As Ethan maintained his grip on the summoning circle, the air in the containment room crackled with energy. The shadows writhed, forming an almost solid shape within the bounds of the magical runes. Asheron's presence was overwhelming, a weight pressing down on him, each breath a challenge against the pressure building around them.
"Keep it steady," Monroe's voice crackled through the intercom, a lifeline amidst the chaos. "Do not let doubt creep in. Remember your training."
Ethan focused on her words, locking onto the rhythm of his breath. The cold whispers of the Lurker still echoed faintly in his mind, and he steeled himself against their seductive allure. The fight was not just to bind Asheron but to maintain his own sense of self against the demon's manipulative grasp.
"You think you can hold me forever?" Asheron's voice hissed again, this time more insistent. "What are you willing to sacrifice for control? Your sanity? Your friends? All it takes is one crack, one moment of weakness…"
Ethan clenched his jaw, fighting against the urge to react. He could feel the demon's probing, testing the edges of the bond, searching for any chink in his armor. He knew from Monroe's warnings that Lurkers were masters of psychological warfare. They fed on fear, doubt, and hesitation, and he could sense Asheron savoring the challenge.
"Why do you persist?" the Lurker taunted. "You're nothing. Just a child playing at power, grasping for something you can't comprehend. Join me, and I can show you your true potential."
Images flashed through Ethan's mind—visions of power, of strength, of being more than just a fledgling summoner. The temptation twisted in his gut, but he forced himself to remember why he was there. This wasn't about power; it was about protection. About standing against the darkness.
"Shut up!" he shouted, surprising even himself with the intensity of his voice. He poured more energy into the bond, visualizing the connection as a radiant thread of light anchoring him to the demon, tightening it with every ounce of his will.
Asheron recoiled, its form flickering. "You'll regret that, Ethan. This is merely a taste of what I can offer. What do you fear most? I can show you. I can make it real."
A flash of doubt flickered through Ethan's mind, but he quickly crushed it. "I fear nothing you can show me!" he declared, his voice ringing with newfound conviction. "You don't own me!"
With a fierce determination, he reached deeper into the reservoir of energy within himself, letting it flow through the bond like fire. The runes on the floor flared brighter, illuminating the room with a fierce light that pushed back against the encroaching shadows.
Asheron's eyes flared with rage, but for a moment, the demon hesitated, caught off guard by Ethan's sudden surge of strength. Ethan seized the moment, focusing all his energy into the binding, channeling everything he had learned from Monroe, every lesson about will and control.
"Release me!" Asheron roared, its voice echoing like thunder. "You cannot keep me!"
"I can and I will!" Ethan shot back, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the sweat beading on his brow, the physical exertion of the mental struggle. It was more than a battle of magic; it was a battle of wills.
He began to weave a new incantation, one he had learned but had never attempted before. The words felt foreign yet familiar on his tongue, each syllable a stone laid in the foundation of his resolve. The shadows in the room twisted violently, the Lurker's form flickering as it fought against the binding.
"NO! You are weak! You cannot hold me!" Asheron screamed, its voice rising to a pitch that vibrated through the room, threatening to shatter the wards around them.
But Ethan felt the power of his incantation take hold, the bond solidifying, becoming an unbreakable chain. He could almost see the threads of light anchoring him to Asheron, bright and unyielding against the demon's darkness.
"By the strength of my will and the light of my purpose, I bind you!" he intoned, channeling everything he had into those words.
Asheron howled in fury, the shadows swirling chaotically before them. For a moment, Ethan feared he might break under the strain, but then he felt it—a surge of power rising from the depths of his soul, unyielding and fierce.
The Lurker's form collapsed inward, shadows swirling and compressing as the bond tightened further. The sickly green glow of its eyes dimmed, and for the first time, Ethan felt a flicker of fear from the demon.
"What have you done?" Asheron hissed, voice laced with a mix of awe and fury. "You cannot do this!"
"I can, and I will," Ethan replied, determination hardening his resolve. "You are bound to me now, Asheron. You will serve the Bureau, and you will not break free."
Asheron let out a final, anguished scream as the shadows coiled tighter, the bond solidifying with a blinding flash of light. The containment room pulsed with energy, the wards resonating as the Lurker was forced back into submission.
Ethan felt the rush of victory surge through him, but he knew this was only the beginning. Holding a Lurker was no small feat, and he could feel the residual power thrumming beneath the surface. He needed to keep the demon in check while also maintaining his own sense of self.
"Excellent work, Ethan," Monroe's voice came through the intercom, calm and steady. "Now comes the true test. Maintain the bond. You've proven you can summon and bind, but keeping Asheron under control will be your greatest challenge yet."
Ethan nodded, breathless but ready. He had taken the first step into a much larger world, one filled with shadows and danger, but also with potential. Asheron would not break him. Not now, not ever.
With a deep breath, he focused again on the binding, the Lurker's presence heavy in the room, both a threat and a powerful ally. They were linked now, and he intended to show Asheron exactly what it meant to be bound to a summoner of will.