"Game? What kind of sick play is this? I... just kill me. I'm going to die anyway."
"Hmm..."
Ran closed his eyes, as if accepting death. The thing looked at him with immense disappointment.
"How boring..."
It raised its hand to strike but then paused, its expression shifting to a twisted smile. As if sensing something... interesting within Ran. It leaned forward and turned Ran's face to meet its gaze.
Now that Ran was up close to the thing, the stench was unbearable: brain matter, blood, gore. He nearly vomited from all the filth. The creature's eyes were hollow, like two white voids devoid of any trace of humanity.
"You're an interesting one. You say you want to die, yet you're still waiting for an opening to run."
"Wh-"
"Don't underestimate me, boy. You have mana drain, don't you? You'll be dead in a few years. And yet, you want to live so badly."
"I..... I d-don't care anymore. Just kill me and release me from this agony and despair. Eat me if it'll satisfy your unending hunger."
Ran turned away, closing his eyes again, ready to die for a second time.
The thing responded with a punch launching him into the air and then followed with a barrage of blows before slamming him to the ground.
Ran coughed up blood, barely conscious but still alive.
The thing grabbed him by the collar and looked into his eyes. Ran was drenched in blood, dirt, and vomit.
"To think you still want to survive despite your words. Fufufu... how amusing. I have a proposal."
...
THUD
It released his collar and leaned back.
"Play a game with me. If you win, I'll fix your condition."
Ran, who had completely given up moments ago, suddenly lifted his head and glared at the thing.
"Do you mean it?"
"Hehehe... you're free to refuse, if you want. Just know that I'll take your head and eat it if you do."
Ran hesitated. But deep down, he still wanted to live. Even if the odds were slim, this might be his only shot.
"If I can survive, then I'll play whatever bizarre game you have in mind."
"Good. Here's your game. You have one minute. Break free from that."
"From... what?"
It was clearly referring to Ran's hand, the one frozen like stone. But what did it mean by "break free"? Was he supposed to use magic? Kill the thing to undo the spell?
'Wait!'
Something snapped in Ran's mind.
"...You mean I have to break my hand within a minute?"
"You can interpret it however you want. But yes, breaking it is one way to undo the spell."
Ran's heartbeat spiked. His blood pressure surged as his whole body screamed in fear.
"1."
The countdown had already started.
"Wait what? Is there any other way?"
"2... 3... 4..."
But the countdown wasn't stopping. The demon turned deaf ear to his any questions.
"Fuck... tell me what should I do? Hey!!!"
"6... 7... 8..."
But he was not stopping. He simply gave a creepy smile watching him in pleasure.
"AHHH!!! FUCK IT!!!!"
Ran gave up and desperately tried to move his hand with all his strength but it wouldn't budge. He threw himself at trees, slammed his hand against bark and stone but nothing worked. Instead it pained him immensely.
"10... 11... 12..."
The countdown continued without mercy. Panic set in. He tried everything using every ounce of force he had. But his hand remained frozen.
He was a swordsman, not a mage. His only connection to mana was to enhance his physical abilities and with mana drain, even that was a death sentence if overused. So he can't use mana to enhance his physical strength at this time.
"15... 16... 17..."
The thing kept counting, grinning as he watched Ran struggle. To him, this was just another play but for Ran, it was life or death situation.
"AHHHHHH! BREAK FREE!!"
He screamed, trying with every bit of his soul to move it. Still, nothing happened.
"29... 30... 31..."
He knew then—resisting the spell was futile. The only way... was to rip the hand from his body. But it takes immense amount of willpower to do so.
"39... 40... 41..."
Ran has no choice. Time is running out. He began slamming his arm against rocks, trees anything he could. He needed to damage it and break it somehow.
"AAAAHHHHHH!"
With an agonized howl, he managed to tear the ligaments in his left hand. Bone pierced through the skin and blood sprayed out.
"53... 54... 55..."
Desperation consumed him. His blood pressure was through the roof. Sweat, blood, tears, he was drenched in all of it. His body was burning from stress.
He knew, he had five seconds to tear the other hand off.
Crack!
With an explosive snap, he tore off his left hand completely. His right was nearly done too.
"57... 58... 59..."
"AAAUUUUGGGHHHHHHHH!!!"
He snapped the ligaments in his right hand, blood spraying directly into the creature's gaping mouth. The thing devoured it eagerly.
"60... hehehe... time is up."
"YAAAAHHHHHHH!"
CRACK!
At the exact 60-second mark, Ran tore free and the spell shattered. The thing looked pleased and canceled the enchantment. Ran's mutilated hands dropped to the ground.
The creature picked them up and ate them right in front of him.
Ran was horrified but he said nothing. Instead, he spoke with another purpose.
"I played your sick game. So leave me alone and cure me from this condition."
The thing, chewing the last finger, looked surprised at first, then grinned, as if pleased with the reaction he gave.
"Indeed you won. As promised, I'll cure your mana drain. But in return, form a blood pact with me."
"Blood pact?"
"You're the one I've been waiting for. You possess the strongest soul I've ever seen. Even after all that torment, even after watching your own hands eaten, you remained sane. And you still asked me to heal you. Your survival willpower is outstanding. That proves everything."
Ran remained silent.
"Form a contract with me, human."