Deal With The Devil

Seven days had passed since Leylin and Oak embarked on their mission to maintain the secret plane, and the crisp caw of a Nighthawk pierced the air as Leylin sat atop a Dragon Crown Nighthawk, flying back to Teljose City. The missions to maintain the secret plane were among the most coveted, and for good reason. Leylin and Oak had spent only seven days cleansing the eastern sector of the secret plane, not only curing the rampant disease that had been plaguing the area but also effortlessly repelling hordes of ferocious beasts that had been terrorizing the landscape.

With their tasks completed, they were permitted to leave the secret plane, their tokens now enriched with a substantial number of contribution points. Leylin felt a sense of satisfaction and relief wash over him as he gazed out at the breathtaking view below. He had been looking forward to this moment for a while now, and he was eager to put his plans into action.

'I can try my earlier plan now,' Leylin mused to himself. 'I need to find useful pawns. If I were to do everything myself, it would be a waste of my time and resources.' He had been putting off this task for far too long, and he knew that it was essential to delegate tasks to others if he wanted to achieve his goals.

After four months, the backlash from consuming the Darkness crystals had finally subsided, and Leylin was ready to move on to the next stage of his plan. However, the supply from the Four Seasons Garden had proven inadequate, pushing Leylin to seek alternatives. His thoughts turned to the old witch in Nightless City, whose shop was rumored to hold several valuable items that could aid him in his research.

The bustling streets of Nightless City hadn't changed, with people from all walks of life hurrying to and from. Leylin flew directly to the Trading Zone, leaving his mount with a group of acolytes from the Four Seasons Garden. He flashed his citizenship ring to the guards, entering the city amidst respectful bows. The guards nodded in recognition, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and admiration for the young Magus.

As Leylin made his way through the crowded streets, his snow-white robes shimmered as a green light forced its way through the fabric. He frowned, retrieving a black, pocket-sized diary from his pocket. 

A green secret imprint glowed, and an urgent, elderly voice echoed from within. "Lord Leylin, are you here yet?" The old witch's voice was laced with a sense of anticipation and urgency, and Leylin couldn't help but feel a sense of irritation at her persistent messages.

The old witch had been exceptionally interested in Leylin's soul research knowledge since their last trade, even providing her secret imprint for communication. Despite her persistent messages over the past months, Leylin had been preoccupied with brewing potions in the Four Seasons Garden for contribution points, ignoring her pleas. He had been putting off their meeting for far too long, and he knew that he couldn't avoid her any longer.

"What is it? Didn't I say I would arrive soon?" Leylin responded irritably into the imprint, veering off into a deserted alley and casting an isolation spell around himself. He didn't want to be disturbed, and he needed some time to collect his thoughts before meeting the old witch.

"I've amassed quite the haul this time, Lord Leylin," the witch said, knowing Leylin's temperament well. "Remember the crystallized Darkness energy particles? I have 500 grams of the purest quality right here, and you won't regret it." Her voice was laced with confidence, and Leylin's expression softened at the mention of such a quantity. 

Combined with his own reserves, this could elevate his Elemental Essence Conversion significantly. However, the potential backlash was daunting, and only his superior vitality allowed such boldness.

"I spared no expense, even owing some old freaks favors now... Moreover, I have another proposition for you... Details when you come to my shop…" Her voice faded, but her confidence was palpable. Leylin could sense that she was hiding something, and he was determined to find out what it was.

"You better not waste my time, hag," Leylin snapped, closing the diary and quickening his pace to her shop. He was eager to get to the bottom of things and to acquire the Darkness crystals that he so desperately needed.

Sometime later, Leylin arrived at the witch's corner shop, nestled in a quiet alleyway. The sign above the door creaked in the gentle breeze, and the windows were filled with a dazzling array of strange and exotic items. Leylin pushed open the door, and a bell above it rang out, announcing his arrival.

The witch greeted him with a devious smile, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Hehehe… You got here quickly, my lord. Seems you're eager for my goods!" She closed the shop doors behind Leylin, signaling that no more business would be conducted for the day.

Leylin scrutinized her appearance with disdain, his eyes taking in the signs of her failing health. The witch looked much older, her hair falling out in clumps, and her skin pale and fragile. It was clear that she had been pushing herself too hard, and Leylin couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority.

"You and I are both Magi, but if not for mutually beneficial exchanges, we wouldn't be here," Leylin said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Don't play these stupid games with me. I'm not in the mood for it."

The witch's face showed irritation, but she bit back her retort. 

"What the hell happened to you? You look even worse than before," Leylin remarked casually, his eyes scanning her frail and gaunt form, which appeared to have been ravaged by illness.

The witch dismissed his comment with a wave of her hand. "It's nothing serious, just a backlash from an experiment. It's a common risk for us," she said, her voice tight with restraint.

Leylin raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "For people like you, perhaps. I don't recall the last time I suffered a setback in my research," he retorted, his arrogance evident in his tone.

The witch's eyes narrowed, her gaze flashing with anger. "In any case, here are the 500 grams of high-quality Darkness crystals," she said, placing a black bottle on the counter. Her frail body seemed to underscore her precarious state of health. Inside the bottle, the crystals shimmered with a mesmerizing, half-solid, half-liquid consistency, just as Leylin remembered.

Leylin's eyes lit up with desire as he reached for the bottle, his fingers closing around it with a sense of possessiveness. He could feel the power of the Darkness crystals emanating from it, and he knew that this was just what he needed to take his research to the next level.

"I'll take them. Name your price," Leylin said, his voice firm.

The witch's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity as she spoke, her voice dripping with an unsettling eagerness. "This kind of treasure, after all I sacrificed to obtain it... it cannot be bought with mere magic crystals. I think you know what I want." A sly, eerie smile spread across her face, like a crack in a worn, ancient mask. "I want a piece of your research on souls..."

The witch was half-expecting Leylin to try and barter or argue, to plead or negotiate, but his response was immediate and devoid of hesitation. "Done," he said, his voice firm and resolute, as he pocketed the crystals deep within his robes and inside his satchel. The witch's confounded expression was met with indifference, as Leylin didn't even bother to acknowledge her surprise.

"In other matters, regarding the thing I had entrusted you to look for previously," Leylin continued, his green eyes suddenly locking onto the witch's with an unnerving intensity. "Are there really any prospects now?" His gaze was piercing, like a cold, calculating blade, and the witch felt a shiver run down her spine as she met his eyes.

The request Leylin had made to the old witch before he parted for the Four Seasons Garden was no ordinary task. He had asked her to seek out a clandestine organization operated by Dark Magi that he could join, a group that would provide him with the resources and support he needed to further his own ambitions. The old witch, with her extensive network of connections and her position as a hub for illicit activities, was the perfect person to help him achieve this goal.

"Of course, people who are similar are the most drawn to one another," the old witch panted, sitting down on a chair made of twisted, gnarled vines as she spoke. "From your aura, I completely believe in your identity as a Dark Magus. Furthermore, the guild behind me is very willing to have you join us..." Her words were laced with a hint of excitement, a sense of anticipation that was almost palpable.

This was a deliberate move from Leylin, driven by his desire for power and his impatience with the slow pace of gathering resources. Even within Teljose City, which was governed by the Light Magi, Leylin knew that there would be shadows where the Dark Magi could operate. As a Dark Magus himself, he was drawn to the idea of exploiting these shadows to further his plans.

Leylin's desire for rapid progress was not just driven by his ambition, but also by his lack of options. He did not possess a secret plane, a luxury that only the most powerful Magi could afford. Establishing one would require a vast amount of wealth and resources, which he currently lacked. 

As a result, he was forced to consider alternatives, such as working for another Light Magi organization in exchange for resources. However, this prospect was unappealing to him, as it would require him to submit to the whims of others and slow down his progress.

In contrast, the crudest and most efficient way to obtain resources was through bloodthirsty means - plundering and looting. This method carried a certain degree of risk, but Leylin had calculated that it was within his risk threshold. After all, this was a common practice among Dark Magi, who often resorted to such tactics when they needed a sudden influx of resources. One could nurture a secret plane over time, but when the need arose, looting or plundering became a necessary evil.

Leylin's previous encounter with the old witch had given him valuable insight into her true nature. He had realized that her shop was not just a ordinary store, but a contact point for the disposal of stolen goods and a meeting place for Dark Magi operating within the city. This knowledge had sparked a notion in his mind - that she might be connected to a larger organization, one that could provide him with the support he needed.

With this in mind, Leylin asked the old witch, "When will you bring me to see your guild's leader?" However, the old witch was not one to be rushed, and she refused to comply without first discussing her reward. "Wait a minute, what about my reward for setting up the meeting?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of greed and cunning.

Leylin's response was dismissive, as he tossed a scroll to her with a blank expression on his face. "Before you start whining, look at this. This should pay for everything." He turned his back to the witch, scanning the rest of the store with a look of mild interest, as if searching for something that caught his eye.

The old witch caught the scroll, and her eyes widened in shock as she realized what it contained. "It seems to be an introduction to a type of Spiritual Force potion... The ingredients required are truly rare; you actually need a unique kind of soul to complete it…" Her voice trailed off, and she let out a gag, her face filled with disbelief.

Suddenly, her expression changed, and she looked at Leylin with a mixture of alarm and awe. "This is... A Spiritual Force formula of the ancient Magi! The primary steps have actually been filled in…!" She stared at Leylin, her eyes searching for answers. "How... how did you obtain this?!"

The old witch quickly gathered her thoughts, her mind racing with the implications of what she had seen. "No matter! Give me the rest of this formula, and the deal will be sealed! I can even give you other types of compensation, and my treasures will be for your taking! You can have anything you like!" Her words were laced with desperation, as she tried to tempt Leylin into revealing more about the formula.

However, Leylin was not one to be swayed by such offers. He chuckled derisively, his eyes glinting with amusement. "The backlash you suffered must've damaged your brain. A full copy of a Spiritual Force potion of the ancient Magi is worth far more than anything you could possibly offer me. Don't overplay your hand with me, witch, or you'll regret it." His words were laced with a subtle threat, a reminder that he was not a person to be trifled with.

The old witch's face darkened, her eyes glowing with a fierce intensity as a surge of purple Spiritual Force energy emanated from her body and attacked Leylin. 

The air around her seemed to ripple and distort, as if a strong gust of wind had swept through the shop, causing the various items on the shelves to shake and tremble. The fragile glass bottles containing an assortment of potions and elixirs rattled ominously, their contents sloshing precariously close to overflowing.

"So you have chosen the way of pain," Leylin declared in a grave, measured tone, his voice dripping with an unspoken menace. As he spoke, his eyes flashed with a deep, burning red, and an immense wave of black and crimson Spiritual Force erupted from his body, enveloping the shop in an aura of inconceivable darkness. The very air seemed to grow thick and heavy, as if the shadows themselves were coalescing into a palpable force.

The two opposing forces clashed in a spectacular display of energy, unleashing a series of explosions that rocked the shop. Glass bottles shattered, releasing their contents in a cascade of colorful liquids, while organs and fresh blood spilled out, splattering the surrounding surfaces. The blasts sent the witch flying across the shop, her frail body crashing into the counter before sliding to the floor. Fires of various hues, ignited by the scattered potions, began to break out around her, engulfing her in a maelstrom of flames.

As the witch struggled to recover, Leylin's aura bore down on her, exerting a crushing pressure that made it difficult for her to draw breath. Her tattered clothing caught fire, and soon she was left half-naked, her aged, wrinkled flesh seared by the relentless flames. Her cries of pain and anguish filled the air, a poignant testament to her suffering.

Despite her agony, the witch refused to yield, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "You've actually managed to improve your Spiritual Force to such an enormous extent?" she gasped, her voice laced with shock and awe. "It doesn't matter, though – the city guards will arrive soon, and you'll face the consequences of your actions!" She attempted to intimidate Leylin, hoping to cow him into submission.

Leylin, however, remained unfazed, his confidence and arrogance evident in his response. With a dismissive snort, he released another wave of energy that sent the witch flying against the wall, fracturing several of her brittle bones. The blast was so powerful that it extinguished the fires that had been raging throughout the shop, plunging the area into an eerie, flickering darkness.

"You stupid old hag," Leylin sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "For someone like me, there's nothing to fear when it comes to dealing with insignificant trash like yourself." He chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound, before withdrawing the identification badge of the Four Seasons Garden and flaunting it at the witch.

The old witch's eyes widened in terror as she beheld the badge, her face pale and drawn. "The identity token of the Four Seasons Garden! You've actually joined them!" Her voice trembled with fear, her composure shattered by the revelation.

In the Magus World, brute strength was not the only factor that determined one's standing – having a powerful backing was equally crucial. Leylin had not only demonstrated his might, but also revealed his connection to the prestigious Four Seasons Garden, a fact that sent the old witch's fear soaring. She now had no choice but to acknowledge her defeat, her pride and arrogance deflated by the crushing weight of Leylin's superiority.

As for the possibility of the old witch using Leylin's identity as a Dark Magi against him, he was not unduly concerned. At present, he had not yet joined any Dark Magi organizations, and therefore, had no reason to fear exposure. Moreover, once he had successfully infiltrated the organization to which the old witch belonged, they would be bound together by a shared fate, their interests inextricably linked. 

Leylin had other plans in store, and he would never allow this old witch to compromise his secrets or reveal them to others. With a calculating glint in his eye, he stood triumphant, his dominance over the witch absolute.

As the old witch's eyes widened in desperation, a heap of high-grade magic crystals that radiated enormous energy waves came crashing down onto the floor, accompanied by a dozen black magic crystal cards. These precious cards, crafted from the essence of 1,000 magic crystals, were highly sought after for their ability to serve as energy sources in complex spell formations. The old witch's willingness to part with such valuable items was a testament to her desperation.

"Please, I'm begging you," the old witch implored, her voice trembling with urgency. "All of my magic crystals are here, and every item in this shop that hasn't been destroyed is yours for the taking. Just give me the formula for that potion." Her eyes, once filled with a fierce determination, now shone with a pleading expression, as if her very life depended on acquiring that formula.

Leylin, however, was unmoved by the old witch's desperation. In fact, he seemed to be savoring the moment, a hearty laugh erupting from his lips as he gazed at the old witch's pitiful state. "Look at you, groveling on the floor like a destitute mortal, begging for scraps. What am I to do with you, now that I know just how unreliable you truly are?" His words dripped with disdain, and the old witch's face contorted in a mixture of anger and humiliation.

As Leylin withdrew his Spiritual Force, his eyes returned to their normal green color, and the old witch's relief was palpable. The dynamics of the situation had shifted decidedly in Leylin's favor, and he knew that the old witch would stop at nothing to acquire the formula. With a calculating glint in his eye, Leylin ordered the old witch to gather her entire wealth and offer it to him as a tribute. The old witch, her hands burned and trembling, reluctantly complied, and Leylin took everything from her with a swift motion, storing the treasures safely in his robes.

"I wonder, just how precious is the formula for a potion that can increase the Spiritual Force of even an official Magi?" Leylin mused aloud, his voice laced with nonchalance. The old witch's face fell, and despair etched itself into her features. "It's not easy, even for me, to acquire such an item..." Leylin continued, his words dripping with an air of superiority.

The old witch's anger and frustration were palpable, but Leylin's next words were like a lifeline, offering her a glimmer of hope. "Although I won't surrender the complete formula, we can still cooperate. This is your chance at redemption, to prove you're not completely useless as a Magus. Rejoice, hag." The old witch's rage was momentarily stayed, and she regarded Leylin with a mixture of wariness and desperation.

"Cooperate? How are we to do that? You're clearly my superior," the old witch spat, her voice laced with pain and resentment, as she attempted to tend to her wounds with healing magics and elixirs. "If anything, I would be your servant!" The words were bitter, but Leylin's response was warm and devoid of hostility.

"Naturally, I wouldn't stoop to your level," Leylin said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I'll give you instructions, and you'll follow them. You're an expert in the field of souls, and the raw ingredients for this Spiritual Potion are all souls. You'll provide the ingredients and handle the preparatory work, and I'll be in charge of brewing the potion. As for the successful potions, I'll take 60%, and you'll get 40%." The proposal was presented as a suggestion, but the old witch knew better than to refuse.

The old witch's face twisted in a mixture of anger and calculation, weighing her options. She knew that she couldn't take down Leylin in his current state, and the organization backing him was a formidable force that inspired fear in her heart. The potion, however, was of the utmost importance to her, and she was willing to swallow her pride to acquire it.

"The ratio is far too low for me," the old witch protested, her voice tinged with desperation. "I'll be shouldering the cost of obtaining the souls and handling all the preparatory work, which is exponentially more perilous. If I'm caught by the Light Magi, I'll be hunted to the ends of the world!" Her response was laced with urgency, but Leylin remained unmoved.

"If you refuse, I'll simply kill you and find another servant," Leylin retorted, his face a mask of indifference. "In fact, I've decided to revise my offer: I'll keep 80% of the potions, and you'll receive 20%." The old witch's anger and dismay were palpable, but Leylin's smirk only broadened, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"This is your own doing, for being so reckless," Leylin said, his voice dripping with contempt. "After all, the formula is in my possession, and that gives me the upper hand."

Leylin strolled past the witch, then turned to say, "I take it you agree. Then we can draft a contract and summon the Trial's Eye to bear witness to it immediately." With a casual gesture, Leylin pocketed a few items from the store that were still in good condition, his movements exuding confidence.

The old witch's face was a picture of unbridled humiliation and anger, but also of hope. This hope was the thread that Leylin had expertly manipulated, bending the proud witch to his will. After a long, tense silence, the old witch finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Very well..." The words were forced out of her mouth, her expression a mask of defeat and desperation. Leylin's eyes gleamed with triumph, knowing that he had successfully exploited the old witch's weakness and secured her cooperation.

As Leylin departed the shop, a sly smile spread across his face, hinting at the intricate plan he had set in motion. From the moment he first met the witch, he had been intent on utilizing her for his own purposes. The Spiritual Force potion he had revealed earlier was, in fact, the ancient formula for the Tears of Mary, a concoction he had been eager to recreate.

During his time as an acolyte, Leylin had successfully crafted a simplified version of the potion, known as the Blood Vengeance Potion. However, it wasn't until he advanced to Rank 1 Warlock and upgraded Aralis that he gained the capability to restore the original, incomplete formula. According to Aralis' calculations, the Tears of Mary would be extremely beneficial for Leylin, allowing him to rapidly increase his Spiritual Force.

The potion's ancient origins and complexity made it a daunting task to brew. A substantial number of souls needed to be harvested, and the preparatory work was not only labor-intensive but also perilous, as it risked attracting the attention of the authorities. The brutality required for brewing this potion far surpassed that of the Blood Vengeance Potion, and if the Light Magi were to discover Leylin's involvement, the consequences would be disastrous, regardless of his backing.

Leylin was well aware of the risks and had no intention of shouldering the burden himself. Instead, he shifted the responsibility onto the cunning old witch, who possessed the necessary strength and understanding of souls to handle the preparatory work. Her unique skills made her the perfect tool for this task, and Leylin was confident that she would be able to navigate the complexities of the potion's creation.

Within the Four Seasons Garden, there were likely Magi who could fulfill the requirements, but Leylin had no intention of seeking their assistance. The spiritual potion, suitable for official Magi, was far more costly than those intended for acolytes, and its ancient nature made it a valuable commodity. Leylin was not naive enough to believe that he could retain possession of the formula, as it would undoubtedly be seized by the organization.

Even if the organization offered him benefits, Leylin doubted that they would outweigh the advantages of having sole possession of the formula. A potion capable of raising one's Spiritual Force was a temptation that no official Magus could resist, and Leylin was determined to keep it out of their hands.

As a result, Leylin persuaded the old witch to agree to his terms, and the two of them forged a contract witnessed by the Trial's Eye. The old witch was forced to swear an unbreakable vow, pledging not to disclose any information about Leylin or the potion formula and to follow his orders until the experiment was complete. This was a precaution Leylin had carefully considered before meeting with the witch, ensuring that even if someone discovered her secret, they would not be able to trace it back to him.

In essence, Leylin had shifted the risk of material gathering onto the old witch, and as a token of his "generosity," he offered her 20% of the brewed potions. However, he only provided her with the first half of the formula, keeping the crucial steps under his sole control. This ensured that the old witch, despite her skills, would be unable to rebel against him or brew the potion without his knowledge.

The final procedures required to complete the potion were not only tedious and advanced but also necessitated the assistance of Aralis. Even if others obtained the complete formula, they might not be able to successfully brew the potion, making Leylin's control over the process even more secure.

The old witch, driven by her desire for the potion, had no choice but to toil for Leylin, taking on the extreme risk of harvesting souls and completing the bloody preparation of the early stages of the brewing process. With the contract signed, Leylin and the old witch were, to some extent, bound together, and the matter of being referred to a dark guild would naturally be pursued.

As Leylin walked away from the area, Aralis chimed in, [But that old witch's reaction was a little strange. She agreed so easily, almost as if the potion wasn't for herself, but for someone else...] The AI's observation sparked a hint of curiosity in Leylin, but he quickly dismissed it, focusing on the benefits of the arrangement.

'Irrelevant,' Leylin answered. "This is better for me. If I have misgivings about this contract later down the line, then I will have something that I can use as blackmail material..." The setting sun cast a long shadow behind Leylin, his malevolent silhouette stretching across the streets like a dark specter, as if it were a devil watching over the city.

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In the shop from before, the old witch stood silently until she confirmed Leylin's departure. She donned new clothes and did her best to conceal her injuries using a transfigurating spell. Forthwith, she approached the counter and pressed on a hidden switch.

A mechanical sound echoed, and the back wall of the shop slid backward, revealing a descending staircase.

Clutching her cloak, the old witch descended the steps. The staircase was short, leading directly into a basement located beneath her shop, its walls adorned with numerous inscribed runes.

In the corners, human bones lay scattered, each bearing scars that spoke of the agony endured by their owners in life. A frosty aura permeated the room.

Had Leylin been present, he would have recognized this chilling atmosphere filled with Negative Energy, reminiscent of the lab in Extreme Night City where he experimented with creating vengeful spirits.

The old witch ignited a candle in the room's center. The candle was transparent white, but its flame was a dark green, casting a sinister light on her already malevolent face.

"Mother…"

A black tornado swept through the basement, and after a flash of dark gas, a translucent figure appeared—a young girl in a simple dress, her presence faint as if she might vanish at any moment.

"My daughter!" The old witch's face softened into a mix of kindness and heartbreak.

"What happened just now? I felt a surge of vicious energy upstairs," the girl asked, suspicion in her voice.

"No! It was nothing, just a minor dispute during business," the old witch replied, her tension evident. "Did it harm you?"

"I'm alright, but…" The girl crouched, hugging her knees. "Don't bother with me anymore; it has cost you so much to keep me here. Without me, you could have advanced long ago."

"My dear daughter!" The old witch's eyes welled up as she attempted to embrace her daughter, but her hands passed through the ghostly figure.

The girl's form grew even more translucent, on the brink of dissipating.

"Oh no! Why is this happening faster than before?" Panic seized the old witch as she hastily pulled various items from her robes, arranging them into a small spell formation. In its center sat a spirit trapped within a crystal ball.

"Almighty Defiling Mother, I offer this spirit's fear in exchange for your blessings…" she chanted in a clumsy incantation, gesturing towards the spirit.

"Ah…" Screams of anguish and terror issued from the crystal ball, with threads of silvery-white gas being drawn from the spirit, fortifying the girl's body, and stabilizing her form.

"It's starting again! I hate this... It's too... too cruel…" the girl sobbed softly.

"I discovered a potion today, an ancient formula used by Magi to enhance spiritual power. It will surely help you! Stay strong, just a little longer, and I will restore your physical body, no matter what..." the old witch consoled her daughter.