CHAPTER 42: THE MONSTROUS SETH 3

Seth turned toward Raiden and the others and began his slow advance. Soul’s panic reached a fever pitch as she shook Raiden frantically, but he had already given up hope, wondering if death would be merciful enough to transport him back to his world.

Soul began murmuring words so quietly that even Leo, mere inches away, couldn’t decipher them. With each step Seth took closer, she looked less human and more like a broken marionette.

However, before Seth could get any closer, Leo struggled to his feet, clutching his ribs as he cracked his knuckles. But before Leo could even take a step, Seth had already closed the distance and effortlessly knocked him out of the way.

The moment it happened, Raiden’s system suddenly spoke up, breaking him out of his miserable daze.

[ALERT]

[NEW CONTRACT MANAGED]

[+15XP]

[DRAGON MANA POOL: 900/5000]

[CONTRACTS: ACTIVE 5

—Name:[ASH]

—Bond Type: Sealed Pact.

—Name: [LEVI]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [FREYA]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [SPEED]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [SOUL]

—Bond Type: Devotion Pact.

[CURRENT STATUS: NUMBER 7: LEVEL-5/100XP]

[NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED: HEART OF DRAGON- 5%

— You have the unyielding heart of Ash. It boosts endurance, regeneration, berserker mode, and the inner fire of a dragon.]

[NEW ABILITY: SOUL CONDEMN]

What? Soul?! Ash?! How is that possible?

—he thought, his eyes flying wide open.

He could feel it coursing through him—his limbs gradually growing stronger, as if every muscle fiber was rearranging itself.

[Papa...] Ash’s voice echoed faintly in Raiden’s head, and Raiden shot to his feet.

A huge wind suddenly blew throughout the house, forcing them all to shield their faces. When Raiden looked up, he saw Speed’s knee slamming into Seth’s cheek, sending him crashing into the ground.

A devilish smile spread across Raiden’s lips as he stared at them, his eyes lighting up.

Rest, Ash... get some rest,—he thought to himself.

[Okay, papa.] Ash replied, her voice gradually fading.

While Speed and Seth continued their fierce exchange of strikes, Raiden knelt beside Soul, who remained lost in her daze. He had never felt as hopeless as he had moments before, and despite all his experience and strength, his salvation from such despair had come from a little girl he’d never even bothered to care about.

He ruffled Soul’s hair and then carefully gathered her into his arms, abandoning the scene as he headed upstairs to his room. Her golden eyes remained fixed upward, still trapped in fear, and her murmurs finally quieted.

When he got to his room, Ash was resting calmly at the edge of the bed, having obviously wanted to come and help. Raiden set Soul down beside her and gently patted both their heads. Without a word, he stared at them with his devilish smile, thinking to himself that he was going to finish this once and for all.

Without hesitation, he headed outside to find Leo carrying Freya back in with what little strength he had left.

"Well done, Leo," he muttered. Leo simply nodded and walked past him.

They had all fought to protect him in his weakness, but now he could feel it—his body had been blessed with enough power and strength to honor everyone’s sacrifice.

"He’s a 7 but strong, and I’m a 7 too—so no excuses." His grin stretched wider as euphoria coursed through his body, making him twitch with barely contained excitement. "This will be fun."

He glanced toward Speed and Seth, though he couldn’t make them out clearly—only the traces of Speed’s dark aura clashing with Seth’s golden one. The fight was fast, brutal, and uncanny, but he hadn’t felt this energetic in ages, and there was no way he was going to miss out.

Yet before he could even think, his body jerked forward, charging without any clear direction. Suddenly he found himself before Seth, a strike already heading for his chest. Instinct kicked in, making him react just in time, but not precisely enough to avoid it completely—he managed to shield his chest, though the force still sent him skidding backward.

The pain in his hands made his body shake as he broke into unhinged laughter. He hadn’t been this exhilarated by a fight in so long, and seeing Speed and Seth clash, he hungered for that feeling. The euphoria of watching Seth collapse at his feet. He wanted it all. Everything. Entirely for himself.

"Speed, I command you to leave this battle to me. Take care of the others."

The command forced Speed to stop mid-air, his strike falling short, which allowed Seth to strike him down hard. Speed bounced back to his feet at once and began heading inside.

The dark energy emanating from Speed and his mechanical way of walking made him look like nothing more than a puppet. Seth, showing his gentlemanly nature, saw no reason to attack Speed as he retreated.

"You’ve done well, Speed," Raiden said quietly, his expression growing somber.

When Seth came inside, euphoria surged through Raiden again. "You’ve done enough, Seth." The smile kept stretching wider, beyond his control.

"All my comrades nearly died at your hands," he said with a twisted giggle, while Seth remained calm, casually massaging his muscles. "Now you will die by the hands of the bookkeeper..."

As soon as Raiden finished speaking, his body jerked forward and he rushed toward Seth. Oddly enough, Seth made no move to use his ability, choosing instead to stand perfectly still and wait.

The instant Raiden got close enough, he disappeared completely, leaving Seth’s eyes wide with confusion as he looked around desperately. Raiden’s devilish laughter filled the air as he hammered Seth with simultaneous strikes, launching him into the ground.

Raiden closed in instantly and unleashed another powerful strike. Each hit not only left Seth battered and bleeding, but something was growing stronger within Raiden—his soul seemed to feast on every strike.

This not only energized Raiden but also made him feel invincible, craving more as he rained down strike after merciless strike. Seth finally crumpled to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth as he tried to wipe it clean.

Raiden stood mere steps from Seth’s crumpled form, his devilish smile as fierce as ever as he gazed down at his handiwork. He felt utterly transformed and awakened, both in body and soul. It was as if the entire world had become powerless against him.

"Soul Condemn strikes at my enemy’s very soul and feeds it to mine," he whispered through his devilish smile. "While Heart of Dragon amplifies my endurance, recovery, and drive..."

He faced Seth, who was desperately trying to rise.

"Ha, that’s for hurting my contractors... you are a dead man," he said mockingly, then dissolved into wild, unhinged laughter.

Seth finally managed to stand and clean himself off. "So the bookkeeper can access his servants’ magical abilities," he said for the first time, his voice somehow both cold and gentle.

Raiden’s laughter ceased abruptly, his eyes widening in shock. "So you can speak."

His expression darkened immediately and his voice turned ice-cold. It was as though he had become an entirely different person from the one cackling maniacally moments before.

"You should have shown my comrades the same respect... you’re not even close to their level."

Seth inclined slightly in his direction. "Careful with that cockiness, boy." He assumed his fighting position. "Allow me to demonstrate what strongest actually means."

Freya had put her life on the line, fighting him alone despite the concussion and wounds she’d sustained, and Seth hadn’t even bothered to look at her—never mind speak to her. But now he could talk? The hypocrisy enraged Raiden.

Raiden narrowed his eyes and refused to let even a hint of euphoria surface this time. He clenched his fists tight, knowing full well he could make Seth beg for mercy. And that was exactly what he planned to do.