NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: 49—Rest in peace
The plan was simple, Percy always kept them simple in case he needed to throw them out a window and improvise.
Thalos and George would go find the buried corpse of Philip Basker, Percy would go into the house and stall the spirit while protecting Joey. He read through his entire storage and pulled out a bag of infused salt to convince his father that he knew what he was doing.
"You keep salt in your pockets?" Thalos asked.
"Just in case I need to brighten up some food," he shrugged, holding up the bag. "Or if I have to battle the horrific conjoined spirits of thirty people that were murdered in a ritual."
Flynn did a double take, golden eyes flashing with confusion.
"That's… very specific. Did you know we would be fighting the spirit here?"
He exchanged a look with Thalos then chuckled softly.
"No. Don't think too much about it, Flynn, you'll hurt yourself. In more important news, Dad, can you do it? Cut right through to the heart of the spirit?"
He already had George use his earth magic to create a circle where the spirit would be unable to listen to their conversations. There wasn't much you could hide when standing on its literal territory, but they needed surprise cards at least.
Thalos nodded curtly, gripping the crimson handle of his katana. His long black hair swayed in the ice-cold breeze of the night.
"I have a technique that can cut through to the lifeforce of any target. In exchange, it will be able to kill me in a single hit if its will is strong enough."
He didn't like the sound of that. Thalos would need someone to protect him while he slashed then. Not that he didn't trust his father's ability to protect himself, but better safe than sorry.
"George will stall the spirit while you cut it down," he said slowly. "You'll protect George while he digs out the body. And we need both Ura and Flynn off the property and as far away from all trees as possible."
Flynn and her mother both looked ready to vehemently disagree. It was harrowing to stand on the sidelines while your loved ones were in danger. As much as she admired Percy's confidence and authority, Flynn decided she would try to help one way or the other.
Until George stepped in front of them with a very serious look on his face. The man's wild red hair and beard intensified that look, and told his wife and child that there was no room for objections.
"Listen to Lord Perseus. This is my fault. I should have heard his complaints from the beginning. We'll save Joey, no matter what. But having to worry about the two of you while we do that will slow us down."
Flynn's face fell, Ura gulped and nodded frantically. George hugged both of them and walked with them off the property. And for once Percy actually admired the man's resolve.
It was telling how much George's family trusted and believed in him. Not quite misplaced trust, but trust rooted in the knowledge that George would never give up.
"Well, I guess we can't lose then," he said casually. "Also, where the hell is Barty?"
Thalos' eyes flashed with realisation. He had completely forgotten about the elderly coachman that brought them here.
"He went into town after dinner to buy something for the carriage. He was supposed to have been back by now."
"Lucky, I should have followed him."
Thalos pursed his lips, then his calloused fingers ran over Percy's bruised neck. Just a few minutes ago he was getting choked out by a ghost.
"Percy, are you sure about this? If you're scared then you don't have to go in there. I can think of a couple ways to save Joey without putting my firstborn son in danger."
For a moment, Percy remained silent. He wasn't quite sure what to tell Thalos, after all, he was just thirteen years old. No kid would be this calm about facing danger. He looked up to the house and let a reluctant smile loose.
"I'm not scared, I'm actually really excited. Is that weird? A normal person would remember those invisible fingers wrapped over his throat and shiver. But I'm… intrigued. I want to see everything that the spirit can do, then still win. Is that weird?"
Thalos placed a hand over his son's shoulder, flashing a crooked smile back.
"No, you're perfectly normal in your way. And I'm proud of you. But remember if you get scared up there, shout my name."
○——○
Thalos saw Percy break through the smoke after blowing through the kitchen wall. The kid definitely knew how to make an entrance. Joey was tightly held in his hands, grinning like a madman.
With a son so impressive, Thalos felt slightly useless when he couldn't use the technique that he promised he could use.
"Joey!" George screamed, seeing his son safe brought tears to his eyes. "Lord Thalos, he did it. They're both safe. You have to kill the spirit!"
Easier said than done. Philip Basker's body was sprawled in the dirt at his feet, skin white as chalk and wrapped in sapphire-blue ceremonial robes. Even after what must have been years, the body of the child had not decomposed.
Thalos had no qualms cutting a child, he had been forced to do worse in his lifetime. But the activation of his technique was… complicated.
Blood demon school was founded hundreds of years ago to fight the demons that invaded their world at the time. It was a style refined to kill things that defy the natural order of the world.
So there were techniques for striking at opponents with multiple bodies or incorporeal bodies. But most of them were restricted to Rank 3. The technique he was trying to use now, Hemorrhage Cut, was mostly used by Rank 4 practitioners.
He needed to sense the spiritual vein of the enemy and align his sword with it and cut through it. It required all of his Fighting spirit and a deep focus. In that time, his own spiritual vein would be revealed to the enemy, and if they were strong enough they could cut it.
Once your spiritual vein was cut, you wouldn't be able to heal and would slowly die if you didn't find a special healer. Thalos was a Rank 3 practitioner so it was exceedingly complex to pull off.
But with his katana, Marrowbiter, it was easier. He could use its ability to materialise his Fighting spirit. With this, he would cut both spirit and body in one slash.
He would still need to find the spiritual vein though, and at that moment he finally saw it. The flowing green vein of life.
"Rest well, kid."
All the spirits forgot about Percy and surged towards him and George. The earth caved in and threatened to swallow them, the sky came down, the air screamed with a ghastly wail. George roared in response and slammed his hands into the earth.
Thalos drew Marrowbiter with a hiss, his Fighting spirit erupted over the blade like fire then it solidified as he slashed down on the spiritual vein.
The crimson fire surged through the vein, the land let out a pained hiss as the spirit began dying.