I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 461: What’s the Catch?

The deity’s skull helmet somehow conveyed amusement despite having no face.

"Ready to make it official?" Death asked, his voice carrying less theatrical flair than before. This was business, not performance.

"Yes," Jack replied.

Death raised one gauntleted hand, and the air shimmered with power that made reality itself seem thin. A system interface materialized before Jack, larger and more elaborate than normal notifications:

[Floor 3: Ice Oasis - Seal Available]

[Cost: 150,000 Death Tokens]

[Warning: Sealing is irreversible.]

[YES] or [NO]

Jack selected yes without hesitation.

[Purchase confirmed: 150,000 Death Tokens spent]

[Current Death Tokens: 44,842,250]

[Floor 3: SEALED]

The change was profound.

Power flooded through the throne room, spreading outward in a wave that encompassed the entire floor. The ambient temperature stabilized, no longer fluctuating with proximity to heat sources.

The water covering the floor began draining faster, flowing toward newly formed channels that appeared as the environment changed.

And most importantly, an invisible barrier formed at the floor’s upper entrance. The passage that led back to Floor Two. Nothing could pass through that barrier from above.

The floor was locked, its contents preserved and controlled by the Soul Warden who’d claimed it.

The water finished draining with a wet rush, revealing ice patterns on the floor that had been hidden beneath the flooding.

And in the center of the throne room, where the deepest pool had been, a stairway descended into darkness.

Jack walked toward it, his boots no longer splashing through water, and looked down. At the bottom of the stairs, twenty feet below floor level, a portal shimmered with blue-white light. The gateway to Floor Four.

"Congratulations," Death said from behind him. "Floor Three is yours. Everything in it, everything that will spawn in it, all of it answers to you now." The deity paused, then added with a return to his theatrical tone, "Try not to break it too badly. I hate filing damage reports."

"Who are you kidding. You don’t need to report anything; you run this tower."

Jack turned away from the portal and walked back toward Rhys, who’d been watching the entire sealing process with obvious confusion. The young man straightened slightly as Jack approached, Tempest’s Edge still held ready despite his depleted state.

"Good work," Jack said, his tone carrying genuine approval. "Fifty days of training and you solo-cleared a Nightmare-rank entity. That’s impressive progress."

Rhys blinked, clearly not having expected praise. "I... thank you. Pho’s training was tough."

"It was," Jack agreed, then paused as if considering something. "Would you like a companion to accompany you to Floor Four?"

The confusion on Rhys’s face deepened. "A companion? What do you mean?"

"You killed a drake," Jack said, gesturing toward the bound creature standing near the throne. "Which means I now have a new pet. Seems only fair you get something for your efforts."

Rhys’s eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion creeping into his exhausted features. "Is there a catch?"

"No catch," Jack replied. "You earned this."

He reached through the Soul Link, finding the Alpha Minotaur’s consciousness among the two hundred forty-seven he’d bound on Floor Twenty-Three.

A simple mental command for Jack. He called to the beast, and reality folded.

The Alpha materialized beside Jack in a flash of red lightning.

Eight feet of muscle and horn, its eyes burning with that same crimson glow that marked all bound creatures.

The minotaur carried a massive battle axe that hadn’t existed in death but had been recreated through the binding process, a weapon sized for its enhanced frame.

The Alpha looked around the throne room, taking in the ice walls and the unfamiliar environment, then its gaze settled on Jack.

It bowed deeply, one fist pressed to its chest.

"Master," the Alpha rumbled, its voice carrying the depth and power of a creature that had led a clan before death claimed it.

"This is Rhys," Jack said, gesturing toward the young man who was staring at the minotaur with wide eyes. "You’ll be accompanying him through the lower floors. Protecting him, fighting alongside him, following his commands as you would mine."

The Alpha’s head turned toward Rhys, studying him with eyes that burned with red lightning but still retained intelligence and personality beyond simple obedience. "You killed my clan."

Rhys tensed, his hands tightening on Tempest’s Edge despite his exhaustion. The statement wasn’t accusatory.

It was a flat observation, but the weight behind it was undeniable.

"I didn’t," Rhys said carefully. "Jack did. On Floor Twenty-Three."

The Alpha was quiet for a moment, processing this information through memories that death and rebinding had fractured. "I remember dying. Remember the lightning. The one who stood atop our bodies like a throne."

Its gaze shifted back to Jack. "Master killed us. Bound us. Two hundred forty-seven souls taken in minutes."

"And now you serve me," Jack confirmed. "Which means you serve those I designate. Rhys is under my protection. You’ll accompany him, fight for him, and ensure he survives the floors ahead."

The minotaur’s expression was difficult to read.

Somewhere between resignation and understanding. "As Master commands."

Jack turned to Rhys. "He’s yours. A partner for the journey ahead. He’ll listen to you, fight alongside you, and he’s strong enough to handle most threats you’ll encounter on the lower floors."

Rhys looked from Jack to the Alpha, clearly struggling to process this gift. "I... I don’t know what to say."

"’Thank you’ usually works," Slyph offered from her position near Rhys’s shoulder, though her green aura pulsed with wariness as she studied the bound creature.

"Thank you," Rhys managed, though the words came out uncertain. "But why? What do you get out of giving me one of your bound creatures?"

Jack’s smile was visible even behind his visor. "You’re going to clear floors faster with proper support. Which means more floors sealed, more resources gathered, and eventually..." He paused, red eyes gleaming. "You’ll be strong enough to help with the real work."

"The real work?" Rhys repeated.

"Later," Jack said, dismissing the question. "For now, focus on Floor Four. Survive, get stronger, and try not to die. The Alpha will help with that last part."

Pho stepped forward, his blank white eyes moving between Jack and the minotaur. "Generous gift. Though I suspect it’s also convenient. One less creature for you to manage while you’re hunting on Twenty-Three."

"It would not matterhow many creatures I need to command," Jack snarled. "Besides, Rhys earned it. Fifty days from complete novice to solo-clearing a Nightmare-rank boss? That deserves recognition."

The Alpha turned its full attention to Rhys, those burning red eyes studying the young man with an intensity that made Rhys fight the urge to step back.

"You’re weak," the minotaur observed. "Exhausted. Your mana is depleted, your stamina low. How did you kill a drake in this condition?"

"Carefully," Rhys said, some of his natural defiance returning despite his exhaustion. "And with help from Slyph and Pho’s training."

The Alpha’s gaze shifted to Slyph, the wind spirit meeting its stare without flinching despite her six-inch form. "A spirit. Contracted?"

"Yes," Slyph confirmed, her voice carrying an edge. "And I don’t appreciate being analyzed like I’m some kind of equipment."

"Apologies," the Alpha rumbled, and it sounded genuine. "I meant no offense. I’m... adjusting. Death changes perspective."

"You remember dying?" Rhys asked, curiosity overriding caution.