Takeshi repeated the man's words in his head: Shadow Realm? Wait! Don't tell me this is it. How did I end up here?
As those thoughts raced through his mind, he turned his gaze to the man in front of him. He appeared to be around Takeshi's age, maybe a bit older. His ginger hair and short beard framed a pair of red eyes, and though his build was similar to Takeshi's, he was a bit more muscular.
Takeshi then remembered the man's question and, after a brief pause, answered honestly,"Yes, this is my first time here. To be completely truthful, I don't even know how I ended up here."
The man frowned after hearing that, and after a short silence, he said,"Let's get moving to my camp. When we arrive, I'll explain some things to you."
With that, they began making their way through the bone maze. As they walked, Takeshi decided to break the silence.
"I forgot to thank you for your help back there."
The man nodded, offering a faint smile.
"No worries. No matter how strong the enemy is, I'll always risk my life to save a fellow human trapped in this nightmarish world."
After a pause, he added, "We were extremely lucky that that one was half destroyed to begin with. If it had been undamaged, both you and I would have died. And even in its current state, it would take ten to fifteen of us to finish it off—perhaps even more."
Hearing this, Takeshi realized just how lucky he had been, and his gratitude toward the man deepened. He suddenly remembered that he hadn't asked the man's name, so he posed the question.
The man turned to him and proudly said,
"Shiranui Renji."
Takeshi nodded after hearing the name, but the man continued to stare at him with an expectant expression. Takeshi then realized that the man was waiting for him to introduce himself. He hesitated for a moment before saying,
"Ren Takeshi."
This was the first time in his life that he introduced himself with a name that wasn't his own.
The ginger-haired man nodded in acknowledgment and said, "We're here."
In front of them, on the shifting gray sand covered in soot, sat a solitary campfire. This is what he calls a camp? Takeshi thought bitterly. Well, I guess I can't expect sleeping bags or tents in this world.
They quickly settled near the barely burning fire. Renji broke the silence.
"You said that this is your first time in the Shadow Realm and that you don't know how you got here, correct?"
Takeshi took a moment before responding. "Correct."
Renji sighed deeply, as if weighing how to begin. "Where do I even start…" he muttered, then chuckled. "This is the first time I'm explaining this to someone, since people in this realm are very rare."
Takeshi nodded, signaling him to continue. Renji took a breath and began.
"The Shadow Realm is a world completely separate from our normal world. It's known as the home of demons. The only way a human can enter is either by making a contract with a demon or by being blessed by one. Since you're here, it means you're either one or the other."
Takeshi sat in silence, processing the information. So that's why I'm here. The demon I talked to mentioned something about not having a 'blessed' in a while. I assume that means he took me in as his blessed... but I still don't know what that means.
Finally, Takeshi spoke up. "Can you explain what both of those terms mean?"
Renji nodded and replied, "Of course."
He then said, "Just a disclaimer: my knowledge of this realm and demons is very limited, so don't take everything I say as certain, alright?"
Takeshi nodded in response. Renji continued,
"Being contracted with a demon means you've made a deal to share his power by giving him a part of your body. It can range from something as small as a fingernail to vital organs, depending on the strength of the demon you're contracting with. When you form a contract, you venture into the domain of his power. This way, both of you benefit. You gain extraordinary abilities, and he gains greater influence in the real world through you. The powers of demons vary, but they are all fascinating. Here's an example."
He then opened his palm, and within seconds, a fireball materialized above it. Takeshi's eyes widened in awe.
So that's what he used to strike the skeleton, he thought.
Renji let the fireball vanish and added,
"But by making a contract, you don't become all-powerful. No matter the strength of the demon, you'll be at the lowest of the seven stages of power—stage one. Each stage has corresponding names, but I don't know them. You can progress through the stages by deepening your bond with the demon and fulfilling certain requirements, though I don't know exactly how. That's why I'm stuck at stage one of this power."
Takeshi absorbed all of this valuable information but was eagerly waiting to hear what "blessed" meant. Renji continued,
"Being a blessed of a demon, on the other hand, is the worse option. Essentially, you're his 'believer,' but you don't have access to any of his power. He can only slightly influence the world through you, but not nearly to the extent that he can if you were contracted. So, essentially, you're a slave of sorts."
Takeshi frowned as he processed this. So it's that bad to be a blessed. Damn it!
But then Renji added, "If you were first a blessed and then form a contract, you'll progress through the stages of power much faster than someone who isn't, since you already have a deeper bond with the demon."
Takeshi's face lit up a little at this. So there's hope that I don't just remain a slave to this demon, he thought.
He then said to Renji, "I believe I am a blessed of my demon."
Renji's expression turned slightly sad as he replied, "I'm sorry to hear that. I suggest you try to form a contract with the demon as soon as possible."
He paused for a moment before asking, "Do you know its name?"
Takeshi stared at him, confused. Understanding the confusion, Renji quickly clarified,
"Every demon has a name. Knowing it helps deepen your bond with them."
Takeshi shook his head and said, "I'm not aware of its name. I only came into contact with him by reading a prayer written on a stone tablet in an abandoned temple."
Renji nodded. "Don't say it to me or anyone else, and don't write it down. Any mention of the demon's prayer or name will be known by him."
Takeshi nodded in understanding and thanked Renji for the warning. Then he asked, "I have two more questions. First, how do you think I can persuade the demon to form a contract with me? And second, how do we leave this place?"
Renji let out a light chuckle before answering,
"As for forming a contract, I'm not exactly sure what to tell you. It varies from demon to demon. I know it's hard to believe, but they're all living beings with different personalities. It also depends on the demon's standing. If it's a lower-tier demon, it'll most likely form many contracts without much hesitation, since it wants to grow stronger—and by having multiple contracted humans, it can achieve that. I don't exactly know how it works, though. Like I said, I'm not very well-versed when it comes to these domains."
He paused briefly, then added,
"On the other hand, demons of higher standing are already powerful enough and don't need to contract humans to strengthen themselves. I think your best bet is to just talk to it—try asking directly."
Takeshi took in the information carefully, analyzing every word.
Then Renji continued,
"As for your second question—we can't leave fully. As long as you're either blessed or contracted to a demon, you'll be forcefully transported here every night. That's because you now carry a piece of a demon's aura or essence inside you, so the Shadow Realm sees you as one of its own and pulls you in when the barrier between the two worlds is weakest—during the night. But only at night. Once the sun rises, you'll return to the real world."
Phew. So I'm not stuck here after all, Takeshi thought, releasing a sigh of relief.
Renji went on,
"Also, you should know that tomorrow night, you'll appear in the same place you leave from today. The same goes for the real world—you'll return to the exact spot where you were before being transported here."
So I'll be back inside the village when I return tomorrow, Takeshi thought. Interesting.
Renji then cleared his throat and said, "Because of all this, I suggest we partner up. This realm is extremely dangerous, and it's always better to travel in groups. Not only that—we might be able to progress faster and learn more by working together. What do you think?"
Takeshi's eyes nearly lit up at the offer, but he managed to contain his excitement. Having a companion in a world as strange and dangerous as this was priceless.
With a faint smile, Takeshi calmly replied, "Deal."