Sanctuary: Safe Haven

While Canna was preoccupied with the affairs of forming his new clan, a significant development was unfolding within the sanctuary—one that would soon alter the power dynamics within its walls.

Cynthia, the head of the research department, was busy fine-tuning the barriers that would be used for the clan's construction. Her wore her goggles as she meticulously adjusted a delicate mechanism. The peace of the lab was broken by a frantic knock on the door. Without even glancing up, she groaned, already sensing it was her eager assistant, Olivia.

"Master Cynthia! It's been deciphered!" Olivia burst in, her eyes wide with excitement. "A man who was a captive of the Black Thorn... he said he was the lead researcher on it! It's been deciphered!" she rambled, her voice tumbling over itself.

Cynthia removed her goggles, her eyebrows raised in slight irritation. "Olivia, context. You can't just come bursting in here and expect me to drop everything—do you want the lab to explode again?"

Olivia visibly paled at the memory. There was an infamous incident where she had surprised Cynthia with a prank at the wrong time, and the result had been catastrophic. Cynthia had been working on a volatile barrier formula when Olivia startled her, leading to an explosion that obliterated half the lab. Worse yet, the blast had knocked a tree down, a tree in which Canna had been peacefully napping. Mortem had caught Canna in time, but the leader's laughter at the chaos still haunted Olivia with embarrassment to this day.

Swallowing her nerves, Olivia cleared her throat and spoke more precisely. "A refugee rescued from the Black Thorn approached the lab. He claimed to be the head researcher on that

thing

we've been trying to decipher. To prove his claims, we showed him the artifact, and in less than a few minutes, he fully deciphered it."

Cynthia's expression sharpened. "That thing?" she asked, stepping forward with sudden urgency.

"The Demon Summoning Book," Olivia whispered, her excitement mixed with apprehension.

Cynthia's eyes widened. Without another word, she bolted from her lab, heading toward the chamber where the book had been sealed. Inside, the air was electric with excitement. Researchers cheered and high-fived, their success evident. The book—long a source of mystery—had finally been cracked. This meant the potential summoning of demons, beings of immense power. Though dangerous, with the right safeguards, this could be a monumental leap forward for the sanctuary's defenses.

Braris, the former head researcher for Black Thorn, had proven his worth, and now he stood at the center of the room, ready to move the project forward.

_____________

The following day, five of Vorgrim's shock troops were summoned to the sanctuary's arena for a special demonstration. Cynthia had requested their presence as part of a controlled experiment. The guardian Zephyros, whose affinity for dark magic made him a perfect overseer for this venture, stood to the side, silently observing.

Braris addressed the five shock troops with a serious expression. "Thank you for coming, even on such short notice. Your strength and skill were the reasons you were chosen for this research," he began. "Today, we are working on something potentially groundbreaking—demon summoning."

The mention of demon summoning sparked wide-eyed looks among the troops. They exchanged excited, yet cautious, glances. Demons were known to be powerful, and the idea of summoning one sounded both thrilling and terrifying.

Braris gestured to a table on his left, stacked high with supplies. "To your left, you'll see various offerings: mana cores of different ranks, monster blood, and meat from various creatures. These are some of the key ingredients we'll be using today."

He looked back at the gathered troops and began to explain the summoning process. "There are three main methods to summon a demon. First, you can summon a demon using your own blood and mana. This method will call forth a demon that is tied to your mana signature—meaning if you specialize in water magic, the demon summoned will likely have water-related abilities or will be able to enhance your own."

He paused, letting that sink in, before continuing. "The second method is to offer mana cores. A substantial amount is needed, and this type of summoning doesn't form a permanent contract. The demon will materialize using the mana cores as fuel and will complete a specific task in exchange. Once the task is done, the demon will return to its realm."

The shock troops nodded, intrigued by the mechanics of summoning demons for specific purposes. But Braris's tone grew more somber as he explained the risks involved.

"Now, let me be clear. Summoning a demon is not without dangers. If the summoner is too weak, the demon can siphon your mana, your life force, or even your soul, corrupting it in the process. In the worst-case scenario, the demon will take over your body, transforming it into a vessel for destruction. The body won't be able to handle the strain, and it will eventually explode."

There was a ripple of unease among the shock troops, but Zephyros's calm presence helped to reassure them. With his mastery over dark magic, he would be able to contain any potential disaster.

Braris continued. "The third method involves using monster blood and corpses. This will summon a demonic beast rather than an intelligent demon. Some of the more common demonic beasts are Hellhounds, Hell Wraiths, and Hell Serpents."

The troops remained focused, absorbing every detail. Braris then shifted his tone to something more urgent.

"Now, this is critical: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you use all three methods at the same time. While it is theoretically possible, doing so would be catastrophic. Mixing all three methods amplifies the risk of failure, and I do not wish to explain the horrors that could be unleashed as a result."

The tension in the room was palpable as Braris finished his warning. The shock troops exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Braris clapped his hands together. "Now that you know the risks, let's begin the summoning."

_____________

The shock troops each prepared for the summoning process. The first was tasked with using their own mana and blood. Braris observed closely as the summoner cut their palm, allowing blood to drip onto the ground while channeling their mana.

The air around them darkened as the summoning circle glowed faintly. A gust of wind swept through the arena, and slowly, a figure began to materialize from the shadows. It was small at first, but its presence grew with each second.

Suddenly, the form of a demon appeared before them—a creature covered in dark blue scales, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. It looked at the summoner with a curious gaze. Though its form was not particularly large, the magic emanating from it indicated significant power.

The summoner spoke their request, and the demon nodded slowly before vanishing into the air, the task seemingly accepted.

The next summoning used monster blood and corpses. One of the shock troops placed a freshly harvested mana core on the ground and covered it with the blood of a monster. The summoning circle flared to life, and within moments, a hellish creature emerged. It was a towering beast, with glowing red eyes and flames licking around its massive form. The troops braced themselves as the creature took its first steps, sniffing the air before turning its gaze toward its summoner.

Zephyros kept a watchful eye on the process, ready to intervene at any moment. However, the creature showed no signs of hostility. With a low growl, it submitted to its summoner, ready to carry out the task it had been called for.

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As the various summons took place, Braris and Cynthia observed, recording the results for future use. This research was pivotal—it had the potential to reshape the sanctuary's defensive capabilities. Summoning demons, while dangerous, could add a formidable layer to their arsenal. If controlled properly, these demonic entities could be powerful allies.

Zephyros, watching from the shadows, was impressed by the control the shock troops exhibited. He could feel the pull of dark magic within each summoning, but none of them had faltered or lost control. It seemed the sanctuary's warriors were indeed as capable as they were rumored to be.

As the last summoning concluded, Braris turned to Cynthia with a nod of approval. "This research is progressing well. We might just have discovered a way to strengthen our forces in ways we hadn't imagined."

Cynthia, her eyes still sharp and focused, replied, "Yes, but we need to proceed with caution. Demons are not to be trifled with. Even the smallest mistake could be fatal."

Braris agreed but couldn't help but smile at their success. The sanctuary had just unlocked another level of power, and while it was still early days, the possibilities were endless.

As the shock troops filed out of the arena, their expressions showed a mixture of exhaustion and excitement. They had seen the power of demons firsthand, and they knew that the sanctuary was about to become even stronger than it already was.

Zephyros, standing silently, gave a slight nod of approval. Though the research was dangerous, he knew that with the proper precautions, they would be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.