Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

The air was filled with mixed emotions, the atmosphere heavy with tension and relief.

The victory of Simon changed the course of life for the three tribes completely. The dungeon's inhabitants cheered, their voices echoing through the cavernous hallways, celebrating their master's triumph.

"Please don't kill me, I surrender" Yverza's voice trembled, his eyes wide with fear as he threw himself to the ground.

The powerful Ivory Terraquake Rhino, once a towering symbol of strength and pride, now grovelled in the dirt, begging for mercy.

"That's right, I was a fool to attack your dungeon. I am willing to give you everything, please just spare my life. If you want, I am even willing to pledge loyalty to you" Shasurna added, his serpentine form coiled in submission.

With the defeat of the Ogre King and realising that they were never the demon's match to begin with, they fell on their knees and started begging for their lives.

The two kings, who had entered the dungeon with an air of invincibility and arrogance, had shed all dignity and pompousness they arrived with.

In the presence of absolute strength, they instantly fell on their knees and changed sides just to save their lives.

Looking at them now, no one would have believed that they were two of the seven kings who had ruled in the Ghastly Winding Forest for hundreds of years, becoming legendary existences in the hearts and myths of the people around.

Melinda asked. Although she knew her master the demon had his own ambition, she didn't know what it was and could never guess the agreement between him and the Ancient Titan Treant.

Standing tall and without any weakness, Simon looked down at the grovelling kings with a mix of disdain and amusement. After some silence to let their defeat and fallen pride to sink in, he opened his mouth.

"Your loyalty?" his voice cold, eyes narrowed "Do you think pledging your loyalty now, after you've been defeated, holds any value?".

The two kings trembled, their eyes darting nervously. They knew they had no leverage, no bargaining power. They who were the defeated dogs had no right to even bark.

As bitter as the realisation was, it was a pill that they had to swallow.

"We...we can still be useful to you, our knowledge of the Forest, our armies—everything can be yours. We just...we just want to live."

"Useful…" Simon repeated, his voice dripping with contempt.

"You seem to be mistaken, now that you have lost, your treasures, army, territory, everything is mine. Hmph, you speak of usefulness now, when you've lost everything. Pathetic."

Simon did not hesitate to tear their pride into pieces and let them know their place. Everything that belonged to the loser, was the trophy of the victor.

A dog eat dog rule that forged the person he was right now. In an environment like the Ghastly Winding Forest and the demon society where if you show even the slightest weakness, you become the prey and pawn of someone higher than you.

Raised in such an environment where you either die and lose everything or fight and win big,

Simon wasn't going to go fall for such tactless pedge. His eyes flicked to the gathered inhabitants of the dungeon, their faces alight with admiration and loyalty.

None of them questioned his power or ruling for he is the absolute existence in this dungeon and the lord and benefactor.

"Very well," That said, there was a reason why he manipulated the event to this point. Simon never believed that the seven kings would be truly loyal to him. However, due to the agreement he made with Aldebaran, he needed to subdue them.

"I will spare your lives. But know this: your loyalty is not freely given. It will be bought with blood and servitude. To ensure your obedience, I offer you a Blood Soul Contract."

A contract with the demon, the Ivory Terraquake Rhino and Emerald Viperlord's eyes widened in horror. It was said that those bound by such a contract would have their very essence controlled by the master, able to manipulate their minds and actions to some extent.

Although they didn't know what a Blood Soul contract was, it didn't need a genius to understand that it was something evil.

A pact of high order that would forever bind their lives and souls with the demon. The latter would be able to control their life and death.

Seeing the extended hand before them, they truly saw the demon incarnate. With his mouth twisted in a wicked grin, the blood red eyes that seemed to be taking pleasure in their misfortune and their overwhelming presence.

"Decide"...

Dark energy released from his palm and began to swirl and coalesce into a pulsating, crimson orb.

"Place your hands on the orb and forge a Blood Soul contract with me. Reject it and you will face a fate worse than death" Simon commanded.

The two kings shuddered, realising their fate. Wanted as they much to change the course of their past, what transpired had already transpired.

They had attacked the dungeon and lost. The outcome cannot be changed no matter how much they regret it now.

Yverza and Shaurna after hesitating for a while, extended their hands and placed them on the crimson orb.

FLASH… As soon as the contact occurred, the orb flared brightly, tendrils of energy wrapped around their arms and sunk into their flesh. The pain was excruciating, like molten iron searing their veins, but they gritted their teeth and endured it.

The contract was forged, binding their souls to the demon's will.

"Your lives are mine to command, your souls are mine to control. Obey, and you shall live. Defy me, and you shall suffer."

The words seemed to vibrate in the air, seeping into the very fabric of their beings. The orb pulsed one final time, leaving a faint, glowing mark on their forearms—a symbol of their subjugation.

Yverza and Shasurna bowed their heads, their fate sealed.

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