Plan B

“Fine.”

“Mari, ya can't!”, Fisti protested immediately and Sanakia swiftly joined. “My Lord! Devils are not the answer!”

“Thank you”, I replied to the two worried girls with a smile. “But I have ****. Without this training, I don’t stand a chance.”

Aiju meanwhile nodded encouragingly while Beatrice at least at the grace to not start cackling triumphantly.

“Wunderbar. Looks like everybody’s happy. Well, everybody that matters at least” Femto noted. “Oh, while we wait for the grub, you wanna use the toilet. Get a headstart in, you know? Could even rub one out, if you hurry.”

I nodded. And went.

When I returned, Maria had already arranged a tremendous amount of food and water. Certainly enough to last us for a month. She even made sure to include a lot of unique dishes. I know she just had them ordered, but even so. Her domestic talent was frightening.

“Now ya listen here, ya bloody devil!” Fisti roared. “Ya bring Mari back, in one piece and precisely to this position. No shenanigans! I have me eye on you!”

“And I too! Both eyes, even!”, Sanakia joined in. “We want him right here and in at least one piece! Anything less and I shall see you vanquished!”

Femto seemed to be rather amused by the two angry girls. “Sure, sure, I follow your instructions to the letter. Don't you worry, no physical harm shall come to him.”

I didn't really like that particular wording, but the time for contemplation was over.

Determined, I stepped towards the girls. “I am ready.”

“Splendid.” Beatrice gave a pleased nod. “Then go ahead and punch Femto.”

I looked at her puzzled.

“We want to do this without a contract, remember? If so I need an excuse to...you know.” Femto gave me a horrific grin. “This is a pure formality, trust me.”

Every single nerve in my body told me that this was an awful idea. But still, taking a deep breath I steeled my resolve and punched her.

Femto didn’t even flinch.

“Good, Good”, the devil’s grin turned wider then humanely possibly. “Let us start then.”

Her jeering face was the last thing I saw.

Then, the world went black.

Yesterday, I woke to complete darkness. But this was different. I didn’t feel my surroundings. I wasn’t even sure if I was floating or standing. There was just...nothing.

“Welcome to the black void.”

The voice came directly behind me and made me almost jump out of my skin.

“F-femto? Where are you?”

I looked around, but obviously this was a laughably futile gesture.

Femto chuckled from somewhere. “Isn't that part of the training?”

Suddenly I felt an immense pain in my stomach. I grunted and sank to my knees.

“Let me to do a little profiling, Sir”, I could feel her sneer in my face. “You are one of these people who, upon hearing that someone wants to **** them, think to themselves: Geez golly, this person is really honest! She can’t be so bad after all, a ha!

Next, was a...kick? I couldn’t tell what it was but something brutally knocked me in the face.

“Unfortunately for you, I really don't care if you win your next match or not. All I want is my ****. Which you so kindly provided me with.”

“W-wait..let me at least...! Ugh!”

That was a kick. In the balls. The pain was so much I immediately keeled over once again.

“Do you know how long I worked on Bea? Twelve years!” I felt a clawed hand around my neck slowly tightening, nails digging into my skin. “She was my meal ticket. My big break! And you ruined everything!”

I was lifted up.

“Emotions are a funny thing with us devils. What you humans deem as positive is muted while negative ones are heightened. We are professionals, so of course we learn to control it but the anger I was feeling when you denied me that soul. I don’t think you could even begin to comprehend it.”

As I slowly experienced the sensation of suffocating I could only regret my foolish decision.

…

..

.

And then I was released. I fell to whatever counts as ground in this black abyss and coughed.

“But don’t get me wrong!”, the devil was taking on a jovial tone once more. “I will give you a sporting chance. Had to promise Bea that. That’s the only...well...we devils can’t lie can we?”

I could almost see her grinning.

“I can however absolutely assure you one thing. Once this “training” is over, your little Queen will be the furthest thing on your mind. Provided of course you still have one.”

This will be hell.