Chapter 320. Faceoff.

  “Rico, I almost forgot, here’s the ring I promised you. I may as well give it to you now. As you know, I’m rarely in your personal space these days and who knows when we’ll cross paths in there again. Sadly, it’s not something I can entrust one of your minions to hand off, as it requires a personal activation,” Tzes’zod said, handing me a simple steel band. Trusting that Tzes’zod had a reason for the whole ring shenanigans, I slid it over my index finger and found that the ring sized itself to fit perfectly.

  You have acquired. Ring of Telepathic Communication, minor. This ring will allow you to speak telepathically with the holder of a matched ring. The range of this ability is 100 yards, and the rings can only be used for up to 1 hour per day.

  “I assume you can hear me now. If you can, try to concentrate on thinking your reply, not saying it verbally,” Tzes’zod’s voice called in my mind.

  “Yes, I can hear you, are you hearing me okay?” I replied.

  “Perfectly. Now, we have little time to deal with this contract issue and Gary has obviously put a lot of planning into bringing about this confrontation. There are a couple of problems here. One, if you move against Gary and attempt to stop him from harming the couple, you will break your rental agreement with him. If that happens it will allow him to retaliate back in your personal space,” Tzes’zod said.

  “What do I do then? I have to at least try to stop him, or my summoning compulsion will kick in. Other than that, I have a scroll that will complete this summoning, but that will doom these people,” I said.

  “There are two tracks we can utilize. One, the easiest route is to activate the scroll and wash your hands of the matter. This is also the safest route, but it is one that may be more problematic in the future. The other option is for you to wait until your summoning compulsion kicks in. If you attack Gary due to your summoning compulsion, and not of your own volition, you will technically not be voiding the rental agreement, since you’re not in control of your actions,” Tzes’zod offered.

  “So, you’re saying there’s no real risk if I allow the summoning compulsion to activate?” I asked.

  “No more so than you would normally experience by having a death during a summoning. There is nothing Gary can do to you other than destroy your body. To damage your soul requires voluntary agreement on your part. However, there may also be an advantage to a future problem regarding ownership of your personal space if you allow your summoning compulsion to kick in,” Tzes’zod said.

  “Hey, I get you’re undead and have all the time in the world, but you need to pick up the pace here buddy. I don’t have all day to waste while some third-party, third-rate barrister reads through all the fine print of a boilerplate contract that every infernal uses. Need I remind you, lich, that I’m only giving you time to read that as a courtesy for my buddy, Rico,” Gary complained.

  “My time of delay is almost at an end, and my advice is to allow your summoning compulsion to kick in. Gary likely knows that loophole, and I suspect he will abandon his attempt to collect the debt at this time. You may not be able to protect these humans as you desire to, but you can grant them a bit more time,” Tzes’zod said.

  “Very well. I’m sorry to tell you, Rico, but it seems that this contract is in order,” Tzes’zod said, handing the sulfurous-smelling document back to Gary.

  “There you have it, just like I said. Everything is above board, and the system obviously approves of the deal I struck. Now, let me gather up Eleanor, I think I have the perfect spot for her. Have you ever heard of a soul-powered portal generator? It’s a wonderful device, though, since her soul will be the one powering it, I suppose the experience won’t be all that wonderful for Eleanor,” Gary taunted.

  “He’s trying to anger you into attacking him. Do not allow the imp to succeed. I suspect there is also some subtle mind magic at work here,” Tzes’zod warned just as I could feel rage build up inside me. With Tzes’zod’s warning, I was able to recognize and shake off the influence.

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  Your Mental Intrusion resistance has fended off an Infuriating Presence aura.

  My mind calmed, and I waited to see what Gary would do next, though I was a little annoyed that the system didn’t determine Gary’s aura to be a direct attack. We both stared at each other, and I could see anger roiling behind the imp’s eyes. Gary kept up his carefree demeanor, but I think he realized that his ploy to get me to attack him wasn’t going to work.

  “Step aside, Rico, I’m claiming what’s mine,” Gary said.

  “Sorry, Gary, but when you try to do that, my summoning compulsion will kick in, and I’ll be forced to try and stop you. Since were such good buddies and all, I’d hate for that to happen,” I replied with a bit more sarcasm than I probably should have. It was never wise to taunt powerful infernal creatures that could steal your soul.

  “Hm, your lich friend tipped you off, did he. Don’t worry lich, I’ve dealt with your kind before, and you’ve made an enemy this day,” Gary said, dark flames beginning to waft from his body.

  “And I have dealt with your kind as well. I suspect that we were slated to be enemies from the day you entered Rico’s personal space. Don’t tell me you didn’t realize what is about to happen,” Tzes’zod taunted.

  “I’ve wasted too much time here, but don’t worry Eleanor, I’ll be back soon to collect when my buddy isn’t here to save you. Later, Rico,” Gary said, giving Tzes’zod another glare before he conjured up a glowing red portal that he entered. After his earlier comment to Eleanor, I thought I could almost hear the anguish of the poor soul that was powering Gary’s portal.

  “He’s gone, you’ve saved us, Rico. Thank you so much,” Clayton said, his fear dissipating enough that he was trying to revive the still unconscious Eleanor.

  “The contract still stands between these people and Gary, Rico, though I believe you may soon have the means to nullify it. I do feel the need to warn you not to create a new contract with these humans. Now that you know the parties involved in the dispute, the system will not recognize your innocence if they call you for help again and your compulsion causes you to attack Gary,” Tzes’zod said. He held out his bony hand and I returned the telepathic ring to him.

  “I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to stop Gary for good,” I said to Clayton.

  “This might not be over for us yet, but you’ve given me time with my wife. Every extra minute with her is a gift at this point, and for that, I’m grateful,” Clayton said as Eleanor started to revive.

  “I shall leave now, Rico, though I’ll be waiting for you in your personal space. There is much more we need to discuss, and important events are transpiring that you will have a hand in deciding,” Tzes’zod said, teleporting away through a normal enough looking portal. At least, unlike Gary, the lich wasn’t harvesting souls to power his movements.

  “Again, I apologize that I couldn’t do more for you. I also can’t create a new contract now that I know who you’ll be calling me to defend you from,” I warned.

  “You’ve done all you could, Rico,” Clayton said with a forced smile. My summoning ended at that moment, and I entered the void as the system announced my performance.

  You have completed the terms of the contracted summoning.

  This summoning is now complete.

  Your ranking for this summoning is Excellent.

  Your rewards will reflect your current Tier and Rank, as well as your summoning rating of Excellent.

  You have earned 39 experience points.

  You have earned 52 summoning points.

  Congratulations You have reached Tier 3, Rank 0.

  You have gained 1 point in Strength.

  You have gained 1 point in Agility.

  You have gained 1 point in Constitution.

  You have gained 1 point in Mind.

  You have gained 1 point in Presence.

  New class evolution options are available. Please review your status once inside your personal space.

  The system has determined that your time as a summoned being is at an end. You may return to Earth once the integration of that world is complete, and the residents have a chance to acclimate to the system. New options and rewards will be available to you shortly.

  You will now be returned to your personal space.

  This was it; I’d reached tier three and wasn’t going back home until the system integration was over with. I was torn, and I found myself both excited about what was coming, and still concerned over what my world was about to go though. I did take some pride in the fact that I had done my part in preparing my world for the system.

  “Welcome home, sir,” Whirtmir said as I exited the portal and returned to my personal space. Questions flooded my mind almost as fast as the system prompts that appeared. For now, I hid the system prompts and would deal with them in order once my mind calmed down a bit.

  Melvin sent me his support through our mental link, and I knew that whatever the system had in store for me in the future, I wanted my friend Melvin to remain at my side. He seemed to echo the feelings and sent me images of us sitting in my car eating tacos and also of him absorbing damage as my armored protector.

  “Thanks Melvin, you’re a good friend,” I said to the slime as he switched from his armor form to the normal, happy cube of gelatinous goo.

  “Rico, I’m afraid there are developments regarding your personal space that need to be attended to. Speaking with your pet is a distraction you cannot afford at this time,” Tzes’zod said, standing from his desk and looking exactly like the ominous undead creature he was.