The Gene of the Ancients (Rogue Merchant Book #2): LitRPG Series by Roman Prokofiev (top books to read TXT) 📕

Mara turned around. Undoubtedly, she could see the crown that I had meticulously placed on one of the tines of the Colossus’ headdress, as a bestial roar came out of her throat. A part of the succubus swarm hovering above us flew there, obeying her sharp gesture. I watched them, curious to see the much-vaunted Colossus in action.

When the demons crossed the invisible boundary of the area controlled by the Ziggurat, the giant statue moved. We heard a drawn-out scraping noise. Abruptly, blue fires lit up in the slits of its eyes. Not bothering to rise from the throne, it turned its massive head, and two rays of unimaginably pure white light shot out at the Succubate.

The simultaneous gasp of the Watchers blended with the cry of pain let out by the demons. In place of several dozen succubi, only dust remained, dissipating in the air. Now that was some power! And the Colossus hadn’t even gotten off its backside.

Suddenly, Mara was uncomfortably close to me. She glared at me, furious.

“You hid it there!” A curved purple nail at the end of her elegant finger was pointed at me in an accusatory way. “That means you can get it back!”

“I’m not saying I can’t,” I grinned. “So, are you ready to talk?”

“What do you want?”

“Oh, I have a list,” I didn’t break the eye contact. “Here, look at the contract. Only four conditions, and the faster you start to deliver, the sooner you get the crown.”

“How insolent!” the succubus hissed as she walked around me, examining me with interest. “You’re not only one of the Seven, but also a merchant. What a strange combination. Hmm! I don’t even know what I want more — to kill you or — “

“I don’t recommend you try. Daine did, and where’s she now?”

“I hope you realize what you’re asking of me,” she stared right at me. “To fulfill the terms, you need to have our blood!”

“Then give it to me!”

“Well, you chose it yourself.” A predatory smirk appeared on Mara’s face as she turned around to her guards, the grey-skinned giants, and looked them over, choosing one. Then she commanded,

“Harv! Kill him!”

One of the demons immediately covered the distance between us, turning into a hazy streak. His black axe flashed like lightning. My only salvation was the reflexes instilled into me during the Liberty training sessions, as my body reacted faster than my mind could.

Evasion! Fiery Lightning!

The blue fire came pouring out of the blade, turning the enemy into a twitching charred corpse.

Abbot: Raid, to battle! On my mark, target one...

Olaf: No, stop! They aren’t attacking anymore!

“What are you doing?” I snapped. “Do you want to join Daine?”

“I’m only fulfilling our agreement, darling!” she laughed. “So, what are you waiting for? Take your reward!”

She pointed at the demonic body at my feet.

The contract tab in my interface received an ornate signature and the pentagram seal of the Wandering Succubate. According to the terms, I was to return to them Daine’s crown and scourge, while they had to:

1. Instead of the crown, provide a legendary item with equivalent stats that could also be used by a player character.

2. Instead of the scourge, provide a legendary item with equivalent stats that could also be used by a player character.

3. Find and kill the PROJECT HELL rogue spying on us.

4. After the end of the contract, do not harm me or the members of my clan, directly or indirectly, and leave the location upon my first request.

I had composed the terms together with Olaf, quickly and with no time to go through the details. Based on the unexpected change in the demoness’ demeanor, I realized that we had made a misstep. Mara was smiling, content. So what was the catch?

I reached out to Harv’s body. The loot had three items: a purple axe, a crimson drop of a Supreme Demon’s blood — smaller than Daine’s — and a legendary headgear, Prince Consort’s Tiara. I read the stats and swore in anger.

“A consort? What the hell?”

“It’s your contract, darling! You’ve written it yourself — an item with equivalent stats. I didn’t really like Harv much. Hope you’ll be a good replacement for him!”

And she giggled again. I really didn’t like that laughter.

Prince Consort’s Tiara

Quality: legendary. Material: gold, demonite, ellurite. Personal.

Increases resistance to all types of magical and elemental damage by +10%.

The Prince of Demons: increases your reputation with demonic factions to Respect.

Supreme Summoning: allows to summon the Mistress of the Wandering Succubate once in 72 hours.

The Consort: allows the Mistress of the Wandering Succubate to summon you once in 72 hours.

Grand Summoning: allows to summon the Wandering Succubate from the Netherworld once in 720 hours.

Slots: 1 (empty)

Requirements: male.

True owner: undefined

Attention: upon being picked up, automatically fills the headgear slot.

What a drag. Mara’s joy made sense: the tiara was personal and would get bound to me as soon as I picked it up from the body. Refusing it meant reneging on the agreement, and taking it would doom me to constant dates with succubi who, I was sure, wouldn’t leave me alone. So what was I to do?

I didn’t have a choice. I had to take it. My only hope was that the agreement didn’t specify that I was obliged to equip and use the item. I wondered if Mara would be able to summon me if I wasn’t wearing the tiara? But in any case, we had brought upon ourselves a world of trouble.

“I love our contract so much, darling, that I will even give you items instead of one for the second clause,” Mara sang in a syrupy voice. “They’re useless without each other anyway! Here,