Lord Vaelric Drenmor stood in his private chambers, fists clenched tightly by his sides, his eyes narrowed in anger. The faint light of the moon filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. He couldn't get the image of Tsukasa—the mysterious guy—from his mind. The power he had displayed... Vaelric had never seen anything like it before, and that unsettled him deeply.
"That bastard," Vaelric muttered under his breath, pacing back and forth. "I won't let him ruin everything. His power is a threat to me and my plans. I need more... More power."
He walked over to a concealed alcove, the air around him thick with a strange energy. On a stone pedestal rested a dark tome, its pages tattered and worn, the cover marked with a sinister symbol. Vaelric ran his fingers over the book, a grim smile creeping onto his face. This was his last resort—the forbidden pact.
Vaelric opened the book, muttering the incantation in a voice barely above a whisper. His voice wavered with a mix of fear and anticipation. "I summon thee, by the blood of the Abyss, to heed my call. Grant me the power to crush what stands before me."
The room shuddered as if the very air had thickened, and the shadows began to twist and writhe. A low, guttural voice echoed from the darkness, like the growl of a beast disturbed from its slumber.
"Who dares summon me, lowlife?" the voice boomed, mocking and dripping with disdain. The shadows in the room shifted, coalescing into the form of a towering, hulking demon. Its eyes glowed with a fiery, malevolent red, and its body was adorned with jagged armor made from twisted bones and dark metal. The air around it seemed to warp with raw power. "I can already tell... You're not worthy of my time. What pathetic human dares to disturb my rest?"
Vaelric stood tall, his expression unyielding despite the demon's arrogant tone. "I am Lord Vaelric Drenmor," he said coldly. "And I have summoned you to destroy a threat to my plans. I need your power."
The demon's eyes narrowed, a wicked grin spreading across its face."So you are the one who thinks he can command me, huh? A cocky little mortal like you... You must be out of your mind."
The demon stepped forward, towering over Vaelric, its presence so overwhelming that the air felt suffocating. "I'll grant you the power you desire, but not without a price. You know the rules. The cost of my power is twenty lives."
Vaelric hesitated, but his resolve never wavered. "I'm willing to pay the price. Those lives mean nothing to me. They will die for the cause."
The demon snickered, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Twenty lives... it's a small price to pay for power, isn't it? And you, pathetic mortal, think you can control me? I'll have my fun with this."
"Do we have a deal or not?" Vaelric asked, impatience creeping into his voice.
The demon tilted its head, considering the offer. Then, with a loud, mocking laugh, it reached out and placed one hand on Vaelric's chest, its claws sharp enough to tear through flesh with ease.
"Fine," the demon growled, its voice dripping with arrogance. "I'll grant you your wish. But remember this—my power isn't something you can just control. You may think you can use me, but in the end, I will be the one to call the shots. We'll see how long you last, mortal."
With a wave of the demon's claw, the room seemed to darken even further, and the air grew thick with oppressive energy. Vaelric felt the contract sealing itself, a bond of dark power forged between them. The demon's eyes gleamed with malice. "We're bound now. And remember—this is only the beginning."
As the demon disappeared into the shadows, Vaelric stood alone in the room, his heart racing. The power coursing through his veins was intoxicating, but a small voice at the back of his mind wondered if he had made a grave mistake.
But there was no turning back now. He had what he wanted. Power. And with it, the ability to crush Tsukasa and any who stood in his way.