Mana Core 2

As Mila left my room, I quickly closed all the windows and carefully covered them with thick curtains. As a noble, I was well aware of the importance of secrecy and the dangers of exposing private matters to rivals.

The nobles in this world were incredibly cunning and ruthless, willing to go to great lengths, even to the point of massacre, to safeguard their secrets. And what I was about to do was not just discouraged but rather, it was considered a crime that could result in execution.

Thus, I knew I had to be cautious and careful, leaving no trace of my activity. After ensuring that everything was secure, I sat cross-legged and retrieved a sharp knife. With a deep breath, I made a small incision on my finger, wincing as the pain seared through me.

Clenching my teeth, I began to draw a circle and then, with painstaking precision, a star within it. I recited the lines from a dark and ancient tome, seeking to summon one of the 12 great demons from the gates of hell.

I hoped to summon a demon that I had in mind and that was Mephisto, famously known as ' The Demon of Tricks and Hatred '.

But to summon a specific demon, I needed to recite its true name. And I as the author knew it by heart. "Discendat in hoc speculum supra Mephistopheles," I whispered with trepidation.

Suddenly, the room began to shake violently, and a cacophony of eerie sounds filled the air. I gritted my teeth and cut my whole finger, placing it in between the star. As I did, black fog started spreading from the circle, filling the room. Despite the intense pain from my wounded hand, I felt a sense of exhilaration and fear as the ritual unfolded before me.

Finally, the circle began to glow with an intense light, and a voice boomed from within the circle. "Which mortal dares to call me, the great demon, by my true name?" The voice was deep, menacing, and filled with malice.

Overcome with fear, I fell to the ground, my consciousness slipping away. The last thing I heard was the demon's cold laughter as it stepped out of the circle and into the room.

Mephisto POV:

As I was enjoying my slumber, I was suddenly awakened by a voice calling out my true name. It was a voice I did not recognize, and I could sense the mortal's aura and weakness.

'Who in the world is calling me? And how does he know my true name?! '

Curiosity piqued, I decided to answer the call and descended from the gates of hell into the mortal world. As soon as I arrived, I saw a human lying on the ground breathing heavily, surrounded by a circle and star drawn in blood. The scent of fresh blood filled the room, and I could tell the human had wanted make a pact with me.

'This ..? How could a mortal know a ritual of demon summon which was lost after the blank century?! '

I couldn't help but wonder what this human wanted from me, as no mortal knew the true name of a demon. Was this human a powerful sorcerer, or perhaps someone who stumbled upon a forbidden spell? My curiosity was piqued, and I felt a tinge of excitement at the prospect of something new and unexpected.

After I could form my pseudo-physical form I as a great demon had a dignity to maintain so without much thought I said what a great demon would.

"Which mortal dares to call me The Great Demon by his true name?" I asked, my voice booming in the room.

No response. It seemed the human had lost consciousness before I could even finish speaking. How disappointing.

I looked around the room, trying to understand what this mortal wanted from me. I could sense the human's desperation to get stronger but he smelled just like us demon, and it amused me.

'This smell!! It's coming from the mortal? '

Well I guess I can spend some time on mortal world.

I decided to wait and see what the human would do once he regained consciousness. For now, I would enjoy my time in the mortal realm and cause mischief wherever I could. After all, it was what I was known for - tricks and hatred.

Before the mortal wakes up I need to make sure I have a upper hand in the pact.

Thinking of how I could use this mortal, I grinned.

'Hehehehe'

I tapped the mortals forehead to take a part of the mortal's soul to make him my servant.

As my soul went inside his sea of consciousness I was thinking

'I hope you can amuse me mort-'

*SWISH

Before I could react I was before a big black door with a big seal and the pressure it excuded surpassed anything I ever encountered.

'Wha- What Is this?!! '

Before I could get out. My soul was sucked into the seal.