107 The Show Must Continue I

My gaze was fixed on the sky, there were no monsters nearby and I had now an insane amount of three thousand gacha points after having spent everything. I guess this was her 'gift'.

But what is the use of this gift? I'm going to die... I don't know when, but that thing is going to eat me. By my side Saeko, Lucy and Shizuka are crestfallen... they know I just sold myself to the devil and my days are numbered. I exchanged my life for theirs and I don't regret it... I would do it again.

'I guess I have changed...'

"Brand-kun!"

Saya yelled and entered my periphery together with an anxious Kyoko.

"Who was that?!" Rei yelled next with her guard on, expecting to see the demon just so she could slap her and get us all killed in the process.

I don't even have the energy to answer anything.

'Chiyo...'

She didn't answer me anymore... but I can feel it. She's there. Like my head under the guillotine. I'm conscious of it, unaware of when it is going to fall. This time I don't know if I had a lucky pick.

"Stop asking questions, quickly come inside we have to treat that wound better!" Shizuka regained herself first... they all helped me up and carried me into the building. Saeko tried to pick up the sword, Clarent, and I could see how much she was struggling to carry it.

It is going to be a long night for me.

**

**

High above the skies of Japan a silhouette formed from the darkness, her position wasn't unintentional. From this high, the clouds were beneath and the curvature of the earth was visible, yet in this world, there was a sombre aura of calamity. As if this world was doomed to perish without salvation.

A perfect atmosphere for a dark entity such as Chiyo.

The black goat's tentacles rolled in exhilaration; she licked her lips, recalling the taste of that blood that she would be able to enjoy often from now on. It was in the middle of these thoughts that she recalled the purpose of her presence in this vast firmament.

"What is the point of hiding if you know I can see you? goddess" she uttered confidently.

'I'm not hiding from you, Black Goat' a voice popped up in her mind, beautiful and melodious. Like a fresh cascade in the desert. Like a sudden miracle in times of need; a raw unbridged aura of Luck.

"Could it be that you're jealous of your son's capacities?~ fate is such an intricate law. I'm sure even you don't know how it works, Goddess of Luck".

Beside her the sun shone for a last time before succumbing and giving way to the moon, this flash of light created a refractory light around an invisible silhouette beside Chiyo, a concealing individual who much to the beauty's shock... was missing her right arm and her left leg. Not only that, she was injured.

'You can call me Sonasha, Chiyo. You know too much... but indeed, who would have thought that of all entities available in the rare class, he'd get one of the most troublesome ones... you should have been in the godly class. Summoning you and that sword has taken a lot of my energy, I had to summon an avatar to see what was happening here... that doesn't explain how you, a Hideous Goddess, are able to intervene in this mortal plane' The invisible woman turned towards the Black Goat with a threatening gaze. Clearly, her attitude wasn't friendly.

If anything she felt the need to curse at 'luck' her own self, for having her son summon such a troublesome being. Yet, with even more frustration she had to allow this to pass. Because who else if not her knows how fate truly works?

'My son's fondness is on par with mine while he is still a mortal. If this woman was the one to be summoned in such a situation, then this is no doubt fate...'

"This body of mine is a mere husk of my whole being, Sonasha... it is natural for me to be able to stay on this mortal planet with this form. You could call it my avatar of sorts, however... it has no expiration date or limited energy. This body of mine is fully autonomous from my greater being. That said, you can go and continue your war while I take care of him".

'Take care of him? you just made a contract to devour him in the future!'.

"I certainly am, but... fret not, when the moment comes that I devour him, I'll make sure that you look at me doing it and suffer~ that moment is not now".

'You!- ugh!'

"Are you sure you want to fight me? in this condition...? your original body is so injured that it is even being projected into this avatar. How pitiful for you to fight against entities beyond your comprehension".

'You're a hideous being, just like 'him'... two cuts from the same pie trying to shatter universes as if it was a game!'.

"I don't know who this 'him' is, but... onee-chan is not the thousand young for nothing~ once you have lived this long, existence can get boring, Sonasha... a young goddess like you wouldn't be able to understand. With my husk here, my main body has already located the position of this universe... I can come here any time I want, perhaps I will side up with 'him' to have more fun, what do you think?~"

'Brand, you really had to do it... summon this thing of all things' Sonasha looked like she wanted to pull her hair. Trying to remove her from this universe? she already tried and failed miserably... this eldritch being was now completely independent from the system and there was nothing she could do.

"Brand-kun has a lot of potentials. He can be my tastes delicacy, he can be my most amusing pet, or... he could be my most dubious lover~ it all depends on how things turn out, sweetheart. So far... I only want to eat him. Who knows, if he ends up being so tasty, I may help your Pantheon fight against him. Do you wish to make a contract?".

'I wouldn't exchange my son's life for anything!'

"A pity, then answer me one question... everything so far I could guess due to my perception, your and his aura, however... there is something I don't understand".

'What is it?'

"This enemy that you're fighting... there are remaining of its aura even irradiating from your avatar. That existence could be even stronger than my main body. Tell me, why does Brand-kun smell like that...? does it have to do with his innate racial traits? did you plan this? or... was it luck?".

'...'

No answer was given to her as the remaining aura of luck disappeared from this world together with the sunlight, giving way to the occupation of darkness.

"So you don't intend to answer... no, you're gone. Fufufu~ I guess everything shall be unveiled in due time. For now, I'll have some fun with your son, Sonasha. You don't need to worry, I'll make sure he becomes the strongest he can become. His increasing strength will enhance his flavour further, I can't wait".

Chiyo licked her lips in expectation, disappearing in a gust of darkness, back to her new 'home' where a rather interesting visage was expecting her.

'Lover, pet or food... what a difficult decision, Brand-kun... what should onee-chan do with you?~'