Chapter 67

His flux continued to plunge as he had to establish the [Refined Mana Drain] technique again. He was still connected to Stone by his 'talents', [Subordinate] and [Parasite].

It did not make sense. He was alone in these bodies now!

Then he checked the Stone {wielder}. It was a permanent connection in the level of souls! They were soulbound… Lucifer wanted to cry... And it happened. His two pairs of eyes teared up.

He could finally cry. So he let it happen. It was therapeutic.

Stone patiently waited, 'staring' at the goblin trio. If he could frown, he would. He had nothing against them and he had never seen them break a stone. They were nothing more than pesky meatbags and sources of levels, but he could let them live. For now.

There was also that connection to them… He did not know what it was. Another question to add to the pile.

Finally, Lucifer was able to stand up. He slowly walked towards Stone and grabbed him.

"Luci! What happened? I know I was sleepy, and I was awake for a moment… But I do not remember anything else."

"Wait." "I need." "To." "Establish." "The." "Connection." It took a moment for Lucifer to successfully access the [Refined Mana Drain] in the new situation. He still needed the RM, because his very own existence continuously consumed the [Flux]. And the only source was Stone…

"Ssssmaaaalll maaaaasssttteeeeer. Heeee iiissss biiiiggg maaaassstteer. I haaaveeee toooo joooiiiin hiiiim."

"What?! No! Stay here!" The sudden elemental's declaration broke Lucifer's focus.

"Cooooonnnntraaaaaccttt iiissss annuuuulleeeeddd, wheeeen aaa biiiiggg maaasstteeeerr aaaaappppeeeeaaaarrrssss. Yooouuuuu diiiidd nooooot saaayyy yooouuu aaaareeee slaaaaveee."

With these words, the elemental parted with Dori's body and concentrated on the Stone.

"Maaaasssteeeeer Sttooooneeee, acceeeeept meeeee."

"WAIT!" Lucifer screams in his mind in frustration.

[Elemental wants to establish a contract with you. Do you accept?]

"Okay!" Stone did not know what was happening, but Lucifer had taught him that he should take anything and everything that had been given to him through the Universum.

[You have contracted an elemental]

[You have gained a Baby Purple-Fire Elemental]

"FUUUUCK!" "FUUUUCK!" Lucifer screamed, utterly frustrated. He wanted him so badly!

The trio of goblins quivered. They were scared shitless. Not only did the pebble leak mana, blighting his vicinity, the two dead bodies suddenly rose up…

"I aaaammm fiiiireeee eeleeemeeentaaal, Goooraaaash, yooooouuur faaaaiiittthhfuuul seeerrrvvvaaaannnttt," the purple-fire elemental introduced himself to Stone.

For Stone, it was a voice in his mind. He was already used to something like this. Plus it was not oppressive as Lucifer.

"Hi! I am Stone, servant! Who are…" The conversation between Stone and his new friend was interrupted by fuming Lucifer.

"You!" "Miserable!" "Stone!" Lucifer yelled as the last, hidden part of his perfect plan collapsed.

He knew that if he had the elemental on his side, he would be able to find a better way to survive and finally be free! However, he was still dependent on Stone's refined mana...

This plan had been hidden so deep that even the [Subordinate] mark could not afflict them.

He had long since realized that he could evade the [Subordinate] talent to a certain degree. The battle did not end, however, he had a chance now!

"What? Luci, why are you angry?" Stone innocently asks.

"Aaarrgh!" The male dwarf grunted, "nothing…" the female one said, dissatisfied. He could not tell him…

"Oh, Luci. I want to ask something," Stone shifted the conversation. He wanted Lucifer to feel better. And he always loved his lectures and long explanations... "Why do you have two bodies?"

"… Don't." "Ask." "Me." "I… Think it's because of Dafur," Lucifer answered, managing to say one full sentence with one mouth.

"What's wrong, Luci?" Stone caringly inquired.

"Again." "Don't." "Ask." "Me." "Hard." "To." "Control!" "Dafur?"

"I think he is sleeping," Stone examined the exhausted minion of his.

"Good." "Let." "Me." "Work!" "Do." "Whatever." "You." "Want."

"Okay!" Stone replied, his body tethered in anticipation.

Lucifer felt like maybe he made a big mistake. But he had more important things to do; like controlling his… bodies.

Stone turned his attention to the still confused three goblins, "Who are you?"

"Boss?" The 2nd-tier leader, Moron, asked, still confused. The duo behind him did not care much. They just happily ate, sitting on the ground.

However, they were all compelled by the [Subordinate] talent, the same thing Lucifer had. Their bodies grew rigid, kneeling down before the Stone, compelled by the talent. After all, it was their boss!

"Moron!" The 2nd-tier answered first.

"Idiot!" Idiot answered after Moron.

"Tafur!" Tafur answered after Idiot.

"Minions!" Then all three of them said at once and reflexively stood up to attention.

"You are my minions?"

They rapidly nodded.

"As ants?"

They did not know what he meant, but still they nodded. Who were they to disagree with their boss, right?

"Awesome! Bring me talc! And goblins! I want to level up!"

'The hunt!' the simple word endlessly coiled in their simple minds. The goblins smirked and grabbed ropes and daggers.

They brought a bound, trashing goblinette. The moment she appeared in Stone's tent, her neck was slashed by an RM dagger.

[You have killed 1st-tier goblinette]

[Due to level difference you have gained no experience]

"Too weak! Bring someone stronger!" Stone commanded, disgruntled.

They brought another cursing goblin and a blueish arrow pierced his heart.

[You have killed a 1st-tier goblin]

[1.20% experience is split according to talents Subordinate and Parasite]

[Stone gained 1.08% experience]

[Lucifer gained 0.12% experience]

"Stronger!" Better, still not enough.

The goblins looked at each other and nodded again—it was time to employ some trickery.

After a moment, they came inside with a 2nd-tier goblin. He was thin but tattoos enveloped his body, clearly the rare magical type. It had to be sentry, left to guard the camp.

"Gulha! Where are mana crystals, trash?!" The overconfident goblin loudly inquired.

'Bang!'

[Your heat is at maximum capacity. Release or explode!]

A full-powered [Mana Missile] mixed with heat exploded on his head. Stone decided he would not hold back… He was able to use Gorash's heat to charge the heat 'battery' in his body. He learned that his [Mana Missile] was as powerful as a [Small Fireball] a 2nd-tier spell. If he used refined mana, it was strong as a 3rd-tier Monster spell.

[You have killed a 2nd-tier goblin]

[10.20% experience is split according to talents Subordinate and Parasite]

[Stone gained 9.18% experience]

[Lucifer gained 1.02% experience]