CHAPTER 129: THE INFERNAL PEGASUS (2/2)

Kael approached the Infernal Pegasus slowly, step by step, until he stood only a meter from its smoking body.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Mia asked aloud.

Kael didn’t answer her and crouched beside the beast.

"Its eye, barely open, flicked toward him. Still burning, and he could see pride in its eyes."

Kael met its gaze calmly. "I know you understand my words," he said quietly. "You’re no mindless monster. You’re intelligent. So, listen to my words carefully."

The Pegasus stirred slightly. Not a growl, just breath.

"I’m giving you a choice," Kael continued, voice clear, every word ringing in the cavern. "One, my companions and I end your life here, free your soul from this misery. You won’t have to be bound in these walls that the dungeon creator forced upon you. Of course, we take your core. It will help our friend break into the next tier."

He let that sink in. His tone was honest and respectful but firm.

Kael continued. "And two... You live by joining my side like her."

He gestured to the vampire behind him.

"You’ll become my beast companion. You’ll fly again, under open skies. And I promise to treat you with respect."

The others watched with breath held, listening to his words. Even Shiera lowered her sword, eyes narrowing in silent curiosity.

Kael leaned in slightly closer, not flinching even when a weak flame flickered from the Pegasus’s mane.

"Your pride is noble. Your power is real. But you lost here today. That is also the truth."

The Pegasus exhaled deeply.

"This isn’t about mercy," Kael whispered. "This is about what kind of future you choose. One where you die and attain freedom from this cursed life, or become one where your freedom is limited, but your life will have more meaning, and you could continue to live. The choice is yours."

For a moment, silence met his words.

But then a few seconds later...

"Neigh..."

The sound was soft and raspy as it escaped its mouth.

Meanwhile, the Infernal Pegasus lifted its head slightly, fire-scorched eyes locking onto Kael’s.

It was then that Cleo’s calm voice echoed in Kael’s mind.

"Master, it agrees to be your companion."

A soft breath of relief passed through Kael’s lips, and he raised his left hand, rolling up his sleeve, showing the swirling mystic tattoo. It pulsed faintly with his heartbeat.

He waited for something to happen when he saw the glow. But nothing happened.

His brow furrowed. "Why isn’t it...?"

Cleo interrupted him, "You initiated the contract, but its spirit doesn’t have the strength to form the contract. If you do nothing, it will die."

Kael looked back at the Pegasus. It was trying to move but faltered, too injured, too drained of life force. Blood still pooled from a deep gash across its flank.

"It indeed doesn’t have the strength," he murmured.

He reached into his satchel, pulling out a crystal vial of glowing sky-blue liquid, a high-quality mana recovery potion; each vial costs as much as 5000 gold coins.

"This will recover your lost strength, not much, but significant enough."

As he uncorked it, Mia rushed toward him.

"Kael, stop!" she cried, gripping his arm. "You’re going to give it to that thing?"

He looked at her calmly. "Yes."

"But what if it attacks you after regaining its strength? Or worse, if it explodes itself and causes a suicide attack. You don’t have to be too greedy. You have Sith, she is more powerful than this beast anyway."

Kael smiled faintly, affectionately caressing her head. "Sis, that’s the difference between beasts and people. Beasts don’t know how to lie. They don’t deceive the one who helps them. They fight when others intrude into their home, threatening to take away their lives or their home. They strive to protect what’s theirs and focus on survival."

He knelt beside the Pegasus again, uncaring of the blood soaking the ground near its muzzle.

"If I want it to truly submit to me, not out of fear, not out of weakness, but respect..." He tilted the vial, letting the potion trickle gently between the beast’s lips. "Then I need to show it the same trust."

Mia stepped back reluctantly, her staff still crackling faintly with elemental energy, ready to strike if needed.

Everyone watched.

The Pegasus’s body trembled, then slowly relaxed. Fire returned to its mane, its eyes sharpening once more.

Then, with visible effort, it lifted one wing. Slowly, it extended its neck toward Kael’s hand. The tip of its glowing horn brushed against his palm.

The tattoo pulsed at it.

A surge of wind and flame spiraled around them, and Kael’s eyes widened as the Pegasus’ soft nicker fell into his ear and he could suddenly understand what that meant. "Thank you..." It said.

In a flash of fire, the Infernal Pegasus disappeared, sucked into the swirling tattoo on Kael’s palm.

A breathless silence followed.

As a neigh heard in his mind this time, Kael mumbled with a smile. "Welcome to the team."

Meanwhile, Leiza watched him in awe as she commented. "Shiera, you know, your husband is so cool."

Orin nodded, crossing his arms and nodding in acknowledgment. "After the past week of observing him, I must say he is nothing like you mentioned at all. I don’t know why you think that man is too weak to suit you. To be able to bend down the will of a legendary monster like the spectral wolf, then, the Vampire, and now that Pegasus, he is a man among the men."

Shiera furrowed her brows at their comments. She stared at Kael, who stood there in silence and observing his tattoo, then, laughing along with Mia, who seemed super excited and curious about how he just did that, and why she couldn’t do the same with her tattoo. She was silent and just stared at him. It’s an illusion, but she saw a golden ray of light enveloped around Kael, making brightly glow further.

Her eyes fell upon his face, his smile, his lips... her heart fluttered for a moment before she shook her head violently and said. "Please, even if he has powerful summons, he is still weak. What happens if some beast or some person restricts that tattoo seal on his arm?

As Leiza and Orin exchanged their glances, Shiera crossed her arms as she walked forward. "Don’t unnecessarily hype him much. I still don’t acknowledge him as someone worthy to be my husband."