Drewells976
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Chapter 207 - Bargain
🕑 Added 2024-03-22 17:06:28 +0000 UTCA/N: We all thought it was impossible, but here we are. An early publishing streak of a week.
o_O
https://www.patreon.com/file?h=100868326&i=18196382
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You’ve been offered a bargain by the god of the Hidden Sanctuary, Zervathi: Free my vessel from the ancient shackles and receive wondrous rewards.
Do you wish to accept or refuse the bargain? Be warned that a bargain is a binding pact, and you may suffer punishment for an infraction.
What the fuck?
The whispering presence was back, hovering at the edge of his consciousness. Vast. Overwhelming. Terrifying. His heart drummed in his chest, breath short. The words remained unchanged on the scroll. He wasn’t hallucinating, and the Guide expected an answer.
~What are you waiting for?~ A voice rumbled with impatience, echoed and shattered from a far distance. ~I do not extend this honor lightly, elfoid monkey child~
Excuse me?
The overbearing attitude snapped him out of his stupor. A prismatic filament extended from him to the air in the middle of the chamber where it vanished. Hallowed Intuition was silent, though the skill might not measure up if he was facing a god. Kai put more stock in the Guide to not do anything harmful.
~I shall accept your apology. Now, we may seal this pact.~
Shit, he can read my thoughts.
~Don’t test my mercy. I shall forgive these crude words, but the time to accept my offer is not infinite.~
Kai scrunched his brows and reread the notifications. The Guide never put time limits on any decision. He had to figure out what was going on, binding pacts and punishments were quite ominous. Wondrous rewards also sounded scummy as heck.
Is he using FOMO tactics?
~What gibberish do you speak, mortal?~
Stop reading my thoughts and get out of my head!
~If you put an end to the screaming in your head, I shall stop listening.~
Kai drew his sword and slashed the filament that must be the origin of the voice. The prismatic tendril looked like it could be severed by a stiff breeze, but the enchanted blade moved through it with no effect.
It’s not a physical object.
His mana surged into the runes. At the risk of straining on the enchantments, he mixed every element together and his unattuned essence to increase sharpness. The crystal sword quivered and shimmered half-translucent with Shadow, Water and Earth.
~Wait!~
Kai raised the glowing blade to brush the thread. The entity’s panic reassured him of his chances. Either the god was powerless to act, or the Guide was shielding him.
Why should I?
~Why? WHY!~ The voice thundered in his mind, making Kai’s vision blur. ~I’m Zervathi! God and sovereign of the Hidden Sanctuary, beacon amidst the Darkness, shepherd of Truth, bestower of Gifts and guardian deity of the Vasheyr kingdom.~
Hmm… That’s a very impressive resume, forgive me if I don’t bow. But this puny mortal still doesn’t comprehend why he shouldn’t evict you from his mind.
Kai tightened his hands on the hilt, threatening to cut the connection. A pact with unclear requirements and rewards that could be unilaterally enforced wasn’t worth the risk. While the chamber was deserted, a guard might walk in at any moment. He wasn’t eager to explain the situation either.
~WAIT! This is your unique chance at receiving my blessing, mortals can’t even comprehend its true value!~
I’ve got two blessings, and they weren’t so rude or bossy about it. It sounds to me like you're the one who needs something.
It was interesting to meet the alleged god of the Vastaire—that was pronounced Vasheyr. He’d file away every sentence Zervathi uttered for further examination, but he wasn’t going to sell his soul for dubious promises of power.
~It appears I underestimated your standing, you must be a prince of these elfoid monkeys.~
We’re called humans.
~Hummans, I see. Such a quaint name. And tell me humman prince-child, did those blessings grant you an invulnerable vessel? Shelter your dwelling from Darkness? Grant the sight to discern Truth? Or bestow the arcane secrets of Space? Perhaps I shall look for a more willing mortal!~
Kai bit his cheek. He had no idea what most of that was, but they sounded awfully tempting. You could never have enough blessings or Favor, especially when you were a nameless kid from the archipelago.
What do you need from me?
~A god does not need for anything. It would be the honor of every mortal to provide assistance and gain my gratitude.~
Kai forced his conscious thoughts to be irritatingly polite. Zervathi seemed to only hear the thoughts he consciously stated, and not his background impressions and understanding.
Then why did you send me a bargain?
~Accept or refuse my offer. The shackles sealing my cage are already falling. I may still decide to wait the events out.~
Fine. Then I refuse.
~Hmm… What do you desire to know to accept the task?~
Kai rolled his eyes at the shameless god. What did you ask an immortal entity, an almost unlimited source of knowledge? A hundred days wouldn’t be enough to answer all his questions. He had to be practical.
These ruins are full of people, many stronger and more knowledgeable than me. Why did you pick me?
~You were the most promising candidate who possessed the requisite for the assignment. ~
Meaning…?
~The tether is growing faint, I shall advise you to hurry.~ The voice grew fainter and garbled.
Kai would have called bullshit if he couldn’t see the prismatic filament unraveling into fine fibers. He paced in tight circles around the chamber, careful not to stretch the connection.
What do you need me to do in exchange for your blessing?
~Free my vessel from the shackles keeping me trapped in the Hidden Sanctuary.~
Sure, let’s free a shady god imprisoned for millennia. What could ever go wrong?
~I detect coarse sarcasm in your tone, elfoid monkey child, but Shade is not part of my domain. I mean no harm to you or your hummans, my only desire is to be liberated from my chains. Truth is one of my domains, I cannot lie.~
So you say.
Ding
Zervathi, god of the Hidden Sanctuary, is a shepherd of Truth and as such he cannot lie.
Kai read the words with mouth agape, his brain trying to make sense of what his eyes were seeing. He checked the hanging notifications from all angles. It was legit and was dismissed by his thoughts.
You can manipulate the Guide.
~Order cannot be manipulated, I was granted some leeway as a deity sworn to Order.~ Zervathi’s voice unwound into whispers. ~Our time is running out, humman child. Do you have more pernicious qualms about the quest?~
There were a million things Kai wanted to say, half of them not particularly polite, but the thread had gotten so thin it was invisible in places.
How do I know you’re not sending me on an impossible mission?
~What use would I have to see you perish? Reaching out and offering you a bargain already required considerable effort. I’m not fond of waste.~
So… assuming that I believe you, how do I get to this Hidden Sanctuary and free you?
~You need to find the Altar of Covenant on the highest peak. When the shackles have sufficiently weakened, the path shall become clear.~ Zervathi said in a feeble murmur. ~The end of our time is imminent. You must make a decision.~
Kai dried his sweaty palms. When was he going to get another opportunity to bargain with a god—even a shabby one? How much would he regret it if he wasted it? Stupid Fear Of Missing Out.
Okay, I want clear terms for what I need to do and the reward I get. You can’t saddle me with some paltry blessing. I also want insurance that you won't harm any humans. And… I want half the payment in advance. Can you… boost my affinity for Space?
Ding
You’ve been offered a bargain by the god of the Hidden Sanctuary, Zervathi:
Reach the Hidden Sanctuary before the gates fully open and provide Zervathi assistance to escape his shackles. You shall be rewarded with the strongest Blessing of your choosing that Zervathi may bestow.
In exchange for this undertaking, Zervathi shall endeavor to not intentionally harm any human for a hundred years unless first threatened, and provide a minor blessing of Space upon the agreement of the pact.
~Is that to your satisfaction, impertinent human?~ The commanding voice was barely distinguishable, though the snark pierced through.
The prismatic thread snapped into a mist of vanishing color. Kai was ready to curse when he saw the notifications didn’t waver. It seemed the connection had only been necessary to communicate and haggle.
Hmm… What do I do now?
Kai raked a hand through his hair. He hadn’t expected the god to accept his requests so readily or he would have asked for more. While the task wouldn’t be easy, it didn’t require drastically changing his plans, and the offer was too tempting to be refused out of hand.
He had only managed to improve his affinities through blessings, and he had run out of great spirits on the archipelago. From what he knew, it would be near impossible to be accepted by the god of a different pantheon.
Zervathi must have been trapped in the Hidden Realm since the Vastaire fell eight thousand years ago and was desperate to get free. That amount of time would exasperate even a divine entity.
Spirits help me. Give me a sign, what’s the best decision?
Kai looked around the empty chamber. No answer came. Yatei and Kahali showed no sign they opposed the bargain.
With a simple yes, he could boost his affinity for Space magic—the rarest element he possessed. And that was only the appetizer, he’d get an even better blessing when he completed the mission. That would set him apart from the snooty brats of the continent.
Calm down. Don’t get blinded by the shiny priceless trinkets you may never get another chance to gain. Think this through. Where’s the catch?
It was obvious Zervathi had hidden some information. The question was how badly those details would screw him over. With the Guide as an intermediary, he should be able to contain the damage. Kai refused to believe a random deity could bend the rules of the greatest power on Elydes.
Zervathi had purposely been vague about why he picked him. One reason must be his affinity for Space, though there must be more.
Because he thought I’d be an impressionable child? He did keep mentioning my age… and if I were a deity in need of help, I’d keep away from the Republic. The Seven Moons might not like their followers helping another deity.
Ultimately, the biggest issue was if he could complete the task. The Hidden Sanctuary must be the place where the beasts came from. Was it in a faraway land or…
Can it be a sub-dimension…?
Kai remembered Dora mentioning them in passing, mystic realms that orbited around Elydes' main dimension. From the books he found in Higharbor, they were more akin to a myth on the continent that only appeared in tales and legends.
Wait… is that the Blessing the Vastaire were thankful for?
The pieces began to fit together in his head. The Hidden Sanctuary wasn’t an ideal paradise if it was swarmed by yellow beasts, but he didn’t have to go there alone.
Focus on the current problem. How do I reach it?
He had to find ‘the Altar of Covenant on the highest peak’—clear as a mud pit. It was probably somewhere in a Vastaire site, so that narrowed the search. He could just let the Republic carry him along. There weren’t that many ruins left, and the name of the place sounded grand enough to be recognizable.
Yatei and Kahali watch over me.
The promised blessing was what tipped him over. Not just for the tempting boost, but because a god imprisoned for millennia must be short on divine power. If Zervathi was willing to invest energies in advance, he must have a decent chance at succeeding.
No pain, no gain. Nothing of value is ever easy.
Ding
The god of the Hidden Sanctuary, Zervathi, has bestowed a blessing of Space upon you!
Uh… No Favor? What a cheapskate.
Ding
You’ve accepted Zervathi's bargain. A binding pact has been struck, failure to complete the quest will result in you forfeiting your body to Zervathi.
Wait, what? That self-important asshole! I should have also specified the cost for failure.
Kai wanted to slap himself. He had known there would be a catch, but he couldn’t stop himself from charging into it. He exhaled slowly, voices and steps echoed closer from the dark corridors.
I can do it. This doesn’t change anything.
There was no choice but to succeed. He didn’t know what Zervathi thought ‘provide assistance’ meant, but to him, it stopped well before getting killed. His plans hadn’t changed, he needed to reach the Hidden Sanctuary to stop the beast attacks.
Now he had clues to the nature of the spatial anomalies and the assistance of a god. Until the deity was freed, their interests aligned, and the self-important asshole had sworn an oath to not harm any humans.
I should have said sapient species. Damn brain, why didn’t you think of that…
Kai was about to test the difference in his Space affinity when another notification flashed in his vision. His arms slackened at his sides with a groan.
What now?
Ding
New Feat: Daring Haggler - You have spoken and successfully negotiated a bargain with a minor deity. You are awarded: +5 Favor!
Huh, at least the Guide isn’t a miser. I can use all the Favor I get.
“What are you still doing here?” Makyn appeared in the doorway, scanning the chamber for threats. “Your shift for the day is over.”
Kai beamed a smile. “Nothing much, just unveiling the mysteries of life. Why? Were you worried about me?”
The soldier regarded him with a flat stare.
“C’mon, there is no need to be ashamed, but I can take care of myself. I was looking for clues before the mad magicians blew up the place.”
“Did you find anything?”
“No.” Iridescent mana motes fluttered in his vision, they stood out like stars in the clutter of ambient mana. Their seemingly random motion followed a pattern, congregating in clumps around the room. Kai slumped his posture. “Nothing at all.”
“You’ve tried your best. This is our only lead. The excavation of the main summoning chamber has been set in two days.”
“Can I be present?”
“If you won’t make problems.” The soldier peered at him.
Kai dutifully bobbed his head. “I’ll behave with the respect and reverence owed to a god.”
Maybe this won’t be a complete disaster after all.
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A/N: Have a great weekend! I gotta edit book 2 for the editor :)
Comments
PeekaBoo
Dormamu I have come to bargain
Kris Piskorski
The whole point of his character arc is that he hates being treated like a child but still acts like one
Gorane
The buildup is what will make it meaningful for us, the readers. If he just solved it this chapter it would feel undeserved
Heraclitus
Nah, there's been enough foreshadowing that Kai has grown quite attached to Mana Child. "Lost potential" or not, the class is just about perfect for him. I could maybe see it developing or advancing in some way when he turns 14 though. Considering 14 is when one officially becomes an "adult" and the job not only had to be taken as a child, but it's literally called Mana Child, I bet it there might be a surprise in store if Kai meets some kind of hidden requirements.
Muhammad A
You have to realize he was making a pact with a literal God and that too under intense time pressure. Pretty unrealistic to think he could get everything he wanted and had enough time to look at the fine print.
Kendelle Trotter
I'd bet you money that you're wrong. Everything from Kai's actions and personality to what we know of professions tells us that he's gonna drop it.
Silver Beard
Regrettably I see a long series of build up to get to the Altar. 3-4 months?
Silver Beard
I don't agree. More likely to succeed in his quest he's going to have to over-level mana child to a point that it might as well be death to drop it. Evolution is it.
flip apricot
Also, I see a lot of people complaining about the main MC not being glorious with his bargaining, which is true. But I find it praiseworthy how the author used writing practices, like putting decisions on a timer, to make the narrative more rapid, fluctuating and in general interesting without demeaning the intellect of the main character. I really love how authors instead of making characters act dumb instead make luck be a driving point of a story, how else could a story be fun without mistakes and opportunities?
flip apricot
Love this. The story is really pacing up. Keep up the amazing work!
Kendelle Trotter
*to your satisfaction
David Bordelon
@Tomas Fuk I am also a fairly new reader that caught up not long ago. The last few weeks of have been .. unfortunate, but I really enjoyed the many chapters leading up to them. I have confidence the author can pull it back on the rails.
Immutably Empty
He should be up to 43
David Bordelon
Unique opportunities with massive time pressures change things. Even the best often choose poorly in these circumstances. It's hard to think through things when the window of opportunity is measured in seconds.
Fleisch
Kai*
Fleisch
Does Ka have 45 favor now?
Raveve
There was a time limit on what he could ask/negotiate with the god. He did try and negotiate that is how he got a specific reward and more details on exactly what he had to do. You seem very upset that he didn't have the exact line of thinking that you had but you have to remember he was pretty alarmed by the turn of events. He did the what he could with the little time he had to get details out of the god and negotiate a more favorable pact while in a potentially dangerous scenerio.
M_Lo
If you read a bit more between the lines I think that there is a time limit. Just not a exactely defined one. Firstly you got the God always having the option of choosing another person and secondly the ruins and the magic system suddenly unraveling after 8000 years probably due to the republics demolition efforts. The deity even sounded pretty desperate so there is at some level a certain amount of time pressure involved
IgnisPrimus
Unless Kai's body is destroyed. No body to possess if the body is no more.
George
I think you have a really unrealistic expectation of bargaining with gods lol
IntelligentFoxx
He already took the bargain I can’t imagine it can be changed after the deal has already been solidified.
Tomas Fuk
He didnt need to take the bargain imedietly, he didnt event try to negotiate , at minimum ask what is the punisment if the god cant lie
Tomas Fuk
Kai scrunched his brows and reread the notifications. The Guide never put time limits on any decision. He had to figure out what was going on, binding pacts and punishments were quite ominous. Wondrous rewards also sounded scummy as heck.
wanderer117
The Seven Moons might not like their followers to help another deity. should be The Seven Moons might not like their followers helping another deity. The promised blessing was what made him in. could be He was in, the promised blessing to good to pass up.
Raveve
This whole comment makes no sense. There was a limited time to negotiate with a lot of details unknown, and I feel he did a pretty good job at it. It is a risk to take the bargain for sure but at least somewhat calculated. This was a well thought out chapter IMO.
mechanizedbush
This chapter was great. Elfoid monkeys haha, it's really neat that this trapped deity doesn't know what humans are and comes up with its own name for them. +5 favor was the real prize here though
Tomas Fuk
My feelings after this chapter can be perfectly surmarized with the meme: My disapointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.Last few chapters were realy painfull to read, Kai hates being treated like child , but he sure makes decisions like one. He didnt even tryied to negotiated to remove the punishment from the bargain or even ask what will be the punishment. I just subscribed to patreon today because i caught UP to all the chaps on RR, but after the last few chapters where Kai uses his a**hole to do all his thinking insted of his brain I am tempted to drop the novel. Such a shame, the novel was developing quite well. Author, was this the only way to get the MC where you wanted him? I think average highschooler could come up with better plot , this is just Lazy Writing.
Heraclitus
He had like 60 seconds under incredible pressure to figure out what was going on and what to do after being absolutely blindsided. Honestly, he did fine for the situation he was in. Sudden pacts made by ancient imprisoned gods aren't exactly deciding what you want for lunch.
James Faulkner
Him getting a colossal upgrade to his affinities should be insane, can you imagine the effect of him getting an affinity over 100?
M_Lo
I was worried for a second there that favor would fall behind. Also Kai is about to one of his calculated risks™. At first I thought of freeing the deity as something incredibly stupid but my mind and I think Kais as well changed when it was revealed that the bonds or the system freeing the deity is slowly failing and thus the status quo is not guaranteed anymore, for better or for worse.
George R
Super awesome chapter the god seems very interesting excited to see what comes next
Game Devil
"elfoid monkey" No way, those pesky elves are everywhere, even here it seems. Come to think of it, that big tree where he got a blessing should have warned me those tree huggers were hiding somewhere nearby.
Johan
Somehow kai is getting even dumber each chapter shall endeavor to not intentionally harm any human for a hundred years unless first threatened does he not get how loose those terms are? especially since its a god with potentially endless tricks and he didn't even think about the negative effects for failure kai really has some thick plot armor
Game Devil
"Because he thought I’d be an impressionable child?" Nah, whatever would give him that impression? All those people who fooled you before must have made you a bit paranoid :)
Game Devil
And even then he questioned what use it would be to have him perish. Of course not, he want's a live body to inhabit after all, not a dead one as those get stinky after time :)
Immutably Empty
Kai will definitely be dropping his profession in order to replace it now. 3 blessings and probably reaching yellow grade will mean crazy good profession options.
Game Devil
"shiny priceless trinkets you may never get another chance to gain." Ok, I'm in :)
Andrew
Thank you!
Derze
considering the end where Kai is literally seeing Space mana everywhere and previously that only ever happened when he was in the ocean ( with Water mana) you are most likely correct. It could very well be his highest affinity now. Or close second. To be further upgraded if he succeeds.
Kris Piskorski
Love it, something to distingiush himself from the other talents his age
Derze
I’ll behave with the respect and reverence owed to a god.” I see what u did there…. I respect it. Let’s gooooooo.
Stephen Pearson
Thanks for the chapter! :-)
SAB
Kai decided to YOLO
Frederic Axt
" not intentionally harm any human for a hundred years" sounds like holy war against human in 101 years
Connor Hinrichs
Damn, that catch of forfeiting his body on failure was a good move by the God. Now he escapes his 'shackles' regardless of if Kai succeeds or not!
James Faulkner
How much do you wanna bet that a “minor affinity increase” to a God is gonna be something obscene like 30-50 points haha
PlasmaticPi
The place he needs to go is gonna be in the middle of the forest near his family's home where that super dangerous yellow beast is, isn't it?
dangerous mob
BTW liked how the god of truth likes to answer questions with questions, so as to not be binded by his own law domain
dangerous mob
Releasing shackled God before turning 14 Surely should be quite a banger of an achievement :D
Andrew Gonzalez
I almost choked to death when that God called Kai a monkey child
TayTay, The Pirate Queen
BIG SPACE AFFINITY BOOST
Ananiash
FAVOR
Hasse
Not sure that was the smartest idea ever, but it will make for one heck of a ride =)
