CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 16: HUNTER—SHAWN

Don’t come any closer!

The shriek of the monster carried a hint of terror. It wanted to escape, even if it meant returning to the Spirit Realm.

But Shawn wouldn’t let it flee.

"Do you only dare bully mortals?" Shawn’s lips curled into a cold smile.

In truth, these bizarre creatures weren’t as terrifying, for when you become one of them, they start fearing you.

Dragged out thoroughly by two Invisible Hands and two Evil Thought Black Tentacles, the headless Lantern Bearer’s intestines were torn out. The invisible slime, imperceptible to the human eye, oozed throughout the room. The Evil Thought Black Tentacles were even more savage, coiling around half its body, squeezing so tightly that even its bones twisted. This flesh-transforming Spell, particularly tentacle-type spells, had high Power Attributes.

"Gemma is a Wizard skilled in Transformation Spells, capable of directly harming Spiritual Bodies with flesh-transforming spells."

The Extraordinary Essence from this Spell might derive from the tendrils of carrion worms, imbued with the Evil Thoughts of Negative Energy.

The two five-meter-long suction tentacles moved on their own, like sharp black whips, without hindering Gemma’s other actions. As long as she maintained Spell-casting focus, she could even cast additional spells.

Ah!

With a scream like that of a night owl, the hunched Lantern creature was forcibly dragged from the Spirit Realm’s rift by the two wizards, thrown heavily into the center of the ritual.

A glint of cold light flickered.

Benjamin drew Flowing Light just as Shawn moved, a silver-white brilliance flashing forth. The Lantern Holder, already missing half its body, was split in two again, a severed pale arm flying towards Shawn, seemingly trying to choke him.

—Dimensional Jump.

Shawn’s figure abruptly vanished, reappearing as two Invisible Hands intercepted the severed pale hand that continued moving forward on its own.

At this moment.

A live intestine wrapped around Benjamin’s arm like a rope, crawling towards his neck like a black snake. Upon contact with his body, Negative Energy emerged from the intestine, sapping Benjamin’s stamina, making him lethargic. Simultaneously, traces of aging appeared on Benjamin’s skin, like age spots, wilting patches devoid of Life Force surfacing and spreading.

This was Negative Energy erosion, which drained the target’s Life Force. Reality isn’t a game; it’s not as simple as losing health, potentially causing permanent aging.

A wave of regretful emotions filled the room.

Benjamin remained indifferent, ripping apart the tough black intestine with his bare hands and thrusting Flowing Light in his hand straight through, piercing from the monster’s lower abdomen out through its chest.

Gemma seemed affected by some negative emotions, unable to cast the second spell.

Bang!

Shawn drew his gun, spiritually locking onto the target, and blasted the human head ’lantern’ held by its hand. This ghastly thing had been emitting a shrill screech, disrupting the spell-casting rhythm of the two wizards and breaking their spell-casting focus.

A silver-white bullet shot out, bursting with intense energy upon contact with the monster. Its head exploded like a watermelon, scattering flesh and blood around the room. When the Extraordinary Relic within the bullet activated, a momentary flash of white light appeared, with greater power than anticipated.

The room quickly fell silent.

Under Benjamin’s Flowing Light, the Lantern monster was swiftly dismembered, leaving hideous bloody fragments all over the floor. Yet it was still not dead, the severed pale hand continued to crawl on the ground, and the broken intestines squirmed like worms. Though its body was reduced to a human stick, the Lantern Holder still attempted to reassemble its mangled frame.

"Undead soul trait?"

"Is it an Evil Spirit from the Beheading Valley?" Shawn frowned deeply.

Beheading Valley is a landmark in the Spirit Realm.

Like Candlefort, Beheading Valley is also a renowned place in the Spirit Realm. It’s said that thousands upon thousands of heads can be seen rolling in the valley from time to time. The place has origins linked to humanity’s historic decapitation practices. Though many places have abolished guillotines, headless souls still haunt the Beheading Valley in the Spirit Realm.

He gestured for Gemma to leave first, glanced at Benjamin beside him, and said in a deep voice, "I’ll handle this."

"Watch out for explosions."

Benjamin nodded swiftly, exiting the room and shutting the door.

Click.

Shawn pulled a bottle from his shirt pocket, opened it, releasing a trace of sulfur scent. Accompanying a snap of his fingers, bluish fire spread in a chaotic wave in all directions. The fierce flames surged through the room like a tide, the violent explosion shattering windows and doors.

"Cough, cough!..."

Moments ago, Shawn appeared unruffled, but now he emerged slightly disheveled from the room. Although the flames summoned by the Blast Flame Technique didn’t harm him, the blast’s shockwave left him in a ragged state.

"Next time, be more careful using this spell in a room."

Shawn dusted himself off, and the Lantern Holder’s body on the floor was completely charred. The power of the Blast Flame Technique was indeed immense, burning everything within a six-meter diameter to ashes.