Chapter 684 – The Forgotten Ring
The sli rose upward, stretching into a taller, more cohesive shape. Limbs began to form. Shoulders. A chestplate of corrupted gel. Fingers. A neck. Then... a mouth. Long, sharp-toothed. Still translucent, but now vaguely humanoid, like a nightmare made of molten jelly and arcane spite. And finally, glowing green infernal runes, Lux’s sigils, flickered to life across his collar and sternum.
Lux grinned. "I see... you recovered faster than I expected."
Zehar’s new mouth curled into a sneer. "Don’t be too happy, son of Greed."
His voice was deep. Gravel over boiling tar.
"We still have a score to settle."
Lux leaned casually against the counter. "You’re my servant now."
"I didn’t choose that."
"No one ever chooses debt," Lux said with a shrug. "That’s why it works."
Zehar hissed again. "You think this ends here?"
Lux didn’t flinch. "You want to kill ? Sure. Try. Just know your core will explode on impact."
[Contract Enforcent: Core Detonation Clause — ACTIVE]
[Servant Status: Zehar, Bound. Loyalty: -87]
[Warning: Mutual Animosity Detected. Caution Recomnded.]
Lux smiled. "I don’t recomnd it. I’m not in the mood for sli on the floor before lunch."
Zehar’s mouth twisted into a simring growl. But he didn’t attack.
He couldn’t.
Zehar growled under his breath. "I hate you."
"Good," Lux called over his shoulder. "That ans it’s working."
He didn’t bother looking back as he strolled across the kitchen, pausing just long enough to pour himself a fresh cup of coffee. No sugar. No cream. Just black, dark-roast, CEO-grade energy. He leaned against the counter like he owned not just the mansion but the tension simring in the air itself.
Because he did.
Steam curled from his mug, mixing with the faint sll of mana-laced espresso and the ozone tang still clinging to Zehar’s half-coalesced form. The kitchen lights reflected faintly off the sli’s translucent body, which was now humanoid enough to slump into one of the stools like a brooding alien trying to blend in. His arms were forming, elbows awkward, joints slightly undefined, but he looked... almost normal. Almost mortal.
And Lux didn’t miss that.
He took a sip. Didn’t blink.
"So," he said slowly, savoring both the flavor and the silence that followed, "since you’re kind of humanoid now... why don’t you stop sulking and talk?"
Zehar didn’t move.
"I an it," Lux continued. "Tell the real reason you ca to this realm looking for . Don’t say debt. You and I both know that’s not enough. My uncle’s dead. Most debtors let it go when their target dies. But you?"
He tilted his head. "You chased ."
Zehar’s jaw clenched, forming properly now. His mouth opened, hissed, closed again. A long pause passed.
Lux’s eyes narrowed. "Speak."
Zehar growled. "I told you. You consud Zoltarin’s core."
Lux raised a brow. "And?"
Zehar’s lips twitched into a crooked smirk. "And we know."
Lux chuckled, dark and sharp. "Who’s we?"
"The Old Lords," Zehar said flatly. "The ones buried in the older systems. The ones whose contracts shaped the first wave of Greed."
Lux sipped again. "Go on."
"Zoltarin made it clear in his contract portfolio," Zehar continued, voice gravelly. "Anyone who took him out and absorbed his remnants would inherit his legacy. His assets. His power. And..."
He glared at Lux.
"His debt."
Lux stared at him, then gave a slow, humorless laugh. "So even in death, that bastard left landmines."
"Not landmines," Zehar corrected. "Bounties."
Lux’s grin faded.
Zehar leaned forward now, his fingers scraping the counter lightly. "Every ancient Lord who signed contracts with Zoltarin now believes you are the inheritor. Which ans..."
Lux filled in the rest. "I’m now the target."
"Yes." Zehar didn’t blink.
Lux swore under his breath. The greed in his blood flared a little hotter. Not the fun kind. The kind that whispered consequences.
"So they’re planning to kill ," he said, not asking.
Zehar gave a single, stiff nod. "Before you beco too powerful to kill."
Lux leaned back against the marble, arms crossed. "Cute."
"They see you as an anomaly," Zehar added. "A young prince who killed an old one. Who stole a sealed core. Who wasn’t born to inherit but took it anyway. You’re unpredictable. Too fast. Too clever. Too new."
Lux tilted his head. "They’re scared."
"They should be," Zehar muttered.
Another pause.
Then Lux’s voice dropped, low and sharp. "What aren’t you telling ?"
Zehar went still.
Lux’s eyes narrowed. "You hesitated earlier."
"I told you everything," Zehar growled.
Lux smirked. "Cute. Now say that with a straight core."
Zehar didn’t respond.
[Servant Status: Zehar — Lying Detected]
[Greed Enforcent Protocols Available: [Command: Confess]]
[Active Contract Clause: Obedience Triggered by Verbal Demand]
Lux didn’t even need to think about it. He gave the order with one command.
"I order you to tell the truth," he said, voice cold.
Zehar groaned, his limbs twitching with resistance. His eyes dimd. "Curse you..."
"Spit it out."
"I hate this," Zehar growled. "Fine!"
He slamd a gelled fist onto the counter, barely solid, but enough to make the coffee mug next to him jump.
"There’s a eting," he snarled. "They’re gathering."
Lux’s brow lifted. "Who?"
"The Forgotten Ring. The last remaining ancient overlords from the third cycle. Those who signed with Zoltarin before the vaults split. They’re discussing... what to do with you."
Lux’s heart didn’t race, but his mind sharpened like a dagger.
"And?"
Zehar looked at him. Truly looked at him. "They’re split. Half want to test you. Half want to erase you. But none of them believe you’re just so spoiled incubus with fancy cuffs and a good jawline."
Lux’s grin returned, slow and arrogant. "They’re right."
Zehar hissed.
Lux leaned closer. "So who’s leading it?"
Zehar’s lips twitched. "Na’s Rhaevor. The Lord of Debt. He was Zoltarin’s first creditor. Still collects interest on the ancient vault chains."
Lux muttered, "Rhaevor... that leech."
Zehar smirked. "He thinks killing you would balance the books."
Lux stood up straight, brushing invisible dust from his sleeve. "Guess I better start writing my own balance sheet."
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