Denise meticulously followed each step of the ritual, her hands steady and precise as she handled the sacrifices she had prepared.
She carefully arranged the candles and other items, ensuring perfect alignment in the Magic Circle.
The candles flickered, casting dancing shadows that seemed to mirror Denise's own determination. Her eyes shimmered with a mix of excitement and reverence as she prepared to delve into the unknown.
With a breath held in anticipation, Denise chanted the ritual prayer.
"Oh, Glorious Gates that lead to the Spirit World, Sacred Weaver of the Soul Society, Nameless Guardian of the Harbingers, As a devoted follower of the Eternal Darkness, I humbly beseech you to grant me passage.
In this solemn moment, I seek to open the gates, To beckon forth a Dark Spirit from your realm, One who desires friendship and kinship with me.
With utmost reverence, I call upon the unseen, May my words reach their ethereal ears, May they heed my sincere plea and answer my call.
Oh, Dark Spirits, hear my earnest invocation, Accept the offering of my devout devotion, Open the path between our worlds…
Glorious Gates, I call upon your power. Break the barriers that separate our existence, And let the boundless energy of the Dark Spirits flow."
As the ritual reached its crescendo, Denise's focus intensified.
She closed her eyes, shutting out the world around her, and allowed herself to become fully immersed in the moment. Her mind was calm as she tried sensing the unseen entities she sought to connect with.
The ritual she just made was certainly different from Vale's incantations… This was what real incantations should be since she doesn't have any good connections with the Spirit World, unlike Vale.
Soon, the room seemed to tremble as if responding to Denise's call.
A surge of energy coursed through the air as it pulsated throughout the through... Shadows danced and swirled as if drawn to the intensity of the ritual.
'Please…' Denise said one last time before she opened her eyes.
She extended her hands towards the center of the ritual circle, palms upturned, ready to receive the manifestation of the Dark Spirit she sought to contract with.
And then, in a sudden burst of ethereal energy, a presence materialized before her. It was a dark figure shrouded in shadows, its form ever-shifting.
However, before it could fully materialize, something unexpected happened!
A sudden disturbance halted the process. The Dark Spirit that was originally intended to be summoned remained hidden in the depths of the Spirit World. No! It was being pulled away!
'W-what's going on?!' Denise was already about to cry since she spent most of her savings to complete this ritual.
If she failed this time, she would have to save for six months to redo the ritual.
"Why are you retreating?!" Denise could no longer hold it in as she asked with a teary voice.
She wasn't expecting an answer, but she was shocked to see that a new presence emerged.
She could tell that it was different from the previous Dark Spirit she was trying to summon. This Dark Spirit seemed stronger, and she could feel that it had a high sentience!
Soon, an ethereal Dark Spirit in a female figure that was shrouded in a cloak of shadow appeared in front of her.
A powerful aura enveloped the room as this Dark Spirit fully emerged and stepped forward to take over the summoning.
'Another Dark Spirit took over the summoning ritual? What's going on?' Denise was confused.
This Dark Spirit was captivating, and she exuded an air of ancient wisdom and mystery.
In any case, she couldn't mess this up. She knew that summoning a Dark Spirit was just the first phase. They could still return to the Spirit World since they were different from other Spiritual Beings that could normally be summoned.
She knew that there would be a test for her, and depending on how she scored on this test, the Dark Spirit could either leave or stay with her for some time.
Denise, filled with anticipation and curiosity, couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension. She spoke cautiously.
"Who are you, Spirit? What name do you bear?"
At first, she didn't want to ask this since Dark Spirits don't have names, according to Heinz. Usually, it would be the summoners who would give names to them.
However, she felt that this one looked different, so she couldn't help but ask instead.
Then, as she waited for an answer, an ethereal female voice filled the room, carrying a haunting melody.
Meanwhile, in the well-lit clubroom of the Battle Arena Committee, Vale Chambers had no choice but to speak with Celina Vermont since Nadine told him to teach her how to use the recording crystals.
Then, as Vale was about to tell her how to purchase these items from the Alchemy Faction, he felt a sudden unease ripple through him.
It was as if an invisible presence had brushed against his senses, sending a shiver down his spine. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something in the air that felt familiar yet enigmatic.
'Is that my ESP Spell? Am I being cursed by Professor Evans this time?' Vale thought to himself as he couldn't really interpret what he felt just now.
He wasn't sure if it was related to the Golden Pocketwatch, the Stormbringer, the other Kyle in his dreams, or perhaps the Mysterious Entity he met in the Dark Soul Tower… Well, it might even be about the Immortal Item or Ancient Book that he had brought with him!
There are just too many things he didn't know.
"Hmm?" Celina noticed the subtle change in Vale's demeanor.
"Is something the matter, Vale?" She inquired, her eyes filled with curiosity.
She had been looking forward to this meeting and was ready to negotiate once again with Vale… She had made a lot of preparations, and this time, she knew that even if Vale wouldn't immediately agree to become her Personal Shadow Knight, he would definitely be tempted.