Chapter 105:Offer

Chapter 105: Chapter 105:Offer

Benjamin was the first to speak, his voice cutting through the heavy silence that had settled over the clearing like a shroud.

He scrambled forward, his movements desperate and clumsy, his broken body protesting with every step. His body was broken, shattered in ways that should have been fatal, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles, his ribs cracked and splintered. His face was a mess, a canvas of blood and bruises and swelling that made him almost unrecognizable. His arm was still bleeding, the wound refusing to close, the blood dripping steadily onto the ground beneath him. But he was moving, his will driving him forward despite the damage he had sustained. He was crawling, his hands and knees dragging him across the torn earth. He was desperate, his eyes wild with a terrible, clawing need.

He stopped in front of the demon, his body coming to a halt at the creature’s feet. He bowed, his forehead pressing against the dirt, the soil smearing across his bloodied face. His whole body was trembling, shaking with a mixture of fear and hope and desperation.

"Lord Zariod," he said, his voice shaking. "This little one greets you."

The demon didn’t look at him. His black eyes were fixed on something else, on someone else.

"This little one has a proposal," Benjamin continued, his voice urgent and pleading. "A proposal that will benefit us both. A proposal that will—"

The demon ignored him. His attention was elsewhere, his interest captured by something far more compelling.

He looked at Daniel, his black eyes bottomless and infinite. His expression was unreadable, his features a mask of calm that revealed nothing of his thoughts.

"What is your name?" he asked, his voice low and rumbling.

Daniel didn’t flinch, his body steady and unmoving. He didn’t tremble, his hands steady in his pockets. He didn’t bow, his posture relaxed and casual. He just stood there, his hands in his pockets, his expression calm.

"Daniel," he said, his voice clear and steady. "Daniel Black."

The demon tilted his head, his expression curious. "You’re not afraid."

It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, a fact, an observation.

Daniel shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling in a casual gesture. "Should I be?"

The demon was silent, his black eyes studying Daniel with an intensity that would have made lesser men crumble. He looked at Daniel, really looked at him. At his calm face, unmarked by fear. At his cold eyes, unwavering and steady. At his relaxed posture, casual and unafraid.

Then he smiled, a slow, curious smile that spread across his monstrous features.

"Most people tremble in my presence," he said, his voice thoughtful. "Most people fall to their knees. Most people beg for mercy."

Daniel didn’t answer. He just stood there, his expression unchanged.

"You didn’t," the demon said, his voice curious. "Why?"

Daniel thought about it, his expression thoughtful. "I’ve seen scarier things."

The demon raised an eyebrow, his expression surprised. "Scarier than me?"

"Yeah."

"What?"

"A giant lizard. A massive bird. A perverted brick head. A crazy elf who wouldn’t shut up." Daniel shrugged, his expression dismissive. "You’re not that scary."

The demon stared at him, his black eyes wide with surprise. Then he laughed, a loud, booming laugh that echoed through the clearing and bounced off the shattered trees.

Then the demon spoke " my name is zeriod but others call me Lord zeriod"

"Sounds like a cool name"

"You have good taste," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "In names, I mean. Zariod. It sounds like a super awesome name."

Daniel smiled, a small, genuine smile. "It does."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. It’s cool. It’s memorable. It’s intimidating."

Zariod nodded, his expression pleased. He seemed to appreciate the compliment, his ego clearly flattered by Daniel’s words.

"What is the situation?" he asked, his voice curious.

Benjamin scrambled to his feet, his movements desperate and frantic. He pushed himself between Daniel and Zariod, his body positioning itself in front of the demon. His face was desperate, his eyes wild with a terrible, clawing need.

"I summoned you!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "I am the one who brought you here! I am the one who freed you!"

Zariod looked at him, his expression unchanged.

"I have a proposal for you," Benjamin continued, his voice urgent. "A great proposal. A proposal that will benefit us both."

He paused, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

"I want to take over the world. I want to rule everything. And I want you to help me."

Zariod didn’t answer. He just looked at Benjamin, his black eyes unreadable.

"I will give you fifty percent of everything we get," Benjamin said, his voice desperate. "Fifty percent of the gold. Fifty percent of the land. Fifty percent of the power. Everything."

Zariod still didn’t answer, his silence stretching on and on.

"All you have to do is help me kill these people," Benjamin said, his voice pleading. "Kill them all. Then we can rule together. We can be kings. We can be gods."

Zariod looked at him.

Benjamin felt it.

It was a gaze, just a gaze. But it was more than that. It was a weight, a pressure, a force that pressed down on him from all sides. It was like being looked at by a god, a being of infinite power and infinite cruelty. A god who could destroy the planet without effort, who could crush him like an insect, who could erase him from existence with a single thought.

Five seconds passed.

It felt like thousands of years.

Benjamin felt his soul leave his body, his essence departing from his flesh. He felt his heart stop, the organ ceasing its rhythm in his chest. He felt his mind break, his consciousness shattering into a million pieces.

He fell.

He hit the ground, his body collapsing in a heap. He didn’t move, his limbs still and lifeless. He didn’t breathe, his chest unmoving. He was dead.

Everyone stared, their mouths open, their eyes wide with shock and horror. Their bodies were frozen, their minds struggling to process what they had just witnessed.

They had just seen someone die. Not from a sword, not from magic, not from a punch. From a look. A single look.

They looked at Zariod, their eyes filled with fear and awe. At his calm face, unmarked by emotion. At his black eyes, bottomless and infinite. At his terrifying presence, overwhelming and absolute.

They realized something, a terrible, horrifying truth dawning on them. If this guy wanted them dead, they were fucked.

They looked at Daniel, their eyes filled with hope and desperation. He was still calm, his hands still in his pockets, his expression still unreadable.

He was their only hope.

Daniel spoke, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "Well," he said, his voice calm and measured. "That was something."

Zariod laughed, a loud, genuine laugh that echoed through the clearing. "You’re interesting," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "Very interesting."

Daniel shrugged, his expression casual. "I try."

Zariod looked at him, his expression shifting from amusement to curiosity. "I have an offer for you," he said, his voice thoughtful.

Daniel raised an eyebrow, his expression curious. "An offer?"

"Yes."

"What kind of offer?"

"An offer that will benefit us both. An offer that will change everything."

Daniel tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "I’m listening."

Zariod smiled, a slow, dangerous smile that sent shivers down the spines of everyone who saw it. "Would you like to hear it?"

Daniel thought about it, his expression contemplative. He looked at Zariod, his eyes taking in the demon’s form. At his black eyes, bottomless and infinite. At his terrifying presence, overwhelming and absolute. At his overwhelming power, vast and incomprehensible.

Then he shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling in a casual gesture. "Sure," he said, his voice calm. "Why not?"

He paused, his expression shifting to something almost playful. "But make it quick. I have a date with a very hot beauty."