Chapter 252: Requests and Requirements
In the middle of Nathaniel's negotiations, his counterpart suddenly grew quiet. Although they never spoke before, it had become clear that they both harbored similar feelings for each other: hatred mixed with reluctance to the point of a deep grudge. Blacky, it seemed, hated Nathaniel for holding him on a tight leash like a dog.
Since they were somewhat accustomed to 'working' together, they could communicate naturally despite their antipathy. However, Blacky had been unwilling to leave any way out for Nathaniel and his soldiers. They were already in his grasp, suffocating, while he was finally free. What else could he want?
When the silence lasted, Nathaniel reached out with his thoughts again. He already felt weakened, and hearing the rapid breaths of his comrades, their gasps for air, didn't help. "You know that you cannot have me die or you will cease to exist as well."
There was no answer. For a second, Nathaniel wondered if Blacky had left, yet the darkness still encasing them proved otherwise. Not for the first time, he feared for his soldiers' lives. Since he was the only one bound to Blacky, the latter wouldn't care about them besides the opportunity to eat their flesh. To gain their freedom, he would need to bargain with a high price - most likely too high.
"How about that: I will not try to hinder your life here. As long as you remain in the vicinity of this canyon, you can do all you want. I won't attempt to call you back inside me and you can even eat all you want. You just have to let go of me and those around me. I know that you fear my control over you, but you can't have me die anyway. So, strike this deal with me. If you do that, you will truly be free, at least here."
When there was still no answer, Nathaniel gnashed his teeth. Just what did Blacky want? Human sacrifices? Would he demand him to bring exchanges for the lives of his soldiers or bloody offerings every year, month, or week like an evil god? Any of that was impossible for Nathaniel. Not literally impossible, of course, since he had the means and might to do so. However, it was impossible for his morality. Wouldn't Blacky know this after living so many years with him?
The dizziness that receded slightly when they opted for a stop, slowly crawled back into Nathaniel's head. It messed with his mind or else he would have noticed that the silence of Backy might not be his own choice. Shortly put, Blacky was distracted by the fact that its ethereal body was being swallowed and drawn into another dimension.
Since the growth of his power coincided with the growth of his mind, it panicked and was fully focused on escaping. If there was still a light source in the dome Nathaniel was in, he'd have seen the walls convulse and shudder like tortured flesh. Yet, the suction force of the rift was too big. Though Blacky could slow down the process by struggling, there was nothing else to be done.
As the air grew less and less, Nathaniel swayed from exhaustion and finally settled on the ground as well, again and again calling out with his mind. Though the soldiers didn't complain, he could tell from their fast breaths that they were at the brim of collapse. Some might already be unconscious - in the darkness, it was hard to tell. If not for Blacky moving with him and possibly swallowing his soldiers if he moved from the spot, he would have tried to reach out to it with more than his mind. He was even too exhausted to be angry. Could he really do nothing but wait for his followers' demise?
Then, when his last hope flickered like a candlestick, a flustered voice entered his mind. It was so different from the deep, sarcastic voice he'd heard last that he first didn't know who it belonged to. It almost sounded like a panicked child. "He-help me!"
Not knowing what to do, Blacky had finally called out to the person it was most familiar with. Fighting through the haze of his mind, Nathaniel slowly blinked a few times. Even when it occurred to him that it was his magic speaking, he was too dizzy to be elated. His lung and throat burned from overworking and the demand left his mind as a natural reaction: "Air!"
Seconds later, a ray of moonlight fell down into the dome of shadows. The occupants pressed their eyes close against the sudden assault that, despite the dimness, was too bright against the complete darkness. Shortly after, sweet, sweet fresh air met their noses. Sighs and gasps of relief lefts their tortured bodies.
The first thing Nathaniel did after sucking in a deep breath, was to survey the state of his comrades. To his relief, none had met his demise at the hands of Blacky yet. Though some curled on the ground with their eyes closed as if they were robbed of energy, even their chests heaved up and down rapidly.
"Now help!" Blacky's call reminded Nathaniel of the other's predicament, and though he would've enjoyed seeing it last, they were still trapped in walls of this dark power.
"Tell me first what happened."
"I'm being swallowed!"
Nathaniel almost choked on his own salvia. Coughing, he tried to regain his composure. "Who'd be suicidal enough to swallow a thing like you?!"
"Rude! Do you think I'd struggle if it was someone weak like you flesh people?" Blacky rebuked instantly, anger mixing with its fear. "I'd tear it apart, gobble it down instantly if it was so easy!"
Now holding better cards in his hands, Nathaniel found back to his usual demeanor. "Serves you right to be eaten, you glutton."
The screech that followed in his head almost made him grin. Yet, at the same time, he saw the walls around him shudder. If Blacky was being swallowed, he thought, maybe we just need to hold out long enough. If something can eliminate it, that would be great. It's too big for me, after all. If it's like that, I wouldn't need to negotiate with it at all.
Maybe they really spend too much time together, because Blacky seemed to read his thought process. "If you abandon me, I will eat them. I will eat them all!"
Tentacles of darkness separated from the walls and crawled in the direction of the recovering soldiers. Having only regained their hope for life recently, the soldiers cursed and screamed while rolling their groggy bodies closer to the middle. They were so agitated, that they even forgot about the no-touch rule of their boss. Suddenly swamped by a mass of heavy men, Nathaniel scowled, pushing them back with his gloved hands.
"Childish," he scolded Blacky in his mind. "If you hurt any of them, forget about my help. Now, tell me what help you want, and then set us free."
Blacky fell silent for a bit, and Nathaniel got the feeling that this magic power didn't really have a plan. It was just calling out randomly and only started moving its nonexistent brain cells now. Well, the longer it took, the more likely it would be swallowed by whatever it was, so Nathaniel took the time to breathe more. Today, the air seemed especially precious.
Finally, it seemed like Blacky had a solution. Its voice, somehow sounding younger and more feeble by the second, requested: "Help me withstand the suction of that thing. You always only tried to control me in ways I didn't want, that's why I know your will can affect me. This time, let's work together."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone