[Chapter 182: Spending the Night Together]
Daniel frowned when he saw the text message. Without a second thought, he knew the message was sent by the Succubus.
In truth, the Succubus's own combat power was quite weak. Its strength lay elsewhere. First, it hid in Cyberspace and within its own Spiritual World. Second, its powerful charm allowed it to transform into the most beautiful woman imaginable. Third, it had an uncanny ability to read men's thoughts, making them fall hopelessly in love with it and then bend to its will.
If Daniel could confront the Succubus face-to-face, he felt confident he could kill it instantly. But the biggest problem was how to lure it out. Having power without a target was useless.
Seeing Daniel reading the message on phone, Scarlett immediately assumed it was from another woman. A sharp pang of jealousy hit her, but she didn't dare say a word. She knew she was the later arrival and had no right to demand anything from Daniel. The more she understood him, the more she felt his power and mystique were beyond her reach. It was impossible for her to hold him tightly all on her own.
Steeling her breath, Scarlett pressed closer to Daniel again.
...
The next day, Daniel saw Scarlett off. Almost immediately after she left, a new message arrived for him.
"Oh my god, the life energy radiating from you is incredibly strong! You actually released it nonstop for an entire night. How wonderful it would be if such vitality were given to me. You actually wasted it on an ordinary woman."
Daniel replied: "If you want it, come out and meet me."
The message went through successfully, but the sender's number showed as unknown. It seemed the Succubus truly had a knack for controlling electronic devices.
"No, not yet. Wait a little longer," the Succubus replied.
"How much longer do I have to wait?" Daniel asked.
"Give me a little more time. I want to meet you in my best state."
"You're already beautiful; there's no need for special preparation."
"No, it's not enough. You deserve to see me at my most magnificent and perfect."
Daniel sighed silently. Getting the Succubus to manifest in reality now seemed almost impossible. He could only try a forced Soul Summoning.
He waved his hand, and a Ritual Table appeared. He tapped it, and incense and candles flared to life. Placing his phone on the table, Daniel took out a piece of Seal Paper inscribed with the Edict of Sealed Authority.
Holding the Edict firmly, he started chanting. A powerful energy filled the air, enveloping the entire room.
Between the living and the departed stand only the boundaries of lawful order.
By the Edict of Sealed Authority, and by this object bearing your true imprint,
I command the hidden path to be opened and every barrier to be broken.
Reveal your true form and present yourself before judgment without delay.
Defy this summons, and the Flame of Judgment shall consume your corruption until nothing remains.
By sealed authority, Manifest!
Boom!
The Edict of Sealed Authority in Daniel's hand burst into a ball of fire. A swirling, mysterious power radiated outward, extending beyond the building in all directions.
Previously, Daniel had used this move to forcibly summon Bathsheba for a meeting. But Bathsheba was already in the real world -- just hiding. Now, this Succubus didn't exist in reality.
Daniel didn't even know its true name, so he relied on the faint wisp of its energy lingering on the phone for the summoning. He had no confidence it would work.
The phone suddenly flipped over on the Ritual Table, as if yanked by an invisible force. But beyond that, Daniel sensed nothing unusual.
Shaking his head, he knew the forced summoning had failed. He felt a flash of helplessness. Even a highest level Ascendant couldn't summon a single Succubus.
The main reason: this Succubus was not a ghost, but a special kind of existence.
Ding!
Suddenly, Daniel's phone buzzed again. He picked it up to see another message.
"You... you actually wanted to hurt me. I'm very disappointed and heartbroken. Everything you said was false."
Of course, it was from the Succubus again.
Daniel typed: "Stop pretending..."
Then he deleted those words and rewrote the message: "I'm sorry! I just wanted to see you so badly. That feeling... it's like an obsession. Can you understand?"
He hit send.
Waiting.
About thirty seconds later, the phone vibrated.
"Really?" The Succubus's reply came, suspicion mingled with a subtle hint of pleasure. "You want to see me so badly that you'd resort to such a violent method?"
Daniel waved his hand, putting away the Ritual Table. He sat back on the sofa and replied, "It's true. Your beauty, even glimpsed through a screen, is enough to drive a person mad. I am only a mortal, and this was the clumsiest way I could try."
He paused, then sent another message.
"But scaring you was my mistake. Give me a chance to make it up to you, alright? Let me see you with my own eyes, even just once. I promise, you'll be the absolute Dominator."
This time, the reply came faster.
"Hmph ... sweet talk. You men are all the same."
Daniel's response was longer now, more heartfelt.
"I am different from others. Haven't you sensed my life energy? That kind of power... I want to dedicate it only to someone who deserves it. A perfect goddess... who exists only in my imagination."
The phone fell silent for a moment.
Daniel waited patiently, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his knee. The low hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet room.
He knew the Succubus was struggling, weighing the risk against the lure of that powerful vitality.
Finally, the message lit up again.
"You said... you'd let me be the Dominator?"
"Of course," Daniel replied without hesitation. "Time, place, and method -- all up to you. My only request is to see you for real -- not separated by an intangible screen."
There was another silence, longer this time.
Daniel wasn't in a hurry. He stood and walked to the window, letting the sunlight pour in through the floor-to-ceiling glass.
Then the phone vibrated violently.
"Let's meet tonight. But I hope you behave yourself. Otherwise, your friend will remain forever in my 'Joy House.'"
An MMS arrived: a picture of Chris lying on a bed in a pink-toned room, eyes closed, a look of blissful intoxication on his face, completely unaware of any danger.
Daniel knew this wasn't Chris's actual state. Otherwise, his Seal wouldn't be completely unresponsive. It was a scene fabricated by the Succubus itself.
His eyes chilled briefly before settling back into calm.
He replied: "It's a deal. I look forward to... spending the night together with you."
"I look forward to it too. I will make sure you experience the ultimate pleasure on earth! I promise it's a feeling no other woman can give you."
After that, the Succubus sent no more messages.
Daniel's lips curled into a slight smile as he put away his phone.
*****
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