Chapter 53: Why are you gay?
Alex stood there.
Face blank.
Then clapped.
Slow. Deliberate.
"Wow. So impressive."
"Makes me wanna grab a good meal and celebrate."
The figure paused.
"...What?"
"You see God before you."
"Why do you not kneel?"
Alex tilted his head.
"What kind of god are you?"
"What benefits can you give me?"
Pause.
"Also, my time is charged by the second."
"You already owe me 10 spirit stones."
Beat.
"Oh. 11 now."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The red figure didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Just stood there.
Seconds passed.
Finally—
"...You are interesting."
Voice different now.
Less godly. More... amused?
"My name."
"I cannot tell you. Not yet."
"But I can help you break through to Level 9."
"And every level after."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Why can’t I break through now?"
The figure turned slightly.
"Beast Tamers need to kill."
"Monsters from portals."
"Extract their energy. Absorb it."
"Only then can you advance."
Pause.
"The amount varies. Person to person."
"Your F-rank slime..."
The voice dropped.
"Will require many kills."
"Many more than others."
"And each breakthrough harder than the last."
Alex frowned.
"So I’m slower but more solid?"
"Thicker foundation?"
"No."
Blunt.
"F-rank’s inferiority is total."
"Your breakthroughs won’t be special."
"Just slow."
"Painfully slow."
"Your slime won’t become stronger because of it."
"It’s simply... lesser."
Alex went quiet.
Stared at his hand.
So that’s it?
Everything decided from the start?
No matter how hard he tried...
The red figure watched.
Saw the silence.
"But I can help you."
Voice softer now.
Almost kind.
"Painless. Fast."
"I can push you through every barrier."
Pause.
"There’s just one small condition."
Alex looked up.
"What condition?"
"I need to inhabit your body."
"Become one with you."
"Sometimes..."
The figure raised a hand.
"I’ll borrow your body."
"Handle some... business."
Alex stared at his own palm.
Opened it. Closed it.
Face unreadable.
The red figure continued.
"I won’t just help you advance quickly."
"I can replace that slime."
"Give you what you should have had."
A flash.
Brilliant light in the figure’s hand.
Colors swirling. Shifting.
Rainbow brilliance.
The portal.
That X-rank portal.
From the awakening ceremony.
Alex’s breath caught.
The portal appeared fully now.
Floating in the void.
Massive. Beautiful. Terrifying.
"This."
The red figure gestured.
"This should have been yours."
"The beast inside."
"X-rank. Unknown tier."
"Beyond anything in this world."
The portal pulsed.
Colors dancing.
"I can give it to you."
"Replace that pathetic slime."
"Make you what you were meant to be."
Pause.
"All you have to do..."
The figure turned.
Those burning red eyes.
Locked onto Alex.
"Is say yes."
...
Alex’s eyes widened.
Text appeared.
Right in front of him.
[System Choice Detected!]
[Option 1: Accept the request. It will inhabit your body. Forever. You will no longer be completely yourself.]
[Reward: Advance to Level 8 Beast Tamer. Awaken second contract slot. Obtain two X-rank beasts. Abandon slime.]
[Title Obtained: Chess Piece]
[Effect: When being controlled, combat power +20%]
[Option 2: Refuse. Walk your own path. Remain yourself.]
[Reward: Slime evolves to E-rank.]
[Title Obtained: Partner (Pie)]
[Effect: Understanding with slime +500%. You will share a mental connection.]
[Option 3: I can’t think of one. If you can forge your own path, I will reward you based on your actions!]
Alex stared.
Read them again.
Option 1.
Power. Instant power.
X-rank beasts. Two of them.
Level 8. Skipping everything.
But...
"No longer completely yourself."
Forever inhabited.
Controlled.
A chess piece.
That just, isn’t protagonist anymore.
He would never, ever be a chess piece.
He is the only master of his fate, last life, this life.
Also...
How can he abandon that cute little thing.
Gulu~
Option 2.
Stay himself.
Keep Pie.
E-rank. Just one step up.
But mental connection.
True partnership.
His own path.
Option 3.
Unknown.
Forge something new.
Risk everything.
The red figure waited.
Hand still extended.
Portal still shining.
"So?"
"What will it be?"
"Power beyond imagination?"
"Or pathetic loyalty to a worthless slime?"
Alex closed his eyes.
Breathed in.
"Why are you gay?"
Alex opened his eyes.
Asked that question.
The red figure froze.
"...What?"
"You wanna borrow my strong, handsome body."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Obviously to mess around, right?"
"And you’re clearly a dude."
"A man borrowing a man’s body."
Pause.
"That’s not gay?"
The red figure stood there.
Silent.
Processing.
"What if I borrowed a woman’s body?"
Alex snorted.
"Then you’d be a pervert."
"You disgusting thing!"
"Wanna defile my body?"
"Go eat shit!"
The red figure laughed.
Low. Amused.
"So you refuse?"
Alex sneered.
"Refuse your grandpa!"
The laughter stopped.
The figure’s body trembled.
Violently.
The void shook.
Red lightning erupted.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The figure shot upward.
Flying high.
Voice booming now.
"You think..."
Thunder rolled.
"I need your PERMISSION?!"
"Boy, if I can enter..."
The eyes flared brighter.
"I can TAKE your body!"
"Just takes more effort!"
Pause.
"You refused to be an honored guest?"
"Then become a PRISONER!"
The red robes exploded outward.
Something emerged.
From within the figure.
A shape. Humanoid.
But wrong.
Drenched in killing intent.
Blood-red eyes snapped open.
Locked onto Alex.
Pure malice.
Pure hunger.
Its body was dark.
Not black. Darker.
Like shadow given form.
Smoke curling off its edges.
Arms too long. Fingers ending in blades.
Sharp. Jagged.
Head featureless except those eyes.
No mouth. No nose.
Just eyes.
Burning. Endless.
Constantly shifting. Never solid.
Wisps of red mist leaked from it.
Coiling. Writhing.
The legs bent wrong.
Jointed backward.
Hovering slightly above the ground.
Not standing. Floating.
The thing tilted its head.
Too far. Unnaturally far.
Bones cracking.
But no sound.
Alex’s chest tightened.
Heart pounding.
This pressure...
He’d only felt it once before.
The X-rank portal.
But this was worse.
Heavier.
More... murderous.
The red figure laughed from above.
"Let’s see if you’re as strong as I was!"
"BOY!"
Alex sneered.
Raised his hand.
"Come out, Pie."
The slime materialized.
1.2 meters tall now.
Even in base form.
Big eyes narrowed.
Angry.
"Gulu gulu gulu!"
Alex grinned.
Cold. Sharp.
"Think this is your house?"
"Perfect."
"I was just wondering..."
"How to rip something off a time-wasting gay!"
He pointed at the red figure.
"You’re not leaving here in one piece!"