Many powerful people protected themselves with more than a few consecrated crosses. They regularly drank holy water and even used it while bathing. Over time this made it far harder for evil spirits or demons to influence them.
Possession became almost impossible in some cases. Supernatural entities were forced to target ordinary people instead and use them as vessels to enter the human world.
There were also hidden places beyond public knowledge where occult groups summoned succubi and demons. Compared with rituals like those the existence of sacred holy water was hardly surprising.
The world was far larger and more dangerous than Ed imagined. That was why the Church and elite exorcists from other countries could treat government agencies as support rather than authority.
Everything had a reason.
Ed fell silent. The subject was clearly more complicated than he had believed. Still, he knew Father Anderson had no reason to deceive him.
Lorraine sensed his troubled thoughts through the bond between them and looked toward him.
"Ed, ordinary people live in their own world. We don't need to understand every secret."
She reached over and took his hand.
"We only need to live our own lives."
Ed turned toward her. Their eyes met and exchanged a meaning that belonged only to them.
Anderson looked away.
The affectionate scene had nothing to do with him.
Drew's cautious voice broke the silence.
"Father, how much does the holy water cost?"
Everyone immediately turned toward Anderson. Ed and Lorraine watched him with helpless curiosity while the Tracy family showed obvious interest.
Anderson checked the time again. The humidifier now released a faint mist that carried a weak sacred glow.
"That depends on the situation. It also depends on the donation and how sincere the person is."
In other words, there was no fixed price.
Drew scratched his head after understanding the implication.
"I see."
Theodore and his family exchanged glances. Their interest had not faded.
Anderson nodded before removing his phone.
"It's almost time."
Everyone looked toward the closed bedroom door.
The Tracy family tensed. For a moment they had almost forgotten why they were gathered there.
Anderson counted silently.
Three.
Two.
One.
The clock beside the bed reached ten.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heavy footsteps appeared in the hallway at the exact time described in the reports. The door remained shut but every step sounded close enough to be beside them.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Unease spread through the room.
"Father," Ed whispered.
"It's fine."
A faint smile appeared on Anderson's face.
The system truly favored incidents involving demons, evil spirits, murderers, and predators.
The footsteps continued as a mechanical voice sounded inside his mind.
[Random Mission Triggered]
[Mission: Exorcise the Evil Spirit]
[Reward: 5 Attribute Points]
[Accept Mission?]
"Accept."
[Mission Accepted]
Anderson tapped the play icon on his phone.
A clear recording began playing through the consecrated Bluetooth speaker hidden in the hallway. Scripture and sacred chants echoed through the house alongside the footsteps.
"Sing praises to the Lord across all the earth. Let His glory fill the heavens. His voice carries holiness and judgment."
The recorded prayer drowned out the approaching steps.
Everyone except Anderson stared toward the door in confusion. Even Ed and Lorraine only partly understood what he had prepared.
A savage howl suddenly tore through the hallway.
"Aaaaaah!"
The sound was sharp enough to pierce their ears. Drew and the Tracy family covered their heads while Ed and Lorraine recoiled from the noise.
"It worked."
Anderson grinned and rushed toward the door.
He pulled it open.
A mutilated man stood in the hallway near the Bluetooth speaker. Part of his skull was missing and exposed tissue covered the wound. Blood ran from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
A shotgun rested in his hands.
"Ronnie DeFeo?"
Anderson's expression remained calm.
The spirit howled beside the consecrated speaker. Its bloodshot eyes fixed on the priest as it raised the shotgun.
"Die—"
Bang!
A sacred .500 Linebaugh round left the silver muzzle before Ronnie could finish speaking.
The bullet shone with divine light and struck the spirit's exposed skull. The impact destroyed its head and scattered its unstable form.
"Aaah!"
Ronnie's scream became even louder. His flickering body vanished from the hallway.
"Trying to escape?"
Anderson drew a bottle of consecrated holy water from his belt and ran downstairs.
The atomized holy water protected the bedroom behind him. Ronnie's only available path led toward the lower floor.
A cry of pain and rage echoed through the house.
The consecrated crucifixes placed in each room acted as markers. Every time the spirit moved near one it revealed its position.
Anderson reached the first floor within moments and followed the sound toward the back entrance.
Ronnie's mangled figure appeared near the door. His spiritual body had begun rebuilding after the first sacred round destroyed it.
The spirit tried to escape into the yard but another crucifix hung from the locked back door.
Ronnie's form blurred and began disappearing.
Anderson tossed the bottle with his left hand.
"Go."
The holy water flew toward the place where the spirit had vanished.
Anderson raised the custom revolver and fired the remaining sacred cartridges without hesitation.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Flashes of white light filled the hallway.
The first round struck the floating bottle and shattered it. Holy water burst through the air and fell across the invisible spirit.
A horrible scream followed.
White flames ignited in the empty space and revealed Ronnie DeFeo's body.
The second sacred bullet destroyed his regenerated head.
The third tore through his chest.
The fourth shattered his leg.
Ronnie screamed as the flames consumed his form. The fire near the backyard entrance weakened and scattered into the night air.
Nothing remained.
[Random Mission Completed]
[Mission: Exorcise the Evil Spirit]
[Reward Issued: 5 Attribute Points]
Anderson lowered the .500 Linebaugh revolver and returned it to its holster.
He sighed.
"Too easy."