[Chapter 78: One Missed Call]
Time marched on, unstoppable by anyone.
After Megan's agonizing wait, the clock finally struck 9:17 PM.
Suddenly, Megan's body jerked violently, as if she was about to smash into the chandelier hanging above her. But right then, a powerful surge radiated from her, and she settled back down onto the floor.
"Ah!"
A sharp scream echoed through the room.
That force not only expelled the malevolent presence clinging to Megan but also launched a counterattack. Whoosh -- kitchen drawers flew open on their own, knives and forks soaring through the air, aiming straight at them.
"Hmph! How dare you?" Daniel snorted coldly as he rose to his feet and took a step forward.
Immediately, seals shot up around him, bursting into fireballs. In an instant, the flying utensils dropped helplessly to the floor.
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.
With a wave of his hand, a ritual altar materialized before him. Daniel quickly formed hand seals and began chanting the incantation. A powerful aura surged, engulfing the entire house.
From a previously empty corner, a ghastly figure emerged. She wore a tattered long dress, her features twisted in malice, eyes burning with venomous hatred as if intent on slaughtering all living things.
"So you were here. Go!"
Daniel hurled his Exorcist's Sanctum Blade at her.
The figure flickered and darted away, narrowly avoiding the sword.
Daniel's brow furrowed. The Female Ghost from One Missed Call was indeed formidable.
If it weren't for the Merit value she offered, Daniel wouldn't have even bothered for just $100,000.
...
Seeing the terrifying spirit appear, Megan trembled uncontrollably, fear choking her. Her bladder tightened uncomfortably, waves of urgency pushing her to the edge.
Desperately, she squeezed her legs together, determined not to lose control.
Beforehand, Daniel had instructed her clearly: once he engaged the spirit, she was to find a safe spot and remain completely still.
She clung to that memory, huddling silently beside the sofa, even burying her face, forcing herself to stay motionless and quiet.
But then, an icy chill swept over her, plunging her body into a deep freeze as if she'd been submerged in an ice cellar.
Yet the next moment, another force awakened inside her.
The cold receded instantly, and the ghost let out another piercing scream.
"I'm here. You won't touch her."
Daniel's voice rang cold and steady as he grabbed a handful of copper coins -- each consecrated and genuine -- and flung them toward the spirit.
Alone, each coin's power was minor; normally, a single hit barely fazed anyone. But against someone like Daniel, dodging in time was impossible, and the impact brutal.
As the Female Ghost dodged a handful of coins, more coins appeared at her new location.
Cornered, her eyes suddenly turned pure white.
...
Both Daniel and Megan felt a heavy fog descend on their minds, their vision blurring.
Megan was crouching and now shifted to a sitting position, relatively unfazed.
Daniel, in the thick of battle, immediately lost his advantage.
Straining, he forced himself to form hand seals and chant:
By heaven's order and earth's foundation, let all corruption disperse.
Let hidden darkness be brought into holy light.
May the guardians of every direction bear witness and restore what is true.
By sacred decree and sanctified seal, let this command be known above and below.
Let what is bound be released, what is lost be guided.
Let every troubled soul find its rightful passage.
By judgment and mercy together, be cleansed and be at peace.
As the Heart Purification Mantra echoed, Daniel's mind snapped back, dizziness evaporating instantly.
Though the ghost was struck by the coins, the interruption cost Daniel precious momentum, and she vanished elsewhere.
She's really troublesome.
Daniel thought, recognizing the ghost's strength exceeded his expectations.
Still... the Female Ghost had a glaring flaw -- one Daniel intended to exploit to end her.
He drew the copper coin sword he'd forged earlier that afternoon and surged forward.
...
Seeing Daniel approach, the ghost refrained from direct confrontation, evading swiftly.
Daniel smirked, wiping his palm over the sword form. "Transform! Go!"
Boom!
The sword exploded in a burst of 365 copper coins, each transforming into a tiny blade, spreading out to cover every escape route.
No matter where the ghost slipped, the blades found her.
These coins were no ordinary trinkets -- they were the clustered Minor Five Emperors Coins, steeped in the energy of generations, imbued with the fate and fortune of five dynasties. Their power was far beyond common relics.
Puff, puff, puff... Several coins pierced the ghost's form.
Her anguished cries filled the room as her body rapidly grew translucent.
"Reform!"
Daniel called, drawing the exploded coins back under his magic's force, condensing them into the copper coin sword once more.
Clutching the Sovereign Yearblade, he pressed his attack, unafraid of any counterstrike.
The One Missed Call Female Ghost was bound by rules: she had to engage victims through her phone call.
Anyone answering was doomed without fail.
But Daniel hadn't answered, so she couldn't kill him -- only interfere slightly, like just now, causing dizziness.
Suddenly, Daniel's phone rang.
But he didn't reach for it.
He glanced at the ghost.
"You're calling, huh? Think I'll answer?"
Her face froze with frost, eyes filled with simmering hatred.
Then, the ringing stopped, replaced by a cold, eerie voice announcing the time.
Daniel's expression tightened.
The ghost could actually force the phone to answer itself.
When the announcement finished, Daniel would conform to her rules -- and she could kill him mercilessly.
Seeing his surprise, the ghost smiled victorious.
"You're celebrating too soon."
Daniel reached into his pocket. Suddenly, the phone's voice cut off and vanished.
The ghost's triumphant smile froze -- she lost her link to Daniel's phone.
"You can die now."
Daniel threw the copper coin sword again, exploding it midair into a storm of 365 tiny blades.
The ghost couldn't evade them all.
Struck repeatedly, she writhed in pain, her form growing even more transparent.
Still, she wasn't done yet.
Then, Daniel leapt forward, launching himself toward her with ferocious intent.
The ghost blinked, startled. No one had ever dared rush her like this. For anyone else, it was suicide. She could easily snap them like a twig.
But since Daniel hadn't answered her call, the curse that allowed her to strike was broken -- she couldn't harm him.
Her eyes rolled back -- their whites shining.
She tried again to cloud Daniel's mind with dizziness.
But the Heart Purification Mantra's power held firm.
While in midair, Daniel formed a hand seal, causing the earlier-thrown Sanctum Blade to fly back.
It stabbed directly into her, pinning her in place, denying her escape.
Finally, the One Missed Call Female Ghost found herself trapped in Daniel's grasp.
*****
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