[Chapter 7: Eliminate]
When Amanda heard Daniel say she was going to die, fear overtook her completely, draining the color from her face.
"Mr. Cross, don't scare me!" Amanda's voice trembled.
"Listen carefully," Daniel said calmly, "and you'll see whether I am trying to frighten you."
He explained, "Spirits carry negative energies -- sickness, death, decay, sorrow, failure, filth, disgust. Ordinary people, however, have abundant vital energy that shields them, making it hard for spirits or monsters to harm them. But if someone stays too long with a spirit, they begin to absorb those negative energies. That weakens their vitality, leaving their bodies fragile and barely alive. This is when the spirits or monsters take advantage of that vulnerability.
That's exactly what's happening to you. At first, your vitality was strong enough that the spirit couldn't do much; it moved cautiously. But over time, your energy waned, and the spirit grew bolder. It's even started pulling your blanket off. The next stage is..."
"Death!" Amanda whispered, shaking.
"No," Daniel shook his head. "Something worse."
Amanda's fear deepened. "Worse than death? What could that be?"
He looked serious. "Right now, your body is fragile. If the spirit wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead. Actually, it could have killed you from the start -- even at the cost of some injury to itself. But it hasn't. For one reason."
"What reason?" Amanda's voice cracked.
"It wants you." Daniel's tone was grim.
Amanda shuddered. "What do you mean?"
"It wants your body -- to live inside you."
Panic washed over Amanda. "Mr. Cross, please save me."
"I can," he said, "but we must agree on terms first."
"Name your price," Amanda nodded without hesitation.
Daniel considered asking for a steep sum -- after all, this was about her life and death. But Amanda was only renting the house; if the price was too high, she might just leave, and all his effort would be wasted. So he settled on a moderate fee. "$20,000."
Amanda hesitated. "That's enough for me to move out and break my lease. Once I'm gone, it won't bother me anymore, right?"
"Maybe. I can't guarantee. But if you value something enough to invest in it, would you just give up so easily?"
Amanda's resolve solidified. "Alright, $20,000 it is. But you must promise to completely fix this."
Daniel extended his hand. "Deal."
Amanda shook it. "When do we start?"
"Now." He glanced toward the still-open front door. "Go close all the doors and windows."
Amanda was too frightened to do it alone. "Can you come with me?"
He nodded and together they walked through the house, shutting every door and window.
...
Back in the living room, Daniel cleared the long dining table, draping it with a white cloth to create a ritual altar.
He pulled incense, candles, a ritual bell, prayer seals, and other tools from his bag, arranging them carefully on the altar. Lighting candles and incense, he rang the bell.
With a flick of his wrist, a sanctum blade suddenly appeared in his empty hand, making Amanda's eyes widen in surprise.
"Step back." His voice was steady.
Amanda moved aside nervously. Holding the sanctum blade firmly, Daniel performed the ritual as he shook the ritual bell in his other hand.
He began chanting:
By sanctified word and consecrated ground,
By judgment entrusted and authority sworn,
Let no restless spirit deny this call.
Let the unseen hear, and let truth answer.
A mysterious force rippled through the air. The house's lights flickered in erratic bursts.
Startled, Amanda stepped forward, but quickly restrained herself, afraid to interrupt Daniel's ritual. Her hands clenched tightly; knuckles pale with tension.
Suddenly, the bedroom door slammed open and shut repeatedly with heavy thuds.
"Ah!" Amanda screamed, stepping back toward Daniel but was kept at bay by the swinging sanctum blade.
"Oh, it's got some skills," Daniel muttered as he finished the chanting, yet no spirit appeared.
Concerned, Amanda moved closer. "Mr. Cross, what's happening?"
He shook his head. "It's taking its time. Step away a bit."
Reluctantly, Amanda complied.
"Let's see how long you can hide," Daniel said coldly, beginning the chant again. His incantation shifted, his voice gaining force:
Spirit bound to this place, you are seen.
You are called by rightful authority.
Reveal yourself, or be revealed.
An invisible power spread out. The interior doors slammed open and shut more frantically.
The chandelier swung wildly, flickering lights casting dizzy shadows.
Chairs and coffee tables slid across the floor without a touch, scraping harshly.
A potted plant crashed to the floor, dirt and shards scattering.
"Ah!" Amanda gasped.
A piercing female scream echoed throughout the house, lingering threateningly.
Suddenly, a ghostly figure in a blood-stained white dress materialized in the living room. She let out a chilling shriek and lunged toward Daniel.
But a powerful force bounced her back, her form blurring and becoming shimmering and insubstantial.
As she steadied in the air, she twisted to fix her gaze on Amanda.
Amanda's heart hammered; her breath caught in her throat.
The spirit lunged at Amanda without hesitation.
"You dare harm someone before me?" Daniel's voice was icy as he quickened his chant:
By judgment rendered and mercy given,
By the authority of the Sanctum,
I command you -- be gone.
The spectral woman screamed in agonizing pain, trembling violently as she struggled to reach Amanda but failed.
Her form rapidly grew transparent -- legs disappearing first, then torso, leaving only a terrified head floating.
Finally, even the head vanished, dissolving into thin air.
A voice rang softly in Daniel's mind:
[Ding! Eliminated an F-rank ghost, gained 1,000 Merit Points.]
[Ding! Eliminated an F-rank ghost, acquired the Prayer Seal Crafting Art.]
[Note: The Prayer Seal Crafting Art contains various powerful prayer seals with unpredictable divine effects. Current Level: Tier 1 (Upgradeable).]
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