"Father York?"
Archibald looked back, his face filled with gratitude.
[Two points of magic used]
[Magic power: 132 / 134]
York nodded, patted his shoulder, and returned to his original position.
"Continue!"
Archibald took a deep breath and continued to press the demon for its true name.
However, Marlon, despite looking extremely distressed and howling incessantly, still did not reveal its true name. Instead, it responded to Archibald's interrogation with roars and garbled words.
"Ugh, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!"
"My name is Blasphemy!!!"
"My name is Nightmare!!!"
"I am your bane!!!!"
"..."
The demon's roars echoed throughout the room.
Archibald began to feel the pressure, evident in the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, but he could only continue to press it with the same questions.
So, Archibald looked at York again.
"Father York, should I continue?"
York nodded.
"Alright."
Left with no choice, Archibald took out his cross and Bible. He raised the cross in his right hand, held the Bible in his left, and faced Marlon, beginning to recite from the holy book.
"..."
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
"..."
As expected, due to the content of the Bible, Marlon became even more distressed. Yet, as it thrashed about, its increasingly blood-red eyes stared intently at Archibald.
"You bug, you are powerless against me! On the contrary, I know everything about you!!"
"Hehehe!"
"I will definitely kill you!"
"..."
York's eyes darkened as he looked at Archibald, whose forehead was covered in fine sweat.
"The demon's power has grown stronger."
"..."
After reciting Ephesians 6:12-13 in one breath, Archibald's forehead was even more covered in sweat. He watched Marlon, gritted his teeth, and continued to recite.
However, Marlon suddenly propped up its upper body, its even more blood-red eyes glancing at York before fixing on Archibald in front of him.
"Your name is Archibald Grant! I finally know your name! Hehehe!"
Archibald's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously stopped his chanting rhythm.
York, who had been observing the entire time, sighed inwardly. "Alas, he's already broken. Poor child."
Sure enough, Marlon, with its blood-red eyes fixed on Archibald, continued to reveal more information about him.
"Have you forgotten, Archibald? Forgotten the cat that died in your car?
Do you know whose entire hope that cat was?
"Oh my, there are so many people you've wronged."
"..."
Marlon kept talking, growing clearer and more detailed, including things from Archibald's childhood.
The fine sweat on Archibald's forehead grew denser, and his face became increasingly grim.
York, like an observer, allowed Marlon to slowly break through Archibald's psychological defenses. His gaze remained on him, silently assessing his score.
If Archibald could withstand the demon's erosion and verbal pressure, and steadfastly continue to recite the Bible, then Archibald would pass in his eyes.
Mature exorcists generally have strong psychological fortitude and well-constructed defenses. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to endure just the shock of bloody scenes, the heavy mental pressure, and the overwhelming repentance, let alone directly face the spiritual erosion that comes with the demon's true form.
But honestly, he could empathize with Archibald's feelings. If the demon targeted him because of himself, that would be one thing, but if it also implicated innocent family members, then death itself wouldn't be enough to atone.
"Oh my goodness!!! There was even a girl who died because of you, Archibald? Was that girl's name Yvette?" Marlon tilted its head, continuing to speak, its lips curving into a distorted, clown-like smile.
Upon hearing the name Yvette, Archibald, who had still been able to control his mind, suddenly looked up and stared intently at Marlon, gritting his teeth.
"Shut up!!!!"
Marlon tilted its head back, its voice seemingly filled with emotion.
"Oh, my goodness, she died right in front of you?"
Archibald stared fixedly at Marlon, a hint of pain appearing in his eyes.
Marlon continued in a mocking and sarcastic tone.
"I'm very curious, what did you feel that day when you held Yvette?"
At this, Archibald's defenses completely broke. He stared at Marlon, gritting his teeth and saying,
"What do you know! You damned devil! No! All you devils from hell deserve to die!"
Marlon's smile abruptly vanished, its blood-red eyes fixed on the furious Archibald.
"Archibald, I am eternal and indestructible! I know your nightmares, and I will soon become your nightmare."
As the hissing sound faded, something seemed to appear in the room. Archibald stood rooted, watching Marlon, his eyes struggling, but the Bible and cross in his hands both fell to the floor, his face filled with pain.
"Hehehe!!!"
Marlon tilted its head, staring at the unmoved York behind him, laughing arrogantly.
"..."
"Has he entered a hallucination…?"
York ignored Marlon's terrifying smile and its triumphant roars. He glanced at Archibald, who was trapped in a hallucination, then began to set down his backpack. He whispered to the trembling old man behind him,
"Mr. Mark, do you raise pigs on your farm? I saw the pigsty you built when I arrived."
"Yes… yes, yes…" The old man's trembling voice replied to the question.
"Could you sell me one?" York turned, his broad chest shielding the old man's view, and smiled. "If possible, I hope you can lead one over."
The old man's eyes widened as he stared at York, cautiously asking,
"Lead it here?"
Marlon continued to roar on the bed, asserting its presence.
"I am your nightmare!!!"
"..."
The noise was too loud, and there was also the influence of dark erosion. York simply used magic to counteract the dark erosion near the old man's ears, preventing him from being affected.
[One point of magic used]
[Magic power: 132 / 134]
"Yes, Mr. Mark." York nodded and smiled. "The Lord will be with you."
Suddenly unable to hear the terrifying roars, the old man looked intently at York, then gritted his teeth and hurried away without even glancing at Marlon.
"Is my revered father afraid?" Marlon laughed arrogantly.
"Yes, he's afraid!"
York glanced at Marlon and casually responded. He walked over to Archibald, whose eyes were vacant, and forcefully slapped his forehead with his right hand.
With a 'thwack' and the mechanical sound of "[Four points of magic used]", Archibald's body trembled as if struggling. His eyes instantly became alert, then began to focus.
Under the impact of the magic, Archibald emerged from the demon's hallucination. In a blink, he saw the Father, who loomed over him like a mountain.
Archibald's forehead was covered in sweat, and he wore a grim, pained, almost tearful expression.
"Father York, I…"
"It's alright, you'll get more experience in the future." York interrupted Archibald, patted his shoulder, and didn't press him about the hallucination or who Yvette, who had broken his last mental defense, actually was.
"Leave the rest to me. Actually, demons aren't as terrifying as you imagine. On the contrary, once you learn the ropes, they're weaker than you think."
Archibald looked at the legendary Father before him, subconsciously took a deep breath, and his expression gradually stabilized. Perhaps due to the hallucination or anger, a hint of determination appeared in his eyes.
"I understand, Father York."
York smiled, patted the foolish young man's shoulder again, and casually pulled up a nearby stool. As he turned, he watched Marlon and maintained his distance while sitting by the bed.
"Is it your turn, you damned bug!" Marlon, no longer tormented by Holy water and chanting, lay comfortably on the bed and looked at York. "You smell worse than this rookie!!"
"Is that so…"
York looked at Marlon, pinched his nose as if he had smelled something, silently pulled the stool back a bit, and then sat down again.
The entire action inflicted little harm but was extremely insulting, so much so that Marlon's blood-red eyes paused for a moment.
What's going on today!