New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

The old man looked at Astaroth, seeing his eyes tear up, and his anger washed away.

“Aye. It is good to see you too, Astaroth.”

Astaroth got up, with some difficulty, and hugged the old man tightly. But not long after he did, he suddenly felt a huge drain on his mana, his legs becoming weak again.

Astaroth used Mana Siphon, which he rarely used, just to sustain the sudden immense draw on his mana. He could feel the mana all rushing into his ring, and even Aberon felt it.

The old man frowned at Astaroth, wondering why he was suddenly sending all his mana to the ring on his hand.

“What are you doing, young man?”

“It’s not me. Something is wresting control of my mana from me.”

Astaroth felt that the mana he had just siphoned was still not enough, and used Mana Siphon a second time, already feeling his stomach churn. He hated using that skill for this exact reason.

Feeling his mana finally stop draining, Astaroth trembled a bit, feeling the whiplash on his body for using so much mana in one go. Aberon grabbed onto his shoulder, getting ready for whatever came next.

Feeling a surge from the ring, both when looked on as a bright figure suddenly burst out of the ring, standing a few feet away from them. Aberon used his telekinesis to back them up a few meters, almost reaching the edge of the settlement.

As he landed, Aberon was already charging up a powerful spell, since he could feel the crushing aura of the unknown person who had just appeared. But just as it finished charging, and the person finished materializing, the spell fizzled out.

The old man that had just appeared waved his hand, as a thin barrier expanded from him, englobing both Astaroth and Aberon, as the old mage paled.

When the thin barrier washed through him, he instantly felt all his mana disappear. It was like his connection to mana itself had been severed.

It was the first time in an extremely long time that Aberon had felt so powerless. But Astaroth next to him sighed in relief when he recognized the person who appeared.

“It’s alright, Aberon. He isn’t an enemy.”

Aberon had a hard time believing that a man who just washed away all the surrounding mana wasn’t a threat to him. But he trusted Astaroth enough to listen to his words.

“Then who is he? And why did he drain away your mana to manifest?”

“Forgive my sudden intrusion,” the newcomer said, giving an apologetic head bow.

“Let me introduce myself, if you don’t mind, young man.”

Astaroth nodded to him, letting him speak for himself.

“I go by many names, some calling me the great sage. My close ones called me Jedidiah. My most common moniker is King Solomon. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Giving a half bow, Solomon finished his introduction, while Aberon stood motionless, his mouth agape.

Seeing as the old man was still speechless, Solomon looked at Astaroth.

“Excuse my abrupt use of your mana, young man. Our conversation was not finished, you see? I also have the answers you seek. I spoke with Duke Astaroth after you disappeared, and he confessed completely.”

Astaroth’s eyes lit up.

“Then what happened?”

Aberon finally snapped out of his daze.

“Wait wait wait. Did you say Duke Astaroth? As in ‘Duke of Hell’ Astaroth?”

Solomon nodded his head.

“You still have control over those powerful demons after being dead for millennia? How is that possible?”

Solomon laughed at the old man’s question.

“Young mage, when you lived as long as I did, and became as powerful as I, holding demons bound after death becomes much easier than you would think.”

Aberon hadn’t been called a young mage in a long time, and it almost offended him. But remembering who was talking to him, he understood that to his standards; he was indeed a young mage.

“But why would you ask questions to a duke of hell on Astaroth’s behest? What do the two have to do with each other?”

Astaroth answered that question. Raising his hand, he showed the ring to Aberon. 𝚍ｎ𝚘ｖ𝚕.𝚝

“This. I am the one currently in control of Solomon’s Signet Ring. I am theoretically the new master of Solomon’s seventy-two demons.”

Aberon looked at the ring in horror. He despised demonic magic, or anything related to demons? at all.

Seeing his disciple wielding possibly the strongest source of demonic power ever created was a shock to him.

“Why did you accept that power? I specifically told you to never use demonic magic. It will corrupt your soul and turn you into an evil being.”

Solomon raised his hand.

“Aberon, was it?”

Aberon turned his head to Solomon.

“You do not need to worry. I still hold most of the control over the demons’ powers. Your disciple has only barely touched upon the surface of what the ring can truly bring about. However, he has the power to unlock all of it in due time.”

Aberon was in shock. He looked at Astaroth.

‘Him? Who barely had any potential over magic? He couldn’t possibly have the soul power to control so many powerful demons, could he?’

“Now!” Solomon said, clapping his hands.

“I have little time, as holding this barrier consumes a lot of mana. Let us get to the reason I came out, Astaroth.”

Astaroth looked at Solomon, eager to hear the answer to his earlier question.

“The reason Fusing with Duke Astaroth took a toll on your body was because he tried wrenching control from you when you unmelded. That is because he does not respect you. He still thinks of you as a weak mortal.”

Astaroth frowned.

“But I beat him, like I beat every other demon in the ring, fair and square.”

Solomon shook his head.

“He believes it was not a fair fight, since he was lowered to your level of power. He believes for it to be fair, he should fight you with all his power. Which is why I have come out here. I want you to fight him again. Show him you are still stronger than him.”

Astaroth looked at Solomon with a worried look. Wasn’t that extremely dangerous?