Hubertus van Schnecken was a peculiar man. He loved nothing more than eating snakes. Yes, you heard that right—snakes. Perhaps it was their venom, or maybe their hunger for revenge, that drew him to them. Strange, isn’t it? Why would a snake crave revenge, you ask?

Well, this particular snake was no ordinary serpent. It was an item, coveted by many, found by few. Those who consumed it gained something of immense value. And Hubertus was about to do just that.

He held the snake in his hands, its black scales glinting faintly in the pale light. But just as he was about to bite, he stopped. A strange sensation crept over him—the feeling of being watched.

Who would spy on him, in the dead of night, as he prepared for his strange feast?

Demons.

They lingered in the shadows, their glowing eyes fixed on him. They had come to witness it: Hubertus van Schnecken, devouring the very thing they sought.

“Hubertus van Schnecken,” came the booming voice from behind, raw and unrelenting, its power reverberating through the room.

Startled, Hubertus turned.

“And who, might you be?” he asked, his tone laced with mild irritation rather than fear, as though the interruption had merely disturbed his dinner.

The demon blinked, momentarily stunned. Its leathery black skin rippled, shifting to a deep shade of indigo. Violet flames crackled along its curved horns, and its bull-like face contorted with an expression of disbelief.

“Why aren’t you shocked?” it asked, its deep voice tinged with confusion.

Hubertus smirked, his lips curling into a sly grin. “If I got a penny for every time I’ve heard that line, I’d be rich. Oh, wait—I am rich.” He chuckled, a sound so unsettling it felt like a private joke only he could understand.

The demon was appalled. This puny human was mocking him.

How dare he? Yet, an unsettling thought gnawed at the edges of his mind. Why couldn’t he shake the feeling that this peculiar man had been expecting him all along?

“I want to make a deal,” Hubertus said suddenly, his tone shifting to something sharper, more serious.

The demon’s laughter echoed through the room, low and rumbling. “A deal, you say?” The smirk faded from his bull-like face, replaced with a calculated, professional air.

“Yes, you heard me right.” Hubertus calmly placed his fork and knife on the table, his strange feast forgotten. “This snake, in exchange for a wish.”

“A wish?” The demon's voice dripped with disdain. “What makes you think you’re in a position to bargain with me, human?”

Hubertus leaned back in his chair, entirely unfazed. “Look beneath you.”

The demon snorted. “What, a carpet?”

“Not just a carpet,” Hubertus said with a sly grin. “Look beneath it.”

The demon narrowed his glowing eyes but obeyed, lifting the corner of the rug with a clawed hand.

“A sorcerer’s triangle?” he scoffed, inspecting the markings carved into the floor. “Drawn in chalk?” He barked a laugh, deep and mocking. “You fool. This is the wrong kind of binding circle.” With a dismissive snort, he stepped forward, attempting to leave the triangle behind.

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But as his hooves touched the edge of the triangle, flames erupted from the lines, roaring to life and locking him in place.

“No!” the demon bellowed, struggling against the fiery bindings.

Hubertus chuckled, low and unsettling. “Not chalk,” he said, tapping a finger to his temple. “Pasteur. A rare ingredient, found only in the wilderness of Flame Heaven.”

The demon froze, his bull-like face a mix of shock and begrudging respect. “You… have connections to Flame Heaven?” he asked, his tone both curious and wary.

“Of course,” Hubertus said, rising from his dinner table and walking leisurely toward the circle. “Do you really think a man like me eats snakes without a network?”

“Okay, human. You have my respect,” the demon rumbled, his voice softer now, tinged with a hint of intrigue. “I’ll accept your terms. What is your wish?”

Hubertus paused, drawing in a slow, deliberate breath. His eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a shiver through the demon.

“My wish,” he said at last, his voice calm but brimming with resolve, “is to become like you. I want to make deals with people.”

The demon blinked, then burst into laughter, the flames around his horns flaring brighter. “You want to become a demon?”

But Hubertus didn’t laugh. His expression remained steady, his gaze unwavering.

“Yes,” he said, his tone eerily matter-of-fact. “I want to make deals, just like you. What else could a man want, when he already has everything? I want more. I want power. I want to become a demon.”

The demon’s laughter subsided, and his amusement shifted into something sharper—curiosity. “You intrigue me, mortal. But tell me, why would you trade such a rare snake for this? Do you even realize that consuming it could make you immortal?”

Hubertus smirked, leaning closer to the binding circle. “Do you really think this snake is the only one I’ve ever had?”

The demon froze, his crimson eyes narrowing.

“I ate one,” Hubertus continued, his voice dropping to a near-whisper, “a thousand years ago. And I’ve been alive ever since, living a life of luxury. But now?” He stood tall, his shadow stretching across the room. “Now, I’m tired of it. I want something more. Something… darker.”“Okay,” said the demon, his voice low and ominous. “But you do realize… to become a demon, a demon must die.”

“Of course,” Hubertus replied, his tone steady, almost bored.

The demon’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not planning to kill me, are you?”

Hubertus smirked. “Who said you’re the only demon in this room?”

The air shimmered, and with a faint crackle, another demon appeared, its massive form emerging from thin air. This one stood on a carpet identical to the first, its glowing eyes scanning the room with suspicion.

“What is the meaning of this?” the second demon growled, his voice sharp and crackling like fire.

Hubertus gestured lazily. “You’re here to make a deal. Aren’t you?”

The first demon let out a booming laugh. “Not bad, human. Not bad. But you’re playing a dangerous game.”

The second demon’s gaze darted to the glowing triangle beneath his feet, realization dawning. “Wait!” he barked, his tone urgent. “I will grant your wish!”

The first demon stepped back, grinning, his flames flickering brighter. “Clever. Very clever. You’ve trapped us both. But I must admit, puny human—you’ve got potential.”

Hubertus grinned, stepping closer to the glowing circles. “So glad we’re all in agreement. Now then, gentlemen, let’s begin.”

“Wait!” cried the second demon, his voice cracking, his glowing eyes wide and desperate. “I can grant you more—two wishes! What do you say?”

Hubertus hesitated, for the first time showing a glimmer of uncertainty. Two wishes? And for such a cheap price?

“Hey, hey, hey!” snarled the first demon, his fiery horns flaring with indignation. “This is my client. Don’t butt in!”

The second demon folded his arms, his deep blue skin rippling with frustration. “It’s not your client if you haven’t closed the deal!”

Hubertus tapped his chin thoughtfully, the corners of his mouth curling into a sly grin. “Alright,” he said slowly, turning to the first demon. “Can you give me three wishes?”

The first demon froze, his smirk faltering. “Three…?” His fiery eyes flickered uncertainly as he stared at Hubertus. What could this man possibly want with three wishes?

The second demon burst into laughter, his voice echoing with triumph. “You can’t do it, can you?” he taunted, stepping closer to the edge of his glowing circle. “I told you, he’s better off dealing with me!”

“Quiet!” roared the first demon, his tail lashing the ground. He turned back to Hubertus, a calculated glint returning to his eyes. “Fine. I’ll give you three wishes. But let’s not pretend you can handle them all.”

Hubertus’ grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and menace. “Oh, don’t worry about me,” he said, his voice low and confident. “You’d be surprised what I can handle.”