Rise of The Demon General-Chapter 360. Proposing a Deal

Amon continued studying the surroundings. The battle puppet didn’t seem to mind his presence there. Its attention was on the butterfly creature.

Looking around, he noticed there were more battle puppets. These others were derelict, though. They lay on the floor and appeared half-broken. Judging from the scene, there used to be more wardens for this butterfly creature. The one that saved him from certain death was the only one still functional.

"Ahhh...! So satisfying!" He heard the contented voice of the butterfly creature. "How long has it been since I have a decent meal? I can’t remember anymore."

Amon wondered what spirit beast this butterfly creature was. He never read about one that fit the description of this creature, but he could be sure it was at least a mythical beast. Only mythical or higher-grade beasts could talk when in their base forms.

The eyeballs on the butterfly creature darted around the room before it stopped at Amon.

"You, the demon cultivator, how about you come closer?" The creature asked.

"What are you?" Amon asked back.

"Hahaha. You are something. After almost dying, you stay here instead of running away immediately, and you even dare to talk to me. Not bad, not bad. To honor your bravery, or stupidity, I will answer your question. My name is Yuka."

"I didn’t ask for your name. I asked what spirit beast you are?"

"Please come closer. I will enjoy tearing you apart," Yuka said.

Amon stood still and waited.

Yuka flapped her wings as her eyes stared at Amon. Her body floated into the air. The large mouth in her belly opened and closed rapidly, making unpleasant chomping sounds. She said, "I have always wondered what a demon cultivator tastes like. Why won’t you just come closer so I can find out?"

Amon turned around and started walking away.

"Wait!" Yuka called. Amon stopped and turned back.

"Haha, you are too sensitive. I’m only teasing you," Yuka said.

"Based on the person you’ve just eaten, I don’t think you are," Amon returned.

"You don’t need to worry. I’m already full. I hope he is not your friend, is he? You must pardon me. Being hungry for thousands of years can make you lose yourself... Or is it a million years? I can’t tell. What I’m sure of is that it has been a long time since I saw a living creature. These soulless puppets are not the best conversation partners, if you can imagine. Hence, I am glad to be visited by one for a conversation or a meal. The latter has been satisfied, so I can make do with the former."

"In that case, answer my question. What spirit beast are you?" Amon asked again.

"Hehe. What an interesting demon cultivator you are. I truly wish you would come closer. Oh, well. There’s no harm for you to know, anyway. If I am not mistaken, you humans used to call my kind the Zuanze Butterfly."

’Zuanze Butterfly...?’ There were no records of this spirit beast in the pyramid library, nor was it mentioned by the Royal Academy’s teachers. However, he had read about this spirit beast elsewhere.

"What is your grade? How strong are you?" Amon asked.

The mouth on Yuka’s woman’s face turned into a smile. "Based on the power ranks known by you, humans. I am known as a higher mythical beast.

’Higher mythical,’ Amon thought. That was equivalent to a Lord Stage cultivator. This meant Yuka here was as strong as the strongest cultivator outside of the divine and demon realms.

"Do you want to escape this place?" Amon asked.

The expression on Yuka’s woman’s face changed, but it soon returned to its playful and condescending expression. "Hehe, I see you also like to play the mocking games."

"I am not mocking you," Amon said. "I’m not an expert engraver, but I can tell the real thing keeping you here is that chain behind you, am I wrong?"

Yuka looked back at the glowing rope attached to her back. One of her tentacles came close to the rope and touched it. A spark resulted from the touch, and the tentacle recoiled as if being electrocuted.

"So, what if it is?" Yuka asked Amon.

"This diagram is a powerful enchantment. But like any enchantment, it has a limit," Amon said. "If the enchantment is not renewed, it will slowly weaken with time. It will weaken even faster if you exert your power and force this enchantment to strain its power usage. But you can’t do it, can you? These battle puppets assault you whenever you do that."

"Uh-huh," Yuka responded without directly confirming Amon’s hypothesis, but Amon wasn’t off the mark. To strain the chain, she needed to move away and pull at it. However, the battle puppets were programmed to harass her whenever she left the diagram on the floor.

"The ones who designed this place probably couldn’t get rid of you," Amon resumed. "They instead trapped you here and forced you to expand your life force. They hoped you would die of old age and exhaustion before these battle puppets and the diagram ran out of energy."

"Hm.... So, what do you propose?" Yuka asked.

"How long do you think you will need to exhaust the energy of this diagram?" Amon asked in return. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

"Do you mean if I am not bothered by this annoying puppet?"

Amon nodded.

"Hm... Give or take a hundred years," Yuka answered.

From the glow emitted by the diagram, Amon thought the spirit beast was telling the truth. The diagram still seemed full of energy. Probably because Yuka never had the chance to pull at her chains, considering she was always assaulted when she did. Even so, Amon didn’t take her words at face value. He believed the real estimate should be around half, at fifty years.

Seeing Amon’s contemplating expression, Yuka said, "What an interesting fellow you are. You almost became my meal not long ago, but you are now considering making a deal with me? I don’t know if you are delusional or grossly overestimate yourself."

"I cannot do anything about that diagram. I don’t have the expertise, but I can deactivate this last battle puppet," Amon said. "Without it hindering you, you can focus on straining the chain. You should be able to break free before you reach the end of your age."

"Thanks to the delicious meal I just enjoyed, I might last longer than this chain," Yuka laughed. "Still, I don’t see why you want to help me."

"Form a mental link with me," Amon said.

"Never...!!!" Yuka’s voice boomed out. The room slightly shook from the power of her voice. The warden puppet moved to a ready stance when it sensed the power surge from Yuka.

"I would rather die!" Yuka thundered. "You cultivators think you can enslave me? You are nothing but food!"

Amon waited until Yuka cooled down before saying, "Perhaps I was wrong. Judging from your reaction, it is more likely the one who trapped you here did it to force you to become his tamed beast."

The two large eyeballs on Yuka’s wings narrowed to a slit. She said, "Perhaps I was also wrong about you... Unfortunately for that geezer, he died of old age before I relent. Hah! As if I will ever do. I laughed at his last attempt to persuade me. In his desperation, he even begged me and told me why he needed me so badly. He needed my power to secure a treasure that could help him ascend to the Demigod Realm and prolong his life. I listened to his entire story and then laughed even more at his face. In his anger, he swore to bury my prison so I stay locked up for eternity."

"So, you choose to stay locked up rather than be enslaved?" Amon asked.

"Obviously," Yuka replied.

"Very well. Forget about my request for a mental link. I have another proposition for you."

"Oh? You still want a deal. Fascinating. Let me hear it then," Yuka chuckled.

"I want your blood," Amon said.

The room turned silent for a while. Yuka finally responded, "Come closer. You can get all the blood you wish."

"I think you got the wrong picture. I only need a small amount of your blood. An amount that can fill this vial," Amon revealed a vial he took from his space ring. Parting with such a small amount should not cause you any harm."

"Hm... What do you need my blood for?" Yuka asked.

"That’s none of your business," Amon replied.

"Hehe. And you will deactivate that insufferable battle puppet in exchange for that tiny vial of my blood?"

"Yes, but I will need your blood regularly. Probably around once a month," Amon said.

"Once a month...? Even if it is only a tiny amount, I am locked here. Without sustenance, I will get weaker sooner if I keep on giving my blood to you."

"Don’t worry, I will provide regular nourishment for you," Amon said.