"One year is too little," Nate muttered, shaking his head.
There was nothing to salvage then; 85% of the Earth's population would be gone.
He said, "I demand three," praying for Mundus' acceptance.
It would be a perfect opportunity to counterattack around the Grace Period before the war.
"This is no charity, you must pay accordingly."
Mundus blinked, then spoke. He wondered what Nate had to offer in return for his service.
Nate thought for a few seconds, then responded.
"Your target can't be Infernum, nor Earth. Am I correct?"
Nate found it unreasonable for Mundus to offer him such an opportunity if what he needed could easily be taken.
Both were extremely insignificant in the creature's eyes.
His words shocked Mundus, albeit a little.
He smiled faintly, nodding approvingly.
"You're after the system creators, just like me." Nate continued, believing his hatred was the factor that piqued Mundus' interest.
Mundus froze; he stared at Nate intently.
"I do. Your victory against Magnus would crown you a new champion, allowing you one precious wish." Suddenly, he spoke, waving his hands.
Nate responded, "You want to use me, but it would be impossible with one year!"
"Three years. Answers. Power. But with trust this thin, I won't demand it all now," he said calmly.
Mundus grinned. Nate was an incredibly bold human.
But he couldn't let go, since he needed to locate his enemies.
"The court never reveals itself to the world, but you can visit it easily using your wish."
Nate smiled, and he asked confidently. "What is the court?"
"Unfortunately, I've agreed to abide by certain rules. So, I can't answer your question truthfully."
Nate smiled, appreciating Mundus's rare honesty. He viewed it as an anchor to their business relationship.
"Never mind them, tell me about you," he said, believing there couldn't be any rules to prevent such a thing.
He was deeply interested, wondering why Mundus antagonized the court.
"Of course I can answer, but it's not free. I offer you three questions now, and two every time you advance your class. As for the power, just become my apostle."
Nate held his chin, thinking to himself. Advancement happened once on level seventy, granting him five questions in total...
"Pardon me, but that means you grant me two extra answers. Nothing else, no?" He asked, doubting his knowledge.
Mundus answered, "That's incorrect; all creatures may advance up to three times."
"Then one last inquiry... What's the benefit of becoming an apostle?" Nate asked, ensuring he wasn't getting doped by Mundus.
"First, you get a fraction of my essence, allowing you to ascend past your limits. It grants you the opportunity to become a god like me.
Second, the system won't undermine you. The hidden advancement paths will be unlocked automatically, and some of your class limitations will be removed.
Finally, once you reincarnate, you will keep all of your memories. You know how valuable that is."
Nate exhaled deeply, weighing the offer at hand.
His heart pounded, surging with a rush of excitement.
'Keeping my memories? That alone might be worth the risk…'
But removing his limitations? He could never imagine that. Much less, becoming a god...
He doubted Mundus's offer. Nothing like that came without a price.
It felt too good to be true. What price would he have to pay?
'If I could do that, then dealing with the creators wouldn't be out of reach...'
Nate thought, even though he didn't know who or what they were.
But one thing was for sure: he believed they were related to the system's creator.
'If they didn't make up the court itself, that is... But can I trust him?!'
He clenched the armrest nervously, his eyes flickering to Mundus, searching for any signs of deceit.
Mundus grinned internally, hearing Nate's thoughts.
It was a flicker of doubt, but it was needed.
It was going in a great direction, having Nate figure it out without breaking any rules.
"Your last thought is correct!" Mundus exclaimed, smiling gently.
It was a soft tone, unusually soft. Assuring and almost human.
It made Nate's pulse quicken again in anticipation. A mix of hope, fear, and determination. All entangled together.
The deal could change everything, but the price was still unknown.
But he already thinking about how to use it.
"Your fears and doubts are warranted, and you may reject my offer. But I shall warn you. Should you disagree, then your world will be claimed by the court.
Your souls will become monsters to serve as experience for the next world that Infernum invades. Thus, a second chance like this will become impossible. A torture...
However, if you accept, the ones related to you shall become my servants in case you fail. I would say not the best fate, but much better than becoming a monster.
Don't you agree?"
Nate's jaw tightened.
He wasn't a naive child; he saw the risky trap, and he could feel it in every word.
But so what? It was slim, a crack in the cage that restrained humanity.
A chance to flip the table.
Power beyond his comprehension, memory retained, and limits removed.
The alternative? Rebeated Slaughter. Rebirth as monsters.
A doomed Earth all over again.
He couldn't allow that to happen, not after he was given an opportunity.
His eyes met Mundus's, filled with suspicion.
"I accept," Nate said, mustering his courage, "But I require equality. A way to ensure you wouldn't betray me, and my kind."
Mundus's grin widened, not with mockery, but satisfaction.
He believed Nate was a reliable partner, someone to depend on.
"As expected, bold and wary..." Mundus spoke, pulling a piece of paper from the suitcase.
He continued, "You shall write your terms and I shall write mine as well. Should one of us backstab the other, they will perish along."
"A contract, how nice..." Nate smiled, approving of the method.
The air thickened as Mundus wrote his terms in detail, before handing Nate the contract.
Nate reviewed the terms carefully, ensuring Mundus didn't trick him.
Once satisfied, he wrote his terms as agreed previously.
Finally, both soul signatures gleamed on the contract's surface like burning embers, intertwining their fates together.