Ethan was in his office, illuminated only by the dim light of his desk lamp. The city buildings, with their flickering lights, stood silhouetted through the window, a constant reminder of the world surrounding him. Yassmin's offer still lingered in his mind, but there was something else that troubled him: how to get his own world.
Determined to obtain more information, Ethan knew he would need help to access resources and knowledge beyond his reach. His first thought was Malakai, the enigmatic owner of the Mysticweb, a figure who seemed to have connections and knowledge in the darkest and deepest corners of the magical world. But contacting Malakai was not easy; it required a solid reference and a secure communication channel. Although he had previously encountered him, he had no direct way of contacting him, and his previous attempts had been unsuccessful.
Remembering his recent meeting with Yassmin, Ethan decided to turn to her for help. Despite the personal implications, he recognized that she was an invaluable source of knowledge and connections in the world of magic.
Ethan picked up his phone and, after a few seconds of hesitation, dialed Yassmin's number. The line rang several times before Yassmin's melodious voice answered.
"Ethan, what a surprise. How can I help you?" she asked, her tone laden with curiosity and a slight hint of interest.
"I need to contact Malakai, the owner of the Mysticweb. Can you help me with that?" Ethan replied bluntly.
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, followed by a soft laugh.
"Malakai? Wow, that's an interesting request. He's not someone who is easily contacted," said Yassmin, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "How did you know about him?"
Ethan briefly explained his previous encounter with Malakai and how the Mysticweb had been crucial in obtaining magical resources. The surprise in Yassmin's voice was palpable.
"That's fascinating, Ethan. Malakai is a legendary figure in our world. Not many can say they've dealt with him directly; even I have only heard of him through rumors and stories." She paused before continuing. "You understand that Malakai was the right-hand man of Johann Zaen, the first man to cross into another world by his own merit."
Ethan remained silent; even he had read about such a person. Johann Zaen was a near-mythical figure in magical circles, known for his feats and discoveries that had revolutionized knowledge about alternate worlds. However, his current whereabouts were unknown, making him a true enigma.
"Zaen was a pioneer," Yassmin continued. "It's said that he discovered the secrets of interdimensional portals and explored and mastered an S-rank world on his own. Malakai, on the other hand, specialized in creating magical artifacts and now runs his online store, the Mysticweb. He's a complex and dangerous character, Ethan. If you want to contact him, you need to be prepared for anything."
"I understand. Thanks for the information, Yassmin," Ethan replied.
"Let me make some calls. I'll put you in touch with him. But be careful, Ethan. Malakai doesn't do favors; he always expects something in return."
Thanking her again, Ethan hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, reflecting on what he had just learned. Malakai was not only a powerful figure but also closely connected to the greatest secrets of interdimensional magic. He was treading into dangerous territory, but the reward was precisely the information he sought.
A few days later, Ethan received a message from Yassmin with an encrypted link that would connect him directly with Malakai. Upon opening the link, he was taken to a private chat room protected by several security spells. After a few minutes of waiting, a shadowy figure appeared on the screen.
"Ethan, nice to see you again," said Malakai, his voice echoing like a distant whisper. "What do you need?"
Ethan explained his desire to obtain his own world and the need for information on how to do so. Malakai listened in silence, his face inscrutable in the dim light of the screen.
"A world of your own is an ambitious goal. It requires more than just desire and money. The technology to open portals is under the control of the great powers," said Malakai, his eyes gleaming with calculated interest. "I can help you, of course, but I will need something in return."
"What do you want?" Ethan asked, anticipating a complicated request.
"I can get a portal and coordinates to a completely unexplored B-rank world. But for that, I need you to accept Miss al-Rashid's proposal, and to kill and get the blood of Ra's reincarnation after his descent for me."
"How do you know about Yassmin?! Did she tell you?"
"No, of course not, but next time you have an important conversation, I'd recommend using a Veil of Discretion."
Hearing his words, Ethan was a bit scared. It was no wonder Malakai was one of the most enigmatic and famous figures. He had to be careful dealing with someone like that.
"What do you mean by the descent of Ra? Are you saying that gods exist and can actually descend and come to Earth?"
"I'll tell you this for free because I like you: the gods do exist, but they are not the deities told in human stories. The gods, as such, are beings from different S-rank worlds. So, once Ra descends, I recommend killing him quickly, before he regains all his power."
This was very shocking. If what Malakai said was true, then the number of beings with their eyes set on Earth was considerable. Practically every region of the world had one or more religions worshipping different gods.
Now Ethan was at a crossroads. On one hand, he had to accept marrying Yassmin and fight a being from a superior world. On the other hand, he would gain not only the portal and the B-rank world for his individual use but also access to Egypt's A-rank world, as well as Yassmin herself, who was already established in this new society that Ethan was just getting to know.
Reflecting on the pros and cons, Ethan accepted the deal, knowing that once he had taken advantage of the benefits of the marriage, he could abandon Yassmin as he would possess a private world as a backup. With things clear in his mind, he set out to prepare for his "incursion" into Egypt, knowing that the task would not be easy, but the reward would be immense.