Chapter 36 - Hard Fought Defeat

As the strange bubbling and gurgling noise continued, I knew what was happening, but I have nothing left to stop it.

I used up most of my remaining mana in that strike, and both my arms are useless. I could try and crush his body with my legs, but striking a person's body with his level of cloaking would do little more than tickle.

Sitting down and resting, it took a solid minute for the brain goop and shards of the skull to recollect at his body, eventually reforming his head.

After about two more minutes, the bastard was back in nearly flawless condition. Based on how long that took, it seems my theory of burnout was correct.

That, or destroying his head simply took a ton out of his regenerative capabilities. More information for the future never hurts, especially if I have to fight this battle-hungry monster again.

"Holy shit! I didn't know you still had that much power in ya!" The boisterous voiced mad man said. "Either way, based on the fact you didn't try to continue to kick me to death, I assume you've given up?" He asked, putting his hand out for me to shake, only to notice my lack of usable appendages.

"Yeah, I concede defeat, by the ancient laws of magic I will obey the stakes we placed," I say as I could feel an insane amount of mana flooding my body, fixing my every wound before receding into the earth once again.

Although my body was healed, my mana pool and more importantly pride were not.

"That was a good fight! But I tell ya what, why don't we strike a deal. I'll wave my end of the deal, and even let you into this town, for one little thing. I just wanna use a bit of my magic on you, it won't even hurt. I'll heal you if it does, and even teach you how to use Wrathful Soul. Deal?" He says as the original chain of Fae Magic dissipated, causing a new one to form, hovering mere centimeters from my chest.

"Can I have your word I'll be able to enter the town and search for my children?" I ask, hesitant to take the deal. It simply sounds too good to be true.

"I swear it upon my mana network, being that if I break that promise, the Fae may reclaim my mana." He was dead serious. Since this is a binding agreement, he would be stripped of magic and mana if he were to break that agreement.

Without any further hesitation, I shook his hand as the glittering birdcage dissipated.

"Perfect!" He said, his face distorting into a wicked grin.

Without any chanting or any further delay, an eerie black smoke began to pour out of his body.

"I think ????'

As the words left his lips, the black smoke overtook me. I could feel it seep into my every orifice, and as it seeped in, something that I couldn't quite understand seeped out.

--- Point of View: Richard Silverwind, Emissary of Acrimony ---

As Devour overtook the fierce demon warrior, something felt amiss.

Aside from the speed, which I am slowly learning is simply a technique of manipulating mana, he didn't do anything.

Has Ego become so weak that he can't even give his Emissary a single blip of power? Or did he just not use it?

Maybe Acrimony was wrong, Ego really is losing a ton of power if this is his ace in the hole.

God damn it. Just as I was bad-mouthing you, you decide to call me up now? You're gonna make me pass out in front of the city!

As Devour finished up, I felt the ever foreign feeling of falling out of my new body.

Opening my eyes, I was back in my old body. Man, it's good to be back.

Looking around, we seem to be in some kind of medieval castle this time.

Alright, Acrimony, what did you wanna talk about this time.

"You fucking moron!" Acrimony yells, appearing in front of me and kicking me in the chest. The blow sends me backward but mostly hurts my pride.

I was a wrestling gold medalist damn it! Why can a five-two girl with horns hurt me so bad!

"Cause I'm a diety you meathead, now sit down unless you wanna get beat again." Acrimony says, summoning a comfortable leather couch for me to sit down on.

The first time I was summoned here, I tried to push her around after she was super bossy to me. Boy, I learned my lesson fast after that one, it felt like I was getting the shit kicked out of me for days.

"I did beat you up for days dickhead, you just have a bad memory. Now, before I hit you again, do you know what you did wrong?" Acrimony asks.

Man, you're scaring me, I thought I did everything right! You said to head there, become a renowned warrior, and wait for about a year and a half.

Then, Ego's emissary will come to town from the Uninhabited Northern Forest, and you wanted me to beat him up and steal whatever piece of divinity Ego gave him!

What did I do wrong?!

That earned me a swift punch in the head.

"What you did wrong? What did you do wrong?! You ruined the entire plan and exposed yourself! I told you Ego's emissary would still be a child! How was that demon anything like a child!"

Acrimony yelled, nearly walloping me again before continuing.

"Now, since you fought the brat's father, Ego can see you. You've hurt the ego of someone connected to his emissary, and until that demonoid is dead, he'll be able to keep an eye on you." Acrimony said, huffing and sitting down in frustration.

So what! You said Ego was weakened after his other emissary died! We can just kill the demonoid and finish off that junk diety in one fell swoop!

"Do you listen to nothing I say? I said he was weak now! As in his emissary was weak and alone! You're lucky you've been good went out of your way to hunt down Greed's little monster for me, or you'd have one hell of a beating on your hands." Acrimony said, slowly calming herself down.

Thank God, you may have made my body durable, but I don't think my mind could handle that much pain for longer than a few days.

"Speaking of which, why would you bother using Devour on some random demon? Now you won't be able to use it again for a year!" Acrimony said, her scalding motherly tone slowly returning.

The Dread Lord of Acrimony had a short and explosive temper, but once she calmed down, she was essentially a motherly figure to her two emissaries.