Only I Am A Reader

{You have done well, summoner.}

The eerie voice spelled out its message with a timed pause after each word, making it sound even more unnatural than it already did.

Not only did the words have an echo, but there was also an attached frequency that enveloped Leo's whole body with a sense of apprehension…

'Hold it.'

As the flame covered the whole stage the enclosed space that Leo was in had changed in the blink of an eye.

Although Leo was still standing on solid ground, the concept of walls and ceilings no longer existed. It was as if he had broken out of a glass cage to a whole new plane of existence.

The dark yet starry colors that originally peeked through the wall were now all that Leo could see in sight!

In addition, right in front of him, there was a copy of the original circular Gate entrance, only it was so much bigger this time.

'Hold it.'

Amid all of these mind-bending events that happened before his eyes, Leo tried to simulate the effect of Frost Internal Energy, keeping a state of extreme calm.

Considering what he had seen in the latter part of his stay in Murim, this wasn't exactly all this crazy. However, just like it had an effect on his heart earlier, the whole atmosphere was trying to manipulate him into a state of submission!

{The Master of Darkness is pleased.}

The creepy voice kept echoing as the darkness in the circle started to shift. It was finally starting to cross over…

Blackened-red flesh tendrils could be already seen wriggling out of the portal, and it wasn't the least bit small.

'Hold it.'

{The Master sent me over to answer your call, do not be afraid.}

The voice said something, but its already overpowering presence didn't seem to agree. If Leo had been careless, his mind might have been already dominated before anything happened.

'Although he made the wrong choice, that Colt isn't bad either.'

The other villain had to have some strong will not to lose his mind either.

{Wise summoner…} 𝙗𝒆𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

The flesh tendrils held into the edges of the portal, propelling its main body through. If the Gargoyles were considered ugly then…

'It feels like it would be an insult to abominations.'

The strange creature was straight up an eldritch horror. As long as one wasn't crazy like Colt, or didn't have a specific target in mind, just seeing it was enough to tell that they had messed up.

{Do you desire absolute power?}

Right after, even the devil's whisper followed through. This was the whole reason this Gate existed.

It was there to lead on clueless people to fall into the ultimate trap of becoming a certain entity's servant!

{If so, all you have to do is receive the Master's imprint and-}

The offer that Leo was expecting had been quickly made without any unnecessary introduction.

Not to mention the sudden desire Charm that spread in the air once more, anyone would be scared to say no at this point.

In fact, why would they even say no? Who didn't need absolute power?

'It's effective.'

Colt had been certainly unafraid. Yet, the offer still worked on him pretty well. Why would that be? He came all the way to accept this offer.

What was being bound to an entity that barely felt the passage of time?

Even if he had to serve whoever that Master was, Colt believed that with absolute power a few decades of free will. All of his ambitions would be achieved and more. What happened after didn't matter much.

In Leo's case, however…

"Not really."

{Humh?}

The horrifying creature had no mouth, but his expression of surprise still resonated in the vast plane.

{Is it not the reason why you summoned me? Did you misunderstand the instructions?}

The stoic tone in the horror's voice almost completely fell off as it spoke in confusion. Just what did this ignorant creature mean?

It understood that not all who found their way into this place would understand their world's great language. However, this unmentionable speck did do as the instructions said, and there were only two possibilities that could have led to that.

Either the True Word Inscriptions sensed the desire in his heart and mentally instructed him, or he was somehow aware of the meaning. In which case, it would still mean that he wanted what it offered…

"No, I do want power. I just don't really like the idea of being imprinted as someone's slave."

Calmly responding, Leo prepared himself for what was to come. Colt's method of obtaining the power he wanted might have been to comply, but Leo had a whole other idea.

{You. You dare refuse the Master's blessing after calling out for it?!}

Leo's head hurt a bit as the enraged creature screamed in his ears. Its tendrils started to turn even redder as if to further display its irritation!

{Can you even imagine what kind of punishment awaits an ignorant speck like you?!}

Naturally, Leo wasn't here to play the eldritch horror for a fool. He was just making sure that the big fish wouldn't escape after he spent so much effort reeling it in.

Even for a Reader like him, it would be hard to find another chance to advance his abilities if he missed this chance… At least not this quickly.

"Why don't you show me?"

Leo was counting on this monstrosity being as emotional as possible!

Originally, after Colt submitted, the creature would have burned the imprint into his body right before doing something completely unexpected!

It actually took out its own Enigma Stone and threw it down to him. Even as its body started to perish and disintegrate, all it did was focus on instructing Colt how to use the Stone.

In order to spread its Master's net of influence, the monstrosity picked a very unconventional method of self-sacrifice to bestow the power he promised.

However, that was exactly what got Leo thinking about this Gate as the best option he had for a quick power-up.

{You will regret this!}

"Bring it on."

If this faithful servant didn't want to take it out for him, didn't Leo just have to rip it out himself?