>>5988954https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FzSVnrHXa0“The price of a life, huh?” you ask, relaxing your stance a bit. Knowing that the being behind you is a piece of Aku's full power, the last shard of the soul he's been searching for, the last piece of himself he's missing, you're sure he'd pay whatever price you'd ask. But is that the child's fate? To be given to Aku, to be consumed and assimilated as a part of him to achieve his strength. While you're not sure you want to come to blows with Aku over her, glancing back over your shoulder she's looking to you pleadingly, pitch-black eyes showing her fear and worry. You turn back to Aku, seeing him looking hungrily towards her, you remember a trick you'd picked up. Better to let him make the first offer, than to start making one yourself. “Well, why don't you tell me what you'd consider a fair trade.”
“Wh-What?!” the girl cries out, shocked that you'd even consider it. “No, please!”
“Eeeeeeexcellent! I knew you were a man of reason!” Aku declares, laughing happily. “For such a prize, nothing else could compare. But you are not a man of excess, of pointless trinkets. No, the God-slaying General Karn is a man of practicality. But, today is your granddaughter's birthday, is it not? Hmmm, then perhaps a gift for her is what you seek?”
Then, before you can answer he reaches out, pinching something between his fingers in the air and pulls his arm down. Opening a portal between New Salda and what seems to be a place of frozen fire, you remembering after a moment that this is what his domain he's chosen looks like. Aku then reaches in with just his arm, not looking as he rummages.
“This? No, not that. Hrmm, no, that won't do either. Maybe? Hrmm, no, too dangerous for a child. Ooh, I know. She takes after her father more than you, with magic.” Aku says, searching with renewed vigor. After a moment he pulls his arm back out, only for another version of himself to have risen up out of his hand, its three arms each holding separate items. “Perhaps there will be sufficient treasure among these?”
“What is all that?” Meloka asks, sounding mildly curious. To which both Aku grin simultaneously, the one in his hand melding back into his hand, forming three hands. Each one holding one of the items in a palm, while a smaller Aku emerges, pointing to the left-most one to you first.
cont
