### **Chapter 8: The Binding Contract**
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Ryuji couldn't shake the chill from the previous night. Astarte's presence lingered in his mind, her words echoing through his thoughts. The more time he spent in the Underworld, the more he felt like a stranger to himself. The question that had been burning in his mind since he arrived was now impossible to ignore: What was he truly willing to give up for power?
He had earned Azazel's trust and fought alongside the Underworld's most elite, but something about the dark energy within this realm gnawed at his soul. Power was intoxicating, but it came with a price he wasn't sure he could pay.
Azazel had been distant since their last encounter, but today, Ryuji had been summoned to the council chambers once again. The ominous message spoke of an offer, one that would change his fate forever.
As Ryuji entered the vast stone hall, the atmosphere was suffocating. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding. The torches lining the walls flickered with an unnatural flame, casting deep shadows across the council members seated in a semi-circle at the head of the room.
Azazel stood at the center of the room, tall and imposing, his sharp gaze never leaving Ryuji as he approached. His presence commanded authority, and Ryuji could feel the weight of the decision that was about to be placed before him.
"Ryuji," Azazel began, his voice smooth but filled with an edge of finality. "You've proven yourself in battle, survived trials most mortals wouldn't dream of facing. But now, the time has come for you to make a choice."
Ryuji remained silent, his hands clenched at his sides, waiting for Azazel to continue.
Azazel held out a scroll—ancient and weathered. The parchment seemed to pulse with dark energy, as though it was alive with power. Ryuji felt a twinge of unease.
"This is a binding contract," Azazel explained. "If you sign it, you will be granted full access to the powers of the Underworld. Your strength will be unmatched, your enemies will tremble at your feet. But there is a cost."
Ryuji raised an eyebrow. "What kind of cost?"
Azazel's gaze hardened, his eyes glowing faintly. "Your humanity. Once you sign this contract, your soul will be forever tied to the Underworld. You will live among us, you will fight among us—but you will never return to the mortal world as you once were. You'll be something… more. But you will no longer be human."
The weight of the words pressed heavily on Ryuji's chest. He knew this was coming, that a decision like this had always been looming in the shadows. But now, with the contract before him, the reality of the choice was overwhelming.
"And if I refuse?" Ryuji asked, his voice quieter than he intended.
Azazel's expression remained calm, but there was an undercurrent of menace in his tone. "Then you will remain as you are. You will continue to struggle, to fight for survival in this realm. But know this—without this contract, the power of the Underworld will slowly consume you. You will not last long."
Ryuji's mind raced. The idea of becoming something inhuman, something dark and powerful, was tempting. He had come here for power, after all. But the thought of losing himself, of losing the last piece of his humanity, filled him with dread.
For a moment, he thought of Haruka again. If he signed this contract, he would never see her, never return to the world he once knew. The path back to Tokyo would be closed forever.
But the Underworld was merciless, and Ryuji knew that without its full power, he would eventually fall.
Azazel stepped closer, his voice low and persuasive. "You've tasted the strength that comes from the Underworld, Ryuji. You've felt its power coursing through your veins. This is the final step. Take it, and you will become something far greater than you ever imagined."
Ryuji's heart pounded in his chest. The temptation was almost unbearable. A part of him wanted to reach out and take the contract, to embrace the darkness fully and never look back. But another part of him—the part that still held on to the memories of his past—hesitated.
"You don't need to decide now," Azazel said, sensing Ryuji's inner turmoil. "But know that the offer won't last forever."
---
That night, Ryuji wandered through the fortress, his mind in turmoil. The offer Azazel had made weighed heavily on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the edge of an abyss.
As he walked, he found himself drawn to the outskirts of the fortress, where the Underworld's energy pulsed strongest. The air here was thick with power, and the ground itself seemed to hum with life—or death, depending on how one looked at it.
Suddenly, Ryuji felt a familiar presence. He turned, and there she was—Astarte, leaning casually against a stone pillar, her eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Her seductive smile played across her lips as she watched him.
"You're troubled," she said, her voice soft and alluring. "I can feel it."
Ryuji clenched his fists, unsure of what to say. Astarte had been a constant presence in his life since arriving in the Underworld, her influence growing stronger with each encounter. But after everything that had happened, he didn't know if he could trust her.
She stepped closer, her movements graceful and deliberate. "Azazel gave you the contract, didn't he?"
Ryuji nodded, his throat tight.
Astarte's smile widened, her eyes gleaming. "I knew this day would come. He's been watching you closely, waiting for the moment when you would be ready."
"And what do you think I should do?" Ryuji asked, his voice harsher than he intended.
Astarte chuckled, her voice like silk. "Oh, Ryuji. You already know what I think. You've seen what the Underworld has to offer. You've felt its power. Why would you turn away from that?"
Ryuji swallowed hard. "Because I don't want to lose myself."
Astarte's smile faltered for a moment, but then she stepped even closer, her body inches from his. "You won't lose yourself," she whispered, her hand reaching out to trace a line down his chest. "You'll become something greater. Something more. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
Ryuji's body trembled at her touch, a mix of desire and fear coursing through him. Astarte's presence was intoxicating, and he could feel himself being drawn to her, just as he was being drawn to the power of the Underworld.
But deep down, something held him back.
"I need time," Ryuji muttered, stepping away from her touch.
Astarte's eyes narrowed, her seductive smile turning cold. "Time is something you don't have, Ryuji. The Underworld is patient, but it won't wait forever."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Ryuji alone with his thoughts.
---
The decision before him was clear. The power he craved was within his grasp, but it would come at the cost of everything he once knew. His humanity, his past, even the chance of returning to Tokyo—it all hung in the balance.
As Ryuji stood at the edge of the abyss, he knew one thing for sure: whatever choice he made, there would be no turning back.
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