Failed Negotiation

Will returned to the former Rhaziesian capital. He could see mixed patrols of humans and demi-humans leaving and coming back from patrols.

He could see a mercenary lodge and Adventure Guild being constructed. A blacksmith and general store were also being built. The capital had all the telltale signs of a frontier village.

Will dodge the soldiers and construction teams. He made his way to Elder Thaddeus' room.

"Oh, your back? How was Gadreel? No doubt the city was still celebrating!" he laughed happily.

"Yes, everyone was ecstatic. They even built a statue of me to celebrate!" Will laughed.

"And where is our statue?" Elder Thaddeus asked seriously.

"When I return, I'll commission an artist to sculpt a magnificent statue of you!" Will said exaggeratedly.

"Good! The more magnificent the better. Tell the artist to make my good, or else," he laughed jokingly.

But based on his experience, Will wasn't sure he was joking.

He and Nisha spent the morning with their teachers, before leaving to summon his disciples.

"Master!" Kallista and Lukas bowed.

"I called you all here, to express my happiness in your progress. Kallista when he met you were a novice mage and now you're a master witch!

Lukas, when I met you, begged me to teach you wisdom. Now you are the victorious Supreme Allied Commander, whom people now look to for guidance and counsel.

Your battle wisdom is praised across Terra. And people already call you Imperial Crown Prince Lukas the wise. I'm very proud of you!" Will explained.

"Thank you, master!" Kallista and Lukas said in unison.

"While I'll always be your teacher, today you graduate. Congratulations, you can now accept disciplines of your own," congratulated Will handing them a gift.

"After I lost my parents, I became bitter and angry. If not for you, I'd still be wallowing in sadness and loneliness.

I consider Elizabeth and my you stepped parents. Thank you master for everything!" she cried melancholic tears.

"Thank you, master. You believed me when others didn't. Before I became your disciple, people mocked my intelligence and aptitude.

The past three years under your tutelage have been the best in my life. All praise I received, is due to your and martial Grandmaster Ming's instruction," Lukas said trying not to cry.

"I am the proudest master to have such wonderful students," Will said with mixed emotions.

With his farewells complete, he went back to his room to meet to call for Mammon.

As soon as he opened to room in the former Rhaziesian Imperial Palace, he saw Lord Mammon sitting at the table drinking wine and eating cheese.

"Have you finished your goodbyes?" He asked curiously.

"I have, I'm ready to leave," Will replied.

"Follow me," Lord Mammon said courteously.

Lord Mammon opened a portal in Will's room to Thanatos' realm.

"Do all demons use portals?" Will asked curiously.

"No. Owning a personal portal is very expensive. Very few angels and demons possess personal portals.

And it cost millions of drachmae to open a portal between realms. No, my friend, portals are for the gods!" Mammon explained.

"Where are we?" Will said looking at the night sky. "Welcome to Thanatos' Nightmares Realm. This whole domain belongs to Thanatos. Follow me to the palace, where I'll collect my bounty," Mammon said cordially.

As they approached the palace, Will saw more and more nightmare creatures around him.

Mammon led Will to a blood gigantic red and black palace.

Atop the palace, Will saw a gigantic portal. Through the port, he could make out the former Rhaziesian imperial capital.

"Don't worry, the portal isn't functional yet. A deal is a deal. You have 10 hours before the portal connects to Terra," Mammon provided.

Inside the palace, the demon led Will to the chamberlain's office.

"My friend, I'm back!" Mammon said magnanimously strutting into the office.

"I'm busy Lord Mammon, please quickly state how I can help you?" the old chamberlain asked exhausted, his drowning under a mountain of paperwork.

"I'm here to receive the bounty for Marquis vont Ballard," he said.

"Lord Mammon, surely you realized now is not the time for jokes. I'm extremely busy," the chamberlain said exhaustedly.

"My lord chamberlain, if you would only look up, you'd seen I'm not joking," he said.

The old demon took a big sigh and looked up. When he saw Will, he was dumbfounded. Never, did he think the greedy demon was telling the truth.

"Please follow me. God Thanatos shall be ecstatic to receive this news," the old chamberlain said getting up in a hurry to escort them to the throne room.

"Ahem, we shall stay here until I receive the bounty," Mammon coughed.

"Yes, yes, yes, here the bounty. If you are satisfied, escort the prisoner inside," the chamberlain said happily handing over the money.

"Thank you for the payment. Oh, he's not my prisoner, he's my business partner. Since my job is done, I'll take my leave," he said bowing to them.

"…"

For a second time, the old chamberlain was dumbfounded.

The chamberlain led Will to the throne room, where he saw Thanatos sitting on the mountainous throne sat the god Thanatos. A red muscular titan had a heart-stopping aura, regal horns that jettisoned out of his forehead, and ridges on the top of his skull that formed a crown.

"Lover, I missed you," said a sultry Anne.

Her icy blue gown with sparkling crystals perfectly draped across her voluptuous body.

Her snowy skin white and deep blue eyes made her an unparalleled beauty. She had two bat-like wings and a cute small tail that laid flat against her erotic frame.

Will looked at his former classmate with sadness and regret. Maybe if he accepted her feelings, she wouldn't be a demon today.

"I've to demand your surrender!" Will told Thanatos, ignoring Anne.

"Ha-ha. You come to my realm to demand my surrender. I admit you have guts," he laughed.

"I'll offer you this chance only once," Will said earnestly.

"The audacity. Kneel!" Thanatos commanded, releasing his aura.

Will felt the strong pull of gravity forcing him down.

He fought the aura, struggling to remain upright. His body bobbed up and down as he fought against the god.

His eyes turned to gold and he release his holy golden aura. And was able to fight back and remain upright.

"Eh, a demigod. That explains why you were able to kill my minions. I didn't realize there were any demigods alive on Terra. Killing you shall bring me much satisfaction," he smiled.

"General Morgarth, kill this worm," Thanatos commanded.

A demon appeared phased into existence from the shade, kneeling in front of his lord.

"Thank you, Lord, for this honor. You are a god most merciful!" he said taking out twin daggers.

The black demon ran and phased out of Will's sight only to reappear behind him.

For 15 minutes Will held his own against the demon. The demon's movement skill made it difficult for Will's sword to physically touch the demon.

On the other hand, the up-close battle demon cut and bruises Will. Will looked like a bloody pin cushion.

"Argh, poison" Will yelled looking at his cuts and bruises.

The demon smiled, but he didn't expect Will to lull him underestimating him.

"I shall end this soon—argh," he screamed to Thanatos as Will cut off the unsuspecting demon's left leg.

"Ah!" the General screamed as blood gushed out of his lost leg.

Nisha distracted the demon, by playing with his leg.

While he was distracted, Will swiped his sword and separated the demon's head from his neck.

"Thank you for the warm-up. Have I proven myself? Are you ready to die?" Will asked arrogantly, his eyes and aura glowing even more golden.

Will's dominant performance sent wetness dripping down Anne's thigh.

As a succubus, she desired men's life energy, and Will's energy sent her sensitive body into madness.

If she wasn't chained to Thanatos's throne, she would've longed to attack Will. She craved Will. He aroused her compulsive lust. Her body was moist with desire.

Will cast [Earthquake] splitting the throne room. The room ripped into and cracked Thanatos's throne in half.

The demons hidden in the shadows were blown away by a shockwave.

Will's holy aura had already healed his bruises and cuts.

"I do not find your parlor tricks amusing. You walk into my realm, my place, and trash my throne room. Congratulations you have to awaken my wrath. Your death shall be eternally painful!" Thanatos clapped with a sinister smirk, standing up and showing off his muscular boy.

Will cast [Entomb] hoping for a quick end.

The iron maddens appeared and began trying to suck Thanatos into to torture device.

"Ha-ha, did you think this trick would work in my domain?" he said mockingly as he ripped the torture device in two.

The unbreakable prison, Will's most potent, spell was broken like a child's plaything.

Will tried to not show it, but seeming his powerful crushed, crushed his heart.