[Chapter 39: Rite of Divine Empowerment]
Seeing the group emerge from behind the door, Katherine and Morian were both stunned, frozen in place.
"You... why are you here?" Katherine's voice trembled with disbelief as she stared at them.
"Of course, I brought them here," Daniel said with a confident smile.
He glanced over at the tall, broad-shouldered Douglas. "Douglas, don't forget our deal. After this is over, you owe me two million dollars."
Indeed, Douglas was among the people who had appeared. Alongside him were his butler, Charlie, Sheriff Ford, and Lara.
All of them wore expressions of shock, still struggling to process what they had just witnessed.
The Katherine standing before them was not the real Katherine -- but someone else entirely.
Not only that, but the young man beside her was also different.
This Black couple had somehow taken over the bodies of two young white individuals.
It was unbelievably wild.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears, they would have dismissed this as a tall tale.
But the undeniable truth was right there: Katherine and Morian admitted it themselves, leaving no room for doubt.
Douglas's anger spiraled out of control, barely holding himself together. He pointed his cane at Katherine, lips trembling, "You... what did you do to my daughter?"
Without a word, Katherine shot Daniel a venomous glare. "It's all because of you."
Morian tugged her back impatiently. "What good does it do to explain now? If we kill them, nothing changes. We keep control."
He then gestured toward Daniel and the others. "Kill them."
...
At his command, the silent man in a loose hooded sweatshirt stepped forward.
Suddenly, his body began swelling unnaturally.
Originally about 6'3", he now towered to nearly 6'7", his frame broadening as muscles bulged.
His loose hoodie stretched tight across his expanding form.
He raised his head, locking eyes on Daniel and his group.
Under the shadow of his hood was the face of a Black man, but his once-normal eyes now glowed blood-red, utterly void of emotion.
His entire body radiated fierce, bloodthirsty energy.
Thud, thud, thud... His strides struck the ground with powerful impacts that made the floor tremble beneath him.
He smashed through everything in his path like they were nothing more than paper, scattering debris left and right.
Seeing the massive figure charge, Sheriff Ford and Lara immediately drew their pistols.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
They emptied their magazines in a blur, showing an impressive quick draw typical of seasoned law enforcement.
Yet those bullets barely phased the creature; his expression didn't even flicker.
As soon as their magazines emptied, the giant charged once again.
"Fall back -- now!" Daniel shouted.
Sheriff Ford and Lara quickly pulled Douglas and Charlie to safety.
...
Three prayer seals flew from Daniel's hand, landing on the charging giant.
"Burn!"
The seals flared to life, igniting into three blazing flames that scoured the cursed energy enveloping the creature.
The giant faltered; a flicker of pain crossed his otherwise impassive face.
But the beast's suffering was brief. The fire only served to fuel his rage.
"Roar!"
He bellowed like a wild animal and surged forward with even greater ferocity, tearing through the path in front of him.
"Heh, useless! This is a Consecrated Thrall, refined by potent curse energy," Morian sneered triumphantly. "You're all finished today!"
Daniel's face hardened. Curse energy was tricky -- it wasn't purely evil energy, but still a form of dark energy. His current counters were limited.
He quickly released three more Evil-Suppressing Seals.
Light rises in the east, thunder and flame held in restraint.
By sealed authority, evil is suppressed; by consecrated steel, ill fortune is cut down.
Though curse energy wasn't entirely malevolent, these seals still had some effect.
The Evil-Suppressing Seals struck the Thrall. As Daniel activated their power, a fierce surge exploded against the formidable figure.
"Roar!"
The Thrall screamed in agony, faltering momentarily.
Morian's confident smile vanished; he clearly hadn't anticipated Daniel pulling out so many tricks to continually restrain his weapon.
But with a furious roar, the Thrall shattered the controlling force and charged once more.
His momentum now even more terrifying, his rage swelling.
His contorted features twisted into a vicious snarl, like a beast ravenous to devour flesh.
"Heh! I told you -- no one's saving you. You're all going to die today."
This time, both Morian and Katherine sighed in relief -- their smiles triumphant.
...
"Sheriff, what should we do? Mr. Cross doesn't seem to have this under control. Should we call for backup?" Lara asked, anxiety thick in her voice.
Sheriff Ford shook his head. "Mr. Cross said not to interfere with his handling of the supernatural. Look, he's not panicking. He probably has a way out. Intervening might only make things worse."
Lara frowned but remembered Daniel's earlier instructions, so she kept quiet, still worried.
"Daniel, can you handle this? Don't lose your life and fail to earn my two million."
Douglas shouted, concern easing into his tone.
It wasn't for Daniel's sake but for his own survival.
...
Daniel's hand flicked, and a paperweight materialized in his grasp.
Pointing at the monstrous Thrall, he said, "Stop him."
Morian watched carefully but saw nothing obvious appear.
Suddenly, the Thrall staggered backward, throwing punches desperately into empty air while growling low, guttural sounds.
"A wandering spirit? You summon ghosts now?" Morian exclaimed.
"Already surprised?" Daniel snorted.
Raising his sanctum blade, he plucked a seal from its edge and started chanting with authority:
I humbly petition the keepers of divine judgment.
Let their appointed guardians descend, clothed in holy light.
Below, corruption stirs -- imbalance spreads, and malevolent forces roam unchecked.
I request divine empowerment to enforce judgment and end this disorder.
Let consecrated steel be raised against the fierce and defiant, suppressing ill omens.
With the seal in hand, I receive the granted mandate.
Manifest divine authority now and resolve this calamity.
By law and command, without delay.
As the final word echoed, the Rite of Divine Empowerment on his sanctum blade burst into a swirling ball of flame.
Daniel's entire body trembled violently as a vast, commanding force descended upon him.
The divine energy surged through his veins, bloating with power, threatening to shatter his very form.
*****
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