Chapter 100: Asking for Help
Master Alex glanced at the bag in Marcus's hand and asked worriedly,
"Isn't it unsafe to carry the Soul Collector fragment with you? Shouldn't we contain it inside the church?"
"Leaving it inside the church probably won't stop it. This bag of mine has the function of isolating spiritual energy, otherwise the Soul Collector would have already come after me," Marcus refused.
"But Master Alex, what you say makes sense. I wonder if you have any demon-suppressing artifacts? I can borrow them to bless and suppress this Soul Collector fragment, just to be on the safe side."
Marcus wasn't very trusting of St. Michael's security. Even Lily could act so violently in the church, let alone the Soul Collector. However, he suddenly thought of Father Samuel's artifacts.
Master Alex paused upon hearing this, then silently took out a black wooden block about a foot long, shaped like a ceremonial tablet, and handed it to Marcus.
"This is a blessed token. Take it to suppress the fragments of the Soul Collector."
Marcus took the token and stuffed it into his backpack, staring at the cross pendant and the string of prayer beads around Master Alex's neck.
"Any more?"
Master Alex noticed Marcus's gaze and said helplessly, "These are just ordinary blessed items."
St. Michael's was struggling; the only Saint Benedict Medal they had was with his fellow disciple.
"Oh, Master Alex, you misunderstand. I'm just being cautious. Let's go find your colleague first!"
After Marcus finished speaking, he drove Master Alex towards the desolate outskirts of the city.
"So what if I have the Reaper's destiny? Father is still dead, isn't he?"
"Brother, I can't help you, and I can't help everyone. I can't even take care of myself!"
"We can't defeat the Soul Collector. Let's give up!"
Inside the ruined building, Brother Kane, wearing a gray T-shirt and a white towel draped around his neck, roared at Master Alex, who was standing at the door, his eyes bloodshot.
Master Alex stared blankly at Brother Kane. He hadn't expected that his colleague would become like this over the years.
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
"You've been living in these ruins where Father Cross died. Is it because you truly loved your mentor, or because of your guilt over what happened to him?"
Seeing that Master Alex was struggling to handle Brother Kane, Marcus stepped forward and asked calmly.
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing this, Brother Kane instantly flew into a rage, shoving Master Alex aside and lunging at Marcus.
Marcus didn't want to hurt this useful person, so he gently pushed him away.
Brother Kane landed on his backside, lying back down on the ground, weeping, no longer struggling.
"Your mentor is suffering beyond, while you're wallowing in despair in the mortal realm. You're truly his good disciple! How could you face him!"
Marcus unhesitatingly borrowed the lines spoken by Andrew, who had possessed Rachel in demonic form, to Jamie.
"Yes, I'm sorry to him. I'm a useless piece of trash!"
Brother Kane not only didn't refute, but instead, with red eyes, roared and admitted it.
A middle-aged man in his forties, crying so loudly and so painfully.
"Think carefully about what your mentor said to you when he was alive. If you truly feel guilty and truly loved your mentor, then you should fulfill his last wish and eliminate the Soul Collector who killed him, allowing him to rest in peace!"
Marcus said as he stepped forward and removed the Saint Benedict Medal hanging around Brother Kane's neck.
It was a finger-length, cross-shaped blessed object, even more powerful than Master Alex's 'Blessed Token'.
"You think running away will solve the problem? You are the spirit chosen by the Soul Collector. He will find you sooner or later. At that time, you will not only have failed your mentor, but you will also have become a tool to help your enemy become stronger."
"I will keep this for now. Rather than leaving it to the Soul Collector, I will use it to suppress the fragments of the Soul Collector. Think about it carefully. If you understand, come to St. Michael's. I will take Master Alex there."
Master Alex then recounted the incompleteness of the Soul Collector's totem and the Soul Collector's resurrection plan to Brother Kane, who was lying on the ground.
Although Brother Kane was still weeping, his eyes had changed, but he still needed to calm down.
"Master Alex, let's go first. Time is precious; we can't afford to waste a moment!"
Marcus noticed this and pulled Master Alex out of the ruins. The two got into the car.
"Sigh, I really didn't expect that incident back then would cause Kane so much distress. Let's go to the church you mentioned."
Master Alex sighed, feeling pity and helplessness. His colleague was considered exceptionally talented among the spiritual mediums back then, possessing a destiny bestowed upon him, one of the top figures among the younger generation.
Back then, Brother Kane was possessed by the 'Soul Collector.' To save him, Father Cross absorbed the evil spirit into his body, transferring the Soul Collector to himself. However, Kane was still deluded by the Soul Collector's illusion, believing he had fought off an evil spirit.
When he regained consciousness, Brother Kane realized the terrible truth about what happened to his mentor, whom he had treated like a father. He had possessed spiritual vision since childhood, considered an omen, but his mentor had given him warmth and purpose.
Yet, he felt responsible for his mentor's death.
In reality, this was Father Cross's willing sacrifice; possessed by the evil spirit of the Soul Collector, he had no choice.
Therefore, in his dying moments, Father Cross didn't say anything to Master Alex.
Instead, he spoke to Brother Kane about responsibility and destiny, and gave him the Saint Benedict Medal, hoping to use a sense of responsibility to lessen his disciple's guilt and prevent it from affecting Brother Kane's life.
Unfortunately, everyone underestimated Brother Kane's devotion to his mentor. With his mentor's death, his spirit died with him.
The more devoted a person is, the deeper the wound; conversely, some naturally detached people move on easily, untouched by worries and sorrows.
After Master Alex finished speaking, he noticed that Marcus had started the car but didn't intend to leave.
"Master Alex, just wait a moment and you'll see."
Two minutes passed.
Covered in dust and with disheveled hair, Brother Kane hurriedly chased after them to the entrance, instinctively peering into the distance.
A car horn blared from the grass beside the abandoned building's entrance.
Brother Kane turned, then silently walked over, opened the back door, and got into the car.
The vehicle drove to St. Michael's.
The eighty-year-old (+3) Father Samuel had resumed his duties, and he had Father Matthew greet Marcus and his companions.
Although Father Matthew lacked the ability to exorcise evil spirits, he was a shrewd administrator, no less capable than Frank Davis.
The four walked across the stone courtyard, through the entrance plaza, past the main sanctuary, and then along the path for about a hundred yards before finally meeting Father Samuel.
Father Samuel had recovered some of his strength, but still looked somewhat weakened, lacking his previous air of authority. He introduced them to Marcus and the others:
"This is Father Rodriguez from Sacred Heart Parish, and this is Father Thompson from Holy Spirit Church. I've invited six clergy this time, and four more are on their way."
"My colleagues, it's this gentleman who discovered the conspiracy of the 'foreign demonic entity, the Soul Collector, who intends to wreak havoc on our community'!"
The two priests, both over seventy years old, exchanged a few polite words with Marcus.
Marcus also introduced them to Master Alex and Brother Kane, and reiterated in detail the Soul Collector's attempt to resurrect as a human.
While waiting for the remaining four clergy to arrive, everyone continued to discuss and formulate a plan to deal with the Soul Collector.
(End of Chapter)
Author's Note
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