It wasn’t long before Sanctus felt the bright people return. However to Sanctus’s disappointment they did not venture far into the dungeon, but instead four of them set up a small shelter in one of the branching tunnels while the last chanted something and bent mana around the entrance. Deciding that the group wasn’t going to venture into the dungeon Sanctus gave a disappointed sigh and sat back to watch. About five hours later the group seemed to have settled down to wait.

Sanctus was tempted to send a group of rats after them, but decided to continue keeping the rats in the larger rooms. As much as Sanctus wanted to attack its potential prey, it had internally decided to wait until they entered one of the areas that were intended for them. Sanctus was a little surprised at its own decision, it was like the decision was made for it. Sanctus grasped at the feeling. It was like grasping at an oiled metal sphere underwater. In a moment Sanctus had completely forgotten what it was doing.

Sanctus returned its attention to the people in the tunnel. The majority were resting or playing with cards, however the one the others referred to as Julien had left the group and wandered deeper into the tunnels. Sanctus watched as he entered the first of Sanctus’s larger caves. This was the furthest a human had entered into the dungeon and Sanctus was ecstatic. With a twitch of the mind Sanctus sent a swarm of plague rats at the human. Much to Sanctus’s dissappointment Julien simply lifted off the ground, hovering just out of the rats jumping distance.

Sanctus felt a tinge of annoyance at the human's simple escape, but if the human wouldn't fight the rats he would fight the flies and bats. With that Sanctus sent the swarms at the floating human. Bats and flies that would normally be natural enemies given the bats' insectivorous diets swarmed together to assault the intruder.

Julien hovered above the ground not wanting to kill the dungeon's creatures. All he really wanted was to talk to the dungeon's summoned general and potentially receive a curse. It had been nearly five years since he received his last one.

It was rare for a dungeon to have a profane affinity, rarer still for the core to be a high enough grade to gain political protection from the church. The two curses he had received in the past were both given to him by greater demons in one of the few profane dungeons in Hessia, Hessia being one of the few empires that would not allow the church a foothold within its borders. Unfortunately that one was a very weak dungeon. A copper core with a total of twenty floors. However given the core's type and grade it only had two greater demons and their power was less than ideal. Of course there were always summonings but they were far too expensive for an aspiring warlock even a decently powerful one.

The sound of buzzing and beating wings broke him out of his musings. Glancing at the approaching hoard he held out his hand and allowed chaotic energy to build up in his palm. Concentrating he allowed the energy to break his skin and pull a fine strand of blood around him. With a snap of his fingers (more so for flare than anything else) the ring of blood quickly expanded to form a sphere around him. As the energy decreased to a trickle the blood began to congeal forming a thick viscous barrier around the warlock. Things that flew generally did not continue to attack something when they were weighed down with coagulating blood.

Julien closed his eyes allowing his mind to view the area around him. He gave a slight chuckle as he watched the swarm of insects and bats try to find a way through his defense.

With a slight snort Julien refocused on his original goal. He stuck his hand in a pouch at his side and began pulling out items. Julien pulled out three candles, a vial of what appeared to be silvery blood, and a large leather-bound tome that could not possibly have fit in the rather small pouch. Once Julien had all of the items floating in front of him he began to use his mana once more. Julien uncorked the vial of blood. Slowly pouring the blood into the air, he carefully directed it with his mana, forcing it into a complex pattern in front of him. A small flame was brought to life before him and he used it to light the candles. Finally as the candles took their positions around the ritual pattern Julien grabbed the tome in front of him and opened it to a page depicting the ritual. He placed his hands on the pages and gave a chant. When the last word left his lips, the words in the book began to glow and he closed his eyes.

It didn’t take long before Julien heard a voice “It is nice to see that there are still those who respect the old ways.”

Julien’s hairs rose across his body, a mixture of fear and anticipation coursing through his veins. He bowed slightly making sure to keep his eyes shut and make as little noise as possible.

Not long after, the voice returned sounding pleased, “You may open your eyes and speak.”

Julien forced his body to open his eyes slowly. He took in the sight of the demon standing before him before saying, “My thanks for accepting an audience. I wish to make a deal.”

The demon smiled before taking his turn to speak, “What is it this deal would entail?”

Julien gave a mental sigh of relief, the scripted part of the encounter was finished and the demon was interested. On top of that, this demon was not a weak one, but a full fledged greater demon, unlike the two he had made deals with in the past who were barely classified as such. “My party arrived here earlier today and we stumbled across your masters entrance. We have been instructed to kill the cultists who are currently feeding this dungeon. We would like to complete this action in a way that would provide the most benefit. We plan to kill them inside the dungeon. However this is not what I came to discuss. I would like to follow this pantheon.” At this point Julien’s heart was racing. A crystal core with a profane affinity would certainly summon other powerful demons. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and Julien did not want it to go to waste so he continued, “The dungeon that you have made your home is sure to contract more unbound demons in the future. I am currently unaffiliated and am prepared to exclusively worship you and your future family.”

The demon seemed to mull it over for a minute before finally saying, “I will agree to these terms under the condition that I may remove the other two curses that cling to you. Their weakness would be a stain on this pantheon's first follower. In exchange I will place one of my own.”

Julien felt a tiny spike of disappointment. While it was true that the curses were weak, they were still the most precious things on his status. For warlocks, curses were not only valuable tools but also what distinguished them. As much as Julien wanted to plead with the demon to let him keep the curses, he knew that it was a fair thing for the demon to ask and that a curse from him would more than make up for it. “I accept these terms.”

The demon smiled before placing a hand on Julien’s chest “My name is Markus, and as a greater demon of the Abyssal Sanctum I here by strip the pitiful stains from this mortal. May you be reborn as a worthy follower.”

As Markus said those words Julien could feel the curses on him burn away and a new one form that felt far more stable and intricate than those before.

You have been given a curse by the greater demon Markus

Julien excitedly opened his status to check on the curse.

Curse Purebloods brand Rank A Description You were given this curse by the greater demon Markus after you entered the Abyssal Sanctum and pledged yourself to the demonic pantheon within. Effects Grants the bearer immunity to both disease and age. Additionally it heals the barer every time they kill a creature with blood for the equivalent mass to that of the blood in the victim. Healing will begin with the most life threatening injury and end with minor cuts and scars. If the bearer is uninjured the blood will instead grant mana that can exceed capacity without negative effect.

Julien’s eyes widened in surprise. The curse was well worth it and there were few who could claim to have a better rank A curse. Julien bowed his head and when he raised it again he was alone in the sphere of blood with nothing remaining of the ritual save for the tomb that had at sume point returned to his bag. Julien dispelled the blood and left the cavern. It was growing late and the cult would arrive shortly.

Sanctus was surprised when Markus had asked for permission to potentially make a deal with the human. Markus had explained that humans make deals with demons in a similar way demons do with a dungeon like Sanctus. Markus had also said something about followers being good for demons and mortal souls joining a pantheon. Sanctus was excited when Julien said that his group would kill a large group of people in his dungeon. While it was true that they were bringing Sanctus meals, Markus said that there would soon be an influx of humans and the cult would not have been able to continue. This way Sanctus at least got to reap the benefits of the cultists themselves.

In other news, Sanctus had finished pushing mana into the stone below it and had decided what it wanted its second floor to look like. It would be a large open space with water covering most of the floor. There would be sandy islands and paths adding a land route to parts of the floor, but it would be impossible not to get your feet wet. There was just one problem Sanctus had just seen someone fly. It wouldn't do for invaders to be able to fly across the floor. Fortunately Sanctus had a solution. This floor would have wind that became more forceful the higher you went. In addition, the higher elevations would have hair thin strands of sharpened silver to tangle and cut any creature trying to fly. This would also make the water choppy and allow Sanctus to change up the sand paths by directing wind and currents. Happy with its idea, Sanctus began carving out the area.

As it did this, Sanctus shifted the majority of its attention back to the group of invaders and watched as the one named Julien rejoined his comrades. Julien seemed to excitedly tell the group something that all but one who was wearing a white hooded robe seemed to be excited about. They sat around and talked for another half hour before Julien stood bolt upright and signaled something to the others. Sanctus was only confused for a second before it realized what the warlock had a moment earlier. The cultists had arrived.