Chapter 17 - The Summoning

"yo" - Speech

'yo' - Thougths

*yo* - Sounds

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In the depths of London, beneath the bustling city streets, a group of people wearing black cloak gathered, their faces illuminated by dim candle lights.

One individual with a cane stepped forward and pulled back his hood, revealing a middle aged man with a high hairline and black hair.

"Gentlemen, the moment of reckoning has arrived!" The man's voice surged with fervor, his eyes aflame with hope as he cast his gaze skyward. Filled with unwavering conviction, he raised both hands triumphantly into the air, disregarding his cane, as if reaching out to seize the essence of his dreams.

"B-but Colonel, are you absolutely certain about this?" Another weathered voice emerged from beneath a cloak, laced with uncertainty.

"Hmm?" His fiery gaze dulled, and the smile on his face receded as he redirected his attention downward, fixing his gaze on the individual who dared to question his resolve.

"Of course!" The Colonel's voice rang out with unyielding conviction. He stooped down, his hand slowly closing around the handle of his cane.

"Without a doubt, my dear comrade," he declared, his tone laced with a mix of determination and defiance.

"Otherwise how could we achieve it?..." His voice trailed off, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. Suddenly, his face contorted, anger etching deep lines upon his features, revealing the fierce intensity that lay beneath his charismatic facade.

"If only, if only that damn Major just do it! That pudgy fat pig!!" His angry trembling voice resounded in the underground room.

"Why won't he just turn us into a vampire?!"

"Why?

Why?!

JUST WHY?!"

*Huff Huff Huff*

The frustration echoed in the hallway, palpable in the clenched jaws and grinding teeth of his compatriots. Each of them shared the same burning question, their collective ire simmering beneath the surface, ready to collide in a symphony of discontent.

Taking a deep breath, 'Colonel' composed himself, his gaze fixed upon the imposing black door before him. With measured steps, he turned his back to the group, his every movement exuding an air of quiet authority. As his outstretched hands hovered in anticipation, a contemplative silence settled over the chamber.

"Should any among us harbor uncertainty," Colonel's voice resonated with a calm yet commanding tone, "now is the time to make your choice." The weight of his words hung in the air, offering a final opportunity for those wavering souls to retreat from the path they were about to traverse.

*Click*

With unwavering resolve, the Colonel pushed aside any lingering doubt and firmly gripped the doorknob. The door, an imposing barrier between the known and the unknown, yielded to his touch, its hinges protesting softly. With a measured swing, the portal began to reveal the enigmatic realm that lay beyond.

As the door swung open, it stood as a threshold to a world brimming with boundless possibilities and treacherous perils alike. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, each member of the group acutely aware of the magnitude of what they were about to unleash upon the world.

Without a moment's hesitation, Colonel stepped forward, crossing into the inky abyss that beckoned beyond the threshold. The silence that followed was pregnant with significance, as the remaining members of the group weighed their own resolve and commitment against the unknown that awaited them.

Their faces mirrored a mixture of unwavering determination and lingering apprehension. The gravity of their decision was not lost on them, yet the allure of what they stood to gain eclipsed any traces of doubt that may have lingered.

In a collective act of courage, they swiftly followed in Colonel's footsteps, their footsteps echoing through the chamber.

The heavy door swung shut behind them, sealing their fate as they ventured forth into the uncharted realms that awaited.

Footsteps reverberated incessantly throughout the room, punctuating the air with a steady rhythm. Cloaked figures moved with purpose, their deft hands carefully arranging candles, casting a soft and intimate glow that transformed the space. It was as if they were meticulously setting the stage for a romantic rendezvous.

With the room now bathed in a full, eerie illumination, Colonel's authoritative voice reverberated through the space.

"Begin," he commanded, his words carrying a weight of authority and purpose. In response, the individuals in the room sprang into action, each one fulfilling their designated role with practiced precision.

Two men, their faces hidden beneath hoods, carefully carried buckets filled with an enigmatic substance, its exact nature concealed from casual observers. The others unveiled what was beneath the carpet, revealing an ominous intricate pentagram formation.

As they approached the ominous pentagram at the center of the room, anticipation hung in the air.

With deliberate movements, the men poured the contents of each bucket into the intricate formation, its lines etched with ancient symbolism. The viscous liquid, resembling blood, cascaded onto the surface of the pentagram, spreading and pooling within its intricate boundaries. As if awakened by this offering, the pentagram began to emit a faint, ominous glow.

Next, the cloaked figures led by Colonel, their eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and trepidation, pricked their fingertips with small needles. A drop of blood welled up at the wound before they released it, allowing it to fall onto the pulsating surface of the formation. The blood merged seamlessly with the mysterious substance, as if merging their life force with the arcane energy of the ritual.

Having completed their part, the figures retreated to their positions behind Colonel, their breaths held in anticipation. The room fell into an expectant silence, broken only by the faint hum emanating from the awakened pentagram. The air thickened with an electric energy, a palpable tension that hinted at the unfathomable forces they sought to invoke.

In that moment, reality and the supernatural seemed to converge, blurring the boundaries between the known and the unknowable. The assembled group stood poised, their hearts pounding with a mix of apprehension and resolve, fully aware of the weight of their actions and the unpredictable consequences that awaited them.

As the ritual reached its climax, an eruption of blinding light burst forth from the heart of the pentagram, enveloping the entire room in an overwhelming radiance. Within that luminous glow, the figure of a being materialized, emerging from the very core of the intricate formation.

The being's presence was an embodiment of awe-inspiring might. Its form stood tall and commanding, radiating an aura of ancient power. As the brilliance subsided, Its true visage became apparent.

With a graceful movement, the being unfurled what appeared to be majestic, expansive fleshy wings.

Adorning Its head were two imposing, curved horns that jutted forward with a sense of regal authority. These formidable horns exuded an air of strength and dominance, a testament to the being's formidable nature. At the rear of Its head, a pair of intricate antler-like appendages branched out, adding a touch of elegance and mystique to Its appearance.

The being's form was cloaked in an inky blackness, a stark contrast to the radiant light that surrounded It.

Within the depths of that darkness, two golden-yellow eyes glowed with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. These eyes held an ancient wisdom and an enigmatic allure, drawing one's gaze into their depths and leaving an indelible imprint upon the viewer's memory.

"I-it actually worked!!"

"The summoning was a success!"

"The demon has appeared!"

"D-did we actually summoned a demon?!"

"A-aA what great heresy have I committed?!"

"Move back!

Amidst a chaotic chorus of voices, each clamoring for attention, Colonel found himself growing increasingly irritated. The dissonance seemed to reverberate through every fiber of his being.

"Silence!" Colonel's commanding voice thundered, cutting through the cacophony like a knife. Instantly, the clamor subsided, swallowed by an eerie stillness that settled upon the room.

The hush that followed was palpable, a collective breath held in trepidation. Every gaze was fixed upon the fearsome demon, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and terror. Not a single soul dared to utter a word, for the weight of the demon's presence and Colonel's voice had silenced them all.

With deliberate grace, the demon began to move, its head turning slowly as it surveyed its surroundings with a piercing gaze. The room seemed to shrink under the weight of its scrutiny, as if every corner and crevice was laid bare before its penetrating eyes.

Finally, breaking the oppressive silence, the demon spoke. Its voice carried an otherworldly resonance, echoing with a chilling clarity.

"Why have you summoned me?"

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Don't forget them stonesss~-<