Chthon!
Kaecilius's soul trembled at the name.
It was a name found in the oldest myths and the deepest parts of forbidden scrolls, the true source of black magic.
A dark existence older and more fundamental than dimensional demon gods like Dormammu!
He had actually... actually drawn the attention of such an existence?!
Was this a disaster, or an opportunity?
Amid his overwhelming terror, Kaecilius's heart, long corrupted by ambition, erupted with a twisted ecstasy.
If he could become the emissary of such a great existence...
"Your thoughts are as clear as bubbles on the surface of a filthy pool," Chthon said mockingly.
"Serve me, and you will gain power beyond mortal imagination, even eternity. Refuse, and your soul will become nothing more than a wisp of fuel for my descent ritual."
There was no choice at all.
"I... Kaecilius, am willing to serve you! Great Chthon!"
Kaecilius slammed his forehead against the ground and shouted in the most humble, fervent voice.
"Very good." Chthon's consciousness seemed quite satisfied.
"First, you must stabilize this fragile connection channel and place Darkness Wedges at Earth's energy nodes.
I will grant you the power you need. Remember, it must remain secret. I do not want anyone to know, especially not that damned fellow."
At those final words, a trace of barely perceptible anger entered Chthon's voice.
The fellow he spoke of was naturally Loren.
"Yes!" Kaecilius hurriedly nodded, not daring to raise any objection.
At that moment, an immense flood of maddeningly complex knowledge of dark magic was forcibly poured into his mind.
It included methods for constructing more stable arrays for cross-dimensional communication and energy transmission, as well as a terrifying ritual called the Shadow Resonance Array, which required seven specific, ancient sites of accumulated dark energy across Earth.
Those sites were