Chapter 781

Chapter 781: Completing the Contract on Your Own

Jesse recited the spell again, strengthening the suffocating spell’s power until the shadow chains tightened further. The sturdy succubus let out a grunt, fixing Jesse with a wicked, confident grin.

For those drawn to women like her—strong, muscular, even tomboyish—the temptation would be undeniable.

"Command her to reveal her true name to finalize the contract, Rueg. Then you’ll become her true master."

"True name?" Rueg rubbed his fingers nervously. "What’s that?"

"A demon’s lifeline. Knowing it means you hold their complete trust. Use it to bend them to your will—essential for controlling a demon and sealing a binding pact." Jesse turned to the succubus, speaking in Demonic: "Give him your true name, demon. Complete the contract!"

The succubus lifted her head defiantly against his dark magic. "Never. I won’t bow to weaklings!"

"He summoned you. Know your place," Jesse snapped.

Coughing under the shadow energy’s pressure, she hissed, "I’ll never take orders from this ugly black cyst—"

"Tell him your true name now," Jesse interrupted coldly, "or I’ll banish you with an anti-summon spell!"

"Banishment?" She laughed. "That’s just a free trip home. Do it! Why fear returning? I don’t know what deal you struck with this dwarf to stage this farce, but I’ll never serve weakness!"

"What are you saying?" the dwarf demanded. "Is that demon-speak? Don’t exclude me—I’m her summoner!"

"I’m making that clear, Mr. Rueg," Jesse said, glancing at him. "But she refuses obedience. I can force her true name from her. Shall I?"

"Why?" Rueg scowled. "Why summon her if she disobeys? Just because I don’t speak her tongue? I’ll learn it! How hard can demon language be? Harder than elementals’?"

The succubus burst into laughter, mocking either his naivety or the absurdity of comparing Demonic to elemental tongues.

Jesse studied the Dark Iron Dwarf. However chaotic this mission grew, he’d chosen well—Rueg truly understood the language of Kalimdor, the elemental tongue.

"She thinks you’re weak, Rueg. Prove her wrong," Jesse urged. "If you’re willing."

"Weak?!" Rueg’s crimson beard bristled as he spat curses. "Wait here! I’ll show this wretch who’s master, damn it!"

Jesse froze. What was he planning?

Soon, Rueg returned wearing a heavy russet robe and gripping a charred iron staff. Its clawed tip cradled a glowing red gem.

The gem radiated primal fire—Jesse sensed its raw power through his Fire Affinity.

"Sure you want to tame her alone?" Jesse asked.

Rueg muttered, and flames engulfed the staff’s tip. "Remember what I told you, Seso? I trained as a Pyromancer in Shadowforge City. Never earned my rank among the Dark Iron Tribe, but joining the Thorium Brotherhood didn’t make me forget."

"Release her! Let her learn her master!"

Dwarves prized pride and battle, and hot-tempered Dark Iron Dwarves embodied that tenfold. Jesse nodded, dispelling his magic. The succubus vanished with a laugh. Jesse activated Detect Demon—she was lunging straight at Rueg!

She held a barbed dagger. If it pierced the dwarf, Jesse’s days in Ironforge hunting the Thorium Brotherhood would be wasted. Ironforge and the Brotherhood might blame him too.

True, Zardeth claimed warlocks—even Dark Iron Dwarves—lurked in Ironforge, but they’d stayed hidden. Still, Jesse clenched his fists, trusting Rueg.

As the demon’s shadow closed in, Rueg’s staff flared. Heat vanished from the air as flames encased him. The succubus materialized behind him, slashing the fiery shield. Blistering heat erupted, throwing her sideways. Jesse’s face burned.

Roaring, Rueg swung his staff. Her wing blocked it, but she staggered, vanishing again. Rueg chanted, and a searing shockwave exploded at his feet!

The room offered no refuge. Jesse slammed against the wall, sleeves and hem ablaze! *I should’ve worn Jalane’s Robe of the Void…*

By the time he smothered the flames, Rueg and the succubus were locked in combat. She fought wildly—after mocking her summoner as weak, losing would humiliate her.

But Rueg proved stronger than expected. Earlier, buying bread, he hadn’t expected to face the Alliance’s most infamous warlock. Unprepared then, he was ready now.

Flames coiled around his staff, fueling its enchantment. Fire barriers deflected her strikes, while bursts scorched her hooves and wings, hobbling her. Soon, she faltered, unable to hide without being blasted from stealth.

Jesse, watching nearby, cast Mage Armor against stray embers.

The succubus might’ve sensed Rueg wasn’t a seasoned warlock, but she never guessed this bumbling summoner was a veteran fire Shaman!

Too late, she realized. After failed assaults, she tried to retreat into shadows—but Rueg anticipated her. His staff struck her spine as she vanished. The ruby blazed, knocking her down.

Rueg dropped his staff, pinning her. Flames flickered in his eyes, his dark-red hair singed. He looked like a lava-spawned demon.

"Your true name, wretch! I summoned you! I beat you! Now you’re trapped! Even a crazed fire element would yield!"

"I… surrender, Master," she gasped, head tilted back. "Your power wins my service. My true name is…"

She whispered it magically—only dwarves could hear. Jesse watched, recalling how Rueg had wielded fire: bolstering himself, shielding, overwhelming his foe.

*If I could command flames like Thorium Brotherhood members or Dark Iron Pyromancers,* Jesse mused, *I’d complement my shadow magic with the Red Dragon Queen’s gift. Shadow’s subtlety lacks fire’s raw force.*

Too many Burning Legion demons resisted shadow. Fire would ease battles in Outland or against their invasion. And if the Scourge came? Skeletons and undead feared flames more than shadows.

Jesse shook off his thoughts. Rueg now grinned foolishly, licking his lips as his calloused hands roamed the succubus’s muscular chest and abdomen. He swallowed thickly.

"Good… good. Submit, Geya’tan. Such sturdy thighs… Sweat? Do demons sweat? Perfect. Just my taste. Can I trust you? Answer me, dear."

His hands slid to her waist. Towering and robust, she dwarfed the four-foot-nothing Rueg, making his groping absurd.

Yet Jesse admitted: the contract was sealed.

"You can trust her," he said. "Unless you court danger yourself."

"Ah! Forgot you were here, Seso." Rueg looked up. "What’d you mean by ‘court danger’?"