The Burning Fiend

Ten years had passed since Reynolds managed to engrave the 'Fire Essence Runic Array' within Shade's soul, and she had started fusing a water style divine spark into her saint body immediately without any apparent problem. She was close of reaching competition, and Reynolds was truly curious as to what would happen with the 'Fire Essence Runic Array' when that happens. He looked curiously at the kitten resting by his side and smiled thinking that he will have the answer to this question in a few days.

During the pass ten years he had tried to understand the tome titled 'Dissertation over Spatial Runic Arrays', it was a rather interesting book but it was utterly frustrating. There was no useful array portrayed within the tome, it only contained guesses of what different parts of the 'Teleportation Runic Array' could mean. The author explained that these teleportation arrays had apparently existed since the beginning of times in each an every plane, and no one had come close to replicate them or even understand them.

This was frustrating, but the idea of studying such a complicated runic array was enticing to him, and he had made plans to make his own research in the future. Since this path was so obscure and had no useful examples, he had focused in integrating the 'Fire Essence Runic Array' to his 'Ba-Serpent Attack Formation' and he was close to complete a feasible prototype, but he would not dare to tried out in battle until he had found a way to completely mask the runic array to avoid complications with the 'guardians' of the universe.

A couple of days later, the previously raven haired beauty was now sporting a deep blue hair and her olive skin had turned a few shades paler. Reynolds was walking around Shade's water avatar while examining and pointing out all the differences he could find after her fusion with the water type divine spark. He felt a little disappointed when he found that the 'Fire Essence Runic Array' had dissipated after her saint body turned into a water avatar while everything else remained unaffected runic array wise.

He had noticed that the 'Fire Essence Runic Array' had not been copied to her fire avatar along with the modified 'Soul Brand', Reynolds smiled thinking that he had gained more understanding on how the runic arrays worked under the rules of the universe while exploring 'forbidden' applications. "Well beautiful... I guess it is time for us to visit my good friend Mosi, so we can start playing a little game". He said cheerfully imagining the frustration his good friend might experience if things went as he expected.

A couple of hours later, Reynolds and Shade were entering a private hall where Mosi was drinking wine while a couple of beautiful women danced to entertain him. Mosi smiled as he was about to greet Reynolds, but he stopped surprised when he saw that the slave he had given to him was clearly no longer a saint and that the kitten she was holding was clearly another avatar of the same woman.

His eyes shined with p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e at the idea of having a new pet, but frowned when he noticed the calculating and entertained aura Reynolds was projecting. Mosi couldn't help but sigh and prepare himself. "Kid, you managed to surprise me again, I wonder... how did you manage to help the doll to obtain two divine avatars?" Mosi couldn't take his eyes of the beautiful woman, but he had a feeling that something dreadful was approaching.

"That is a secret and I do not plan to talk about it... I'm here to propose a little game. Are you interested?" Reynolds's mischievous voice was contagious, and he immediately managed to obtain the interest of the old monster, it was difficult for old monsters like him to find entertainment or new things after all experiencing such long lives. "Tell me more about this game kid". Mosi smiled finally taking his eyes of the beautiful woman.

Reynolds reached out and took the kitten from the beautiful woman, who disappeared as she fused with the kitten. He started petting the black kitten and said. "This is Shade, I used my own version of soul shackle on her and instructed her to remain and behave as a kitten regardless of what you said or do. If you want to play with her... you need to free her from my control and use your own technique to slave her again". Reynolds explained cheerfully while petting the kitten who purred in p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

Mosi frowned for a moment a little annoyed, but then smiled. "You are using me to try the reach of your slaving technique... but you should know that there is only one person I know that could claim to have a better understanding of souls than me. I will play, but don't be too disappointed kid".

Reynolds smiled at Mosi's confidence and thought that he could not have found a better person to test his modified 'Soul Brand Array'. Mosi took the kitten in his hand and tried to pet her but Shade slashed her claws at him while growling angrily, Mosi chuckled and used his divine power to hold her still as he started to pour his divine sense into her trying to slave her.

The easiest way was to use his own slaving technique, he had found out that if the new technique had a deeper understanding of the Edict of Death, then it would replace the existing one after a small struggle. A moment later Mosi frowned in confusion as he could not find any indication that Shade was under the effects of a slaving technique, he frowned and looked at Reynolds who was clearly paying attention with clear curiosity.

Mosi decided that Reynolds was pranking him and let his slaving technique touch Shade's soul and to his surprise it looked as if his technique was absorbed just like a rock falling into a deep body of water, and after a few ripples her soul regained her previous calm condition as if he had never used the slaving technique on her. Mosi was perplexed as he knew that he had failed, he sat on the floor and started examining the kitten for any possible indication of what could have happened.

Her body was a perfect fire divine avatar in the form of a kitten, there was nothing there that he could find. Then her soul seemed completely clear and without any trace of external influence... Mosi started to grow frustrated and decided to go deeper into her soul until he finally found a place where his divine sense could not touch, it was like a hole. His divine sense bypassed this hole and could not find anything, it was as if it didn't exist.

Reynolds smiled satisfied as Mosi forgot about his presence and focused completely in examining Shade trying to find and explanation to why he couldn't slave her. Mosi was frowning but he seemed to be enjoying the challenge, Reynolds chuckled and started to leave knowing that this would take a very long time. Mosi didn't even realize that Reynolds was already gone and didn't even notice that Shade was ignoring him and pretended to sleep.

Mosi started to use all the non-destructive techniques he could think of as he had the feeling that causing damage on the area he was trying to analyze would cause the immediate death of the woman, and he would have lost the game if that happened. But he was starting to become depressed at the thought of being defeated on the very field he was most proud of.

---

Reynolds returned to the courtyard with a happy smile on his face thinking on how to proceed with his current project, he was wondering if could use the modified 'Soul Brand Array' within the core of his 'Ba-Serpent Attack Formation' to substitute the control part of the array making it not only easier to control, but thinking that it would provide a perfect place to hide the 'Fire Essence Runic Array'.

He thought that it should not be impossible, he would only need to consider the Ba-Serpent as a true living being while the control structure was akin to its soul... then, instead of subtitling the control part of the array... he only need to anchor the modified 'Soul Brand Array' into it to improve his control over the attack formation by slaving it. Reynolds's eyes were shining at the sudden idea and his smile turned brighter.

---

A couple of days later, Mosi was still sitting trying everything that he could think of to try to probe into the hole within Shade's soul. He was no longer trying to gain control, but to understand what the kid had done. He suddenly startled when he heard a melodious voice mocking him. "Old monster, are you not done yet? Master left a long time ago... I guess he was quite disappointed with your lack of ability".

Mosi looked sternly at the kitten who was glaring at him with scorn. He used his mastery over the Edict of Death to inflict pain directly into her soul, and waited for Shade to beg for forgiveness and mercy but soon found that her only reaction was to stretch her body lazily and then curled to sleep ignoring him again.

Frowning, Mosi increased the pain close to the point that would cause damage to her soul, but she showed no reaction. Mosi growled in humiliation and suddenly understood that this was part of the game, Shade will mock him from time to time because he was not able to take control over her and any torture he used on her would be useless as she would show no reaction.

He suspected that Reynolds had made it so that she would not feel the pain and only after gaining control over her, would he be able to take his vengeance. Of course, he could simply kill her and be done with this game... but he would not accept that, his pride would not allow him to do that.

"Just you wait little kitten... no matter how long it takes me, you will beg the great Mosi for mercy!" Mosi growled when he noticed that Shade was chuckling at him clearly trying to make him angry, he took a deep breath and started to look for new ways to solve this puzzle with renewed determination. Suddenly his eyes brightened and took a drop of Sovereign's might and absorbed it into his body, a visible gray aura surrounded his body as the Sovereign power started to dissipate, and he immediately used his divine sense to scan the hole on Shade's soul.

Reynolds, who was on his courtyard, suddenly felt the power of the Sovereign's might through his connection with the runic array inside Shade's soul and frowned as he did not understand what method Mosi was using to gain such powerful aura. But a moment later he relaxed as he found that Mosi's divine sense could not find a way to breach the modified 'Soul Brand Array' even after using this powerful technique.

Mosi was completely baffled, he suddenly understood how precious this technique was... not even a Sovereign could breach it, destroying her soul would be too easy... but gaining control over her seemed to be impossible, he mourned for the lost of the Sovereign's might and returned to look for new ways to approach the situation, but he was starting to feel that he was already defeated.