Entrustment!

"Is that the end of the story?" James asked, his curiosity piqued. He glanced up and down at the demon beside him, the one who had just finished telling him the strange tale. His eyes gleamed with interest as he probed, "Based on everything you've said, you were supposed to have an extremely cold personality. So why are you acting like this now?"

The demon let out a low chuckle, the kind that hinted at secrets long kept. "Heh, really? You think I was cold back then? Perhaps I've been around humans too long. You tend to pick up habits when you linger in one place for centuries. Oh, and by the way, did you know that demons don't have genders and we can't reproduce?"

James raised an eyebrow, an amused grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Oh? So all those stories about demons abducting human women are just myths, huh?"

The demon rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. "Obviously. Would you actually believe such nonsense?"

James shrugged with a playful grin, not bothering to answer. Instead, he studied the demon carefully, letting a thought drift into his mind. When they had first met, the demon had told him this was 'his' story. Now, something wasn't quite adding up.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, eyes narrowing as if piecing together a puzzle. "Hey," he began, his tone suddenly shifting, "should I be calling you the Great Demon, or would 'Anne' be more appropriate?"

The demon's tail swished lightly behind him or is it her he was confused with the pronouns, the tentacles on his head twitching in faint surprise. A sly smile played across his lips as he responded, "Ah, you figured it out already? I didn't think you'd catch on so fast."

James crossed his arms, a grin spreading across his face. "So... Anne, huh? That's a twist."

The demon; Anne, shrugged nonchalantly, the transformation in her demeanor subtle yet unmistakable. "Call me what you will. I am both the Great Demon of the Demon Clan and Anne. It doesn't really matter. What matters is that you've passed my test."

Anne's eyes sparkled with amusement as she gestured lazily. "And since you've done so well, I'll give you a reward." With a dramatic wave of his hand, three objects appeared, floating effortlessly in the air between them. "You can choose one of these. Think of it as a prize for your effort."

James blinked, glancing between the hovering tributes and the demon, whose smirk never faltered. His eyes flicked back to the tributes, then to Anne, and back again. He raised an eyebrow and said dryly, "How am I supposed to pick if you don't even tell me what they are?"

Anne laughed, the sound rich with amusement. "Fine, fine. I doubt you can use any of them, but since you asked, I'll indulge you." He reached out and picked up the first tribute.

James leaned in, eyes narrowing as he finally got a good look at it. The object wasn't what he expected, it was a transparent spirit crystal, but within it, a thick, black substance seemed to flow, moving slowly as though it had a life of its own.

"This," Anne said, holding the crystal up to the light, "is called 'Dark Blood'. It's extracted from the most ancient dark creatures, and it has the power to transform a being into its most primitive form, enhancing its bloodline. It's very valuable... for someone who actually has a bloodline." He gave James a quick once-over and snickered. "But you? No blood vessels, no bloodline. Useless to you."

James's mouth twitched, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. His gaze shifted as Anne picked up the second tribute, already bracing himself for another jab.

"This is the 'Spirit of Evil Bone'," Anne explained, lifting a twisted necklace made from the fangs of an ancient dragon. The black teeth gleamed, exuding an ominous aura. "It's forged from the remains of an evil dragon, and it contains the essence of its spirit. This little trinket can temper bones and strengthen tendons; if you can handle it, that is." Anne paused, grinning at James's expression. "But you... well, let's just say it's wasted on you."

James gritted his teeth, mentally cursing. "'Really?'" he thought. He glanced at the final tribute, exasperation creeping into his voice. "And what about this one?"

Anne chuckled, picking up a simple yet elegant hairpin. He twirled it between his fingers, the cool green jade reflecting the light. "Ah, this." He smiled wistfully, gesturing to the hairpin with a delicate touch. "I used to wear this when I still had hair. It's sentimental, really. Can't use it now, of course, but it's my most treasured possession. That's why I saved it for last."

James stared at the demon in disbelief as Anne laughed, placing the hairpin on his own head, even though the tentacles swayed where hair once might have been. "It's my favorite, even if it's pretty much useless these days."

James sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. "You're really making this tough, you know that?"

Anne only smiled wider, clearly enjoying every moment. "Oh, come now. Life's all about making difficult choices, isn't it? But don't worry, whatever you pick, I'm sure you'll make it work... or not."

"So, you're telling me it's completely useless?" James's straw-covered face darkened visibly, even if only in spirit.

"Well, technically no," the Great Demon Anne replied with an exaggerated nod, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "But, compared to the other two items, this one might actually be useful to you. I mean, at least you can wear it on your head." She punctuated her words by twirling the jade hairpin between her fingers and placing it teasingly on her tentacles, as if modeling it.

James sighed deeply, covering his face with his hands in utter defeat. He tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky at a precise forty-five-degree angle, trying to hold back non-existent tears.

Even though he didn't have tear ducts.

The moment he laid eyes on Anne, James had already given up on any legendary, grandiose dreams of slaying a demon and completing his mission. The absurdity of it all had crashed down on him like a ton of bricks. Especially after activating his life-detection ability, he had clearly seen an absurd number of zeros trailing behind Anne's vitality score.

In other words, even if the Great Demon stood completely still and let him swing the scythe of death at her for a thousand lifetimes, he wouldn't be able to so much as scratch the skin off her foot.

"Alright, alright," Anne's voice interrupted his internal despair. She reached out and gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder, the gesture feeling more mocking than reassuring. "I didn't expect the one who would pass my test to be… well, 'this'."

"'This'? What do you mean by 'this'?" James muttered through gritted teeth, biting back his frustration. But what could he do? He was utterly powerless.

"Tell you what," Anne leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "How about we strike a deal? You agree to one condition of mine, and I'll grant your wish."

James jerked his head to look at her, startled. "Wait, you know what I want?!"

"Of course." Anne smirked, giving him a playful pout. "You want to kill me. It's not exactly a secret, though I haven't the faintest idea why."

The revelation hit him like a bolt of lightning. James's entire body stiffened, and the straw that made up his outer form bristled like hair standing on end. She had known all along!

"Relax, don't get so worked up." Anne laughed, extending one sharp, clawed finger to calm him down. "Let me tell you something. You know that demons can't reproduce, right? So, ever wonder why the demon race hasn't gone extinct?"

James blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. "Why?"

"Because demons aren't born the way you might think," Anne explained, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Demons are formed from the evil and obsessions of all races. If someone's obsession is strong enough, combined with the right circumstances, they can turn into a demon. Take me, for example. I was dead once, truly dead. But the Great Demon used a method to infinitely expand my obsession when my soul had already scattered. That obsession became powerful enough to bring me back, transforming me into what you see now."

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "I'm alive, but bound to this form, trapped by my own obsession. I've been here for countless years, living as a demon, and now... I want to make a deal with you."

James, still reeling from the revelation, eyed her cautiously. "What kind of deal?"

"When I was human, I always dreamed of seeing someone transcend the limits of mortal existence; a legendary figure who could surpass all living creatures." Anne's eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical light as she spoke. "Now, I've found someone with that potential. I can't let such an opportunity slip away."

James blinked in confusion, pointing at himself hesitantly. "You mean me?"

Anne's expression darkened, a vein twitching visibly on her forehead. "What, you?" she growled, clearly irritated. "You think 'you' are the one I'm talking about? No, no! Even if you're lacking skin, you should still have some shred of dignity!"

James scratched the back of his head, a nervous smile creeping onto his face. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, making it hard to know what to say.

Anne took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "The one who possesses the ability to transcend is still just a child. I need you to protect him, and in return, I will offer you my life. What do you say?"

James fell silent, processing her words. After what felt like an eternity, he finally asked, "Why don't you just do it yourself?"

Anne's grin widened, but there was a hint of sadness behind it. "Because I am a demon."

As soon as she said this, her vitality began to plummet. The numbers that had once soared above 100 million rapidly dwindled to a mere 20 points.

James watched in shock. "Wait—"

"Don't worry about me," Anne interjected, glancing around as if admiring a new outfit. "I remember the sickle of the Death Scarecrow in the undead world can drain vitality. It's perfectly fine."

"I see…" James muttered, struggling to find the right words.

After a long pause, he suddenly bowed deeply to Anne, a gesture filled with both respect and regret. Slowly, he lifted his head and began to walk toward her, each step heavy with determination.

He raised his hand, and the sickle of death materialized in his grip. His eyes were resolute, but his hand trembled slightly, betraying the conflict within him.

"Don't overthink it," Anne said softly, her eyes closed and a smile lingering on her lips. "You're not acting very manly right now."

Her teasing tone fell flat for James; he couldn't muster a laugh.

With a deep breath, he held the sickle high, casting one last, lingering glance at Anne. Summoning all his strength, he swung the sickle down with a fierce cry.

As the blade struck true, the notifications flooded his mind:

[Host kills a top-grade A-level demon, absorbs 20 points of vitality, activates vitality purification, and gains +40 points of growth.]

[Congratulations to the host for completing the legendary hidden mission of the Undead Evolution Route - Ruler of the Night, and obtaining the legendary Heart Method - Night, which has been automatically equipped.]

James felt a rush of power surge through him, his body enveloped in a dark aura. He glanced at Anne, who was starting to fade, her laughter mingling with the darkness around them. "I can feel it, you'll grow strong from this. You shouldn't be sad. I should have died long ago, trapped by my own obsessions. Now I'm finally free. It's the best of both worlds, isn't it?"

As her form began to dissipate completely, her voice trailed off, "It's just… I wish we could have talked more. Finding someone to chat with isn't easy…"

With those final words, she vanished, leaving only silence in her wake.

James stared at the sickle in his hand, feeling hollow despite the completion of his mission. He took a deep breath and whispered, "Senior Anne, I promise I will honor your trust. Please rest in peace."

As he spoke, the vibrant green world around them began to crumble, the loss of Anne's power sending shockwaves through the landscape.