With his beastly form destroyed, Zal-Ka’Rith understood that escalating this further would only make cooperation more difficult to achieve.

Once a certain line has been passed, it becomes near impossible for the losing side to accept reason.

And that line was not something Zal-Ka’Rith wanted to cross at this moment.

Not when he still needed to collaborate with Alice.

Just as Alice was about to move, the Outer God quickly raised his hands in surrender.

"I think you’ve made your point clear. There’s no reason for us to fight to the death like this." Zal-Ka’Rith smiled helplessly.

Alice narrowed her eyes but didn’t drop her guard.

"If it makes you feel safer, why don’t we strap the golden chains to me? This is me taking the step forward and trusting that you won’t just kill me on the spot." He offered.

"Even if the Golden Chains can bind you, I doubt someone like you would die so easily. At most, it’ll give you a wound that’s more annoying than most." Alice called out his bluff.

Velouria’s golden chains can indeed hinder Eldritch energy. That’s true. However, trying to prevent them from escaping... especially someone like Zal-Ka’Rith was going to be annoying.

Alice noticed it during her final attack.

That spear... it should’ve struck the connection between Zal-Ka’Rith and his grimoire. Not just the story he was overlaying himself with in the moment.

And yet... despite trying to cut the connection, all her spear did as destroy the bestial form.

Nothing more.

[It seems like he’s got multiple connections between him and the grimoire. Even if one is destroyed, the others act as backup. There’s no telling if he has any ’spare’ bodies as well.] Cayla analysed.

So far, Alice has met three opponents who couldn’t be killed easily. First was Nyer, second was the Doctor. And now, Zal-Ka’Rith.

All three had a method of transferring or having spare bodies prepared. Unless Alice found a method to attack them all...

Killing these three will never be an easy task.

Landing on the ground, Zal-Ka’Rith had a smile on his face as he sat down with his hands raised.

At least for the moment, it truly seemed like he just wanted to talk.

And after deliberating over it for a while, Alice decided to create three layers of protection.

First, the golden chains. Velouria’s ability that lets her suppress Eldritch energy.

Second, the copied skill Space Lock. A skill she mimicked from Nyer.

However, simply freezing the space in a barrier around them wouldn’t be enough.

By combining the second still with her artifact along with her other Sigils, it now became a barrier that would directly target the soul should the trapped individual leave the designated location. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"My how meticulous." Zal-Ka’Rith smiled, shifting his arm to the right as the barrier sparked against his finger.

A jolt of energy flashed through his body. The only reaction Alice could see was the word flames flickering from his head, stuttering for a mere moment before going back to normal.

At best, the second barrier was only there to slow him down if he wanted to leave.

The true defence was the third barrier that she put into place.

One that’ll mark Zal-Ka’Rith’s soul and even begin reading his ’history’ through her sixth’s Sigil.

Preventing his escape might be impossible, but she’ll still make the most out of it.

"I have to be meticulous when it’s someone like you. Now speak." Alice flicked her finger, creating a metal chair in front of Zal-Ka’Rith and sat down.

"What kind of information do you have on Allura."

Hearing this, Zal-Ka’Rith smirked and leaned back.

"The Apostle of Severance has less than a year of her life. She has made a bargain with the Lord of Life. To use what little energy she has left as her life force.

"Every battle, every use of her energy decreases her lifespan. In fact, the only reason why the Lord of Life is even travelling with her right now is to keep an eye on Allura’s condition. To ensure that she can safely live through the year she has left."

". . .What?" Alice blinked her eyes, unable to accept what she’s just heard.

She knew Allura was injured but...

Her heart pounded.

Cayla was the same, she couldn’t say anything.

"Allura has been... rather busy to say the least. Eliminating hidden threats and even reducing the esteemed Tiamat to a shell of her former glory. But such activities while injured has its consequences." Zal-Ka’Rith shrugged.

"In fact, you should be grateful that the Apostle even has a year of her life left. Had it not been for the Lord of Life, she would’ve died a while ago."

Alice’s pupils trembled as she started to hyperventilate.

A ringing echoed in her ears as her mind couldn’t accept this reality.

Allura would’ve died had it not been for the Lord of Life.

And even then, she has less than a year left to live...

There was still so much she wanted to do, so much she wanted to show Allura.

How can she rebuild Ayr in less than a year? It was... impossible.

That meant that even if she tried her best to reconstruct Ayr, to bring her hometown back to life, Allura wouldn’t be there to see it.

Clenching her teeth, Alice stopped herself from simply lashing out.

"Can you tell me more about her condition?" She asked slowly.

"Of course. I’m here for a reason after all. You see, she is akin to an hour glass with a crack in it. Rather than the sand piling up at the bottom, it’s leaking out slowly. If you try to patch it up, a new crack will form." Zal-Ka’Rith nodded.

"Allura’s condition is one where this final year is a result of her burning everything away. The last embers of her life. Once down this path, no healer can help her."

Alice glanced down and bit her lip.

Allura’s situation was much worse than what she had originally expected. Which made finding her all the more important.

"How did you find this out? Since you know all of this, you know where Allura is don’t you?" Alice narrowed her eyes as a threatening aura started to expand.

However, Zal-Ka’Rith simply clapped his hands together.

"Calm yourself girl. I’m already telling you what I know, trying to force things I don’t know out of me wouldn’t be a good look now would it? Who knows, maybe you’ll need my information in the future. Information that only an Outer God like myself knows. So making a bad impression should be avoided, don’t you agree?"

But Alice didn’t care.

Snapping her fingers, four silver blades hovered in the air, pointing at Zal-Ka’Rith’s neck.

Alice’s eyes were cold and unfeeling, the eyes of a hunter looking at prey.

Zal-Ka’Rith chuckled.

"I don’t exactly know where she is at the moment. But I was fortunate enough to see her not long ago. During that time, I traced her ’current story’ and saw the state her body is in. If you don’t believe me, you may take a look at this."

Manifesting a grimoire, he tossed it over to Alice.

It was a thin book with not many pages inside. No thicker than half of Alice’s Pinky finger in height.

Flipping through the first few pages, Alice’s finger trembled as it detailed the condition Allura’s body was in.

The rot that had been spreading inside while she hid it from the people around her.

Lab snuck a glance before turning pale.

How could anyone even walk with these conditions, let alone survive for a year?

Calling her a dead woman walking was being generous.

"Why is this book so thin?" Alice clenched her teeth, looking up at Zal-Ka’Rith.

"It’s simply the length of her story. This is everything she’ll accomplish in the time she has left. Empty pages that count down to her destined death. Then, as I observe her story, the pages will begin to fill." He explained without holding back.

"It’s how I determine whether or not a story is worthy to invest in or consume. For reference, this is your book for the coming year." Zal-Ka’Rith pulled out a second book.

Compared to Allura’s book, hers was much thicker.

The contents it could store were incomparable to Allura’s, even though they take place across the same timeframe.

"Of course, just because there are pages, doesn’t mean all of it can get filled. It’s simply a reflection of potential. At least that’s how I like to see it. Sometimes, even the shortest stories can give a pleasant taste like no other. Having a bigger book means there are more chances for you to hook my attention." He smirked before flicking his finger.

The books disappeared and a feeling of emptiness appeared in Alice’s chest.

"If you die before the time is up, the story will simply be left unfinished. The worst kind of tale, exactly the kind I hate. Which is why I tend to avoid investing in them.

"Now, the reason why I’m telling you all of this is because of one reason and one reason alone." Zal-Ka’Rith narrowed his eye, turning serious.

This was his offer for Alice.

The trump card he had prepared to ensure a good collaboration between the two of them.

"I noticed traces of paper at the end of her book. Signs that pages are being torn out. Meaning..."

"Her fate is being changed..." Alice mumbled.

After her talks with Monika, she was now more familiar with how Cogs work in their world.

The domino effect of events linking up, transforming into fate. However, fate wasn’t set in stone so long as the options are left open.

And if Allura’s book was showing signs of change...

"Yes. It means that pages can be added or taken away from her book. There is a chance that her life could be extended beyond the time limit of one year."