Healing System

"Did someone call me?" A voice rang out from behind Michael, startling him.

As he turned around, what greeted his sight was some kind of humanoid being with emerald green eyes, staring down at each and every person.

"S-Sir Pardoth..." Both Xylo and his brother said in unison, performing a bow.

Though as they did, the fissure they had been trying to control suddenly broke loose, sending chaotic mana into the atmosphere.

However, with a wave of his hand, the new arrival, Pardoth, suddenly dispersed every bit of mana in the air, even slightly draining Michael's own mana pool.

"I don't understand what you two idiots were up to, but refrain from doing that in the outer region," Pardoth commanded in a cold voice, before turning to Michael.

He looked him up and down, until finally saying, "We've met before."

Michael tilted his head. "I have a knack for remembering faces; I don't think we did... sir?"

"No, we have. It was on the trash planet Verdusk, I believe. Two years ago or something along those lines. You were the one who dragged a body to two women, remember?" Pardoth said with a chuckle.

But it only made Michael more confused. "So how exactly does that make us acquainted?"

"Well, I was inside the body at the time," Pardoth replied, when all of a sudden, his body twisted, and his appearance became that of Shingen. "Remember me now?"

"...I do." Michael narrowed his eyes, dropping all formalities. "Were you behind Amanda and Rebecca not showing up?"

"To the upper city? I might've been," Pardoth said nonchalantly, changing back to his previous appearance. "Though Fafnir generously intervened just as I was about to get what I wanted. It's truly a pity."

Michael put aside his other questions and asked the main one. "Are they alive? Amanda and Rebecca?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Pardoth replied with a sigh before turning to Xylo. "You brothers have been causing mischief for eons now; are you not bored?"

"We are growing stronger, sir," Xylo's brother replied. "Today was a celebratory fight, as my brother finally received a body."

"Oh?" Pardoth raised a brow. "You say received? It almost sounds like someone gave the body to him."

Xylo's brother nodded, pointing to Michael. "That's the case, sir. He did."

"You..." Xylo smacked his brother's head. "That is correct, sir. This young mysterious being created a body construct for me, which I was able to fully assimilate with."

"Hmm..." Pardoth stared at Michael with curiosity. "Is that true?"

"It is," Michael affirmed, earning a chuckle from Pardoth in response.

"Well, that changes things, doesn't it?" Pardoth narrowed his eyes, approaching Michael. "If you can make bodies for the eldritch beings, then you would be quite the asset, don't you think?"

"Perhaps," Michael shrugged, not giving ground. "But if I do become an asset, I would love to be properly compensated and have reasonable terms."

"Do you think you're in a position to declare your intent?" Pardoth asked with a chuckle. "If I so much as wanted to, I could enslave you and your mind. Now, what makes you think I wouldn't want to try that instead?"

He's testing me. Michael deduced with a frown.

In all seriousness, he did not have many grounds to argue with such a being, or even have a regular position in the argument.

However, perhaps because of desperation, or something else, Michael could feel like Pardoth couldn't exactly pull off something like that with his authority.

Mind magic did exist, and mind altering was pretty efficient.

But Michael himself had grown pretty resistant to it—not enough to ward off a being of Pardoth's caliber, but enough to maybe realize he was being controlled.

Therefore, he decided to take a gamble.

"I believe for such a big finding, you can't take all the credit. After all, aren't you all bound by contracts or something of the sort?"

"If we can bolster our army, I doubt anyone would mind," Pardoth commented. "But you are right in assuming we can't do much without contracts."

"Then how about this." Michael got his attention with a smile. "Let's make a contract. In exchange for my help, you will offer me the best mana gathering location in all the eldritch worlds."

"How dare yo—!" Xylo's brother was about to talk, but was interrupted by Pardoth.

"You want to improve yourself by utilizing the eldritch energies? That is a bold move for someone of your caliber. You could die or greatly alter your original powers." He narrowed his eyes. "Which, from what I can see, are Light, Darkness, and some other energy I can't recognize."

"Is that a no then?" Michael stood up, getting off the trembling Pegasus's back and floating over to Pardoth. "You need strength, but you are not willing to sacrifice anything in turn. I wonder, are you truly interested?"

"Hahahahaha!" Shrill yet loud laughter resounded, with Pardoth's appearance slightly changing.

Instead of the humanoid appearance, what replaced it was a massive colorful eye, whose depths Michael wasn't even able to measure.

But soon, it spoke. "I don't mind making the deal, but are you sure about the best mana gathering place in all the worlds?"

Michael could feel the sly smile despite it having no face now.

However, he knew how his words could be twisted, and he was fully prepared for that, or at least, he hoped he was.

There was a limit to where Pardoth could send him.

It was either the best place for his current strength, or the best place which he would not be able to last long inside.

Nonetheless, the latter was more plausible, and quite frankly, Michael wanted it too.

"I will provide you with my services. One Eldritch body in exchange for one day inside your best mana gathering confines." Michael put on a wide grin. "So? What do you say?"

"You're too bold for your own good," Pardoth snickered, before suddenly shooting out a green beam from his eyes.

Yet it did not travel far, as it suddenly impacted the air, and once it did, a piece of blank paper formed, before letters were suddenly written down.

Michael could not read them at first, but soon, they were translated into some kind of language which he was able to somehow understand.

"Here are the terms. Look it over," Pardoth said, passing the contract over to Michael.

Immediately, he read it over.

1. Party A (Pardoth) forms an eldritch contract with Party B (Unknown).If the terms below are left unfulfilled, the one responsible shall forfeit their life.

2. Party B promises to provide one Eldritch body for each day he decides to stay in the Eldritch realm. He is given unlimited entry access until the duration of the contract is finished.

3. Party A shall provide Party B with a suitable training and mana gathering environment which will be slightly above Party B's level in order to further their growth.

Michael nodded, before turning to Pardoth. "Where's the duration?"

Pardoth remained silent for a moment, before saying, "Ah, I must've forgotten."

With that, he took the contract back and began changing its contents again.

Finally, he gave it back to Michael, and he reread it once more.

Just this time, the duration he was looking for was finally there, and the second clause was more defined.

2. Party B promises to provide one Eldritch body for each day he stays in the Eldritch realm. He is given unlimited entry access until the duration of the contract is finished.

4. Duration of the contract is 1 year by Party B's standards and has the possibility for renewal. During that time, Party B must comply with the contract's demands and provide a body suitable for the eldritch entities.

"Much better," Michael said with a small smile, before continuing, "But I don't see much freedom in the clauses. I am basically bound to this realm for a year."

"You are either bound here for a year, or you are bound to the contract for a lifetime," Pardoth seemingly shrugged. "The first draft was made to test your wits and you passed. But of course, I am not generous enough to allow you free rein in such a prestigious world, so I ask you, for the last time. What is your final choice?"

<Do you wish to accept the contract with Party A (Pardoth)>

<Yes/No>

High risk, high reward. Besides, it's not like the sect will disband if I am gone for a mere year. Michael glanced at Pardoth. "Does this world have a different passage of time?"

"It doesn't have time at all," Pardoth assured. "So wherever you have come from, time won't pass there."

I see, that's perfect then. Michael nodded and took a deep breath.

Whether this was a huge mistake or not, he would only find out after signing the contract and going through with the bodies.

But at the same time, making 365 bodies seemed like a bit much, even for him.

Yet at the same time, the amount of practice he would get regarding Mana constructs was more than enough.
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After all, he could make more than one per day.

Therefore, he set his sights on the <Yes> button, and without further ado, brought his finger down.

<Processing...> A message fell, followed by another, <Confirmed.>

And as it did, the contract suddenly split into two, and one part flew directly into Michael's body, while the other, into Pardoth's eyeball.

There was a searing pain for just a slight moment, swirling around his heart, but it soon disappeared.

"Hmm..." Pardoth hummed, getting his attention.

"Follow me."