Azuna nodded and once again got to work. With a few seconds, a drop of blood floated up from the platform. It shot forward to the assassin.
The Third hissed as the drop of blood pierced into his chest like a hot needle. His body jerked violently, eyes bulging, veins lighting up with faint crimson lines.
"Aaaagh! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" he gasped, clutching at his ribs as if someone had reached inside and twisted something vital. "You couldn’t make this painless? You heartless, red-eyed bastard!"
Azuna didn’t even look at him. "The imprint must be severed from your root," she said calmly. "Pain is unavoidable."
The Third screamed again before collapsing onto his side in a trembling heap. His breath came in ragged shudders as the red glow seeped out of him and drifted gently toward Damon like a strand of living mist.
Damon reached out, letting the drifting thread settle into his palm and sink into his skin. The platform gave a low, resonant hum, as though acknowledging its new master.
Azuna clasped her hands together, golden light blooming between her palms. "The transfer is stable," she said softly. "The fragment now answers to you."
The Third lay flat on his back, staring up at the shrinking dome above them, looking like someone who had been mugged, stabbed emotionally, and robbed of his life savings all at once. "I hate you," he whispered hoarsely. "With every fiber of my soul. I hope you trip on a rock and die from some legendary weapon fucking you in your ass!"
Damon ignored him entirely. "Is there anything else he needs to do for the transfer to be complete?"
Azuna shook her head. "No. His connection is severed. The fragment belongs to you now."
The Third whimpered. "My baby... my precious little bubble of misery... gone..."
Damon finally turned toward him. His expression was unreadable. "You don’t have to be so dull and gloomy. You can come work for me if you want. Your dimensional skills are not bad. I might return your baby to you after some time. You can still continue with your precious little torture projects... under new management," Damon finished.
The Third stared at Damon. His jaw worked soundlessly for several seconds.
"...Come work for you?" he repeated, horrified. "You? The man who just bulldozed my home, stole my realm, violated my soul imprint, and nearly nuked me out of existence?!"
Damon’s brow rose. "Is that a no?"
The Third let out a weak, hysterical laugh. "Do you even understand, you crimson-eyed sociopath, that Umbra’s Hand is going to hunt me to the ends of the world if I betray them? They’ll skin me alive. They’ll skin my ghost alive. They’ll skin the idea of me alive."
Damon shrugged. "Then say yes and I’ll protect you."
The Third froze again. "Bitch, who is going to protect you? I am pretty sure you are higher up on the kill list! Probably number 1!"
Azuna immediately became angry. "I will cut your mouth if you disrespect my master one more time, insect. He is being generous. Master seldom offers such chances. Accept, or please die quietly so he can leave."
The Third pointed a trembling finger at her. "You... You... You are so pretty and so evil at the same time. It hurts."
Damon leaned back slightly. "So? Your choice."


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