Chapter 15: A Bond and a Trial
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Sayru was caught off guard by Ananova's sudden request.
But his anger and hatred overwhelmed him, and he instinctively attacked her with a concentrated mana orb.
Mimin realized what Sayru was about to do and quickly cast a spiritual barrier to protect Ananova.
She rushed toward him, shouting—
"Why did you attack her?!"
Sayru glanced at Ananova with visible disgust and replied,
"She asked something stupid, of course.
She wants to be my disciple?"
Mimin couldn't respond—because, in a way, Sayru was right.
He had been trying to suppress his hatred for her and give her a chance—test her even—but all of that vanished the moment she asked to become his disciple.
Ananova, on the other hand, was completely lost.
She had been moments away from death—but the attack vanished before her eyes.
What she didn't know was that only Sayru could see Mimin, and therefore only he could see her intervention.
"U-um… Master? A-Are you angry?"
Sayru sighed deeply, regaining some composure, and addressed her calmly—
"Listen carefully. I don't trust you. In fact, I despise you—I hate you and want you dead.
And now you're asking me to take you on as my disciple?
Why?"
His words crushed Ananova's spirit, but she still found the strength to respond:
"M-master… You saved me.
You gave me power I never dreamed I'd possess—because of it, I was able to avenge my mother."
She paused for a moment, then continued,
"That's why… I want to serve you—to repay your kindness.
I've heard that disciples serve their masters loyally, they revere them, and they never betray them.
I thought that… if I could become your disciple, I could devote my life to serving you… because I have nothing left in this world…"
She went on—speaking of her past, her hardships, and her mother, who had been the only family she ever had.
She ended her plea with:
"So please… just give me one chance."
Sayru's gaze shifted—from disgust to pure rage.
"Did you just say they never betray their masters?
Hahaha… that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
He began laughing—harder than he had in a long time.
He laughed from the depths of his soul, even as his fists clenched so tightly that they bled.
When he finally stopped, he muttered bitterly—
"What guarantees that?
What proves to me that you won't one day stab me in the back?"
As Sayru spoke, Mimin stood silently—tears in her eyes, pity written all over her face.
She had been with Sayru for nearly 90,000 years.
She had seen everything—witnessed every betrayal, every pain, every scar.
She knew exactly what he meant.
"I… I swear I never will…"
Ananova had nothing else to offer—no other way to prove herself.
All she could do was swear.
"this mean nothing to me—especially in the face of power and temptation."
Ananova's hope faded.
She could no longer convince him.
But suddenly, Sayru grabbed her by the shoulder and brought her back to his room.
"I'll give you a chance to prove yourself."
He pointed his finger at her forehead.
A transparent contract appeared in the air between them.
"This is a Blood Contract.
I've modified it so that the moment you agree to it, you'll become my slave—and I'll be your one and only master.
The terms are listed here.
This is no ordinary contract—every time you do something truly useful for me, and I'm satisfied with it, your rank will rise.
Work hard—to the death—if you ever want to become my disciple."
Ananova read the contract—and fear crept into her heart.
Every term was strict.
Breaking any would result in a horrible death.
She wouldn't even receive Sayru's protection unless she advanced in rank—at the very least to the level of a servant.
But even so, she didn't hesitate.
She pressed her blood to the contract and accepted.
"Now I can serve you, right?"
She looked up at Sayru with joy.
Only to hear him say—
"No. Not yet."
Sayru materialized a temporary mana outfit to replace her tattered clothes.
Then he ordered her to follow him.
They both left the city.
Of course, Mimin followed in silence.
They headed toward a nearby mountain—until they stopped at its base.
"There's one last test if you want to serve me.
Go into that mountain.
Bring me the head and the core of a Rank One beast.
You have three days.
If you die in there, then it simply means you were never worthy of serving me."
Ananova trembled violently—overwhelmed by fear.
This would be her first time ever facing a beast.
She couldn't move.
Sayru sent a wave of mana into her.
"Now you've recovered the mana you lost.
Go."
She stopped trembling, then turned toward the mountain and bowed her head.
"Very well… I'll go, Master."
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Reminder:
There are four tiers of special bodies, collectively referred to as Special Constitutions:
1. Special Body
2. Sacred Body
3. Divine Body
4. Divine Sacred Body