The palace was dark and gloomy. Fleas of sticky tentacles emerged from the walls, each forming an evil array of filthy substances. The array eventually transformed into a writhing, swollen mass of light gray flesh, with malevolent eyes opening and then bursting open, turning into filthy, foul-smelling liquid.
Filthy, unclean, and repulsive—that was the first impression of the light gray lump of flesh.
Beneath this filthy surface lies an extremely dark force, used to block various remote positioning and mysterious spying.
Clearly, Diorus, the King of Ashes, is not entirely at ease with the allies He is contacting.
The hoarse voice echoed, the ancient Primordial God Language carrying a strange Magic Power. The water surged and transformed into a huge pool made of gray primordial matter. In this pool, a figure that was not human gradually appeared.
It has a toad-like body, appearing quite short and stout. Sparse but coarse grayish-brown hair covers its entire body, making it look like a hyena lying on the ground. Its pair of spherical eyes are half-open and half-closed, drowsy, as if it might fall asleep at any moment. Its long tongue hangs down from its lips, drooping to the ground. Coarse sand floats and spreads around it, as if it wants to drag the whole world into drought and desolation.
This creature, which looks nothing like a god, is in fact a genuine Primordial God.
Desolate Lord, Pontoriel, wields the power over desolation and ruin. He is irritable, domineering, and extremely aggressive, and serves under the command of the Primordial Heaven's Supreme Ancient God, the God of Battle.
Sensing someone calling him, Desolate Lord Pontoriel shook his head, his spherical eyes fully opened, his brutal gaze sweeping back and forth before finally settling on the hazy face.
"You are... Diorus?" Desolate Lord Pontoriel asked uncertainly.
"Desolate Lord, it's been a long time." Diorus's voice was hoarse, and he seemed rather uncomfortable. This was due to his arrogant and conceited nature. If it were 30,000 years ago, Diorus would have rather died than ask anyone for help. But now... one could only say that the harsh realities of society not only teach people a lesson, but also teach gods a lesson.
"Huh? Are you really Diorus? Why are you being so polite?" Desolate Lord Pontoriel stretched out his webbed paws, scratched his wrinkled head, and asked swayingly.
This question made the expression on his sallow face even more gloomy, and he was clearly losing face.
Just as Diorus was wondering how to speak, His expression suddenly changed, and He coldly said, "Pontoriel, what are you doing?"
"Hmm, nothing, just confirming your identity. It should be correct. Only you know how to use the Ashes Ritual." Desolate Lord Pontoriel swayed his short, stout body, retracted his long tongue that had been hanging to the ground, and chuckled in a low voice.
Just now, He used His long tongue to activate His power, secretly inscribing divine spells in an attempt to locate Diorus's position, but His attempt was thwarted.
It must be said that Diorus had a good grasp of his friend's integrity, and his advance precautions were not in vain.
Faced with the attempt by the Desolate Lord Pontoriel to pretend nothing had happened, Diorus mercilessly exposed his old friend's clumsy acting, scoffing, "Don't be delusional. My position has already been concealed. With your pathetic causal abilities, don't embarrass yourself."
"Heh heh, you caught me." The Desolate Lord Pontoriel grinned shamelessly, his sharp, white teeth intimidating, a cruel glint in his eyes. He shrieked, "Diorus, you finally match the arrogant King of Ashes I remember! Speak, what is it? Don't waste my time."
"Desolate Lord, I have a great benefit to share with you, but before that, you need to sign the [Battle God Contract]."
The four most famous contracts in the Astral Realm are the [Magic God Contract] of the Northern Spirit Empire, the [Pioneer Contract] of the Adrian Federation, the [Blazing Sun Contract] of the Divine Realm, and the [Black Book Contract] of the Abyss Warden.
However, this does not mean that no other contracts exist.
The four major contracts are most famous simply because of their large production volume, high reliability, wide applicability, and high authority, which led to their widespread circulation.
Other contracts, though less famous, are not necessarily that bad.
Some are produced in small quantities, while others are only suitable for a small number of groups.
The [Battle God Contract] is a contract that circulates only among the Primordial God. The adjudicator is the supreme ancient god of the "Primordial Heaven," the God of Battle, who is known as one of the most powerful beings under Eternity and holds the power of "battle" and "Slaughter."
Among the Primordial God, also known as the Old God, the God of Battle holds a position second only to the Goddess of the Earth, and enjoys great prestige. As a result, the "Battle God Contract" possesses extremely high authority.
The Desolate Lord Pontoriel was a fervent follower of the God of Battle, so when Diorus took the initiative to propose signing Battle God Contract with Him, Pontoriel readily agreed.
In fact, signing a contract first and then cooperating is a common practice in the underworld.
There's no way around it; for evil people who are firmly at the bottom of morality, verbal promises are meaningless. Only real force can make them cooperate peacefully and reduce the occurrence of backstabbing, a situation that evil people love to see.
The contents of the contract are not complicated.
The most crucial point is that neither side will harm the other before the final goal is achieved.
As for what happens after the goal is achieved... well, that's up to each person to rely on their own abilities; the contract will automatically become invalid.
Given Diorus's current situation, the [Battle God Contract] was naturally provided by Pontoriel. It was a bright red leather contract with a golden revolver engraved on the front and a majestic humanoid god on the back.
After signing the Battle God Contract, which was almost entirely based on standard terms, Diorus told Pontoriel about his requests and rewards.
After hearing this, the latter's spherical eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he eagerly asked, "Wizard's treasure? You're not lying to me? It really is a treasure left behind by the Truth Wizard Civilization?"
Diorus felt a pang of heartache, but he calmly Earth Dao, "We've already signed the Battle God Contract, how could I possibly lie to you? Do you think the God of God of Battle would favor me?"
Pontoriel instinctively retorted, "How could that be? I am the God of Battle's loyal hound! He dotes on me the most!"
Diorus looked at Pontoriel, whose eyes were filled with fanaticism, with a strange expression, a mixture of mockery and envy.
Previously, Diorus didn't understand these die-hard fans at all, and even looked down on them, thinking that these guys were spineless and had lost the will of a strongman.
But now... Diorus suddenly felt... damn it, what's wrong with being a dog?
At least if something happens, someone will protect you!
If Pontoriel were to fall into Realm of Exile, even the God of Battle would probably have to personally intervene to rescue him, right?
"It seems that after regaining my strength, I'll need to find a backer..."