Forsaken By The Gods, I Made A Contract With the Demon King

The Black Wing's screams reached a fevered pich, its massive body convulsing before crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact. Levi was flung from its back, landing hard on the ground, the breath forced from his lungs.

The monstrous bird thrashed around with the last bit of its power and then silence descended into the surrounding.

For a brief moment, everything was still. The swirling vortex of Lunacy generated by their clashing skills dissipated, leaving the battlefield eerily quiet. Levi lay gasping for air, his body trembling from the immense toll of the battle.

Blood—both his own and the monstrous bird's—soaked his torn clothes, the government given uniform was now no more than rags, barely covering his body/

His muscles screamed in agony, feeling as though they'd been torn apart and crudely stitched back together and in his hand, Levi clutched the remnants of the Black Wing's brain—slick with blood and still pulsing faintly, as if it clung to a shred of life.

"Ugh..!"

He threw the flesh aside with disgust noticing that the monstrous bird was not moving anymore.

All around him, the phantom flock that had risen from the shadow of the Black Wing vanished into nothingness, their essence dissipating into the air.

Then, the voice of providence echoed in his mind.

[You have killed a Pseudo-Fallen rank monster - Lord of the Dark Skies]

[You have obtained an Artifact - Key of Lunacy]

A ragged, half-mad laugh escaped Levi's throat as the words registered. His mind barely processed the fact that the creature was dead. He let himself collapse fully, lying flat on the ground, utterly spent.

He had done it.

He had killed the Black Wing and claimed the first key.

But victory came at a cost. His body was shattered, his essence reserves completely depleted, and his mind teetered dangerously close to the edge of collapse.

The constant barrage of Lunacy throughout the battle had drained him—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

It had been a fight he could have easily lost with a single misstep, but none of that mattered now.

He had won!

Noir fluttered down to his side, its beak still stained with the Black Wing's blood. The raven let out a low, guttural caw, its eyes wild, void of celebration or comfort. It sought only rest, driven purely by instinct after the brutal ordeal.

"Rest now," Levi muttered, his voice hoarse and weak. He slumped back, the demonic transformation retreating from his form, leaving behind searing pain that coursed through his body.

"Argh… I hate this part," Levi groaned, closing his eyes, willing himself to endure the agony as the providence continued its proclamations.

[You have cleared the Sanctum - Lunacy of the Black Wings]

[You have obtained...]

The words faded into the back of his mind as Levi's consciousness finally gave way to the overwhelming exhaustion.

***

Twenty-five days had passed since Levi entered the Sanctum, and the crowd surrounding it had ballooned into the thousands. What was once a quiet area now teemed with life, a sea of tents stretching in every direction, the makeshift camps growing larger with each passing day.

Representatives from powerful families, the government, and rogue mercenaries alike had all converged on this site, their eyes glued to the inky black entrance of the Sanctum. The entire region felt like it was on the verge of war, and it wouldn't take much for someone to light the fuse.

A low murmur rippled through the camps. Despite the time that had passed, there was still no sign of movement inside the Sanctum. The tension was unbearable. All eyes remained fixed on the portal, watching, waiting, hoping for a sign.

Roze stood at the edge of her camp, her brow furrowed in concentration as she studied the black, swirling entrance. In her years of experience, she had never seen anything like this. The portal had remained unchanged for nearly a month. It should have collapsed by now, or at the very least, shown some sign of completion. But no. Nothing.

"The Sanctum should have been cleared by now," she muttered to her aide, who stood beside her.

The man shifted nervously. "It's impossible to tell what's happening inside, ma'am. We don't know who's in there or what kind of challenge they're facing."

Roze's lips thinned into a line. "Whoever it is, they're beyond any ordinary individual. To last this long… it's unheard of."

Her gaze flicked toward the Mercenary Federation's camp, where their leader stood with his arms crossed, flanked by his lieutenants. They had been on edge for days now, refusing to allow anyone else near the portal. They were ready to claim the prize the moment the Sanctum finally gave way.

But Roze knew better than to underestimate the other factions. The Makalani family had already sent word to the other major families, and they had responded swiftly. Scouts had been arriving daily, positioning themselves around the area. The balance of power in the region was teetering, and the slightest provocation could lead to chaos.

Across the field, Kai stood by the campfire, his expression grim as he surveyed the scene. Beside him, William remained silent, his usual calm demeanor unshaken by the growing tension. Both of them knew that time was running out.

"If this keeps dragging on, we're going to have a full-blown war on our hands," Kai said, frustration seeping into his voice.

William nodded. "It's only a matter of time before the other factions try to force their way in."

Kai glanced at the entrance of the Sanctum, his mind racing with possibilities. "We need to be ready. As soon as the portal collapses, we have to act fast. The Mercenary Federation won't wait for us to make the first move."

William's gaze remained steady. "We won't be the only ones moving. Everyone here is waiting for the same thing."

The black portal loomed in the distance, its surface rippling slightly, like a pond disturbed by an unseen force. Kai narrowed his eyes. The longer this dragged on, the more dangerous the situation became.

But still, nothing changed.

---***---

Mass release - 05 (End of mass release)

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