[Chapter 96: Facing the Slender Man Again]
Daniel checked the time -- it was well past 2 a.m. Dawn was still hours away. Conserving his strength, he allowed himself to drift back to sleep.
When he woke again, it was after 7 a.m. Bane's family, however, was still asleep, not stirring yet. They only began to rise close to 9 o'clock.
"Mr. Cross, this was honestly the best night's sleep I've had in days," Amy said gratefully. The whole family repeatedly expressed their thanks upon seeing Daniel, their spirits noticeably lifted.
Especially the younger sisters, Amy and Erin, showed rapid recovery. Compared to the previous day, their improvement was striking. Yet, lingering Death energy still marred their faces.
Daniel understood this meant the Slender Man had no intention of releasing them anytime soon.
"What's our next move, Mr. Cross?" Bane asked.
Daniel replied, "The Slender Man doesn't show during daylight hours. We have to wait until nightfall."
He went to the bathroom, using the Spiritual Perception Technique through the mirror. He noticed a faint layer of Death energy coating his own face. Although it was much lighter than what affected Amy and Erin, it was unmistakably Death energy.
"My innate Thunder Body offers no protection against this type of Death energy?" Daniel mused.
"Maybe it's some rule trigger that blocks my Thunder Body's effects. The faintness of my Death energy isn't because the Slender Man's killing intent toward me is weak -- it's because, as an Authority Order Exorcist, I inherently resist more than others."
Though Daniel speculated, he couldn't draw any concrete conclusions.
He stayed another day at the Bane residence. Time inched toward night.
...
As darkness fell, tension returned to the family's household. But after witnessing Daniel's power the night before, their fear was much less intense. Still, calmness seemed out of reach.
The late hours deepened. With the Bane family visibly anxious, the clock neared 11 p.m.
"Ring-a-ling..." A sudden phone ringtone startled them.
Daniel drew his phone from his pocket, noting the incoming call was from an unknown number. He instinctively understood it had to be the Slender Man.
Making a subtle gesture, Daniel signaled the Bane couple. Understanding, they quickly retreated to their room.
They hadn't watched the ritual video nor provoked the entity, so they weren't its targets. Only Daniel and the sisters Amy and Erin remained out.
Daniel waved them forward. "Let's go. Don't stay indoors too long, or we might cause property damage."
...
Leading the sisters to the courtyard, they saw that a dense fog had risen, cloaking the night in utter mystery. Before them lay nothing but thick mist -- visibility was zero. Yet, all three could feel eyes watching through the haze.
Finally, Daniel answered the call.
Footsteps echoed from the receiver -- dry leaves crunching beneath heavy steps moving closer along the lawn and paved paths.
The sound grew nearer until it seemed to be right in front of them. But all that met their eyes was swirling fog.
Suddenly, branch-like tentacles snapped out from the mist like arrows aimed directly at Daniel.
Without dodging, Daniel grasped his consecrated ashwood sword, which materialized instantly in his hand. A surge of magical power crackled around it, lightning flickering along the blade's grain.
He swung.
Though a simple wooden sword in appearance, it morphed into a divine weapon in his grasp. The tentacles were effortlessly severed by the blade, thunder roaring with each strike.
More tentacles turned brittle, snapping off and falling to the ground. Then, an impossibly tall, thin figure emerged from the fog before them.
At least thirteen feet tall, clad in a dark suit, its legs like towering pillars. Branch-like tentacles pierced the ground, bracing the entity midair and making it seem even taller.
"Ah!" "Ah!" The sisters let out terrified screams and quickly hid behind Daniel.
Neither Daniel nor the Slender Man moved.
Its featureless face locked onto Daniel, and Daniel felt two invisible gazes descend on him. Within those eerie eyes, he sensed a strange blend of joy and eager anticipation.
Daniel spoke aloud, "Are you happy because you think you can finally attack me?"
The Slender Man, lacking a mouth, couldn't answer but gave a subtle nod.
Daniel smirked. "Sure, you need to consume many ordinary people to boost your power. But someone like me should count for at least a hundred of them, right?"
Again, the Slender Man nodded.
"You're happy I performed the ritual so you can come after me. But you should know -- I'm happy too, that you appeared again."
Daniel bit his finger, smearing fresh blood onto the consecrated ashwood sword. Immediately, the sword's already fierce thunderous aura flared wildly.
Holding the blade high, Daniel launched into the Sacred Sword Technique.
"Boom, boom, boom..." Thunder cracked through the night.
Lightning crackled along the sword's surface.
"Boom!" The consecrated ashwood sword, roaring with power, stabbed straight toward the Slender Man's main body.
To Daniel's surprise, the Slender Man stayed perfectly still, making no move to defend.
Suddenly, Daniel felt a cold weight dragging at his mind, as if an unseen force tried to cloud his thoughts.
Behind him, the sisters Amy and Erin's eyes rolled back, leaving just the whites showing.
They bent down, grabbing stones from the courtyard floor, preparing to throw them at him.
The Slender Man's influence had reached them quickly, binding their wills.
Daniel ignored their condition, his speed increasing.
Thunder roared again from the consecrated sword.
The Slender Man blinked, apparently surprised that Daniel remained mentally unshaken.
Without warning, the entity swiftly retreated, dodging the sword while shooting out tentacles to block the strike.
Daniel's attack was interrupted, but from his hand, a black plaque shot forward, landing before the Slender Man.
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, the surroundings briefly trembling with the surge.
Frozen in place for a moment, the Slender Man hesitated during its retreat.
Daniel seized the opportunity, leaping forward to plunge the thunder-struck ashwood sword deep into the creature's core.
"Ah!"
The Slender Man emitted a mournful shriek before retreating again, vanishing back into the thick fog.
With its disappearance, the sisters collapsed, utterly drained, passing out on the cold ground.
Daniel recalled how in movies the Slender Man could render itself invisible -- a trait belonging to its ghostly and physical hybrid nature.
Ordinary people could never see it, but Daniel's Spiritual Eyes made invisibility difficult.
The Slender Man could only hide using the thick fog.
Suddenly, Daniel noticed the fog expanding rapidly, swallowing the entire Bane family courtyard, enveloping himself and the two sisters in mist.
*****
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