SHAMAN PROTOCOL
Chapter 71: First Phantom Contract Success!

Chapter 71: First Phantom Contract Success!

Lashing out at the chapel had exhausted Mikel, but at the same time, it let him release the building frustration he’d been carrying since his pathetic defeat against the Type X. It also helped calm him down after seeing that blindfolded woman again in Haleth’s Memory Echo.

Seated outside with the ruined chapel behind him, his arm rested lazily on his knee.

"The only good thing about this is..." he trailed off, glancing down at his arm. "At least I don’t have to go back to the hospital just to get this cast off."

A light chuckle escaped him, remembering how a rock had fallen on him—and how he used the cast to shield himself from his own recklessness. Though he had to admit, ever since the Homunculus Imprint revived him, he did feel... slightly stronger.

Overall, he was feeling surprisingly lighter, now that he had vented with everything he had. Still exhausted, though.

While he caught his breath, he noticed a dim light a few paces away.

He slowly looked up, his eyes landing on the robed figure holding the lantern.

"Just about time," he exhaled sharply. "Don’t tell me you’re backing out now."

Like hell he would let him.

Haleth didn’t respond, his face still hidden beneath his hood. But that silence—that stillness—was answer enough.

He was accepting the contract.

Mikel huffed, "Doom."

[Initiating Phantom Contract — Legacy Bond Mode]

[Since Host failed the trial set, Protocol Method is unavailable.]

[Legacy Bond Mode is an outdated Phantom Contract sequence. It is not recommended due to high volatility and emotional dependencies. Proceed with caution.]

Mikel read it through, not surprised at all. Once the trial began, it had become a part of the system’s mechanics. Now that Haleth willingly wished to honor the contract, Doom had no choice but to pull out an ancient method buried in its archive.

"What do I do?" he asked aloud, already picking up the Book of the Dead beside him.

[The Book of the Dead has prepared a page for the contract, Master. Once the ritual is complete, the system will register Haleth as your first Phantom Contract.]

Mikel didn’t reply. He flipped through the pages until the book flipped on its own, impatiently.

"Calm down—geez!" He scrunched his nose. "Just trying to catch my breath here."

The book stopped at a page, its scripture written in a language no one else could understand except Mikel. He skimmed it casually.

"A blood offering?" he muttered, watching as the writing rearranged itself until a single phrase appeared in the middle of the page:

The blade that doesn’t cut, but binds.

As the letters glowed, a dark mist formed over the page. Slowly, it formed into something solid until a blunt knife materialized in midair.

Tak.

It landed on the book in his hands with a dull thud, making Mikel furrow his brows. He picked it up cautiously. A dirty strip of fabric was wrapped around one end, forming a makeshift handle.

He examined it, face twitching.

"I’m not an expert, but how am I supposed to cut myself with this?" he muttered, twisting the knife in his hand. "And what if I get tetanus from this? It’s so damn rusty."

[Rust itself does not cause tetanus, Master. It’s the bacteria that thrive in dirt and soil that’s the culprit.]

"Well, thanks for the trivia, Doom. Super comforting," he muttered. "Still looks like a biohazard."

[You have the Recovery Protocol, Master. You will be fine.]

Disbelief flickered across his face. He shot Doom a glare of mild vengeance, but quickly turned back to the book.

According to it, the only offering needed was his blood to seal the deal.

With that, Mikel stood and walked toward Haleth. The guy was big. Mikel was already tall for his age, but even so, his head barely reached Haleth’s shoulder. Haleth’s face remained hidden in the shadow of his hood, though Mikel could see the faint outline of his round, slightly plump nose poking out.

Placing the book down between them, Mikel raised his hand.

He stood tall, gripping the knife in one hand while his other pressed against its dull edge.

"Haleth," he began, eyes fixed on the robed figure, fingers curling around the blade.

"I called not for your power, but for your truth. In fire and shadow, I stood beside you. Now walk beside me—Haleth of the Ruined Flame. Not by force, but by choice."

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on the knife. Instead of a clean cut, the pain felt more like a thousand tiny bites — sharp teeth nibbling at his skin.

Blood began to appear on his palm.

"Let my name be your passage," he continued. "I ask you to carry the lantern once more, Haleth."

And with that, he pulled the knife away. His hand trembled as blood trickled down his palm, falling in thick drops onto the open page of the Book of the Dead.

Mikel watched the red fluid spread, transforming into crimson ink as it began writing across the parchment.

And then, Haleth knelt.

"Named Haleth," his raspy voice finally rumbled forth—low, animalistic, a whisper turned growl. "You called for me... and I answered. Now it is your voice I follow. With the flame of my lantern bound to yours, I, Haleth, offer my assistance."

A soft gust of wind blew at them, making the leaves rustle.

With that, Haleth reached toward the open page where Mikel’s blood landed.

The red ink on the page crawled up from the parchment to his fingertips, moving around his hand—and as it did, Haleth’s figure slowly began to fade.

Tak.

A moment later, the lantern landed beside the book. Its flame was gone. Not even a wisp of smoke remained—like it had never been lit at all.

Mikel stared at the empty, broken lantern, then shifted his gaze to the book. He picked it up.

The page was now fully inked in red. At the top, in block letters, was a name: HALETH.

"Heh," Mikel let out a short laugh, amused at the messy little sketch of a lantern in the bottom corner.

At the same time, Doom’s screen flickered.

[Legacy Bond Successful!]

[Congratulations on acquiring your first Phantom, Master.]

[Side Objective I: Sign your first Phantom Contract — ACHIEVED!]

Mikel cast Doom a smug look. "Thanks, Doom."

He slapped the book shut and threw one arm into the air, grinning like a man who finally made the world shut up and listen. This felt like acing an exam after failing ten in a row.

"Hell yeah!"

[Ready for your next Objective, Master?]

Mikel glanced at Doom. "Of course."