[Chapter 131: Five Thunder Doctrine]
"Ah!"
An unbearably shrill scream pierced the air.
Last time, that sound had knocked Francia out cold. Daniel had been affected too, losing focus for a moment.
But this time, neither of them flinched. Daniel had sealed his ears with magic beforehand. Francia wore soundproof earplugs.
"Strike!"
More lightning bolts rained down, but Samara had already reacted, vanishing once again.
"Split, go!"
Boom!
The copper coin sword exploded, fracturing into countless small blades that scattered in all directions.
As Samara reappeared, several of the tiny swords pierced its form, eliciting another piercing scream.
Just as Daniel prepared to capture it in one swift move, a powerful force erupted from Samara's body, sending Daniel hurtling backward.
He tumbled through the air a few times before landing hard.
Boom!
Samara's hair suddenly surged outward, instantly filling the entire warehouse, engulfing everything.
Daniel and Francia were swallowed by that overwhelming mass.
Francia, lacking magical protection, was tightly bound by the hair. It constricted her neck, cutting off her breath.
Her face rapidly turned blue and purple; she looked as if she might suffocate.
Though caught, Daniel's magic surged fiercely, preventing the hair from fully constricting him.
He formed a complex hand seal and began chanting:
By sovereign order, all forces are set in place.
By consecrated rite, my mandate stands unchallenged.
No hostile claim holds ground before affirmed authority.
Golden Aegis, rise and seal my body in light.
His voice carried a unique rhythm, imbued with deep power. A mysterious aura rose, and beams of Golden Light shone forth from cracks in the hair.
Visible and invisible, all realms bear witness.
This light encompasses all dominion and sustains rightful order.
Through unwavering invocation, the radiance intensifies and fills the body.
No hostile force approaches; mandate stands unchallenged.
Let all spirits bow to lawful command; let thunder answer authority.
Ghost and demon falter; corruption loses form.
Within this light rests consecrated thunder, sealed in sacred name.
Wisdom pierces all veils; power surges under affirmed mandate.
The Golden Light around Daniel intensified, growing stronger and brighter.
Golden Aegis, rise without delay -- defend under sovereign mandate.
Authority affirmed. Judgment sealed.
A hum resonated as dazzling Golden Light exploded outward.
The hair, exposed to the radiant glow, quickly dissolved into nothingness.
Daniel and Francia were instantly freed.
Daniel eased the now unconscious Francia to the floor.
"To make me use the Golden Aegis Rite, Samara, you have good reason to be proud," Daniel said, his body glowing with brilliant Golden Light as he advanced toward the hovering creature.
Samara's blood-red eyes gleamed warily.
Suddenly, streams of black energy shot out from its body, transforming into invisible force.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The Golden Light around Daniel flickered wildly, sparks flying like molten iron striking stone.
"A grudge attack. A decent power, but useless against me," Daniel said, pressing forward.
Samara's eyes reflected Daniel's Golden Light with a flicker of fear.
In the next instant, its form shifted, then vanished completely.
"Do you think you can escape?"
Ward Mirror, activate.
By sealed authority, let all hidden corruption be revealed.
No shadow may remain; all hostile presence is exposed and bound.
By mandate — be brought to light.
Suddenly, a beam of mirror light shone down from the warehouse ceiling, illuminating every corner.
On the roof, a wooden mirror had silently appeared.
From the Void, Samara staggered out, just as it had vanished moments before.
But as soon as it appeared, it vanished again.
Still, the mirror's light forced it to reappear midair, unable to escape.
Then Samara's figure shifted, and an identical figure stepped forth from its body.
More figures appeared rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, over a dozen Samaras hovered in the air.
The next second, they vanished simultaneously.
"Do you think that will be enough?"
Daniel shouted, "Suppress!"
The mirror light flared, bathing the entire warehouse in brilliant radiance.
The Samara duplicates were revealed once again.
"Last time, I let you escape too easily. Did you think I wouldn't be prepared this time?"
He shook his hand, conjuring a token in his grasp.
"Hear the Thunder Command, rise!"
Dominion Rods shot up from underground, hovering midair.
"Strike!"
Boom boom boom...
Lightning bolts struck down in a relentless cascade.
The thunder formed an intricate net of power.
Countless bolts rained on the Samaras, shattering them on contact.
Within moments, only one remained, still struggling.
"Strike!"
More lightning descended, striking the lone figure.
"Ah!"
With one final shrill scream, the figure dissolved into nothingness.
[Ding! Killed C-Rank Ghost; obtained 1,000,000 Merit points.]
[Ding! Killed C-Rank Ghost; obtained Five Thunder Doctrine.]
[Prompt: Five Thunder Doctrine.
A core exorcist discipline, this rite governs five sanctioned manifestations of consecrated thunder: Celestial Thunder, Terran Thunder, Abyssal Thunder, Pyric Thunder, and Tempest Thunder. Each carries a distinct expression of authority and judgment.
Current Rank: First Tier. Upgradable.]
The voice resonating in his mind made Daniel smile.
One million Merit points, plus the Five Thunder Doctrine -- it had been worth staging such an elaborate display tonight.
He'd used so many Dominion Rods, even the Ward Mirror and the Golden Aegis Rite.
He almost resorted to the Rite of Divine Empowerment.
But with such a haul, this battle was far from a loss.
One could only say she lived up to her name, Sadako, or rather, Samara, was undeniably powerful.
Daniel's body shook slightly, and the Golden Light around him faded.
He reached up, and the Ward Mirror descended from the roof into his hand, where he tucked it away.
The Dominion Rods flew into his palm, instantly turning to ashes. The thunder's true essence had been fully expended.
He stepped over to check on Francia.
The deathly pallor on her face had finally lifted.
Daniel sighed quietly in relief. Still, he couldn't help but think it was ridiculous that she had fainted twice.
He channeled magic power to rouse her.
Francia immediately clutched her neck.
Only after confirming no hair was constricting her did she relax.
She looked around, not seeing Samara, and asked blankly, "Did it get away again?"
Daniel said, "It didn't run."
"Oh."
She nodded, then suddenly realized something was off.
Panic rising, she scanned the area again. "Where is it?"
Amused, Daniel replied, "It didn't run away. I took care of it."
"Oh."
Her tension melted away.
A moment later, she jumped up sharply.
"It's... i-it's dead?"
Daniel smiled. "Using 'dead' to describe a ghost is a bit strange, but yeah, that works."
Relief blossomed across Francia's face.
She grabbed Daniel's arm.
"Mr. Cross, it's dead. So I don't have to die anymore, right?"
He chuckled. "You don't have to die."
"That's wonderful."
Though smiling, tears suddenly streamed down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away, but they kept falling in unstoppable waves.
The tears spilled like a broken faucet that couldn't be shut off.
Daniel said, "Stop crying. I've got some good news to tell you."
"What good news?" Francia asked, still wiping her tears.
*****
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