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墨書 Inktalez
Hunter stared at the video on his phone, muttering to himself in an attempt to suppress the inexplicable chill creeping over him. "Damn, this old man really knows how to scare people... summoning demons, drawing symbols with blood..." He impatiently slurped his instant noodles, splattering broth onto his security uniform, creating a scene that looked both messy and awkward.
However, just as he was mocking the ancient rituals depicted in the video, a deep voice with an unusual magnetism suddenly whispered in his ear, as if emerging from the darkness beside him. "If you truly wish to perform a summoning ritual, you should choose a night of the full moon, using fresh blood to draw a nine-pointed star formation. Place a living heart at the center of the array and recite the incantation in ancient Latin to open the passage to the dark world..." Each word was chilling, imbued with an indescribable power that made the air around him feel heavy.
Hunter jumped in shock, nearly dropping his bowl of noodles as hot broth splashed onto his arm, stinging painfully. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure standing in the shadows of the security room and froze, his heart racing as if struck by a powerful blow. He thought he might be imagining things or that the volume on the video was too low until he truly came to his senses and saw who stood there.
James stood unexpectedly beside him, leaning against the doorframe of the security room with a cold smirk on his face. Hunter recalled the last time he had seen James—waiting for the elevator downstairs, looking utterly worn out. Back then, James had appeared as an elderly man marked by time, struggling to walk. But now, the James before him seemed like a completely different person.
James wore a fitted black coat that accentuated his tall frame, exuding an aura of mystery and intimidation. The face that had once been lined with wrinkles now appeared youthful and vibrant, as if time had reversed for him, erasing all signs of aging. His eyes glimmered with a dark light under the dim illumination—an unsettling mix of indifference and something sinister that sent shivers down Hunter's spine.
"J-James?" Hunter stammered, his voice trembling with anxiety. His mind struggled to comprehend how this man who looked twenty years younger could possibly be the same professor he once knew. Everything felt utterly illogical. Even though he was aware that James had recently gained sudden fame online, he had never heard anything about such an incredible transformation—he seemed like a completely reborn creature.
James tilted his head slightly to regard Hunter, still wearing that mocking smile. "You are quite an interesting person for showing such curiosity about these arcane matters." His voice was like cold wind brushing past Hunter's ears, laced with an uncontainable pride and malevolence. His gaze drifted from Hunter's phone to the screen displaying scenes of dark magic rituals, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Do you... do you really believe those things you just mentioned are so sinister?" Hunter asked cautiously, still filled with fear and unease. His mind was a whirlwind; he couldn't fathom why James had suddenly appeared here or why he spoke such bizarre words.
James smiled faintly but did not directly answer Hunter's question. Instead, he leaned closer slightly, bringing that seemingly secretive face nearer to Hunter's. "Let me tell you something: there are many things in this world that cannot be understood through common sense... Sometimes what we think does not exist is more real than you can imagine." He lowered his voice deliberately; it slithered into Hunter's ear like a cold snake whispering secrets. The words sent an icy shiver down Hunter's spine and made it feel as though breathing became difficult for a moment.
Instinctively shrinking back to create distance between himself and James, Hunter found himself drawn in by an indescribable curiosity—like prey caught in a snake's gaze—unable to tear his eyes away. Meanwhile, James continued to smile enigmatically in the dimly lit security room, his deep and cold eyes hinting at a near-manic glimmer.
Hunter awkwardly chuckled, attempting to break the eerie atmosphere with a tone he barely believed himself: "Hey, Professor James, I think you know better than I do that this is all nonsense, right? Dark magic and evil rituals are just old superstitions—nothing more than folklore and tales from rural areas." He shrugged nonchalantly after speaking, forcing a smile while trying to maintain composure in front of James.
James regarded Hunter with an almost imperceptible smile that appeared even more unsettling under the dim light of the security room. He lowered his head slightly as if pondering before slowly responding: "Is that so? Do you truly believe these are merely rural legends and tales?" His voice was low and soft yet carried an unusual weight behind each word that struck at Hunter's heart.
Hunter instinctively nodded, the gesture seeming almost instinctual. His mouth moved, but he couldn't find the words to fill the sudden awkward silence. He had thought this would allow the conversation to shift naturally, yet James did not relent; instead, he slowly approached, his steps steady and composed. Each step of those polished black shoes echoed against the floor of the security room, striking Hunter's heart like a drumbeat, quickening his breath.
James reached the Security Desk, his hands lightly caressing the edge of the table. His fingers glided over the cold metal, producing a faint sound of friction. The movement appeared casual, yet under the dim light, it took on an eerie quality, as if he were savoring every moment of this unsettling scene. His smile deepened, and his gaze sharpened, as if he intended to penetrate Hunter's defenses and reach into his innermost thoughts.
A sense of inexplicable danger surged from Hunter's core, yet at the same time, he found himself unable to look away. It was as if every action of James carried an irresistible allure. James's presence loomed closer from the darkness before him, bringing with it an oppressive weight that made Hunter feel breathless. He wanted to step back but found his legs immobilized as if nailed to the ground. All he could manage was a dry whisper: "I... I just think... these things... are too absurd..."
James leaned slightly forward, his eyes fixed intently on Hunter as if examining an intriguing specimen. His tone dropped lower, laced with an unspoken threat: "Absurd? Yes, in the eyes of you self-proclaimed wise ones, many things seem absurd... But when you witness it firsthand, can you still think that way?" His voice brushed against Hunter's ear like a cold wind in the dead of night, yet it was filled with a certain temptation.
A cold sweat broke out on Hunter's back; he felt his hands trembling slightly but couldn't pinpoint what exactly he feared. Before him stood James—a mere professor—but at that moment, he seemed like some entity emerging from unfathomable darkness, exuding a pressure capable of consuming everything. Hunter sensed an indescribable change within James but could not articulate what it was; he felt helplessly ensnared by the other's aura like a captured prey.
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