Extraordinary Voyage

The completely transformed "Wack Wells" remained silent, cradling the box, as he ascended the decaying stairs to the dilapidated "Ghost Ship."

In an instant, it seemed as though countless eyes opened simultaneously in the shadows, whispering indistinctly. It was as if the original actors and attendants of the "Mobile Water Theater," once ravaged and slaughtered, still lingered here through the endless years, coldly observing the world...

However.

Wack's steps were utterly unaffected by the peculiarities lurking in the shadows. He walked directly to the foredeck, standing behind the ship's figurehead resembling three twisted human heads entwined with spines.

Facing the direction of New Inn Port, he stood silently for a long time. The expression on his face constantly shifted, sometimes reminiscent and joyful, other times jealous and resentful. Throughout this process, the last vestige of human essence within him gradually peeled away.

Slowly coming into complete conformity with some mysterious existence.

Then, as if a different soul resided beneath the same skin, he spoke in a chant mirroring the "Box of Dead Souls":

"Ah! I once loved you silently and hopelessly.

I endured both shyness,

And the torment of jealousy.

I once loved you so sincerely, so tenderly,

May the gods grant you a heart as steadfast as mine."

...

At the same time, from behind, a red shadow from the secret passage echoed his voice, combining with his to create an eerie resonance, like a strange echo in a cavern, resonating towards "New Inn Port."

Simultaneously.

In the affluent district of "New Inn Port," Lemon, who should have been asleep in bed, suddenly opened his eyes. A faint blood-red shadow flickered in his green eyes.

More startling was how his right eye turned right while his left eye turned left, bizarrely manipulated as if two consciousnesses controlled his body simultaneously.

"Hoo-ha——!"

He exhaled a long, profound breath.

As Teresa's piano teacher, he had endured a profoundly memorable experience at the banquet the night before, after which he had temporarily taken up lodging in Teresa's guest room, citing unwellness.

A few years ago, Teresa's husband, also a Navy Officer, had died in the line of duty. Wishing to avoid objects that stirred painful memories, Teresa had returned to her parents' home, residing in a mansion located in the affluent district.

Though not as spacious as the estate in the suburbs, the house easily accommodated Lemon alongside the butler and servant quarters.

Teresa merely thought he had been frightened out of his wits by the extraordinary occurrences of that night. Despite being displeased with his demeanor, she did not harshly criticize him as he was unfamiliar with the Extraordinary World, ultimately granting his request for refuge.

However, any notion of considering him as a potential second life partner had completely faded from her mind.

Thump.. thump.. thump..

In the bedroom on the second floor of the mansion, Teresa, deeply asleep, was abruptly awakened by a rhythmic knocking sound. Taking a glance at the still dark night sky outside her window, she grumpily asked, "Who could it be at this hour?!"

There was no response, just the relentless "thump.. thump.. thump.."

Irritated, she jumped out of bed, her bare feet slipping into her shoes, and walked to the door, yanking it open.

"Lemon? Why aren't you asleep and what are you doing in my room at this hour?" Seeing the man standing at the door in the dim hallway light, Teresa snorted impatiently.

"If it's not important, speak tomorrow, I'm sleepy!"

Still bleary-eyed, she failed to notice the originally handsome, blond, green-eyed piano teacher's mask-like stiff expression, along with his eyes, which seemed to swivel with self-awareness, unnervingly discordant in their movements.

Upon hearing Teresa's obvious impatience, "Lemon" appeared angered, his expression transforming abruptly as if swapping masks in a dramatic face-changing act, with brows furrowing and eyes bulging, an overwhelming fury appearing ready to erupt from his pupils.

"Ah, ah, ah, Teresa! You shallow woman, how deeply I love you! My sincere heart, cruelly ignored by you, my passionate feelings, wantonly trampled by you.

Only now do I realize how pathetically humble my love was in the past. Today, you will pay for your former arrogance!

Because I have now acquired the power to pursue equality and freedom!"

With those words, his hands clamped onto Teresa's frail shoulders like iron pincers, lifting her effortlessly as he stepped into the room.

"Help! Have you gone mad, Lemon? What are you doing?!"

Teresa's sleepiness vanished without a trace, and she cried out in terror. Her slippers fell to the floor, her bare feet futilely kicking in the air, unable to alleviate her plight in the slightest.

"Hahaha, it's useless! I am no longer the insignificant mortal Lemon!"

The sudden power he had gained clearly caused a great shift in his mindset, making him so confident that he was almost arrogant.

Fortunately, after hearing Teresa's shout, the rest of the family who were already asleep came rushing over.

Whoosh—

An old man with slightly curly yellow and white hair, in a rage, clad only in a nightgown, stormed down the stairs like a furious lion.

Before retiring, this old gentleman was a dignified Navy Captain, and even though he was aged and frail, he was indeed an Extraordinary! Upon hearing the scream of his most beloved daughter, he instantly turned into an awakened lion!

"You bastard! Let go of my Teresa!"

With an angry shout, an iron fist, accompanied by a howling wind, slammed towards Lemon's back.

The young man slightly turned his head, but his eyes seemed to have two different consciousnesses, one was disdainful while the other was terrified, making his limbs slightly uncoordinated.

Yet his survival instinct was alerting him frantically, warning him that he will die if he doesn't dodge!!!

At this moment, he chose to follow the voice of his heart.

Crash—

He suddenly turned around, pushing Teresa towards the old man's iron fist, and then leapt forward, smashing through the bedroom window, and without hesitation, jumped off directly from the second floor.

The old man, already protective of his precious daughter, had not exerted all his strength, and with ease, he caught Teresa into his arms.

He took steps, intending to pursue further.

"Father! Wah, boohoo…."

A frightened Teresa clutched his sleeve and started crying loudly, so he had no choice but to stop to comfort his daughter.

Step.. step.. step..

Hearing the commotion, the butler and two strong male servants arrived armed with firearms.

"Go, chase after him, and bring that audacious guy back to me!"

The three underlings took orders and went off, while Teresa's father looked at his crying daughter in his arms, somewhat troubled, and sighed lightly.

The Goddess is truly too harsh on this child.

Her husband was originally a promising new talent in the Navy, with the marriage arranged by none other than himself. Yet fate struck a cruel blow, and the young elite officer perished during a mission.

He felt that his choice had led to his daughter's misfortune.

Thus, this father had always felt guilty towards his youngest daughter Teresa, allowing her to freely choose her partner, although today this seemingly gentle piano teacher revealed such a side.

The old gentleman had already decided to prevent her from having contact with such dubious individuals again, and quickly find an outstanding young man, who could protect his daughter when he was no longer able.

But, consumed with the chaos of his own family affairs, the old gentleman was unaware that not only did he have problems at home, but the entire "New Inn Port" was already in turmoil!

"Hahaha, you looked down on me! All go to hell!"

The boy, who had lived under someone's roof, laughed heartily as he looked at his distant relatives lying in pools of blood.

"This jewelry is mine now, and no one can see it!"

A woman wearing a long dress held a blood-stained gemstone hairpin to her face, and a look of intoxication filled her features.

"..."

Aside from Lemon, countless people in New Inn Port harboring bitterness and resentment were awakened by Wack's "ability," revealing the hidden demons within their hearts.

[Concentric Infection]

Wack himself, due to bitterness and resentment, lost control and became mad. After becoming a "Host," this ability was amplified infinitely, capable of inciting similar emotions within ordinary people.

Like a spark, it provided the "Infected" with the power to fulfill dark desires, and the fuel… was none other than their souls and lives!

The more extreme these emotions, the fiercer the flame and the stronger the power!

While this ability was ineffective against most sane individuals, and even pales in comparison to the hammer of the "Hammer Following Mad Demon."

However, in terms of destruction, it's more terrifying than the combined force of the previous six Killing Ghosts, as it targets minds rather than bodies...

Lemon was only the beginning, soon the entire city would be completely engulfed by this ominous flame, igniting everything!