Axel, still reeling from the loss of Gizmo, didn't know whether Gizmo had been temporarily shut down or removed entirely. Yet he had decided to face this unknown foe head-on.
He didn't have much control over the situation anyway, but had resolved that if push came to shove, he might have to take his own life - servitude was not an option he would accept. The feeling of complete loss of control, of being brainwashed, was utterly unacceptable to him.
Though ready to fight, Gizmo's earlier warning remained fresh in his mind, leaving him with little hope for his situation.
The command from the voice was clear, either make your way towards the voice or simply die where you stand. Axel didn't want to comply but was really out of options at this point.
He was ready to give away his life but only if another attempt at a physiological manipulation was made. The uncertainty regarding the extent of powers that the owner of the voice wielded was a huge hindrance for Axel to plan anything his advance.
And now even Gizmo who has been his biggest help till now has been muted or erased from existence. The situation was dire and planning anything was becoming increasingly impossible. But that was the burden that Axel had to bear for on.
He cautiously moved deeper into the cave. The air grew heavier, the silence more oppressive. A faint, ethereal glow emanated from a distant chamber, drawing him inexorably closer. As he approached, the glow intensified, revealing a breathtaking sight: a vast, crystalline cavern pulsing with energy.
At its centre sat a figure shrouded in darkness. A voice, familiar yet distorted, echoed through the cavern.
"Finally here."
Just two words, yet Axel still couldn't discern the creature's form within the darkness. Surprisingly, the mental pressure that had accompanied previous words was absent now. Axel felt a glimmer of hope - perhaps this mysterious entity was cooperating, maybe even wanting something from him.
Fearing direct eye contact might cause problems, Axel initially averted his gaze. But the possibility of dialogue seemed promising now. Gathering his courage, he finally looked at the entity properly.
All he could make out was the silhouette of a tall, slender woman enveloped in black-red mist. The outline suggested wings at her back and several horns crowning her head, but these details remained obscured by the swirling red vapour. Only two blood-red eyes burned clearly through the mist - eyes that held both mystery and intrigue, simultaneously captivating and terrifying.
This figure was shrouded in mystery and only certain parts of it were visible. Yet this was enough to render the onlooker completely mesmerised. It is one thing to be captured by the beauty and another to be bewildered by the enigma in front.
"Stop staring, boy. It's rude." The words carried none of their previous otherworldly compulsion. Axel felt relief - perhaps he might survive this after all.
The entity began giggling and then released a wave of energy that passed through Axel's body.
With the wave passing through Axel, a shackle that was somehow binding him broke suddenly.
[Axel! That woman is a Demon - and not just any demon, but a higher lifeform among their kind. Your chances of survival just plummeted.] Gizmo's sudden return to his mind startled him.
Before Axel could respond, Gizmo continued, [It was this Demoness's doing - she shut me down earlier. Her allowing me back now suggests she wants me present for your conversation.]
"Boy, I'm sharing the Soul Contract. Consult your little toy and sign it." The Demon's alluring voice hung in the air as blood-red text materialized before them, rearranging into glowing glyphs that formed a circle above Axel's head.
'Gizmo, what's happening? Is she trying to enslave me? Should I consider suicide?' Axel's panic surged - "Soul Contract" couldn't mean anything good.
[Give me time, Axel. This text is written in demonic scripture. Surprisingly, it doesn't appear malicious - the contract seems transactional in nature. Soul Contracts are incredibly rare; only supremely powerful beings can initiate them without artifacts.]
As Axel waited patiently for Gizmo's analysis, the Demoness observed him motionlessly.
[Axel, this is a named Demoness - Lilith. A Queen among demons, currently sealed here by powerful magic. The Soul Contract bears her signature Blood Magic, which helped me identify her. Historical records mention her - notorious for centuries of carnage in her early existence.]