
"Well, as long as it gets me out of here, let's do it."
Stattlich chanted an incantation, and light flooded the void.
"Ken! Speak the command word!"
"Alright... Slavery!"
Boom.