NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: The Midnight Summons
Episode 23
The air was heavy with silence as Ethan stepped out from the hidden chamber beneath the academy. His heart thumped like a war drum against his ribs, still echoing with the crimson whispers of the pact he had made.
"You have crossed the first threshold," the system chimed within his mind. "[Seduction Rank: Crimson Adept] Unlocked. New Powers Available."
A violet window hovered before his eyes:
> [System Notification]
New Ability Unlocked: Crimson Gaze – Your eyes can now influence the desires of any target within a 10-meter range. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
New Quest Available: The Temptation of Shadows – Enter the Forbidden Wing. Discover the truth behind the Midnight Summons. Reward: +500 Seduction Points, +1 Rare Relic, +1 Mysterious Invitation.
Ethan took a deep breath. The smell of ancient parchment and midnight roses lingered on his clothes. Whatever deal he had made in that underground room—it wasn't done haunting him yet.
The Academy was quiet at night. Too quiet.
He made his way through the dark halls, his steps echoing against the polished marble. The statues of long-dead headmasters watched him, their stony eyes glowing faintly in the shadows. At the far end of the hall, the Forbidden Wing loomed.
The door had no handle. No keyhole.
Only a sigil.
And as Ethan reached out, the crimson mark on his wrist pulsed.
The door dissolved into smoke.
---
Inside the Forbidden Wing
The room was dark. Not empty—just dark. Shadows clung to every corner like they were alive.
"Welcome, Initiate," said a voice that made his skin crawl.
A woman stepped out from the gloom.
She wore black velvet, her hair like spun midnight, eyes glowing red like the embers of hellfire. She was tall, graceful, terrifyingly beautiful.
"Headmistress Ravyn," Ethan whispered.
She smiled, the kind of smile that promised pleasure... or punishment.
"You came because you heard the summons. But did you come prepared to pay the price?"
Before he could answer, his system buzzed.
> [New Contract Offer]
Pact of the Midnight Flame: Accepting this contract will grant you the forbidden art of Mirror Seduction. This power allows you to reflect the deepest desire of your target back at them, amplifying their lust and binding them to you temporarily. Warning: Breaking this pact may result in memory loss or corruption.
Ethan hesitated.
"You wish to rule them all," she said, circling him like a predator. "But power comes at a cost. Your next conquest... must be me."
She pressed a finger to his chest, and the sigil flared.
"Defeat me in the Trial of Temptation, and the Forbidden Relic is yours."
His breath caught.
> New Quest: Trial of Temptation
Objective: Survive the Headmistress's illusions and temptations. Time Limit: 10 minutes Reward: Forbidden Relic - The Mirror of Sin, +1000 Seduction Points, +3 Rare Collectibles
---
The Trial Begins
The world around him shattered into a thousand mirrors.
Each one showed a version of Ethan—one where he failed, one where he was weak, one where he betrayed everyone he loved.
The Headmistress stepped into the center of it all, now wearing nothing but a veil of shadows.
"Let's see how long your will holds."
Whispers flooded his mind.
> "Touch her." "Give in." "No one will know."
But Ethan gritted his teeth. He focused.
Desire is a weapon, he told himself. And I will master it.
He activated Crimson Gaze.
The mirrors cracked.
He took a step forward.
Another.
The Headmistress's illusions wavered.
She laughed, but this time, it was uncertain.
"You... you are stronger than I expected."
He lunged forward and placed his hand on her heart.
The sigil on his wrist flared.
A surge of heat.
Then everything went black.
---
When He Awoke
He lay on a bed of velvet.
The Headmistress sat beside him, her expression unreadable.
In his inventory, the Mirror of Sin pulsed with dark light.
> [System Notification] Trial Complete. Quest Cleared. Reward Claimed: Mirror of Sin, +1000 Seduction Points, +3 Rare Collectibles New Passive Ability: Temptation Resistance
She leaned closer. Her lips brushed his ear.
"I see potential in you, Ethan Cross. But the next trial... will break more than your will."
He didn't flinch.
He smirked.
"Bring it on."
---
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