This takes place after chapter 110, Perfectly untouched. It continues the story of James and the book of the phantom.

A breeze rolls through the room, causing the pages to flip. James looks toward the window, confused as he doesn't remember opening it. He gets up and slides it shut. As he walks back to the book, it’s on a page he doesn't remember seeing.

James: Communion?

--- Chapter 120 ---

He sits down, reading over this spell.

James: A cost of this spell is blood? This seems, excessive. But it says by doing this I can do whatever I want. I’m sure that’s not exactly true but… sigh. It’s worth a shot I guess.

He fumbles around the table, creating a circle of salt with symbols inside. He places a goblet in the center of the spell circle. He grabs a knife and places it on his skin. He takes a deep breath, and as he exhales slices his palm. He lets out a small noise of pain. The blood trickles down his hand and drips into the cup. He says a small chant before leaving the room and closing the door. He looks at his room door in silence. He raises his hand and knocks three times. He slowly lowers his hand to the knob and begins to open it. His gaze shifts to the table, but instead of a goblet and spell circle, there is a lavish red table cloth, candle, bottle of wine, and two wine glasses. Sitting at the table is a man in a crimson red button-up with a black vest and tie. The man is holding a cane with a glass ball at the top. The man looks up at him and smiles. The two look at each other for what feels like minutes. He motions to the chair on the other side of the table. James gulps and nods. He walks up to the table and sits down.

James: A-are you-

???: The phantom?

James nods.

Phantom: Yes, I am.

James: S-so this spell. It said I can get anything I want. Is that, true?

Phantom: Indeed, anything you desire.

James: So, I could perform a show grander than before?

The phantom smiles and chuckles a little.

Phantom: Wine?

James: Y-yes, please.

The phantom pours wine into his glass. He lifts the glass and takes a sip. The phantom lifts his own glass and swirls it. Lifting it to his lips, he takes in the scent of the fine wine, before taking his own sip.

James: It’s… It’s really good!

Phantom: Isn’t it? It’s from 327A.

James: 3… 327A?! I- I can’t be drinking this! That’s when the race war started thousands of years ago.

Phantom: Hush now, and enjoy it. It’s a special occasion.

James: O-ok.

Phantom: It really brings out the meaning of the phrase, “it aged like fine wine”, don’t you agree.

James: Yes sir.

The phantom sighs. He places his glass on the table.

Phantom: So, you want to perform spells but to put on a good show rather than for power?

James: Yes sir.

Although the phantom hasn’t said much, each word he speaks lingers in James’ mind. Becoming more and more enraptured by his presence. His elegance. The phantom’s charm and charisma infiltrating James’s mind. The phantom snaps his finger causing the wine and table cloth to disappear, and instead, there is a glass jar of ink with a feather and a scroll. He slides the jar over to James.

James: So you’re saying if I sign. I will give them the perfect show.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Phantom: Kid if you sign, you will give the world a show they will never forget.

The phantom grabs the scroll and unravels it. It’s a large scroll that rolls across the table. James’s eyes go wide at the size of this thing. The phantom begins pointing at several spots on it.

Phantom: Sign here. Initial here. Arcana name, you can just leave that blank. Mother’s maiden name. Name of your first pet. Any allergies if you have them.

James starts to get a little annoyed.

Phantom: Initial, Initial, childhood best friend’s name, initial here. And done!

James lets out a sigh of relief.

Phantom: Now, get out there. Go get ‘em, kid.

The phantom gives him a smile. James nods and goes to get up. He takes a few steps toward the door but realizes it’s still nighttime. He turns around confused but as he does, he is blinded by the sun. The phantom is nowhere to be seen. The door opens behind him.

Bartender: Hey kid, it’s showtime.

James: B-but.

Bartender: What? You alright kid?

James: Y-yah sorry about that. I lost track of time I guess.

Bartender: Uh, ok? Whatever kid, get out there.

James: Right haha.

He walks down to the door to the stage. He takes a deep breath. On the stage, a red mist lowers itself from the ceiling, forming a curtain. He hears the crowd beginning to roar in excitement. He smiles to himself. He walks onto the stage and opens his arms. The curtains pull open and the crowd’s applause grows. The place is packed. He raises his hands and drops them. As the drop lightning strikes all around him. The fire rises all around. The fire condenses into a ball in his hands. He brings his hands apart as the fire forms like strings in between his fingertips.

Man: He just has a string attached to his fingers that was lit on fire.

James moves his hands, with the string-like fire still there floating.

James: Is that so?

The crowd begins to laugh at the man. He performs several wondrous tricks.

James: How did everyone like the show?

The crowd roars. James smiles.

James: Good good.

He puts his arms out, wondrous lights fill the room, capturing everyone in awe. The lights slowly come to a halt.

James: Thank you!

He lowers his arms, a puff of smoke rises from the ground. For James, as the smoke clears, he is exactly where he was, but instead, everyone else is missing. He looks confused. However, for everyone else, as the smoke clears, James still stands there. Although he wears different clothes, a red button-up, black vest, and tie. He has a cane with a glass orb on top. He is wearing a white porcelain mask that covers the upper half of his face. And instead of his icy blue eyes, they are a vibrant green, much like the phantoms. The crowd murmurs. Wondering if this is a sort of encore. However, what they believe is James is about to answer them.

Phantom: I guess you could call it a sort of Encore.

James in his world with no one in it takes a few steps forward but bumps into a wall seemingly. Where his face is connected, there is a smudge. He starts to wipe the invisible wall, to see the audience but they are much larger, or is he smaller? Suddenly he feels lifted and looks right into the eyes of the phantom. He is unnerved. His own face looking back at him. Just with those violent green eyes. James is inside the orb of the phantoms cane.

Phantom: Now now, everyone. I must say, going to a magic show, or any show just to make fun of the performer is quite loathsome.

The crowd is confused.

Phantom: Now that James’ show is over, it’s time for mine. And for my first trick, the judgment of the wicked.

He cracks an evil smile before howling in laughter. Everyone in this room is horrified. They begin to get up and try to leave, but their bodies begin to swell, and pop like a bloody balloon. The phantom’s clothes are covered in blood, and body matter. His laughter comes to a halt.

Phantom: I do apologize, I tend to get a little elated when I kill.

He hears the sliding of someone crawling away.

Phantom: Hm?

He walks to find the source of the sound. He sees the man who keeps exposing James’s tricks.

Phantom: Ahaha, the Irony that you were the one that survived.

The man turns on his back and pushes back up against a wall.

Man: P-please don’t do this! I have a wife and kids! I- it was just a magic trick!

Phantom: You almost put up a convincing argument. But it’s too bad I hate you personally.

Fear rushes over the man’s face.

Phantom: Tell me, how may I ease the pain for your family. Reduce you to nothing so they don’t have to see your mutilated body, or shall I send them with you.

Man: D-don’t you dare hurt my family, you bastard.

Phantom: Fine fine, but the afterlife would surely be nicer than this world. Especially in the coming days.

He laughs amused by his thoughts.

Man: Y-your a sick bastard.

Phantom: Yah yah, tell me something I don’t know. I am a demon after all.

He says with a smile. The man’s eyes go wide, his face turning red as he begins choking. A mass of his slimy innards is forcing their way out of his mouth. His jaw cracks and becomes unhinged, as all of his insides are pulled to the outside, leaving his skin an empty sack. The phantom waves his hand causing all the blood on him to be expelled from his body. He brushes himself off. The mask begins to crack, and as it breaks, the eyes are blue and he has a mortified face.

James: W-what have you done!

His right eye turns green and talks into his mind.

Phantom: You mean what did WE do. No matter how cool of a show you performed, they would forget it in time. So I gave you what you wanted. They will remember this show for the rest of the time. The show that killed them. A show to die for.

James: Y-your crazy!

Phantom: Maybe, but can you blame me? This is my first time getting action in several thousand years. But don’t worry, our show isn’t over yet. Soon the world will witness our show, a show worthy of history books!

James: N-no! I just wanted to give them a good show, not all this!

Phantom: Well, you should have read the fine print.

James: But-

Phantom: Guess someone’s parents never told them to not trust a salesman.

As they bicker, the door opens and the bartender walks in with a new bottle of ale, he looks up to see the carnage and drops the bottle.

Bartender: W-what have you done!

James’ right hand is shaking as it begins to raise. He begins to cry.

James: Please… don’t kill him.

The bartender is frightened, but not for long. His body swells up and bursts, joining the carnage. James collapses to his knees in tears. He sees a blood-covered bottle of beer and grabs it by the neck. He shatters the bottle and points its jagged edge at his neck. His hand is shaking, so he grabs it with his left hand to steady it. He closes his eyes and jams it in. His eyes begin to open as he looks at his empty hand. The tears streak out of his face.

James: I’m going to jail.

Phantom: But why? The state I left the bodies in, the only one identifiable is that man right there. For all, they know you’re dead too.

James: I’m turning myself in.

Phantom: Shame. You’re so young. In termina, the cost for taking a life is a life sentence. So 32 life sentences will be a rough kid.

James:...

Phantom: Come on, let’s get going, kid.

James: Fine.