Christmas was approaching fast. Bella could justify spending a normal winter break studying in the library—but skipping Christmas entirely? That would raise questions.
She was using every remaining hour to consolidate what she'd learned over the semester.
Unlike the spells she'd initially grasped through flashes of inspiration and meditation, she had now taken a solid step forward in the occult by studying vast numbers of ancient texts.
After one full semester and half a vacation, she'd reorganized her entire spell system. Every technique was now categorized into nine levels based on power, psionic consumption, and difficulty.
Mind Shield—which prevented mind reading, mental control, and erosion from negative emotions, and which activated automatically once psionic power awakened—ranked as a high-tier Level 7 spell.
Invisibility was Level 2.
Charm and Frost Ray were basic Level 1 spells.
During this period, she'd also developed several new techniques:
Whisper allowed sound transmission within a one-kilometer range through mental linkage. She'd stabilized it into a proper psionic form now.
Sense Emotion let her perceive others' emotional states and distinguish friend from foe.
Levitation allowed her to float on water.
And Clarity—a Level 1 utility spell that could perfectly record a passage of text or an image. Understanding wasn't required; the spell would forcibly imprint it into her memory for later reproduction.
Currently stored in her mind was the anti-magic circle the Winchester brothers had once used against her. She didn't fully understand its principles yet, so she'd used psionic power to copy the pattern directly into memory. When needed, she could recreate it exactly.
Just before leaving campus, after months of training and absorbing massive amounts of external praise, her inner world finally underwent a qualitative transformation.
Her Heart Lake expanded. The ectoplasm-like energy permeated deeper, broader layers of her consciousness. It was an incredible sensation—indescribable, impossible to put into words. Brilliant spiritual light surged from her core, and she suddenly understood:
She'd leveled up.
Externally, this manifested as automatic comprehension of a new psionic spell—powerful, highly representative, a super-strong offensive technique mastered by many mind-manipulating creatures:
Mind Blast.
She classified it as Level 3. Its current effect was devastating: stun a single enemy, causing mental collapse. Even warriors with iron willpower and rigorous training would be left dazed for an extended period.
The technique was simple and brutal—a concentrated burst of psionic energy fired directly into the target's mind.
Eventually, it would evolve from single-target to area-of-effect.
The spell had one weakness: the target had to be sapient, possessing thoughts and a soul. Using Mind Blast on a rock would accomplish nothing.
Mind Blast's power far exceeded Frost Ray. Against ordinary people, Bella estimated it would essentially guarantee a one-hit kill. It had to be used with extreme caution.
"Heather, is dinner ready? I'm starving..." Bella kicked off her shoes the moment she walked in and headed straight for the kitchen. Normally at this time, her well-endowed roommate would already have food prepared.
Heather's cooking skills were genuinely excellent. After three months of her meals, Bella had raised the partnership fee from five hundred to eight hundred dollars.
Her own finances were clearly running a deficit, but after a full day of intense mental labor, coming home to a variety of delicious dishes made the expense feel worthwhile.
Heather's financial situation was genuinely tight. Every time Bella handed her money, those husky-blue eyes lit up with pure joy. More than once, Bella suspected the girl hadn't come to university to study—but to work as a private chef.
Bella herself was barely scraping by, her bank balance shrinking daily. But Heather? She'd actually earned back her exorbitant accommodation fees through sheer ability.
Impressive.
"Hmâ€"?! You...!"
The moment Bella stepped into the kitchen, she froze.
Sitting in a chair was the burly, bearded, utterly haggard 006.
Bella visibly stiffened.
"You know me. I can see it in your face." His voice was hoarse but steady. "You manipulate those mysterious forces, don't you? I need your help. Desperately. I need to find my daughter. Please—you have to help me."
006's words were carefully constructed. First, establish that he knew the truth—break her psychological defenses. Then lower his posture, beg humbly, give her the satisfaction of feeling in control.
Unfortunately, ordinary psychological manipulation was useless against someone like Bella.
She calmly washed her hands, picked up an apple from the table, and took a bite.
She studied him from head to toe. The memory blockade she and Shaw had created together had clearly been broken. Had some higher-level ghost shattered it?
She sensed his emotions: irritability, fear, helplessness, indignation—all negative.
This man looked composed, sitting upright in the chair. But in reality...
His entire body was riddled with injuries.
His right leg was slightly lame. Dog bite, maybe? His body showed signs of abnormal tremors. His face carried a faint bluish tinge. Myocardial infarction? Ischemia? There was also a massive lump on the back of his skull—had someone hit him with a shovel?
"Where's my roommate?" she asked.
"She went out. Shopping, I think. I didn't see her."
Bella considered. Probably the truth.
It was almost Christmas. She had zero interest in running around playing hero right now.
People died in America every single day. Even God couldn't save them all—let alone her. If someone was right in front of her, sure, she'd help. But traveling across the entire country from California to West Virginia to rescue a stranger?
Too far.
She declined tactfully. "I suggest you see a doctor first. Your physical condition is terrible."
"No!" 006 refused without hesitation. "I can hold on. These injuries are nothing!"
His emotional surge caused his legs to give out. His heart—already nearly destroyed by that so-called "miracle doctor"—finally went on strike. A wave of dizziness slammed into his skull. His body tilted, and he collapsed limply from the chair. His calves twitched twice, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stand.
"Pfft!"
Bella spat out a bit of apple peel.
What the hell?
Was this guy seriously trying to die in her dorm room? She'd only spoken a few honest words—was that really enough to trigger a heart attack?!
She still hadn't developed a healing spell, but after studying countless biblical and religious texts, she'd gained some understanding of treating illness.
She couldn't just let him die here.
Bella pressed her index and middle fingers together and placed them lightly against his chest, slowly calming his violently pounding heart.