The giant Salamander eyed me as I walked towards it, raising my hand. The creature took this as a threat and started to spit chunks of lava at me.
[Pact Aspect: Churn The Storm Within!] Activated!
My body became water, and Wataluga became one with me as the first shot of lava passed through a hole in my body. I continued my walk forwards, and the creature stopped, backing up to the lake, but I wasn't going to let it retreat.
A massive wall of water arose from seemingly nowhere as I turned my palm to the sky and lifted my hand. The creature tried to turn and run, but it was already too late as I rolled my hand gently and pushed my palm forward.
All the water rushed forward and over the fire beast, and the creature crumbled as steam rose from the remaining water. It was rolling over the lava, turning the surface from orangish-red to solid black.
I released the Pact Aspect, and Wataluga and I separated to stand beside each other. The fight had been anti-climatic, but I hadn't really expected much.
"You know, you can't save everyone, and the entire world is not your child to watch over," Wataluga said to me, and I nodded.
He was right, and I couldn't keep them all safe, but creatures like that were a pure menace. There were going to be things like this in the future, and I would remove them.
"True, but my job is to remove the demons of this world, and I think I just did that. I know that I did this out of anger, but that doesn't change the fact that this was a mindless creature that could prove to be a danger if left unchecked. I can't protect the people here while I am gone, and I am taking the creatures' new food sources," I replied as I turned and waved for him to follow.
"I guess you are right, but just make sure you don't let your anger rule your choices. I am glad that you are starting to think about things more. You have come along since we first trained, and I sometimes feel like I am the one that is learning from you," Wataluga told me as we headed over to join the Gogs, who all looked very happy to see us come back.
"I will try to keep more level-headed in the future, but now let's get everyone to the boat. I can't call it the name they gave it; we are going to have to come up with something other than the Underwear Boat!" I said with a chuckle, and Wataluga joined me, nodding.
"That is true, but I am sure you will think of something catchy to call it," Wataluga said and touched a hand to my shoulder, absorbing back into me.
That Pact Aspect took a lot out of me, but I still had lots more in the tank. Kubrick had been overflowing with energy, but back here on Hydrous, I was limited to what I could draw in.
I hoped that was just a result of the bubble.
[Yes, and no. The reason you can't use it for long is that you are only level ten, and the Pact Aspects are like level fifty spells. Even after leaving, you still won't master it right away.]
*Wataluga: There is a very long road to reach Elemental Sage of The Nine Rings, but it will allow you to wield special types of energy unknown to us. If you can make a contract with Elementari, you will become a master of all things that exist, and your control will be unrivaled.*
I had just reached the group of cheering Gogs, and I smiled at them, but inside I was wondering if any person should be allowed to hold that power. The way it sounded, I would become a god, but is that what I needed to do to defeat Helsin Zero?
*Wataluga: Know this, if there is any darkness or ill will in your soul, Elementari will reject you. You are right that this power is not something that anyone should have, but I think that you might need it and more. I do not know much about the Demon King, but as a person who can control multiple universes at once, I would assume he would have the same powers.*
*Blaza: Phenox has a Pact with the Demon King; this is why we follow his orders to take the world. I think that things were different at one time, but I have lost many memories over the millennia.*
That made it clear that this was the path I would have to follow. What I would become when this was all over didn't really matter, I just needed to stop all of this, but first, I needed answers.
"Zack? You don't have to grow big this time," Kali said from my shoulder, making me jump.
"What is wrong with the chat?!" I growled, but the Kali burst from my chest and grabbed me by my cheeks.
"Don't growl at me, Mr! Now, activate the Pact!" Kali ordered me as she used vines to fight my arms off as I tried to get her to stop pulling my damn cheeks.
I glared at Kali, and she grinned at me, letting go of my cheeks. Looks like some parts of her were still the same, and Kali still liked to play.
If there were no people around and we had more time, I would teach this brat a lesson, but that would have to be put off to another time. I closed my eyes and activated the Pact, and I felt Kali suck back inside of me.
Suddenly the world became a brighter place, and I felt like I was slowly gaining back strength. I could feel the roots of the trees that Kali was calling down from far beyond the edge of the crater.
These powers were so hard to comprehend sometimes, but the majesty of them was without fail every time I witnessed them. Besides now being fully aware of almost everything on this island, I now could make things grow!
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel