If it were a complete Sefirot, Alaric would have few safe methods to facilitate its assimilation. But for a fragmented Sefirot, the technique he borrowed from Yog-Sothoth proved quite effective.
"Tch!" Medici didn't argue, as Alaric's words rang true. He had little desire to become a Great Old One himself.
A moment later, something occurred to Medici. He lifted the kitten by the scruff, holding it at eye level, a reckless grin spreading across his face. "Should I say long time no see?"
He and The Will of the City of Calamity in Bansy were old acquaintances, after all.
"Pah!" The Will of the City of Calamity spat, but the spittle was incinerated by flames before it could reach Medici. Grinding its teeth, it snarled, "All you do is rely on others. Thousands of years ago, it was The Ancient Sun God. Now it's this thing."
Medici chuckled, unfazed by The City of Calamity's words. "Submitting to those worthy of it is a Hunter's fate. What, jealous?"
"Who'd be jealous of you!" The Will of the City of Calamity snapped, its voice rising. But it couldn't help recalling the past. As a Sefirot, it had submitted to higher beings... the Oldest One and the Primordial One... but neither had been reliable masters.
"Sure, sure, you're not jealous. Just reminiscing about some painful memories," Medici said, glancing at The Will of the City of Calamity with a lazy drawl, guessing its thoughts.
"You... " The Will of the City of Calamity looked ready to burn Medici to ash. Grinding its teeth again, it hissed, "I should've turned you into a marionette long ago."
"Let's be clear, friend. You didn't spare me out of mercy... you simply couldn't do it," Medici scoffed, his red eyes fixed on The Will of the City of Calamity. "A friendly reminder: now that you're in this state, behave. Stay compliant, and you might keep your will intact. Otherwise, someone won't be so lenient with a rebellious Sefirot."
The Will of the City of Calamity stiffened for a moment. "Are you threatening me?"
"Just a reminder," Medici said, pinching the cat's soft paw. "Cooperate, and it's better for both of us."
It was true. Despite Alaric's seal, Medici could wield The City of Calamity's branch power even without its cooperation, but compliance would make the process smoother.
The Will of the City of Calamity fell silent, its thoughts unreadable. After a long pause, it spoke with a self-mocking tone, "Seems I don't have a choice."
"You could choose death," Alaric interjected, smiling as he watched The Will of the City of Calamity. "Submit or die. You're familiar with the concept."
The Will of the City of Calamity met Alaric's gaze, its iron-black eyes devoid of human emotion. It grew quiet, as if all feeling had been erased... or perhaps its earlier display was mere pretense.
It asked, "I don't understand. Why choose him? He's not the greatest Hunter, nor as mad as the Demoness, nor the one chosen by fate. What makes him special enough to earn your favor?"
Alaric raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips as he met those inhuman eyes. "Do I need a reason to choose someone?"
The Will of the City of Calamity went silent. After several seconds, it said, "Your choice is truth itself. No reason is needed."
"You're much more agreeable now," Alaric said with a laugh, eyeing the cat. "This is your true nature, isn't it?"
As the embodiment of a Sefirot, The Will of the City of Calamity could hardly possess deep emotions. Its rage and madness might be real, but most of its feelings were a facade, an imitation.
"One thing you said was right," The Will of the City of Calamity continued, its expression a mix of self-mockery or something else. "Submission is a Hunter's fate, etched into my core logic. I submit to the stronger."
"I conquer others, I dominate others, yet I'm conquered and dominated in turn. I long to break free from this cycle of conquest and submission, but I cannot resist my fate or my instincts."
"As a Sefirot, fate has shown me glimpses of the future, and you're not in it," The Will of the City of Calamity said, locking eyes with Alaric. "You are change. You are chaos. You are truth. I cannot resist the instinct to submit to you, to be dominated by you. As a Sefirot, my instincts outweigh my reason."
"You don't seem mad at all right now," Alaric said, smiling slowly. "But your will drives you to seek escape."
The Will of the City of Calamity didn't deny it. "That's how this world works. Even a Sefirot can't resist madness and instinct. As the will of a Sefirot, I'm even less able to resist my own."
"So, what's your choice?" Alaric asked, still smiling.
"You've conquered me, so I submit to you. I obey your will," The Will of the City of Calamity replied. "This avatar of mine can belong to the one you've chosen."
"But only this avatar. Conquest and domination are my instincts. I can submit to Medici, but if he cannot conquer my core, he'll become a puppet of the City of Calamity... unless…" It looked at Alaric. "You can fully conquer the City of Calamity."
"But you, as you are now, may not be able to."
The City of Calamity's final words carried a hint of provocation. Submission and domination were etched into its essence. It yearned to submit to Alaric's strength yet also to dominate his perceived weakness.
"Heh," Alaric caught the hidden meaning. The City of Calamity seemed to warn that Medici could become a puppet, but it was really suggesting that if Alaric failed to conquer it fully, he too might fall to The City of Calamity's control.
No Sefirot was simple, and the City of Calamity was no docile entity.
"You're getting interesting, Caly," Alaric remarked, rubbing the cat's fluffy head. Suddenly, he grinned. "Since domination and submission are in your nature, I'm curious... have you, as an avatar, ever considered making your core submit?"
***
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