Chapter 444 - 440: Contract

Ryder appeared before the Diamond Tiger Beast between him and the shadow before he swung his Scythe in haste towards the shadow.

Seeing the scythe coming towards it, the shadow stopped as it retreated. Rale came from behind the shadow, which was retreating, and attacked it from behind as well. 

Seeing the attack coming from both sides, the shadow dispersed, disappearing entirely.

"Where is it?" Ryder asked Rale as he noticed the shadow disappear. He looked around but didn't find the shadow.

Rale also looked around, failing to find the shadow nearby.

"It looks like it left," Rale answered as he frowned. 

"Just what was that thing? I couldn't even see what it was. Did you manage to get a good look?" Ryder inquired.

"I also didn't see what it was, unfortunately," Rale answered, shaking his head.

"Its speed was fast, but its strength is still shrouded in mystery since we couldn't even though it. I do have a feeling that it was stronger than the Stone-Armored Bear, though. Maybe a level 200 beast or above," Ryder assumed as he took one last glance around.

"Should we go back? It doesn't seem to be safe here for you since the beast can hide so well," Rale suggested, trying to take Ryder back to safety. 

He was sure that he could protect himself and Ryder, but he didn't wish to place Ryder's security in his assumption when the enemy was someone he had no idea about.

" There's no need; I should be-"

Ryder was about to refuse when he heard the noise of the Diamond Tiger Beast.

He and Rale gazed at the Diamond Tiger Beast, who seemed to be looking upwards.

Both of them looked up to see what he was watching, only to find the shadow above them, speeding down towards them.

"It can fly?" Ryder wondered, but he didn't let his shock overwhelm him.

He had seen that the Shadow could dodge physical attacks, but he still had more attacks to test.

He opened his fist as he aimed his palm towards the shadow that was coming down towards them.

"Flame blast!"

He shot out a ball of fire towards the shadow. Rale also did the same thing as he fired a flame ball, but his sphere of flame seemed to be many times bigger than Ryder's flame ball.

In fact, Ryder's flame ball seemed like a kid before Rale's attack. It was not only smaller but slower as well.

Even though Ryder had attacked first, Rale's flaming sphere caught up to his attack and even shot past it.

The shadow seemed to be one step ahead again as it dispersed again.

"Not again!" Ryder let out in frustration as he saw the shadow use the same move again that it had used before.

He felt the need to find the shadow again, but it didn't take long as he felt a presence behind his back.

Without thinking for a second, he swung his Moon Scythe behind, which had changed into a sword to cover more area with the blade. 

Turning the balance of his body, he swung his hand with the Sword, only to see the shadow right beside his hand. 

The shadow had managed to close in on him. The blade of the sword couldn't touch it even if he hit the shadow as the shadow was near the hilt and his forearm.

Seeing the sword becoming useless, Ryder changed the sword to a knife which he easily controlled. Controlling the motion of the knife, he thrust it towards his chest where the shadow was coming.

The shadow changed its direction and stopped targeting Ryder's chest; instead, it moved towards his left hand, biting it. 

The knife touched the shadow immediately after his flesh was bitten; however, the shadow once again dispersed. 

"Fricking hell! This sneaky bastard!" Ryder cursed as he watched his hand bleeding.

He gazed at his hand and noticed something strange. A black line had appeared on his forearm that seemed to be made of black ink.

The black line seemed to be moving as if a tattoo was being drawn on his hand by a mysterious artist. Ryder didn't feel any pain as it happened.

"Is it poison? No, my healing should have been activated if it was poison. It doesn't seem to be harmful. What is it, though? Just what was the shadow?" He wondered as he squinted his eyes. 

"Strange... I am harmed, but I didn't lose even the slightest of HP either?" He wondered. 

He gazed at Rale and thought for a little while. 

"Rale, plan change. Let's go back. This beast is not something I wish to face right now..." He said, shaking his head. " We should find another hunting ground next time. Till then, you try to find out everything you could about a beast with similar properties to this one."

He agreed to go back since it was a waste of time. They couldn't fight a beast that could disappear like this and appear again. It was still good when it attacked like this when they were free, but if they were attacked when they were busy fighting other beasts, it could be worse. He didn't wish to suffer because of overconfidence.

"Agreed," Rale nodded his head. 

Ryder kept the Diamond Tiger Beast back before he caught the hand of Rale.

Both of them started flying back towards the Palace. 

****

"So this was the plan of Asteria. He was jealous and wanted to kill the Little tiger, but he changed his plan after seeing it being protected so seriously..." Janus mumbled as he watched Ryder leave.

"Not only that, but he also left that mark. Once again, the contract has been established between the two. It reminds me of the old times," he let out as he smiled wryly.

"Yeah... Last time seemed to be the same as well. But that was when your brother was the one who wished to establish the contract. He beat up Asteria black and blue and only left him after he received the contract. I remember watching that... It was funny," Eliena let out as she smiled. 

She could see the tattoo being carved on Ryder's hand.

"This time, it's the reverse. Asteria established the contract on his own," Janus pointed out.

"Yeah. I guess I wouldn't have to worry about him being found out by other gods since he will live inside the tattoo in your brother's arm now. Your brother doesn't have his divine powers and memories, so he won't get caught either. They have you to keep an eye on them either. I can be free of worries," Eliena answered as she smiled.

"Are you jealous?" Janus asked softly.

"Jealous of who?" Eliena inquired, seemingly confused. 

"You know who..." Janus answered vaguely.

The goddess of Life and Death seemingly understood Janus' words, but she ignored him.

Instead, she changed the topic, "Your brother seemed like a different person altogether. Reincarnation and growing up in a new environment can change a person so much. It's fascinating."

"What do you mean?" It was Janus' turn to be confused now.

"Your brother... He is thinking with his brain now. How easily he decided to retreat now, it's good. If it was the old him, he would have died but wouldn't leave. If it were the current him when I came to inform him about the upcoming war, he would have left, and so many people wouldn't have died," Eliena answered, sighing.

"That's true. Similarly, if he had his old memories, he would never leave this forest. He would have burnt this whole forest to ashes to kill the shadow," Janus let out as he chuckled. His laugh was contagious and sounded more like an evil cackle than an expression of amusement.

...

Eliena watched Janus blankly as she rolled her eyes. She found no words to respond.

"So, what's your plan. What are you going to do to him?" She asked. "He is not a mortal, I believe. Even if he has reincarnated, one day, he might get his memories back. That's how Divinity of us gods work. It can be delayed, but his Divine Powers will find him in the end," Eliena expressed her concern.

"It's not a question of if but a question of when and how. What is your plan for that day?" She asked.

"I know that the day is inevitable. That's why I'm making sure that all the pieces will be at the right place when that happens. It will be a return that the universe will remember for eons to come. Something that will change the entire world and mold it differently," Janus answered softly.

"Is this your wish or his?" Eliena asked.

"It's... Our wish!" Janus answered with an expressionless face.

"What do you want from me? I wish to help him, but I won't do anything that's against my consciousness. You should remember how I am," Eliena informed Janus.

"I know. That's why I won't ask you for much. I only need you to do one thing. That is all..." Janus replied.