Jin took the time to calm down as he watched how the foxes interacted with Kraft. That was when he realised something. Wasn’t the System not supposed to know about the existence of this place? The subconscious? How was a Bellator able to come into this ‘realm’?
“Because I am not part of the System and yet at the same time I am part of the System too.” Kraft clarified as he looked at Jin. The two black foxes even stared at Jin which caused Jin’s hair to stand up.
“I can hear your thoughts in this place because I am in your subconscious. You must learn how to control your thoughts.” Kraft explained as he whistled once and the two black foxes turned into bullets.
“Let me introduce myself properly. I am Kraft, a Bellator in service of Ming. When the System abandoned Ming, I was unable to return to it because I was still in a contract with Ming to teach him how to protect his subconscious. Therefore, I had no other place to go other than staying in his subconscious…until you came into the picture.” Kraft continued his story.
“Initially, I’ve always cursed Ming for abandoning me in his subconscious. And since he was no longer in contact with the System, I was not able to do much. Each day, I hoped to get out of this prison mind. However, he proved me wrong.” Kraft gave a knowing smile towards Jin.
“When he was in the military, this guy from the so called Royal Zodiac Snake Clan wanted to teach Ming a lesson for messing with him during training. So he actually offered himself to teach Ming a little about infiltration and information extraction. However, his true intention was to corrupt Ming’s brain, and turn Ming into his lackey.”
“Never has he expected that there was a bellator inside Ming’s mind, dying for some action after all the years of imprisonment. Oh, I had fun. So much fun bullying that Royal Snake Zodiac. During that time I managed to learn how to use his own tricks against him, and suddenly he became best buddies with Ming. What a joke. Ming thought that he was some sort of super genius, a prodigy in information extraction, that it was all because of his efforts. Nope, it was I.” Kraft took credit for everything.
“Here is a secret which he may not tell you. He used to be part of the special forces for some time before he became a desk jockey doing all that boring paperwork. That is if I remember correctly. But those days were fun since the job required information extraction and the mental torture of another person. After all that time I finally got another chance to use my skills, and that sort of excitement continued every day until he was bound to the desk. I think his codename used to be Fox.”
“At one point, I went ahead to take a decent break since it was boring doing nothing in his mind and when I woke up from my slumber, I noticed that he was already dead! The fortunate thing was, that he was already in contact with you! A real System user! You who had a System, a way out for me, I could not help but be excited. My heart was pumping furiously after such a prolonged time. Of course, I knew that I had to play this carefully. Had to be careful not to accidentally torture you to death. Otherwise it would have been back to square one for me once again.”
“You know the story from then on.” Kraft twirled the bullets in his hands before he slotted them into the revolver.
“The two black foxes you just saw were Tsu and Kai. They are a part of my skulk of foxes, but those two are my best. And I guess you have noticed. They turned to bullets. When I shoot them out, they can transform back to their main form as Fox Demons.”
“So I am assuming you have six foxes under your command?” Jin asked since he knew the revolver could only hold six bullets.
“Mmm. I should have a total of nine, but I am stuck with six though Tsu and Kai interact with me more than the other fox demons. For some particular reason, they seem to be rather attracted to me. I think the System prevented my full powers from being unleashed when me and Ming first met.”
“You mean there should be a way to upgrade the current power of my bellators?” Jin was surprised there was such a thing. He thought that their powers were locked because of Jin’s grade.
“The System no longer binds me so I can say this kind of stuff. From what I know based on your understanding, I guess it is fine to tell you about it. Your cultivation restricts their powers, but the System currently locks their skills.” Kraft said.
“Sounds like some troublesome roleplaying game…” Jin shook his head.
“It is part of the System’s decision to prevent the User from being overpowered. Otherwise you could unnecessarily be exposed by the members of the public. So they stay locked, until it judges that the User was capable of handling himself.” Kraft clicked and unclicked his hammer.
“However, as much as I would like to leave this realm of darkness, especially when a System User is finally around me, I fear that I am starting to like this place.” Kraft smiled as he clapped once. Suddenly the walls inside the room grew spikes and started to move towards Jin. However, Jin was confident that Kraft would not hurt him.
“No one has better mind manipulation techniques than me. That is also why the System is unable to read subtle thoughts about Ming from you. Because I am stopping that sort of information from getting out, under the commands of Ming.” Kraft stopped the walls the moment the spikes slightly pressed onto Jin’s body. Yet, during that period of time, Jin did not move a single inch. Jin’s confidence towards Kraft made the latter grin. It looked like Jin was not scared of Kraft anymore.
“But you said that he did not know you existed in him.” Jin continued to query Kraft as if it was the norm.
“Yeah, that’s what I said. I was surprised to learn that I did not fade away along with that old man’s physical body. So I decided to confront Ming, but apparently, he had been aware, that I was sleeping inside him. Also, Ming said that the System left him a particularly ancient technique to transfer the System into your body.”
“He said it was because of me, a forgotten link to the System that he was able to modify that technique to transfer part of his will and soul within your subconscious when the System was being moved into you.” Jin realised Kraft was talking about that old encryption letter that he had found alongside with Ming’s note. He did not know that Ming was so well versed with modifying techniques.
“Guess, Old Gramps is smarter than he let on.” Jin thought to himself. “But why would Gramps want to enter my subconscious?”
“You are his one and only grandson.” Kraft did not say anything else but later changed the topic back to his story. “We subsequently talked about the old days. This whole meeting between us, was also part of his plan. Ming just need to leave you here in the bas.e.m.e.nt.”
“I see…” Jin tried to gather his thoughts about the turn of events.
“You did okay… For a beginner. I will teach you more when we have the time, but it seems like you are a very busy person for a lazy cultivator.” Kraft sniggered.
“Also, I think sooner or later the System might bestow you another Bellator with mind manipulation techniques. Perhaps then, I might gain a friend, who will appreciate this darkness with me. So here is the contract I wish to forge with you, my new master.” Kraft adjusted his coat and pushed his chair closer to Jin.
“Let me be part of your darkness. In return, I will demolish any, who try to enter your mind.” Kraft extended his hand to shake with Jin, who did not hesitate to return the handshake. Suddenly Jin felt the darkness around him was warm rather than the cold, creepy feeling he used to sense in the past… Jin did not remember how long he was in there.
“Ahhh, the contract with a System user, now I can feel my powers being refreshed once again!” Kraft thought to himself. Instead of being bound by the System and getting his powers from it, Kraft was now obtaining his energy and powers from Jin’s subconscious mind. There was always a loophole in the workings of the System and Kraft did not hesitate to exploit it for his own use.
“Wait, if what you said is true…I did ask the System for a reward about having some adaptable immunity towards manipulation and Psionic Magic. Could that be a Bellator too? Or is that an innate ability?” Jin asked Kraft if he had any idea.
“Who knows?” Kraft shrugged his shoulders before he suddenly disappeared, but his voice lingered. “But remember that within the darkness, you will always have an ally…if you keep him entertained.”
