Bro, I'm not an Undead!



A brief pause prevailed within the room occupied by the trio.

The two negotiating parties each had their fair share of thoughts, though differing in the emotion and intent behind them.

The Hybrid Luman, even while trying to avoid getting too negative about his interest in the page within which the soul of a Deity – a Corrupted Deity, whatever that meant – was sealed in, was forced to think over the catastrophe that could ensue if he somehow messed up when dealing with it.

It might have come off as reckless of Skullius to even consider accepting this thing in exchange for diving into a situation that was likely to screw him over, but it wasn't like Skullius intended to bind the atrocious artefact to himself immediately. He wanted to keep it and study it until such a time came where he was ready to try out these so-called Trials that allowed to him to increase his chances of taming a Deity.

Dear powers above that still sounded absurd!

Skullius deigned to attempt such a thing after the Premium Age Royale was over and whatever it was leading to in the hands of Guissepo and the Green Neolists. It wasn't out of choice, as after that time, his deadline would be getting dangerously close.

All this to say, Skullius had to acquire this item. One way or another, it was going to help him if he used it properly.

As for the issue of helping Aurolio with whatever he wanted him to be there for, he was willing to risk it. After all, while he was terrified of what it could unfold into, he had support.

Yes.

He had Darwel, Sevill, Viccil... and Alaris.

While the last point of security was shaky, the Sif trio surely wouldn't let the last Luminant alive be tried for wrong doings he had actually committed, right?

"I have a great many other things I can offer, Festos. But I think we've discussed enough for now. I'll give you a chance to pick two more items like this after we are done with the stuff at the Academy. For now, you can keep this. That's goodwill personified," Aurolio said as he gestured to the ancient page.

Skullius eyed him vacantly out of habit.

That was reasonable.

Though, as he stored the page in his spatial storage, he couldn't help but wonder...

Did Aurolio have more terrifying items like these, since he was willing to part with such an absurdly overpowered artefact? Or was he lying, and actually glad to be rid of this?

After all, why hadn't someone so strong already used this thing to gain a Deity as a subordinate?

Skullius was sure Aurolio was as anxious as he was about using this.

He was likely torn on wanting to keep it and wanting to use it to trade for something he was guaranteed would give boons instead. That seemed to be working out perfectly for him.

In that, Aurolio could be called shrewd, but it wasn't like Skullius was stupid.

"Fine then. Let's seal the deal," Skullius said before his eyes turned sharp.

'This is it. The next important step!' he thought as he signalled to Sila who had been deemed to have had enough hours outside and swiftly barred within the Hybrid Luman's soul.

"I'll help you acquire Null beasts to kill," Skullius said simply, declaring his terms that he was bound to.

Aurolio smiled and nodded.

"I already said my piece," he said with a shrug.

Thankfully, his terms had not been ridiculous, so Skullius, as the prime attendant would likely not be attached with a convenient summonable function.

What followed was for Skullius to provide a part of his body that Aurolio would inject his mana into, confirming that he agreed to the Tie of Exchange.

As the pale man waited patiently for Skullius to get on with it, the Hybrid Luman... injected Null Life Essence into left arm discreetly, saturating his mana channels and blood vessels with it!

Next, a shallow red light wrapped around his the limb, leaving weak, similarly coloured marks that bound it tight.

Aurolio frowned.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Skullius wore a deadpan face, ignoring the pale man.

He then gathered mana in his right hand and slashed away his left arm in instant!

The limb fell on the table with a dull thud.

Both Idline and Aurolio were mildly surprised by this gesture?

What was this man doing?

A Tie of Exchange required something as little as a hair or a nail to be validated. Why was he using his entire arm?

Before a second could pass, Skullius' left arm had already been restored through [Saint Lumis' Benign Arc]'s passive regenerative qualities, in the next moment, the Hybrid Luman handed the severed limb he had chopped off to Aurolio.

Just like Sila had instructed.

A guidance field prompt appeared in the Hybrid Luman's sight.

[You are initiating a 'Tie of Exchange'. Please select a target]

Skullius then looked to Aurolio.

"You're up."

"A whole arm? Seriously? Why?" the pale man narrowed his eyes with caution and confusion.

"I was taught to be thorough by the man who taught me how to use the Tie of Exchange. This is a religious mechanism, you know? You need to show adequate respect by fully committing. So, if I were you, I would just accept it," Skullius lied through his teeth.

Aurolio paused for a bit, his face showing hints if contemplation and honestly, disbelief.

He then sighed exasperatedly, and took Skullius' severed hand.

The marks on it looked a bit strange, but they seemed to clutch on the flesh of the arm very tight.

"Is this to keep it from decomposing?" the pale man asked.

"Of course."

Aurolio nodded. In the back of his mind he was surprised that Skullius had a mastery in runes.

When he began to inject mana into the arm though, he felt a semblance of an elusive presence that was hanging within it, and then it vanished, as if sensing his conscious notice of it.

'Hmmm?'

Aurolio glanced at Skullius, but then chose to ignore the fleeting presence he felt. He fully setup the Tie of Exchange, feeling something grasp at his depths tightly afterwards.

"I guess it's done," he said.

Skullius smiled and nodded.

"Yeah. It's done."

And it was for sure.

Using the method Sila proposed, Skullius had secured a bit of leniency for himself with the Tie of Exchange.

As Sila had said, Ties of Exchange worked best when one believed in the Deities, and the basis for which punishment was given, hung on the fact that everyone was born in Aigas and made through them.

But Skullius was different.

He could skirt the punishment of failing to achieve the terms he proposed to Aurolio. For that, he needed to ensure that the object he was using to create the Tie of Exchange was clear, and not easily lost.

According to the piece of soul, there were times within their camps when more devout soldiers were actually dealt less aggravating punishment for breaking the Tie of Exchange. They did this by making an offering to the Deities, and offering up large pieces of their flesh as conduits for the Exchange.

Though, Skullius noted that this probably wouldn't in his favour.

For one, while he didn't know what the Ashing of Time Serenity mentioned was, which was the last time Aigas was supposed to have enjoyed having all three Deities, he knew that things were likely different then.

A lot of the things associated with the Deities right now, were likely to be... automated in a sense, since only one of the Deities was left. At least that was what Skullius thought. Handling everything in this world wasn't a simple task right?

Maybe he was wrong.

In any case, offering a larger piece of his body, was Sila's idea and he went with it just in case.

The real idea behind what he had done, laid in injected Null Life Essence into the arm from within and sealing the arm using the Gravel Runes he had learnt from Hobbu Gogo.

He didn't know how long, or efficient they were at holding in Null Life Essence, but they would have to do.

Sila's idea was that since Skullius wasn't of this world, it was likely that he wouldn't be treated the same by the Tie of Exchange, as once again, according to the Tower General, there were many instances where Ties of Exchange... turned void in the past, mainly due to the fact that the user did not believe in the Deities.

In this case, by using a larger portion of his body, Skullius ensured that he wouldn't appear as vain, but the Null Life Essence would void the Tie of Exchange... at best.

At worst, he would likely also get a slap on the wrist.

It was unknown which he would get to enjoy.

'If the bastard tries anything, I can at least guarantee that I won't be forced to die or keep supplying him with Null Beasts, which is already going to be tough to do,' Skullius thought.

Aurolio stood up with a heavy breath. He had stored Skullius' arm in his storage, and since the arrangement was finally set up, it was time to make use of it.

"Alright! Let's get going," he said.

"Now?" Skullius asked with a frown.

"Yeah. We don't have all day," Aurolio said as he grabbed Skullius by the shoulder and pulled him up.

"Wait!" the Hybrid Luman tried to stop Aurolio, but before he knew it, he was standing in the streets of the partially dilapidated grand city of Genhuis, the anxiety-inducing light of the second sun overhead making him groan uncomfortably.