The moment the bright white light faded, Owen felt solid ground beneath his feet once more.
Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself in a dark, lifeless place.
Even the air itself smelled of decay and rotten flesh.
’’...’’
Owen quietly looked around for a moment.
Then he let out a deep sigh as he dragged a hand over his face.
’’I’m here?! Again!’’ he cursed dramatically.
Slowly turning around, his expression only grew more annoyed.
His eyes locked onto a colossal silhouette sitting on top of a massive throne made of countless bones.
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, the silhouette gradually became clearer.
An enormous skeleton sat motionless upon the throne.
A magnificent golden crown rested atop its skull, countless glowing red gemstones embedded within it.
Beside the throne stood a massive, rough greatsword, its bone-like blade buried deep into the black earth.
Suddenly, black flames slowly ignited within its empty eye sockets.
For a brief moment, Owen felt the creature’s gaze land on him.
His face instantly turned red from annoyance.
’’HEY, FUCKER!’’ he shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. "You couldn’t force me last time, so why the hell did you drag me back here?!"
His voice echoed through the air.
Second after second ticked by.
Then the massive skeleton leaned forward ever so slightly.
One enormous skeletal hand slowly wrapped itself around the hilt of its sword.
"I smell..." a hoarse, ancient voice echoed through the darkness. "...a Wind Kirin’s vile stench."
The flames inside its eyes flickered violently as it glanced down at Owen.
’’Speak,’’ it ordered hoarsely. ’’How did a mere mortal come into the presence of Lingfeng Tian, Bearer of Gentle Winds?’’
Owen flipped the massive skeleton off right away.
’’Shut the fuck up!’’ he shouted loudly. ’’I told you just two days ago! If I meet you again, I’m going to beat the shit out of you.’’
The black flames inside the Skeleton King’s eye sockets flickered once.
Yet, it paid Owen’s threat no attention whatsoever.
’’Your words are meaningless,’’ it said coldly. ’’Answer me.’’
Owen scoffed loudly.
’’Like hell I’m going to answer you, Morvakar,’’ he shouted. ’’You kidnapped my soul again! And even ruined my dreams of getting a dragon!’’
’’...’’
A long silence followed.
’’I see,’’ the Skeleton King’s voice rang out coldly.
Owen immediately frowned.
’’That’s all you’ve got?’’ he shouted. ’’I expected at least an apology!’’
’’...’’
’’You shall receive none.’’
Owen clicked his tongue while shaking his head.
’’Figures,’’ he cursed. ’’Guess that’s exactly what you’d expect from a serial kidnapper.’’
Just then, the Skeleton King slowly rose from its throne.
Each movement it made caused the surroundings to tremble violently.
’’I shall ignore your previous disrespect,’’ the ancient voice rang out. ’’If you forsake your soul and become one of my Death Knights.’’
’’You shall have power beyond your imagination. Immortality. Entire undead legions at thy command.’’
Its voice echoed louder and louder.
’’You shall become one of my greatest generals!’’
Owen stared up with an even deeper frown.
’’You will ignore my disrespect?’’ he shouted loudly. ’’You trapped me here when I was unconscious and made my girlfriend cry because of it!’’
His face started reddening from anger.
’’And I told you last time, I will NOT kill myself to get here sooner!’’
Another silence fell between them.
The Skeleton King only stared down at Owen with a hint of interest in its eyes.
’’You reject my generous offer for such insignificant reasons?’’ it asked coldly.
’’Yup,’’ Owen replied instantly.
Only a moment later, a wide grin suddenly spread across his face.
’’In fact, I will offer you a better deal,’’ he said proudly.
The flames inside the Skeleton King’s eyes flickered.
’’Speak.’’
’’You can become my contracted pet instead.’’
’’...’’
The Skeleton King simply stared at him.
For the first time in countless centuries, it had found a human it genuinely couldn’t understand.
Despite the mark already left upon his soul, the human had rejected every temptation. Worse still, he had done nothing but hurl insults since arriving.
’’I will refuse,’’ it said coldly.
Owen nodded slowly, having long expected that.
’’What a shame,’’ he said, sighing dramatically. ’’Guess I’ll have to settle for something weaker as compensation then.’’
He paused for a moment. ’’Otherwise, you can forget about getting my soul even after I die back in my own plane.’’
The Skeleton King didn’t respond.
Instead, it slowly raised one of its fingers.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The ground started shaking violently as it suddenly split apart behind Owen.
A pale green light burst out of the ground, revealing a sea of millions, if not billions, of undead.
Countless skeletons, liches, wraiths, abominations, and many more.
Owen’s jaw slowly dropped.
’’Okay,’’ he muttered. ’’That’s pretty damn cool.’’
That was when a massive skeletal dragon burst forth from the endless sea of undead.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A terrifying wave of undead mana swept through the realm.
As it soared up into the sky, it revealed a body easily several miles long and hundreds of yards wide.
It flew one full circle above the Skeleton King before slowly descending in front of Owen.
Only then did Owen truly see the peculiarities of this dragon.
Not only did it possess four enormous horns, but its bones were a deep obsidian color, while a crown of pale green soul fire burned around its skull.
’’You shall form a contract with this one,’’ the Skeleton King’s ancient voice rang out. ’’In return, swear that when your mortal life reaches its end... you shall not resist my call.’’
Owen’s eyes sparkled.
He rapidly rubbed his hands together as greed flashed across his face.
’’Now we’re talking!’’ he shouted.
He immediately glanced back at the Skeleton King as a wide grin spread across his face.
’’Deal!’’ he shouted without hesitation.
The Skeleton King silently watched him for several long seconds.
It found it almost impossible to believe that this was what had finally convinced Owen.
’’You had me at dragon,’’ Owen said with a chuckle.
As for the consequences? He truly didn’t care one bit!
He’d either die eventually... or live long enough to beat the Skeleton King up himself.
Whichever it was, that was Future Owen’s problem to deal with.
The black flames inside the Skeleton King’s eye sockets flickered strangely.
’’An unusual mortal,’’ it said as it raised a finger.
In an instant, a massive white circle appeared underneath Owen.
The bones, core, and soul fragment he’d brought along with him slowly rose off the ground.
At the same time, the massive skeletal dragon began floating into the air.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Its enormous body rapidly began compressing.
Before long, a bright white light lit up around Owen, blinding him completely.
’’I have sealed away the strength your mortal body cannot yet endure,’’ the Skeleton King’s ancient voice rang out. ’’May it serve you well.’’
WHOOSH!
Owen vanished from the dark realm.