31 You're so Dead

Pain. Imagine experiencing the feeling of excruciating non-stop pain.

Pain so terrifying that it wouldn't let you pass out, instead it would let you thoroughly feel it while being conscious.

Not being able to move, not being able to think.

The only capability you have left is to scream, but eventually, you wouldn't even have the strength left to scream anything.

That was the kind of pain that both Cray and Nick was experiencing right now.

Black marks had begun to spread all around Nick's body. As time passes so does these patches of black marks. After ten breaths, his arms, legs, and neck had already turned pitch black. This continued until eventually only Nick's face was left uncovered.

Cray who had also undergone a near-death experience could only say that the previous experience wouldn't hold a candle to what he was feeling right now.

He could no longer think straight. All he could think about was to stop feeling the pain. His thoughts had spiraled between dying in order for him to no longer feel the pain and to endure the pain that he was currently feeling.

He didn't know since when he had thought of enduring this kind of pain.

He didn't know why but he felt that he needed to protect something.

He also hadn't noticed it, but Nick's inner thoughts had long stopped appearing in his mind.

I WON'T YIELD!

His thoughts had completely changed, he and Nick were now one.

This is where the Trial of Fire truly begins.

"You are to take on his everything." Cray was vaguely reminded of the words that he heard from the rude man. He had fully begun experiencing what Nick is experiencing.

"Hou, you really are amazing, to be physically and mentally fit enough to become a demon's contractor. As expected of that man's son. He raised you well, too bad you met me." An amused voice could be heard.

Nick was now giving out loud and heavy consecutive deep breaths, he had managed to break free. But even if he had managed to break free earlier, he currently couldn't even lift a finger.

The demon who was watching Nick's struggle then commanded the previous assailant with an incomprehensible language.

A faint black crystal then appeared from the demon's chest and headed towards the female assailant.

The woman who had received the crystal revealed a very sinister smile.

"DIE!" She screamed as she took the sword that she had materialized from the thin air.

Nick who saw this had a helpless look on his face. He had no other choice but to resign to his fate.

*TING*

A silver streak of light had appeared from the east. Seeing the sword, Nick turned his line of sight towards the east only to see Rebecca.

"Sir Nicholas, are you alright?!" A worried voice came from the lady who was hurrying towards him. "Rebecca!" He couldn't believe how happy he was just by being able to see another person that he knew.

Rebecca was the one who had offered him the water earlier on the party, she was just about eight years older than Nick and she works as an assistant of Nick's father. On her hand was a silver ring that was glimmering.

"Tch! A bug got in my way." The demon looked really pissed. He became irritated after countless unexpected things happened. He should've already had taken over Nick's body if not for the restriction that was placed upon him by Nick's father.

That was not the only reason the demon was irritated. The demon had long sensed that it was no match with Nick's father, so he decisively made a gamble with his life.

If he were to manage to take over Nick's body, then he would have a natural defense as he would take Nick's body as a hostage to fight against Nick's father. However, if he were to fail, then his powers would not only be taken away from him, his life would be extinguished.

"Sir Nick, please don't move your body, it would only worsen your condition if you were to continue trying to struggle. Please calm yourself down. The lord count has already cleaned up the monster outbreak and is now heading towards here. It's going to be okay now I promise."

Rebecca swiftly reached Nick's unmovable body and had set up a defensive posture in an attempt to defend him in the case of any enemy attacks.

Cray who had been looking at Rebecca's figure had managed to recall about Hannah's mother. The woman in front of him and the mother of Hannah had greatly resembled each other. He was surprised to see the younger version of Hannah's mother as he couldn't figure out how she was connected to his father.

He then saw the close relationship of Nick and Rebecca. A thought quickly flashed through his mind.

Could this person actually be my real mother?

No way.......If she was my mother then wouldn't that mean that Hannah and I are siblings?

*BOOM*

Cray was once again dragged back into the real world when he heard something falling down from the sky.

A large crater was formed because of the sudden impact. Smoke started rising from the tiny crater.

"You've really dug your grave this time, you demon!" A person's silhouette appeared from the smoke.

He was Nick's father. Walter, the wielder of the hottest flames.

Walter then took out a thin sword as he walked towards the demon. Blue flames had appeared on the surface of the sword.

"I take it that you're already prepared to die!" A murderous gaze fell upon the demon. Walter had already made a stance that looked as if he was ready to pounce on an enemy at any moment.

"GAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU CAN'T KILL ME!" The demon laughed as he pointed the black patches of skin that had once again started to react.

This time, half of Nick's face was enveloped by the darkness.

"Nick!" Walter immediately ran towards his son but was blocked by the female assailant as she attacked him.

"You're not going anywhere!" She shouted as she made a series of fast attacks that made afterimages.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET BURNED!" Walter ruthlessly went straight forwards disregarding any threat that the female assailant might pose against him.