Sacrifices were typically categorized into two types:
- 'Random sacrifices' were akin to casting a fishing net into the vast multidimensional planes, hoping to catch the attention of a powerful being or race. It was unpredictable and risky, with a high chance of failure, but some wizards found this thrilling.
- 'Specific sacrifices' were directed toward a known being. These rituals, if performed correctly, rarely failed. However, they were more demanding, requiring offerings that perfectly suited the target's desires. A mismatched or unsatisfactory offering could result in… dire consequences.
Leonard shared his understanding of sacrifices with Merlin.
The wizard let out a soft, almost amused chuckle. "A very standard textbook explanation," he said, his voice carrying an unsettling, feminine quality. "You're well-read for someone so young."
Merlin gestured toward the ritual array etched onto the floor with sharp, fluid lines. "This here is a sacrifice. The target of this particular one…" He paused for effect, turning slightly so Leonard caught a glimpse of his calculating gaze. "...is a devil."
Merlin motioned for Leonard to come closer, and the younger wizard obliged, stepping forward to stand behind him.
"Sirens," Merlin began, nodding toward the charred bodies arranged meticulously within the glowing formation, "are a mostly worthless experimental material. They've been studied exhaustively. Did you know they were created by the sea god?"
Leonard's eyebrows rose slightly. This was new information.
"Yes," Merlin continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "The sea god crafted them, granting them a form of intelligence. Beings like these, forged by divine hands, have souls that demons find particularly appealing."
The faint scent of blood and sulfur lingered in the air, making Leonard's nose twitch. The array before them glowed faintly, pulsating like a living thing.
Then, without looking at him, Merlin said something that made Leonard's stomach tighten: "Are you practicing the Hellfire Meditation Method?"
Leonard hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded. "Yes."
He couldn't help but wonder how Merlin had noticed. Was there something distinct about the Hellfire Meditation Method that gave him away?
Merlin smiled, though the expression did little to comfort Leonard. It was the kind of smile that hinted at knowledge best kept hidden.
"I thought so. Practicing that method gives off… a certain aura. And you're in luck, we share a connection. I'm a teacher at the Abyss Wizard Academy."
The words sent a shock through Leonard. 'Merlin was from the same academy as his teacher, Alfonso?'
It seemed too coincidental. Leonard's thoughts raced. Was Merlin connected to his teacher? Had Alfonso known this and deliberately sent him to this ship? Merlin didn't seem inclined to elaborate, though, as he smoothly shifted the conversation back to the ritual.
"You're fortunate to have the Hellfire Meditation Method," Merlin said with an air of finality. "But enough about that. Pay attention. This is an excellent opportunity for you to witness a proper sacrifice."
---
Merlin began chanting softly, his voice weaving through an ancient, guttural language. The array responded immediately, its lines flaring to life with a 'vivid purple glow' that pulsed like a heartbeat. The light grew brighter, tinged with crimson as the scent of sulfur thickened, mingling with the sharp metallic tang of blood.
Leonard watched as the 'bodies of the sirens', arranged in a fixed posture within the array, began to blacken and burn. Flesh cracked and sizzled, and their forms slowly melded together, twisting unnaturally into a 'charred black gateway'.
At the center of the gateway, a swirling 'red vortex' appeared, its edges crackling with dark energy. The air around it distorted, rippling like heatwaves.
Leonard felt a wave of oppressive energy roll over him. His breathing quickened, but he steadied himself, refusing to show weakness.
From the vortex, a shadow began to take form. It grew larger, towering higher with each passing second, until finally, the figure stepped through.
---
The creature was 'nearly three meters tall', with a monstrous, nightmarish form. Its six muscular arms flexed as it emerged, each one tipped with claws that gleamed like polished obsidian. Its skin was a deep crimson, etched with glowing black runes that seemed to pulsate in rhythm with the array. Its face was a grotesque blend of human and beast, with burning orange eyes that radiated malice.
Leonard couldn't help but marvel at the sheer presence of the being. 'This was a devil, an apex predator of the lower planes, brimming with raw power and unrestrained tyranny.'
The devil's gaze swept the room, finally settling on Merlin. It grinned, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth.
"You summoned me, wizard," it rumbled, its voice deep and guttural, sending vibrations through the very air. "What is it you seek?"
Merlin remained unfazed, meeting the devil's gaze with a calm, almost casual confidence.
"I have a task for you," he said smoothly. "But first, let's discuss your payment."
Leonard stood silently, absorbing every detail. This was his first time witnessing a sacrifice of this scale. The raw power of the devil, the precision of Merlin's ritual, the ominous energy that hung in the air, it was both terrifying and exhilarating.
And he couldn't help but think: 'Someday, I'll master magic like this.'
The demon that emerged from the ritual was striking, a terrifying and alien creature with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a snake. Her 'six muscular arms' glistened under the flickering light of the room, and her 'red scales', laced with razor-sharp barbs, caught the light as though polished with blood. Her 'pointed ears twitched', and her 'serpentine eyes', a pair of glowing dark-yellow pupils, shimmered like twin lanterns of malice.
The moment Leonard locked eyes with her, a suffocating darkness seemed to envelop his vision. Her presence radiated a pure, primal evil 'an aura so thick it felt like it could crush his soul'.
Before Leonard could even think, a wave of 'violent, murderous intent' surged through the room like a crashing tide, nearly driving him to his knees.
This was no ordinary demon, this was an 'adult six-armed snake demon'.
Leonard's face paled, and his body instinctively moved. Without a second thought, he stepped back, using Wizard Merlin as a living shield. He didn't dare make a sound.
He knew the reputation of abyss demons all too well. They were not just strong, they were 'nightmarishly powerful', their combat ability unmatched among beings of similar levels. Abyss demons were born and bred in war, honed by endless battles in their violent and chaotic realm.
For ordinary adventurers or professionals, taking down an experienced abyss demon required 'a full, coordinated team', often bolstered with the best spells, equipment, and strategy available.
To make things worse, many high-level demons could summon 'lesser demons' as reinforcements. What might seem like a one-on-one fight could quickly turn into an overwhelming massacre.
And the six-armed snake demon wasn't just a high-level demon, it was a 'masterpiece of the Abyss', one of the deadliest among its kind.
The demon surveyed the room with a cold gaze, her bloody tongue flicking out as she sized up her summoner. Her expression shifted into one of contempt as her eyes landed on Merlin.
"So... it's a wizard who's called me," she hissed, her voice slithering like a blade against glass.
Merlin's expression remained calm, unbothered by her insolence. His lavender hair gleamed faintly in the light as he spoke evenly.
"I summoned you for a task," he said, his voice cool and commanding. "What I need is a demon skilled in tracking and assassination. Do you fit the bill?"
The snake demon's lips curled into a jagged, cruel smile. "Oh, I am more than qualified," she said. Her voice was like venom, sweet and deadly.
As Leonard watched, her figure began to dissolve into the shadows. Her snake-like body melted seamlessly into the room's dark corners, leaving only faint traces of her presence.
Merlin nodded in approval. "A six-armed snake demon with shadow-lurking abilities, rare indeed."
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a 'silver dagger' from his ring. Its blade gleamed ominously, faint runes carved into its surface glowing faintly.
"There is another wizard aboard this ship," Merlin said, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Your task is to assassinate him. You don't need to kill him outright, just a single wound from this dagger will suffice."
From the shadows, one of the snake demon's arms reached out and effortlessly took the dagger. Her figure reemerged briefly, a smug grin stretching across her face, before she vanished again into the darkness.
Leonard felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. 'He had just overheard something he definitely shouldn't have.'
The fact that Merlin trusted him enough to be in the room during such a sensitive moment was both reassuring and deeply unsettling. Leonard couldn't help but worry if Merlin might decide to 'silence him' once the task was complete.
As if sensing his unease, Merlin turned to Leonard with a faint smile.
"Do not concern yourself with matters beyond your station," he said smoothly. "This is the power of our Abyss Wizard Academy. Unlike others, we don't fear summoning demons, nor do we worry about their retaliation. We recruit them, we trade with them, and we command them. It's our unique strength."
Leonard nodded stiffly, unsure how to respond.
Merlin gestured toward the cluttered 'lab table' at the side of the room. "Your task for now is simple: clean up the lab. I have other matters to attend to, but as long as you stay in this room, you'll be safe. No harm will come to you."
With that, Merlin left the room, his robes swishing softly as he disappeared into the hallway.
---
Leonard glanced around the spacious chamber. The lingering aura of the ritual still hung heavily in the air, making the hairs on his neck stand on end.
Merlin's attitude toward him had been surprisingly cordial, almost too friendly. It made Leonard uneasy. What did Merlin know, or suspect, about him? Did it have anything to do with the Hellfire Meditation Method?
Shaking off his thoughts, Leonard turned his attention to the lab table. It was covered in a chaotic assortment of materials; vials of blood, strange herbs, shards of bone, and items he couldn't even identify.
As he cleaned, he couldn't shake the nagging sense of familiarity. The arrangement of tools, the patterns on the table… it all felt 'eerily similar' to something he had seen before.
Once the table was spotless, Leonard found himself staring at the 'demon summoning array' that dominated the room. Its intricate lines and symbols glowed faintly with residual energy, pulsing faintly like a dying heartbeat.
Curiosity gnawed at him. He knew he shouldn't tamper with it, summoning demons was no trivial matter; but the array was a masterpiece of magical engineering.
"Just a look," Leonard muttered to himself. "No touching. Just study the design."
Cautiously, he stepped closer, his eyes tracing the delicate lines of the formation. The more he studied it, the more he felt drawn into its complexity. Each symbol seemed to hum with hidden meaning, each line a thread in a vast, unknowable tapestry.
This wasn't just a summoning array, it was a work of art, an expression of Merlin's mastery.
Leonard's fingers itched. 'What would it take to recreate something like this?'