[Chapter 104: It Was Solved Just Like That?]
"The Mirror Spirtis Game!"
Daniel sighed.
What good could come from playing something like that? Not everyone who dabbled in spiritual games ran into trouble or got invaded by evil spirits. But if a person's fate chart was inherently Dark, they were extremely vulnerable to being targeted by ghosts and monsters.
Sure enough, Hunter's girlfriend fit that description perfectly.
As the three of them talked, they reached the outside of Amy's dorm room. Just as they got close, Daniel heard a sudden rush of hurried footsteps from inside.
"Creak..."
Before Daniel and the others could react, the dorm room door swung open from the inside.
A figure appeared in the doorway, eyes gleaming intensely, saliva nearly dripping from her mouth. "Hunter, you finally came."
The young woman was tall and quite attractive, but in this moment, she looked manic, her excitement bordering on frenzy.
Startled, Hunter instinctively ducked behind Daniel. "Mr. Cross, that's Amy."
Scarlett also shrank back behind Daniel, her voice shaking. "I've met Amy before. She wasn't like this."
Daniel studied Amy carefully. Dark energy cloaked her body, and her glabella was a deep blue-black. Through his perception, Daniel sensed two distinct streams of energy inside her.
One was typical human energy; the other was clearly Dark.
Right now, the human energy flickered weakly, like a candle struggling in the wind, ready to be snuffed out at any moment. The dark energy held a clear upper hand, nearly dominating the body completely.
"Darling, you finally decided to come see me," Amy chuckled and lunged toward Hunter, who remained huddled behind Daniel.
"Hmph!"
Daniel let out a cold snort. "No matter what you are, leave Amy's body immediately."
Amy halted and finally looked Daniel in the eye. The crazed look faded from her face, replaced by wariness. "Who are you?"
From behind Daniel, Scarlett said cautiously, "He's the Exorcist I invited. He's very powerful. If you don't want to die, get out of Amy's body."
"An Exorcist?" Amy's wariness vanished. A cruel smile spread across her face. "I've met many Exorcists -- and I've eaten quite a few."
Her gaze locked on Daniel. "Today, I'll taste another Exorcist and remember that flavor."
Daniel frowned. "You really don't know what's good for you."
A cold light flashed in Amy's eyes as anger and murderous intent surged. "Just you? I'll eat you first!"
Without hesitation, she lunged at Daniel.
Daniel raised his hand. A black shadow shot forward.
By consecrated plaque, corruption is suppressed and authority made manifest.
Sanctified light condenses; hostile forces are broken.
Before sealed judgment, all unclean presence is undone.
A powerful force erupted from the Evil Suppressing Seal Plaque, shaking the very air around them.
"Ah!"
Amy screamed in agony as a figure flew out from her body, suspended in mid-air.
Amy's body shook, then collapsed softly to the floor.
"Amy..."
Hunter shouted, moving forward to check but stopped, frozen with fear at the floating figure.
His face twisted in distress.
The figure hovering above wore a vintage court gown. Her skin was deathly pale, but her lips were stark red, like they'd been stained with blood.
"How dare you ruin my meal? Die..." When she spoke, rows of sharp teeth gleamed in the dim light.
As she lunged forward, Daniel neither dodged nor defended. He pushed his hand forward. Though his hand seemed empty, suddenly a consecrated ashwood sword appeared.
The thunder-infused ashwood sword pierced the Blood-Lipped Female Ghost's chest with ease.
Lightning crackled as the ghost exploded like a fragile bubble.
Only a piercing scream echoed in the air.
[Ding! Killed an F-rank ghost, gained 1000 Merit points.]
A brief notification chimed in Daniel's mind. Beyond that, silence.
"Retrieve!"
Daniel reached out, and the Evil Suppressing Seal Plaque leapt into his hand. He quickly stowed both weapons away.
...
Scarlett and Hunter were frozen in place, stunned.
The thing that had tormented Amy for months -- was that really taken care of so easily by Mr. Cross? That had caused Hunter months of suffering, and now it was just gone?
They both felt a sense of disbelief.
Was the entity possessing Amy too weak? Or was Mr. Cross too strong?
Thinking it through, they knew the answer was the latter.
After a long moment, Scarlett finally asked, "Mr. Cross, it's really gone?"
Daniel put away the consecrated ashwood sword. "Yes. She has been dealt with. She won't bother Amy or Hunter again."
"That's wonderful." Scarlett and Hunter both breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did Hunter dare approach Amy.
He shook her gently, realizing she didn't respond.
Worry crept back. "Sis, Amy won't wake up. What should we do?"
Scarlett leaned in to look but found no obvious solution. She turned to Daniel for guidance.
Daniel examined Amy and said, "She was possessed for too long. Her soul is nearly extinguished. Under normal circumstances, she won't wake up. If sent to a hospital, they'd just treat her like a vegetable."
Hunter and Scarlett both looked alarmed. "Then what do we do?"
Daniel replied solemnly, "We have to nurture her soul and bring it back."
"How long will that take?" Hunter asked.
Daniel sighed. "About fifty years."
Hunter was dumbfounded. Amy was in her twenties now. Fifty years meant she'd be over seventy before waking. Would any of that still have meaning?
Scarlett asked, "Mr. Cross, do you have any other options?"
Daniel shook his head. "There are other methods, but I can't perform them right now. Also, they require a considerable amount of money."
"How much?" Scarlett pressed.
"I can't say for sure, but it won't be less than five hundred thousand dollars."
Hunter's expression shifted. "Amy's family is wealthy. Five hundred thousand isn't a problem. I'll need to notify her parents."
Scarlett hesitated. "But we won't be able to explain it clearly."
Daniel nodded. "That's not a problem. I can help. You should also find a few classmates to confirm that Amy's personality really did change drastically before this."
"Okay. I'll contact them now." Hunter stepped aside to make a call.
...
Daniel carried Amy back into the dorm room gently and laid her on the bed.
After Hunter reached several classmates, he finally called Amy's parents.
As soon as they heard their daughter was in trouble, they rushed over.
Amy's home was in New York, so the drive was manageable.
Late in the early morning hours, Amy's parents arrived, initially full of anger.
Daniel pulled them aside to talk.
Scarlett didn't know what he said, but when the parents returned, all their anger had vanished.
The way they looked at Daniel was filled with respect... and Scarlett wondered if she was mistaken, because there was something else there, too, something like fear.
*****
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