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The man's tone brimmed with fanaticism, and a hint of darkness flickered in his eyes. Suddenly, the lights in the tavern began to flicker, as if affected by some unseen force. Light and shadow danced across the room, casting eerie shapes over the patrons.
The man looked at Wanda with a strange intensity, sensing the power she held. "Join me," he said, his voice filled with a seductive, almost hypnotic tone. "I can teach you the knowledge from the Dark Book. You could have anything you desire. Anything."
But Wanda remained unfazed. "Did it fulfill your wishes?" she asked coolly.
"Of course," he replied, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Do you have any idea what I was like before I got the Book of Darkness?"
Wanda gave him a knowing nod. "Russell Crowe, thirty-two years old. Born in the small town of Forks, Texas. Eight years ago, you were a truck driver, but you lost a leg and an arm in an accident."
Russell's face went pale as Wanda continued, recounting his life as if reading from a script. "Your family couldn't afford the medical bills, so your wife, Rani, divorced you. Your daughter went with her. You lost your job, and the accident compensation barely covered anything. Homeless and hopeless, you nearly committed suicide but couldn't bring yourself to go through with it."
"Two months ago, you found the Book of Darkness at a construction site. Its power restored your health and taught you black magic. Since then, you've killed a total of 311 people, mostly gang members."
Russell's face contorted in shock. "How... how do you know all this?"
"You have no secrets from me," Wanda said, her sweet, delicate features now resembling something more devilish.
Russell's hand gripped the Dark Book tightly, drawing strength from it as he glanced warily at Leon, who was still chatting with Old Mike at the bar. "I don't know who you are, but I don't want any trouble," he said, his tone turning defensive.
Wanda shook her head. "Listen, I'm not here as some hero. I don't care who you've been dealing with. The Book of Darkness gave you back your limbs, and you used its power to kill gang members and amass a small fortune. All of it could be enough to secure your daughter's future."
She paused, her eyes hardening. "But the Book of Darkness is slowly corrupting your soul. It'll turn you into a monster—a walking corpse."
Russell's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "So you're here to take the Book of Darkness from me?"
Like a beast deprived of its prey, Russell looked stricken. Wanda sighed, "Well, it seems I'm not very good at persuading people."
"So~~" Boom!
Her gaze sharpened, and a terrifying wave of energy burst from her. The aura, intense and almost tangible, crashed into Russell, overwhelming him. Despite having the Dark Book's magic, his willpower alone couldn't withstand Wanda's power. The force shattered his resolve, and the chair beneath him crumbled.
"You..." Russell gasped, feeling as though he'd been plunged into the depths of the ocean, his body and mind under crushing pressure. His heart pounded, but he couldn't focus; his thoughts grew hazy, and his black magic slipped from his grasp.
Wanda's voice cut through his dazed mind. "I'm sorry, Mr. Crowe, but I have to take the Dark Book. In return, I'll remove the dark force that's corroding your soul."
As her words faded, Russell lost consciousness. The last thing he saw was Wanda reaching toward him, crimson energy blooming from her hand like a sinister flower.
Plop!
His head slumped onto the table as Wanda took the Book of Darkness. Her chaos magic seeped into Russell, purging the dark energy from his soul. Wisps of black vapor—darkness and malice—rose from him, dissipating into the air as the corruption left his mind.
When she finished, Wanda picked up the book, stood, and headed toward Leon, lifting the book with a smile as she greeted Old Mike. "Hey, Old Mike."
"Hey there, pretty lady," he replied, grinning. "You're not planning to erase my memory, are you?"
Wanda chuckled, playing along. "Hmm, now that you mention it, maybe I should."
Old Mike laughed, shaking his head. "Today's been one heck of an eye-opener."
"Is he going to be alright?" he asked, glancing at Russell.
"He'll probably need some painkillers for the next couple of days," Wanda replied with a smirk.
"Well, he's lucky. He's healthy now, and he's a rich man," Old Mike said with a knowing nod. Though Russell had lost the Book of Darkness, he'd been freed from its corrupting grip. Old Mike understood well that greed never leads anywhere good, and losing the dark magic might just have been Russell's gain.
After finishing their drinks, Leon, Wanda, and Old Mike said their goodbyes and left the tavern. For a moment, silence settled over the place. Old Mike glanced over at Russell, now sleeping peacefully in the corner, looking as harmless as a baby, and felt a wave of relief.
Clutching the unrefined gold coin Leon had given him, Old Mike couldn't help but feel tonight had been profitable—and he could close up early. Meanwhile, Leon and Wanda, in no rush to head back to New York, wandered along the empty road, walking side by side. The lonely stretch was surrounded by desolate landscapes, with not a single car passing by.
As they walked, Wanda examined the Dark Book carefully. Faint whispers echoed around her, tempting her to open it. But her will was strong, fortified by the white magic she had been learning. Her strength was growing daily, and she was unfazed by the dark allure of the book.
"Ancient dark magic... it's intriguing," she murmured.
"You could open it now," Leon replied, glancing at her. "But just know, this book is tied to the ancient god Hades. If you start using its black magic, he'll take notice."
"Ha, that's even more interesting. I can feel that there's something in this book that could be... useful to me."
Standing in the middle of the road, Wanda paused, facing Leon, and opened the Book of Darkness. the Darkhold.
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