Chapter 350: Test of Loyalty (2)

The masked man's eyes grew wide seeing that massive blinking screen in front of him… But, his eyes grew even wider as he looked out in front of him at the man that once was…

He could not even believe that was the same person. His once twig-like arms were thick and muscular, the rugged surface of his wrinkly skin was now smooth and slightly darker, like he had been sunbathing for a few days. The gray hair that barely stood on his head was now long and deep black with a consistency as smooth as silk. 

He slowly lifted himself off the ground, scratching his pitch-black eyes that laid upon a new face fitting to be made into a statue in an art museum, that and his rock-hard six-pack.

"Huh… Is it finally over... Where am I…"  The world was still blurry from his vision, but the bright light of the purple energy ring came quickly back into view, the room looking far different from what he remembered it...  That was when he suddenly recalled everything and his expression immediately shifted as he took a knee, surprised at how light and agile his body was.

"L-Lord Joker! It had been so long yet I have not forgotten about you nor my deal! I endure as you have asked and I seemed to have passed the test! Will you accept me as your eternal servant now? If yes, can you please answer something for this lowly being… Why do I have night vision?" He looked down, not daring to meet his master's gaze despite how long it felt like he did not see him in his mind.

"Sure… But, only under one condition…"

"Yes! What is it! I am prepared to do anything!" He spoke with confidence, only now noticing that his voice was much deeper and far more articulate. 

"Please put these clothes on… You're being a little umm… Distracting…"

"Wa-" His eyes grew wide hearing his master's words before he paid attention to his naked body, and his face grew bright red as he looked up towards the disgusted face of his new master, filling him with uncontrollable dread as he panicked, trying to think of what to do, swiping his hands randomly as he was suddenly adorned with a new student uniform from elite school, the first item of clothing that popped up in his mind since it was the one he had seen most often that day. 

"Huh? How did you do that?" The man above could not help but lift his eyebrows in surprise. 

"I-I have no idea my lord… It-It just felt natural to do what I did…" The mammon spoke the truth, it was evident from his voice which made his new master nod up and down very thoroughly impressed.

The mammon then took the time to inspect his new attire that came out of nowhere, noticing it to be nothing but a mere illusion, and as he did, he managed to notice everything else around him.

Other than his vomit that was still fresh on the ground that told him that he was not out for too long, he noticed the clothes he previously wore completely ripped and on the floor. But, that was not the only thing that was ripped, as he looked down, he could not believe his new lean, muscular body that was many inches taller than he last remembered it. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, no wonder his body felt so different and light compared to before.

"Lord Joker! What happened to me! Why am I like this!" He finally built up the courage to look up at the face of his master and his purple, demonic stare and presence that still shook him to his core to this very moment. 

"Why don't you see for yourself… He put his hands into an unknown void that did not look like any void made from any storage ring he could remember, pulling out a simple mirror and handed it to him. 

The mammon gulped a mouthful of saliva and received it with not so elegant grace as he nearly dropped it due to his nervousness and shaky hands. 

He took a deep breath tightly holding the mirror before turning it around to see his own face that he almost did not even recognize. 

"W-what!! What is this…" He gasped and almost dropped the mirror on the ground seeing his own reflection, his heart racing faster than ever before. 

"I look like I am twenty! How is this possible!" For years humans experimented with the essence of mana to extend life, bring back the dead and reverse a large portion of time but never succeeded. The mammon himself even spent a fortune trying to regain his youth when he felt his death was near, all ending in failure… But now, his new master came in and fulfilled all of his dreams… He was truly on another plane of existence.

"Lord Joker!! I am even more forever in your debt! I will not make this gift go to waste! Now, I can change my face using my ability to different ages and will be of far more use to you! I have never felt more honoured to serve!" He tried his best to meet his master's gaze, yet still looked away at the end all out of fear and nervousness, especially after that shameful display and embarrassment. 

"Is what you say the truth? Is that truly how you feel?" There was a powerful purple glisten in his master's eyes and he felt like something overcame his body compelling him to tell the truth or suffer dire consequences. 

"Y-yes my lord! All that I have said are my true thoughts and feelings! I would never dare lie to such an all mighty presence such as yourself!" He replied with no hesitation. 

"Excellent! Now, come close to me… I shall impart some of my knowledge onto you to let you know what had just happened… We have no time for talk, the military soldiers should be down here any second now. There is much more that you can do than you initially realize…"

"As you command!" He nodded vigorously and scooted closer to his lord's side… That was when he placed his hands on his forehead. It was a similar position as he was in earlier, and the memories of what happened before suddenly entered in his mind along with a reminder of all the pain.

He could not help but inwardly shudder and sweat profusely, yet he did not run nor complain, but instead accepted whatever his lord was about to bestow upon him, whether it was a punishment for his indecency or a reward for his survival, he shall accept and endure it all. 

He closed his eyes and prepared himself for what was about to come, but, to his surprise, he felt no pain nor bliss, but instead a sudden shock of information infiltrating and overwhelming his brain like a tsunami. It was slightly fatiguing processing and receiving so much, but in the end, it made things make far more sense now. Still, the bewilderment of who he now was and able to do was not diminished in the slightest, he more than accepted his fate, if anything, he was grateful and excited to finally be a true demon, like his title of mammon would suggest…

He opened his eyes once again and his new master removed his hands, letting him go as he tumbled on the ground from dizziness and fatigue.

He managed to get information that would have took several minutes to explain in only a few seconds, even including visuals, but most importantly, his lord transferred him his new orders to complete, his first-ever task. 

"Hey, did you get that? Slave," The still masked man looked down with that same dominant stare, making him kneel on one knee, regaining his balance and speaking.

"Yes! I fully understand my orders!" He slightly smiled and stood up tall, in his original body, he was a few inches taller than his master, but, he did not last in that form for long as he began shifting and morphing into something else… It was truly a disturbing process seeing flesh and bone melting and moving like slime before being replaced by something completely new and natural.

"Great, I will trust you to complete your task… But, just as a reminder of what I can do to you… I order you to snap your neck!" His voice was cold and distant yet possessed both vigour and authority.

The mammon suddenly felt an odd energy-consuming his entire body. It suddenly began to move on its own like it was being controlled by an outside force, almost like a marionette. But, it was a force that he accepted and did not fight back, he surrendered himself to the chains of his master's will.

"Stop!" His lord's voice sounded once again, and his body froze in place, allowing him to move like normal.

"Remember, I am able to contact you through mind link… I can sense your true emotions and immediately know if any betrayal occurs. Your life is quite literally at the palm of my hands, remember that…"

"Of course! I am well aware! I will never betray you! Only the blind and ignorant would ever do that!" He took a knee once again.

"There is a metal door here! TAKE IT DOWN! IT MIGHT BE A SECRET EXIT!" Both of their enhanced hearing managed to pick up sounds and banging from the other side of the hallway.  It was finally time to part ways. 

"Okay, you may now leave to complete your task, contact me through mind-link if anything important occurs…" The masked man turned around and prepared to run towards the exit, that was when a sudden sound rang throughout the room, like a notification of a technological device. 

"Lord Joker!"'

At first he thought nothing of it, but when the mammon called his name, he had no choice but to turn around and see what was going on. 

When he did, he witnessed the mammon still on the ground with a smartwatch in hand that must have fell off from his body during his demon transformation, reading something on it. 

"Yes, what is it now?"

"I am truly sorry for this, but I thought I would let you know this… As expected, it seemed like your genius plan worked... I have just received a message from a spy of mine saying that this incident was caused by a duel request from two watches that alerted the school, and that the principal only came here to initially personally lecture to those students and give them a punishment. I was 100% certain that anonymous duel requests did not send to the school, and normal messages outside the building were blocked by several mana crystals to ensure all went well… You must have done something in that final match of yours! You have truly outsmarted me and I have only now just realized… I can't imagine the next part of your magnificent plan, but I'm certain it is far too complex for a mere servant like me to understand!"

"…"

"Lord Joker? What's with that face? Did I say something wrong?"