Buzz—
The Anti-Magic Scroll activated, and in an instant, Dean Bruce felt as if the entire space around him had frozen. The cars that had been speeding down the road abruptly came to a standstill.
Crack—crack—
A crisp sound echoed, and cracks appeared in the space around him, causing it to completely shatter.
When Dean Bruce blinked, the scenery before him had changed to an ancient street. However, the area was now filled with dense black mist, within which countless red glows flickered.
It felt as if thousands of evil spirits were hiding within the mist, all watching Dean Bruce with predatory eyes.
Looking up, the black mist began to converge, forming a humanoid figure. Though the figure was shrouded in darkness, its silhouette revealed distinct curves, indicating that it was a woman.
Tap, tap, tap—
As the figure fully materialized, the woman said nothing, merely stepping toward Dean Bruce.
While checking the magical items and treasures on his body, Dean Bruce asked, "Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?"
He knew the saying, "Villains die from talking too much." As long as he could get her to speak, he might buy himself enough time.
"Who am I?" Though her lips did not move, an eerie voice echoed in the air. "I'm no human! You killed my apprentice, and even destroyed the little ghosts I raised! Last night, I was in the palace and couldn't act. But now that I've caught you alone, I will kill you and avenge my apprentice!"
Hearing this, Dean Bruce's pupils contracted sharply.
Her little ghosts? She's not human?
For a moment, Dean Bruce couldn't understand her words, or rather, he couldn't believe them.
Even in a world of magic and fantasy, he had never encountered anything like ghosts before!
As Dean Bruce was still contemplating, the figure had already reached him. Her right hand extended, and in the next moment, blood suddenly gushed from her palm, forming a blood-red claw that slashed toward Dean Bruce's chest.
"Thousand Mountains Fortress!"
"Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain!"
"Blood for Blood!"
In an instant, Dean Bruce unleashed three spells. His body hardened like a rock, with a strange radiance shimmering over him.
However, something unexpected happened.
The blood-red claw was neither absorbed by the Blood for Blood spell nor affected by his defensive magic. It swiftly tore across Dean Bruce's chest.
There was no visible wound on his body, not even the slightest change in Dean Bruce's enchanted robe. Yet, the pain crashed over him like a tidal wave, repeatedly assaulting his mind.
[What kind of attack is this? There's no damage to my flesh! It didn't even touch my clothes, and yet I feel this pain!]
[Could she really be a ghost?]
Dean Bruce's brow furrowed deeply as he retreated, racking his brain for a way to deal with a ghost.
From all the rewards he had earned, nothing came to mind that could affect a ghost.
At this point, Dean Bruce's eyes turned bloodshot. No longer thinking of escape, his mind raced. In a swift motion, he retrieved the Blade of Thor's Judgment, the weapon the old blind man had entrusted him with.
Crackling—
Almost the moment the Blade of Thor's Judgment appeared, the remaining black mist began to evaporate even faster, and the skies erupted with flashes of lightning and thunder.
The figure, however, paid no attention. After all, none of Dean Bruce's previous counterattacks had caused her any harm.
She sneered wickedly, continuing to tighten her grip on Dean Bruce's heart.
That was, until the very instant the Blade of Thor's Judgment pierced her ethereal form. Terrifying electric arcs surged through her body, paralyzing her where she stood, rendering her unable to apply any further pressure.
For the first time, she felt fear.
But it was too late. Even sealed away, the Blade of Thor's Judgment was still a divine weapon. It didn't require Dean Bruce to channel his magic into it. During the time he had nurtured it, the blade had accumulated immense power.
Its explosive release, combined with lightning's inherent power to restrain ghosts, caused the figure to flicker, her form becoming unstable, as if she could shatter at any moment.
"Now's my chance!"
Dean Bruce wasn't about to let the figure slip away. While she was paralyzed, he infused more magic into the Blade of Thor's Judgment. The blade crackled with lightning once again, and in a flash, the ghostly figure was reduced to ashes, scattered by the wind, leaving no trace behind.
"Ahh..."
The pain in his chest slowly subsided, and Dean Bruce let out a long breath. Exhaustion hit him all at once, and he dropped to one knee, gasping for air.
He had to admit, the attack from the ghost had truly made him feel like his life was on the line this time.
Thankfully, the Blade of Thor's Judgment came through at the last moment. The lightning it had accumulated over days had completely obliterated her soul!
Why wasn't Dean Bruce worried about her escaping?
What a joke. If she had any strength left to flee, she could've crushed his heart with that blood-red claw of hers when it was still lodged in his chest!
The surrounding black mist had completely vanished, leaving only faint flickers of residual lightning in its place.
Dean Bruce sheathed the Blade of Thor's Judgment and took out a bottle of Healing Spring. He took a sip.
Since the enemy had been a ghost, his physical body hadn't been harmed, which meant the Healing Spring could still take effect.
The healing energy quickly restored his vitality, filling him with strength again and washing away the remaining pain.
Once fully recovered, Dean Bruce exhaled deeply and began making his way toward the Quirell family estate again. Though, now he couldn't help but feel a growing curiosity about the old blind man. Who was he really?
The casual gift of a divine weapon, the Blade of Thor's Judgment, had such devastating power that it completely annihilated a terrifying ghost!
[Before I leave, I absolutely need to meet that blind old man again!]
With that thought firmly in mind, Dean Bruce reached the Quirell estate.
Since most of the servants had already been killed, Dean Bruce walked in without any hindrance, startling the remaining members of the Quirell family.
Fortunately, Linda Quirell recognized him immediately and rushed to stop the others from making a move. She greeted him respectfully, "Mr. Dean, are you here to see Nicholas?"
Though Nicholas William hadn't accomplished much, Dean Bruce had come here in his honor. To the Quirell family, Dean was essentially a savior, having earned their full respect and solidified his position as the family's son-in-law. Nicholas was now living quite comfortably in the household.
Upon hearing Linda's words, the rest of the family's eyes lit up as they looked at Dean Bruce with newfound admiration.