A Bloody Wager

Facing the claws that could tear his face apart at any moment, Hannibal calmly nodded and gently set the cup in his hand on the shattered table beside him.

"My lord, are you prepared to accept everything?"

"Yes."

Guk nodded, but did not lower his mechanical claws.

"But let me make this clear: any trick will make me tear you and the trash behind you to pieces. Am I clear enough?"

"Yes."

Such almost insulting words did not anger Hannibal. He merely smiled faintly and said softly:

"You are a violent race, always so eager to make threats... Violence will come, and it will be entirely your affair."

"Begin."

"My struggle with the Blood-Worship Cult has lasted longer than you imagine. They cannot be allowed to control this world."

"I already know that. Talk about what concerns the present."

"The human race is vigorous. It flourishes greedily and untamed. Out of ignorance, they are especially susceptible to the spiritual realm. The gods have already sunk their claws into this race, intending to turn it into a weapon."

"But they will resist as well."

Guk finally moved his claws aside and pointed outside the window.

"If we hadn't come, you'd have remained nothing more than stinking gutter bugs. You'd never have amounted to anything."

"Demons are all cunning. They are the dark side of the human psyche. Few can truly defeat themselves. Look."

With a wave of Hannibal's hand, the lights covering the floor-to-ceiling windows trembled and scattered.

Guk saw what lay within.

It felt like falling from the sky into a burning world.

"This is the future that is about to unfold. A vast war will burn across the heavens and devour the entire world."

"We have never feared war!"

Guk said stiffly, his eyes widening.

"Humans will become the