Chapter 361 — Strategic Lies and Embarrassing Truths
Brakk punched the wall.
— Liora… you ruined my plan!
A chunk of plaster fell.
Another.
Then a third.
One underling looked up.
— Boss… you just hit a load‑bearing wall.
Brakk slowly turned.
— …if the building collapses, I'll say it was one of Ethan's spells.
He rubbed his face.
— Because of her I couldn't seize the jinn's powers…
Why did she show up…?
Did she figure out my plan…?
He shook his head.
— No… impossible… I played the game well… I didn't let anything slip…
The jinn burst out laughing.
— HAHAHAHA!
The underlings stepped back.
— …is he okay? whispered one.
— I think he's glitching, answered another.
Zahkariel slowly turned his head toward Brakk.
— What makes you laugh, human?
Brakk raised a hand.
— Nothing… I just realized the commander is sharper than I thought.
— How so?
Brakk took a deep breath.
Then lied with incredible confidence.
— She knew I was preparing something to bring down Ethan.
Zahkariel narrowed his eyes.
— Really?
Brakk nodded.
— Clearly… she's perceptive.
*(Narrator: Brakk was lying like a cosmic carpet salesman.)*
His real plan had never been about Ethan.
It was Zahkariel he wanted to absorb.
The jinn crossed his arms.
— And what had you planned for Ethan… my dear host?
Brakk smiled.
The smile of a man improvising… but improvising well.
### Brakk's Fake Plan
— It was simple, he explained.
Ethan is physically strong. Very strong. Too direct.
Zahkariel nodded.
— Continue.
— So I planned to exploit his only weakness: the way he thinks.
One underling muttered:
— He's implying he doesn't think?
— Shh, it's strategic.
Brakk went on:
— My idea was to provoke a long fight between you two.
While you fought, I would spread an unstable mirror aura in the area.
Zahkariel frowned.
— A mirror aura?
— Yes.
A twisted version of your principle:
it would make Ethan believe every strike he landed broke a sealed pact inside him.
— …and?
— Ethan would unconsciously reduce his own power to avoid destroying those "pacts."
He'd start holding back… doubting… analyzing…
Brakk spread his hands.
— And Ethan who overthinks… is Ethan who loses.
Silence.
Then Zahkariel slowly smiled.
— …not bad.
You planned to use his instinct against him.
Brakk nodded like a master strategist.
*(Narrator: He had just invented all of this in thirty seconds.)*
— But Liora intervened before I could set it up.
Zahkariel studied him.
— Hm… I see.
He nodded.
— You are more interesting than I thought.
Brakk, inwardly:
**OH SHIT HE BOUGHT IT.**
---
### Meanwhile — heading back to the guild
Ethan walked calmly beside Liora.
— Why did you stop my fight?
— Because sometimes you need to be wary of who you're facing.
— Honestly I was sure I'd win.
— That's not the point.
Ethan shrugged.
— If winning doesn't matter, I don't see the point of fighting.
Liora sighed.
— I think Brakk was scheming something.
— Yeah, no doubt, he's got a scheming face even when he sleeps.
— I don't know exactly what… but making Zahkariel disappear would be a mistake.
— Why?
— Because some beings have a cosmic role.
Ethan looked at her.
— So you stopped me from punching a principle of the universe?
— Yes.
— …
— …
— …can I punch him just a little next time?
Liora closed her eyes.
— Ethan…
— What, just a little. Not too much. Promise.
— You said the same with the lava dragon.
— He was touchy too.
Silence.
Then Ethan asked:
— So if I had kept going…?
Liora answered calmly:
— You would have won.
Ethan smiled.
— I knew it.
— But something worse could have happened.
Ethan thought.
— …like what?
Liora replied:
— Brakk.
Ethan stayed silent for two seconds.
— …yeah okay, him I really need to punch.
---
### Back to Brakk
Zahkariel looked at him.
— We shall see if your intelligence matches your tongue.
Brakk smiled.
— Give me a little time… and you'll see.
*(Narrator: Brakk had absolutely no plan.)*
One underling whispered:
— Boss… did you really plan something?
Brakk muttered:
— No… but now I have to come up with one.
— …
— …and fast.
Chapter 362 — Back to the Guild and the Trauma Named Valor
Liora and Ethan kept walking toward the guild.
Ethan walked calmly… then his face changed.
— …wait.
— What? asked Liora.
— Valor is going to kill me.
Liora burst out laughing.
— What do you mean?
— You know Valor… he's going to say I'm a fraud because I didn't finish off Zahkariel.
— Oh yes… today you'll hear "the great Valor" at least fifty times.
Ethan paled.
— I'm going to live a nightmare… he already contests my rank…
Liora placed a hand on his shoulder.
— Sorry.
— No… it's fine… well, not really… but anyway… too late.
— I'll try to calm him down.
— If you succeed, I'll build you a statue.
### Arrival at the guild
They arrived in front of the building.
Ethan stopped.
— …oh no.
— Courage, said Liora. Let's go in.
They entered.
The hunters present immediately stood up.
— Commander!
— Ethan!
They greeted respectfully.
Ethan muttered:
— If only respect could stop Valor from talking…
They climbed the stairs and entered the elite hunters' hall.
Liora announced:
— We're back.
Ryn raised his hand.
— Welcome back, Commander.
Lya turned to Ethan.
— So? How was the day?
Ethan shrugged.
— Honestly… pretty good.
Valor immediately straightened up.
— And the mission?
Ethan answered calmly:
— I was in the middle of smashing the jinn… when Liora intervened and asked me not to eliminate him.
Silence.
Then.
Valor slowly stood.
— …don't tell me… you failed to eliminate the jinn…
He placed a hand on his chest.
— …to the point the commander had to help you…
He raised a finger toward the ceiling.
— Whereas the great Valor slaughtered Agniryos, incarnation of primordial flames, until he wanted to commit suicide.
Shadow sighed:
— Oh no… he's about to start "whippin."
Valen calmly raised his hand.
— For the record… I was the one who eliminated Agniryos.
Valor turned his head.
— You just stole the victory at the last moment from the great Valor.
— …
— But the great Valor is so merciful he doesn't hold it against you.
Arelis burst out laughing.
— Being that deep in denial isn't human.
You refused to finish him off because you wanted to flex.
Valor ran a hand through his hair.
— The great Valor can't help it… he radiates natural charm.
Liora rolled her eyes.
— See… exactly what I said…
"Great Valor" here, "Great Valor" there…
Ethan sighed.
— And he mixed everything up… he doesn't want to understand…
Liora added:
— And honestly… I think you would've struggled more than Ethan.
The whole room went: Ooooooh
— Ethan was the perfect counter to the jinn.
Annabelle stood up.
— And he didn't eliminate it?!
No. Refusal. I refuse to accept this.
Marie looked at her.
— You talk like that to the commander now?
Elyon crossed his arms.
— Mom… clearly you're not respected in this guild.
Arthur looked at Béatrice.
— Look at them… still bickering.
Béatrice sighed.
— Normal… they're single… they've got nothing else to do.
Naël exploded.
— YOU TWO ARE EXHAUSTING US!
We get it, we're single, no need to remind us every three minutes!
Béatrice patted Arthur's shoulder.
— Don't listen to him, darling… he's just salty.
Naël threw his hands to the sky.
— I can't take it anymore… I'll end up dating my dignity just to have peace.
Nova slowly closed his book.
— Why can't you let me read in peace…
You're always bickering…
Lya answered without looking at him:
— Nobody asked you. Just keep reading your book.
Nova reopened his book.
— …one day I'll go live in a library.
Valen murmured to Zarion:
— He says that but he'll come back if there's a fight.
Zarion nodded.
— He'll come with his book.
### Meanwhile
Valor stared at Ethan.
— So… you didn't eliminate the jinn.
Ethan crossed his arms.
— I almost did.
— The great Valor wouldn't have hesitated.
— The great Valor would've talked for ten minutes and the jinn would've left out of boredom.
The whole room burst out laughing.
Shadow slammed the table.
— That one's certified!
Valor placed his hand on his chest.
— The great Valor speaks because his words carry weight.
Ethan replied:
— Yeah… mostly sound weight.
Liora raised her hand.
— ENOUGH.
Immediate silence.
— Mission accomplished. Nobody died.
That's already very good.
She looked around the room.
— And if anyone says "great Valor" more than three times in the same sentence…
She smiled.
— …I'll assign them to administrative duty.
A shiver ran through the room.
Valor whispered:
— …the gre—
…Valor… will be quiet.
Chapter 363 — Plans within Plans (and Oversized Egos)
Brakk sat alone in a dark room, slumped on a couch far too expensive for someone meant to be discreet.
He stared at the ceiling.
— …what a shitty day.
He sighed deeply.
— Not only did I not get what I wanted…
but now how am I supposed to absorb this jinn…
He placed a hand over his face.
— Normally Ethan should've put him in a critical state…
just enough for me to absorb him without resistance…
He clenched his teeth.
— But if I absorb him like this… my consciousness might be crushed by his.
Silence.
— Great.
I want to get stronger and I end up as a mental roommate with a cosmic demon.
Another sigh.
— Damn commander… because of her my plan fell apart…
He slowly sat up.
— Now I need to find a plan that lets me absorb the jinn… without losing my mind…
He crossed his arms.
— …so a plan that works… that's discreet… that's fast…
and doesn't end with me turned into furniture.
He thought.
Thought again.
Thought some more.
— …fine.
I'll think about it later.
He slumped back down.
— For now I'll play along.
A slow smile spread across his face.
— But if I get the jinn's powers…
His eyes gleamed.
— Llan… Aeris… Nyra… Vareth…
He chuckled.
— Believe me… I'll deal with you.
Then he stopped.
— …first I need to survive Ethan.
No skipping steps.
---
### Meanwhile — somewhere beyond the normal rules of space
Zahkariel observed the world from his fractured dimension.
He smiled.
— That little one is so cunning… even I have to be careful.
He crossed his arms, floating in a space made of shattered pacts.
— I thought he had no plan…
but he had everything arranged to let me defeat Ethan…
He narrowed his eyes.
— A double‑edged blade.
He tapped his chin.
— If I'm not careful in how I manipulate him…
I could end up hurting myself.
He burst out laughing.
— That would be embarrassing…
a millennia‑old spirit manipulated by a human with too much ambition and not enough wisdom.
A dangerous smile appeared.
— My perfect host…
He closed his hand.
— I'll make sure you're profitable… and useful.
Silence.
Then he added:
— …and if I can possess you along the way… bonus.
---
### Back with Brakk
Brakk stood and paced the room.
— Okay… let's go over this.
He raised one finger.
— Option 1: weaken Zahkariel myself.
He thought.
— Bad idea.
I saw what he did to Ethan… and Ethan is a living anomaly.
He raised a second finger.
— Option 2: push him into a disadvantageous pact.
He raised a brow.
— Possible… but I'd have to be smarter than a jinn older than several eras.
He raised a third finger.
— Option 3: make him fight someone even more dangerous.
He stopped.
— …no.
He shook his head.
— Because if that someone wins, I get nothing.
And if the jinn wins, I die.
He sighed.
— I love plans where I'm doomed in every scenario.
He sat back down.
— So… conclusion:
He looked up.
— I'll have to play the long game.
A cold smile appeared.
— Gain his trust…
make him dependent…
push him to anchor himself deeper into this world…
His eyes gleamed.
— …and devour him when he lets his guard down.
He clapped his hands.
— There.
Simple plan.
Manipulation, betrayal, absorption.
He thought.
— …sounds like me.
---
### Meanwhile — Zahkariel
Zahkariel laughed to himself.
— He thinks he's going to manipulate me…
He tilted his head.
— How cute.
A fragment of an ancient promise burned around him.
— Humans always have this illusion…
that they can control what they covet.
His smile widened.
— Perfect.
He spread his arms.
— Keep believing that, Brakk.
His voice grew darker.
— The more confident you are…
— …the sweeter your fall will be.
---
### Narrator
And so…
One prepared a plan to absorb a jinn.
The other prepared a plan to possess a human.
And somewhere…
Ethan was probably eating.
Because him…
— …he deals with conspiracies after lunch.
Chapter 364 — The Puppeteers and the Happy Idiots
### Hunters' Guild — Elite Hall
Nova was still reading.
No one knew for how long.
Maybe hours.
Maybe chapters.
Maybe since the Stone Age.
He turned a page.
— …interesting.
Naël looked at him.
— Brother… what have you been reading for three arcs?
Nova, without lifting his eyes:
— A treatise on unstable dimensional structures.
Silence.
Arthur:
— So… a book to put you to sleep?
Nova:
— No.
A book to understand why you're all alive by sheer miracle.
Lya burst out laughing.
— That's savage 🤣
Ethan sat with arms crossed.
— I'm telling you… that jinn is coming back.
Valor sniffed.
— Of course he's coming back.
He realized he stood no chance against the great Valor.
Ethan slowly raised his head.
— You… I'm going to end up hitting you just for world peace.
Liora sighed.
— Not in the guild.
Ethan:
— Outside then?
Liora:
— Not in the city.
Ethan:
— And in an uninhabited desert?
Liora thought.
— …I'll answer after the report.
---
### Meanwhile…
Shadow stared at the ceiling.
— I don't know why… but I feel like something's brewing.
Valen nodded.
— Same.
Zarion frowned slightly.
— Something's moving.
Arelis:
— Well… as long as it's not here, I'm fine.
The narrator coughed.
— Spoiler: it's here.
---
### Meanwhile — Brakk
Brakk walked down an empty corridor.
His footsteps echoed.
— Okay… I need to play this carefully.
He stopped.
— Too carefully, even.
A voice appeared behind him, calm, almost amused.
— You think a lot for someone who's panicking.
Brakk sighed.
— Could you stop appearing like that?
Zahkariel, half‑visible, floated behind him.
— No.
— I like it.
— It adds drama.
Brakk crossed his arms.
— What do you want.
The jinn tilted his head.
— Nothing.
— Just to talk.
Brakk:
— Jinns never talk "just."
Zahkariel smiled.
— Good.
You're learning.
---
### Mind Game
Zahkariel slowly circled him.
— You want my power.
Brakk didn't answer.
— You want to absorb my essence.
Still silence.
— You want to surpass Llan… and all the others.
Brakk clenched his jaw slightly.
— Keep going.
Zahkariel chuckled.
— You know… I could give you part of my power.
Brakk raised a brow.
— For free?
Zahkariel burst out laughing.
— Don't insult me.
— Nothing is free.
— But… an exchange is different.
Brakk:
— What exchange.
The jinn stepped closer.
— A pact.
Silence.
Brakk thought:
Of course.
The guy is literally the concept of broken pacts.
Signing with him is like asking a shark to guard your leg.
Zahkariel continued:
— I give you a portion of my power.
— Not enough to threaten me.
— Enough to make you superior to the others.
He smiled.
— And in exchange…
Brakk:
— Yes?
— You guarantee me something.
Brakk stared at the jinn.
— What.
Zahkariel whispered:
— That when the time comes…
you won't oppose me.
Heavy silence.
Brakk's mind raced.
So he wants future access.
A precise moment.
An opening.
He's preparing something.
Brakk smiled.
— You know… I don't like pacts.
Zahkariel:
— Neither do I.
— That's why I break them.
---
### Meanwhile — Guild
Ethan sneezed.
— I swear someone's talking about me.
Valor:
— Normal.
Everyone talks about the best.
Ethan:
— I wasn't talking about you.
Nova suddenly lifted his eyes from his book.
— …
Lya:
— What?
Nova:
— There's a disturbance.
Valen:
— Where?
Nova:
— Not here.
He closed the book.
— But it concerns us.
Zarion murmured:
— …it begins.
---
### Back to Brakk
Brakk looked Zahkariel straight in the eyes.
— I refuse.
The jinn smiled.
— Good.
— If you had accepted too quickly, I'd know you were an idiot.
Brakk:
— Maybe I am.
— But not suicidal.
Zahkariel laughed.
— Perfect.
He began to fade.
— We'll talk again.
— When you're more desperate.
Brakk watched him leave.
Then murmured:
— Or when you are.
---
### Narrator
Two manipulators.
Two predators.
Two opposing plans.
And in the middle…
A group of powerful idiots who don't yet know…
…that they're about to be involved.