[Chapter 28: Slaying Evil]
The moment Daniel finished speaking, the house was suddenly plunged into darkness as all the lights flickered out. Julia and the two girls immediately gasped in panic.
But then, a soft flame suddenly flickered to life in the blackness -- unnoticed by the others, a candle had appeared in Daniel's hand.
Though its light was faint, it brought a deep sense of comfort in the suffocating darkness. Still, the glow only illuminated a small circle around them. Within the surrounding shadows, the three felt unseen eyes fixated intently on them.
"Whoosh..."
A cold breeze swept through the room, causing the candle's flame to dance wildly, threatening to extinguish at any moment. Reacting quickly, Daniel raised two fingers and drew out a shard of the candle's flame. Flicking it upward, the small orb of fire shot toward the ceiling, instantly attracting the women's attention.
There, on the dark ceiling, a Black Shadow writhed and twisted. As the flame neared, the shadow flickered and disappeared into the blackness. The flame sputtered out, and nothing else stirred.
"Mr. Cross... Mr. Cross, what was that just now?" Emma stammered, trembling.
Daniel replied steadily, "That was the thing trying to harm you."
Hearing this, the three women's hearts clenched, their faces paling visibly. Although none had seen the entity clearly, the threat felt real, tangible, and deeply unsettling.
"Mr. Cross, won't it hurt the servants?" Julia's concern grew urgent.
Daniel reassured, "Don't worry. As long as the servants follow my instructions and stay in their rooms, they'll be safe."
Julia let out a shaky breath of relief. Her hired staff was relatively obedient, unlikely to wander or disobey. More than that, she worried because if any of them died, it would mean huge financial compensation. The consequences were serious. Worse, if word spread in her social circle, gossip would paint her as unlucky, damaging her reputation and resources.
...
Suddenly, a loud clattering came from the kitchen as drawers yanked themselves open, cups and plates flying off shelves to smash on the floor. The eerie disturbance only deepened the women's fear.
Then, forks on the dining table shot up, hurtling sharply toward their heads. By the time the women registered the danger, the forks were almost at their faces.
Mouths opened wide in terror, but no sound escaped.
"Hmph!"
Daniel snorted coldly. He bit down sharply on his tongue and spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the deadly forks.
The moment his Tongue-Tip Blood stained them, the malevolent energy within the forks instantly drained. The weapons clattered harmlessly to the floor before reaching the women.
"Ah!"
Having narrowly escaped, the three women finally screamed, clutching their chests as cold sweat drenched them.
"Thank you, Mr. Cross..." they said quickly, their voices trembling with relief.
Daniel waved them off, the sharp sting still burning on his tongue from the Tongue-Tip Blood's potent power. As a Seal-Bearer, his blood was especially effective against Dark Evil, but the pain was intense. He vowed never to use this method lightly again.
...
Just as calm began to return, the bathroom erupted with eerie noises -- the shower spraying water and the toilet flushing on its own. The living room TV switched on, flickering with static. Stairwell lights began to blink on and off erratically.
Multiple eerie phenomena unfolded simultaneously, ratcheting up the tension. The women instinctively edged closer to Daniel, hoping for protection.
Yet Daniel held only his candle, his expression grave as he swept its weak light around the room.
"Heh heh..."
A chilling, sinister laugh swept past their ears, frozen near them like a dark breath. The women tensed, every muscle tightening.
"Incompetent exorcist, I was almost scared of you. Turns out you're useless. All of you will die tonight."
The ghostly voice echoed through the room.
Suddenly, Emma and Gella shuddered violently, their bodies locking up for a moment. Then, a bright yellow light flared from each of them.
"Ah..."
Two agonized screams pierced the air, raw and pained.
The ghost's arrogant, taunting voice returned, but the disdain was replaced by shock.
The candle in Daniel's hand steadied as he shook his head. "I really thought you'd come after me directly, but you still chose them."
Daniel felt a surge of regret. If the ghost had attacked him, it would have been easy to counter. His Thunder Body would activate automatically, saving him the trouble.
But for their safety, he had placed Suppressing Evil Seals on Emma and Gella beforehand. If the ghost dared touch them, it would be burned.
"You really deserve to die." The voice spat venomously again, but no form materialized.
Instead, several more yellow lights flickered in the distance, drawing the ghost's furious roar.
Daniel sneered, "Trying to run? Think you can escape? You really thought I was just casually exploring the villa earlier?"
Before finishing, Daniel placed the candle on the dining table, grabbed at empty air -- and instantly, an Exorcist's Sanctum Blade appeared in his hand. Then, he began performing the ritual. A deep, profound aura radiated from every fiber of his body.
He activated his magical power and began chanting with deliberate rhythm:
By heaven's order and earth's foundation, let corruption be scattered.
Let hidden darkness be dragged into the light and undone.
May the guardians of every direction stand witness and enforce judgment.
By sacred decree and sanctified seal, let this command be known above and below.
Let the wicked be bound, and the defiant be struck down.
As the Divine Incantation for Purifying Souls unfolded, a mysterious power emerged in the air. At first, it felt upright and calm. But as Daniel reached "struck down," the force shifted -- becoming fierce, commanding, and overwhelming.
This power was harmless to ordinary people like Julia, Emma, and Gella, but lethal to Evil Entities, especially ghosts.
"Ah..."
A heart-wrenching scream echoed throughout the mansion.
From a previously empty spot, the Black Shadow materialized again. Clutching its head, it bounced erratically, wracked with pain.
Let hostile spirits be ended and their malice cut away.
By judgment without mercy where evil stands, be silenced and be no more.
As Daniel recited the final lines of the Divine Incantation for Purifying Souls, the Shadow's form grew wispy, turning semi-transparent.
"Go!"
Daniel threw the Sanctum Blade with precision. The Exorcist's Sanctum Blade flew straight toward the Black Shadow.
*****
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