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Chapter 16 - Three Figures

{The Art the Host Has Received is…}

Orion's eyes widened, his breath catching as glowing words materialised in the air before him.

{The Golden Whip Art!}

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then frowned. "...What the hell is that supposed to be?"

For a few seconds, he simply stared, half-expecting the text to change - maybe glitch out and reveal something cooler. Unfortunately, it didn't.

'No way. The Golden Whip Art? That's got to be a joke.'

He ran a hand through his hair, laughing dryly. Out of all the possible Arts he theorised and imagined there were - fire, lightning, telekinesis, teleportation, or even something like that Warlock's dark magic - he got a whip.

'It sounds like some kinky shit... How the hell is this supposed to help me deal with demons?!'

The system, ever calm and indifferent, responded before he could spiral further.

{The Golden Whip Art is a unique Art that allows the host to conjure and wield a golden whip of condensed Spirit Energy. Its applications can be unlocked progressively as the host develops mastery.}

More lines followed, glowing one by one:

{Current Capabilities: Adjustable length and thickness. Effective against demonic entities, inflicting exorcising damage. Additional abilities remain sealed.}

{Each activation consumes 1 Spirit Energy, and maintaining the whip costs 1 Spirit Energy per minute.}

Orion sighed heavily. "So… nine minutes of golden rope time once I use that Spirit Energy Pill?"

{Correct. However, Spirit Energy regenerates naturally over time and can be replenished through techniques in the Basic Spirit Energy Manual.}

'Yeah, great. Nine minutes of demon-whipping glory. That'll definitely make me as powerful as that Silver Blade guy,' he thought sarcastically.

Still, despite the disappointment, there was a spark of curiosity under it all. The idea of wielding Spirit Energy, even if it was just in the form of a glowing whip, was thrilling. The supernatural world had already swallowed him whole, and now he actually had something to fight back with.

He reached into the holographic inventory and eyed the glowing pill. 'Might as well see what Spirit Energy actually feels like…'

But before he could select it, a new message flashed across his vision.

{Warning: The System strongly advises against consuming the Spirit Energy Pill before reading the Basic Spirit Energy Manual. Without proper circulation control, the host risks internal backlash and possible self-harm.}

{Additional Note: The host is currently restrained by Spirit Energy dampening cuffs, making immediate absorption highly inadvisable.}

Orion slumped back with a groan. "So basically, I'm a sitting duck with fancy glowing shackles. Brilliant."

He rubbed his temples, the adrenaline from before slowly ebbing. 'Guess I'll have to wait. No sense rushing into it and blowing myself up.'

But just as he began to calm down, something else drew his attention - something real this time. The faint hum of the energy-sealed cell deepened, like a tremor in the air.

Then, with a flash of blue light, the door shimmered and three figures appeared on the other side.

The first was someone he'd never seen before, a short woman.

The second was familiar - the tall silver-haired exorcist.

And the last made Orion's chest tighten.

The third was very familiar.

-

"Bastion?! What the fuck are you doing here?"

Orion shot up as fast as his battered, cuffed body allowed, pain lancing through his wrists and ribs - but the shock outweighed everything else.

His older brother stood there like a golden-haired wall, arms folded, muscles tense beneath his shredded vest. Bastion's expression wavered between relief and fury - a warm smile twisted by a sharp glare.

Beside him, the other two exorcists instinctively stepped back, giving the brothers their space.

'What did I tell this little fucker about swearing?' Bastion thought, jaw tightening. 'He needs to watch his mouth… Still, I'm just glad the idiot's safe.'

Orion's mind raced, connecting the pieces - Bastion's constant absences, his mysterious, vague explanations, and his freakish strength and size. He'd just assumed his brother was a steroid junkie with dyed hair who was mixed up in something shady.

But this?

This was a whole other level.

He was an exorcist!

"Why didn't you tell me, man?" Orion snapped, anger bubbling up through exhaustion. "All those years you kept disappearing, and I just thought you were off doing… whatever! Turns out you're an actual demon-slaying exorcist, and you didn't even bother mentioning it?"

Bastion's expression darkened, the warmth in his eyes cooling. "We'll talk about it after," he said firmly. That older-brother authority in his tone, which always annoyed Orion, also made him pause.

He'd seen Bastion serious only a handful of times in his life. Every time, something bad followed.

So, Orion just nodded. "Fine."

For now.

Bastion exhaled quietly, the tension in his shoulders easing a little. "Good. You're fine, that's all that matters right now."

Then his gaze shifted sharply toward the swordsman and the short woman who had arrived with him. "Uncuff him. Now."

The silver-haired exorcist raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the woman beside him, as if asking for permission. But she was too busy staring deep into Orion's soul with her amber eyes.

It shook the youth who felt naked under her gaze, but he simply stared back into her eyes, mesmerised by the flames dancing within them.

Elena folded her arms. "He doesn't have any Spirit Energy in his body. He's harmless," she said coolly. Then, after a beat, "Even if he's somehow concealing it, it's not like he can do anything with me here."

'Arrogant much,' Orion thought to himself.

But to Bastion and Kalen, who knew just what she was capable of, she didn't come across as full of herself at all. If anything, it went without saying.

She gave a slight nod, and Kalen reluctantly moved forward.

'There's something off about him,' Elena thought, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Orion. 'I can't quite put my finger on it. He's this big idiot's brother, so he should be clear… Still, I'll keep an eye on him.'

The cuffs clicked open.

Metal fell away from Orion's wrists with a dull clatter.

He rubbed the raw skin, flexing his fingers and taking in a deep breath.

For a heartbeat, everyone relaxed.

Then Orion's eyes sharpened before he suddenly lunged forward...

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