Chapter 172: The Contract and a Cat?!
Now, the God of Darkness began the ritual to forge a new contract. He raised his hand, chanting an ancient incantation as a glowing magic circle formed before him. Canis, already seated at the center of the circle, kept his head down, his expression weary and resigned. The God of Darkness merely offered a faint, understanding smile, as if he had expected this reaction all along.
Slowly, I stepped forward and entered the magic circle. Only I, as the primary contractor, needed to participate—Envi remained outside, watching quietly. As my foot touched the glowing edge of the circle, I felt a wave of dark energy ripple through the space. It was dense, ancient, and alive.
The God of Darkness extended both hands and began releasing his spell: [Darkness Familiar Contract]. In an instant, I felt a pulse of magical force connect me to Canis. His energy surged into my magic circuits, weaving its way into my soul, beginning the process of linking us as one.
"Listen carefully, Nao," the God of Darkness spoke solemnly. "To complete the contract, there are three essential steps you must follow."
He continued, his voice deep and steady, "The first is the Blood Bond. You must offer a drop of your blood into the circle. Just one drop is enough. That blood will enter Canis, and your souls will form a permanent link."
"A-alright," I replied nervously. I bit down gently on my thumb until a small trickle of blood appeared. With a deep breath, I let it fall into the center of the circle.
The moment my blood touched the glowing glyphs, the circle flared to life, bathing the room in a momentary brilliance. It was warm, even in this dark, sealed dimension. The God of Darkness nodded.
"The blood bond has been established. From this point on, you and Canis will be able to sense one another’s condition—whether you’re alive, injured, or in danger. You’ll also gain a shared mental link, like a form of telepathy. He’ll be able to speak directly into your thoughts, just as Envi does now."
I swallowed hard. The bond was real. I could feel it anchoring into place.
"The second step," the God of Darkness continued, "is Restructuring. This stage resets Canis—breaking the remnants of Outer God’s influence and purging him of uncontrollable bloodlust and madness. He’ll be reborn, cleansed of the darkness forced upon him."
Canis suddenly raised his head, eyes filled with emotion. His voice, for the first time, trembled with something fragile—hope or fear, I wasn’t sure.