NOVEL WEB Chapter 29: Chapter ²⁹ A Bargain with the Devil
Chapter 29: A Bargain with the Devil
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Fun fact: collapsing from sheer exhaustion is not as glamorous as it sounds. You'd think I'd get a heroic pat on the back, but no. Instead, I woke up to Kira's disappointed glare and Blobby poking my face like an annoying alarm clock."
---
When I come to, I'm lying on a park bench, my head pounding like I just went ten rounds with a sledgehammer.
Kira is standing nearby, arms crossed, looking like she's debating whether to lecture me or leave me there to rot.
Blobby is perched on my chest, cheerfully poking my cheek.
"Boss! You're alive!"
"Barely," I groan, sitting up. "What happened?"
"You passed out after barely tapping into your power," Kira says, her tone dripping with disdain. "Pathetic."
"Hey, I'd like to see you do better after tanking an assassin's glaive," I snap, rubbing my temples.
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Let me tell you, nothing boosts your confidence like your stalker-slash-bodyguard-slash-unpaid babysitter telling you you're weak. Really makes you feel like the hero of your own story."
---
"Can we focus on the bigger problem here?" I ask, forcing myself to stand. "Who was that guy, and why do they want me dead so badly?"
"That 'guy' was the Enforcer," Kira says. "The shadow council's most elite assassin. If they've sent him after you, it means they've decided you're too dangerous to leave alone."
"Dangerous?" I echo, gesturing to myself. "I'm just a guy trying to survive high school without flunking algebra. How is that dangerous?"
Kira sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're not listening. Your power isn't something you can ignore, Akira. The more you try to suppress it, the more unstable it becomes. If you don't learn to control it, you'll destroy everything—and everyone—around you."
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Ah, yes. Another day, another 'control your power or doom us all' speech. Really adds a nice touch of drama to my otherwise mundane existence."
---
"Okay, fine," I say, raising my hands in surrender. "How do I control it?"
Kira hesitates, glancing around as if checking for eavesdroppers. Then, she leans in, her voice barely above a whisper.
"There's someone who can help you," she says.
"Great," I reply. "Who?"
Her expression darkens. "The Sorceress of the Abyss."
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Because, obviously, the best person to teach me how to control my dragon god powers is someone with a nickname straight out of a horror movie. What could possibly go wrong?"
---
"Let me guess," I say. "She's incredibly dangerous, has a grudge against the world, and demands a steep price for her help?"
Kira nods. "Pretty much."
"Fantastic," I mutter. "Can't wait to meet her."
---
Later that evening, after sneaking out of the house under the pretense of "studying with friends," I find myself following Kira through a dense, eerie forest.
The trees loom overhead, their gnarled branches twisting like skeletal fingers.
Blobby, nestled in my bag, is unusually quiet, which only makes the whole situation even creepier.
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" I whisper, glancing around nervously.
"No," Kira replies bluntly.
---
Eventually, we arrive at a clearing, where a massive, crumbling tower stands silhouetted against the moonlit sky.
The air is thick with an unnatural energy that makes my skin crawl.
"This is it," Kira says, her voice barely audible.
"Great," I mutter. "Let's knock and see if she's home."
---
Before I can take a step forward, the ground beneath us shifts, and a deep, disembodied voice echoes through the clearing.
"Who dares disturb my domain?"
A figure materializes at the tower's entrance—a woman cloaked in shadow, her eyes glowing like embers.
"I do," Kira says, stepping forward. "We seek your aid, Sorceress."
The woman's gaze shifts to me, and a chilling smile spreads across her face.
"Well, well," she purrs. "The dragon god reincarnate, in the flesh. How delightful."
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Pro tip: when someone looks at you like you're their next meal, it's usually a bad sign."
---
The sorceress gestures for us to enter, and I reluctantly follow Kira inside.
The tower's interior is just as unsettling as the outside—dark, musty, and filled with strange artifacts that practically radiate bad vibes.
"So," the sorceress says, settling into an ornate chair. "What brings you to my humble abode?"
Kira explains the situation while I awkwardly stand there, trying not to touch anything.
When she's done, the sorceress turns to me, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"And what do you think, little dragon? Are you ready to embrace your destiny?"
"Not really," I admit. "But I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
She laughs—a low, melodic sound that sends shivers down my spine.
"Very well," she says. "I'll teach you. But my help comes with a price."
---
Narration Mode Activated
"Called it. Why is it always a price? Can't someone just help out of the goodness of their heart for once?"
---
"What kind of price?" I ask warily.
She leans forward, her smile widening. "A simple one. When the time comes, you will do something for me. No questions, no hesitation."
"That sounds…ominous," I say.
"It is," she replies. "But it's the only way you'll survive what's coming."
---
I glance at Kira, who nods reluctantly.
"Fine," I say, turning back to the sorceress. "You've got a deal."
The moment the words leave my mouth, I feel a surge of energy, like an invisible chain binding me to her.
"Excellent," she says, standing. "Let's begin."
---
Over the next few hours, she puts me through a grueling series of exercises designed to awaken and control my power.
By the end of it, I'm covered in sweat, my limbs feel like jelly, and my head is pounding.
But for the first time, I feel a faint sense of control over the chaotic energy inside me.
"Not bad," the sorceress says, watching me with an approving smile. "You might actually survive this after all."
"Thanks," I mutter, collapsing onto the floor.
---
As Kira and I leave the tower, I can't shake the feeling that I've just made a deal with the devil.
But as I glance at Kira, her expression unusually soft, I realize something else.
For the first time in a long time, I don't feel completely alone in this fight.
---
Meanwhile…
Back in the shadow council's lair, the leader stands before a massive, glowing portal.
"The enforcer failed," a voice says.
"No matter," the leader replies. "The boy is growing stronger. Soon, he will awaken fully. And when he does, we will be ready."
The camera zooms in on the portal, revealing a glimpse of a massive, shadowy figure waiting on the other side.
---
End of Chapter 29