BXBX NOVEL Chapter 486: The Old Colonial District
The few remaining residents, mostly elderly, moved slowly through the streets, their faces etched with worry, though some found joy in watching their young grandchildren play in front of their homes.
This lively scene of elders and their grandchildren, however, was limited to the entrance area of the colonial district. Deeper within lay an area known by locals as the forbidden zone, devoid of living souls except for the occasional courageous U-Tubers seeking to record paranormal encounters or tests of courage.
Unfortunately, some of these U-Tubers had genuinely fallen victim to the vengeful spirits that haunted the area. These incidents were silenced by the intervention of the Hightower, who periodically sent individuals to appease the spirits and maintain a semblance of peace.
But with the Hightower's withdrawal of influence from Southeast Asia, no one remained to calm the vengeful spirits. Fortunately, due to the Hightower's efforts before their departure, the spirits had not yet caused any significant harm to unsuspecting humans. However, it was only a matter of time before victims emerged and the situation escalated.
Daniel drove his car to the iron gate, which was reinforced with planks and makeshift bars welded together in an attempt to permanently seal it. However, the disrepair and large holes cut into the chain link fence revealed that locals had given up any effort to prevent entry.
"This is the place," Daniel said, turning to Albert, who was seated in the front passenger seat beside him. "What do you think?"
Albert nodded in satisfaction, surveying the area. "This is perfect, my lord. If I could station some of my men here to oversee the place and prevent unwanted guests, it would be ideal."
Daniel, also nodding in agreement, stepped out of the car and proceeded to cut the iron bars and chains that held the gate shut. After opening it wide enough for the car to pass through, he released a dozen modified metal scarabs to scout the way ahead, lacking confidence in navigating the maze-like streets and alleys.
He returned to the car and followed the scarabs' guidance, switching the vehicle to armored mode in preparation for any potential attacks. The interior panels transformed, revealing an array of hidden weapons made possible by a space-extension artifact.
Armor instantly covered all the windows, and the car's screens came alive with realistic views of the surroundings captured by micro cameras. A detailed map of the area, compiled from the scarabs' survey data, appeared on one screen.
Yes, this car, disguised as a cheap Korean household vehicle, is built from the ground up to serve as his family car in case they go on vacation and get ambushed. You can never be too careful, so a fully armored car with adamantine steel plates mixed with lightweight mithril and enough weaponry to decimate an entire battalion of soldiers is Daniel's answer for his family's safety.
"My lord, where can I get a car like this?" Albert inquired with a scheming smile, already enamored with the vehicle. As an insider of the Astral Corporation, he hoped to get one for himself.
"Wait until our mage organization takes shape," Daniel replied, his eyes fixed on the GPS map compiled from the metal scarabs' data. "Then you can use contribution points or whatever currency we establish to redeem it."
Albert nodded and continued to observe the surroundings through the car's screens. His eyes shifted from their normal green to a shimmering pale green and blue, as if perceiving something beyond human sight.
Various vengeful spirits, ghosts, and paranormal entities appeared before his eyes, lurking within the shadows, cracks, and recesses of the old, rotting buildings. The site of the former tavern, a relic of the colonial era, seemed to be a particular hotspot of activity.
The tavern had once been the jewel of the town, but negligence, disrepair, and the mayor's irresponsibility had driven this charming district into a state of haunting. Wild vegetation and towering trees had taken over, their thick canopy shading the colonial-era buildings so completely that sunlight struggled to reach the ground below.
An old tale explained why this area had become the darkest and most haunted spot in Sector Alpha City. Around 70-80 years ago, a satanic cult had terrorized the district, kidnapping and sacrificing people to their demonic deity.
The ensuing murder spree drove people away from the area, but the police were powerless to stop it, lacking any evidence. In desperation, they executed several scapegoats, hoping to quell the violence.
Despite these efforts, the killings continued, and the media inexplicably remained silent on the matter. As time passed, more and more people fled, leaving the district in its current state. The only remaining residents were the most stubborn among the stubborn, those who lived near the entrance and had easier access to help from authorities, avoiding the depths of the district.
Daniel drove his car through the narrow, cracked streets, obstructed by wild vegetation and resilient trees that had grown through the cement. Metal scarabs cleared a path by cutting down some of the growth, allowing the car to pass.
After 20 minutes of navigating the winding roads, they reached the deepest part of the old colonial district. What was once a bustling town square for the colonial community was now dominated by large, leafy trees and covered in thick roots and wild vegetation.
Daniel and Albert stepped out of the car and walked toward the clearing that once served as the town square. The wind grew stronger, and suddenly a powerful gust swept through, carrying the scent of rotten leaves and wood.
A white silhouette of a man in colonial-era clothing materialized, followed by numerous vengeful spirits taking shape and approaching the two men.
A single glance confirmed that these were no ordinary spirits. Albert, with his vast knowledge, recognized them as the product of twisted mage experiments, likely conducted by a mage fascinated with necromancy branch magic.
"Why are you here... mortal?" the leader of the vengeful spirits asked, addressing Daniel as he stared at the ghostly figure.
"Before talking with our lord, you should have called out your master here to talk with him." Albert cut in the conversation before Daniel could answer with an apology nodded toward him as Daniel just shrugged and let Albert continue as he wanted to know what Albert was going to do with this vengeful spirit.
"We have no master, mortal!" the ghost leader retorted, his face contorting in anger, revealing a grotesque and decaying visage meant to scare Albert. However, the display only amused Albert, who regarded it with the indifference one might show a kindergarten play.
"Oh, very scary," Albert said in a mocking tone, his eyes filled with disdain as if speaking to a maggot. "Now, call out your master, or I'll drag him out and beat him to a pulp."
"Foolish mortal! Your foolishness has led you to your doom!" the leader roared, the vengeful spirits behind him growing agitated and enraged by Albert's remarks. "Stay with us! Become residents of this town!" A gust of wind swept through, and all the spirits twisted by necromancy, the residents of this cursed town, emerged from the shadows and dark corners.
"Do you need my help?" Daniel offered, drawing a large-caliber handgun and a blessed saber. The saber's holy aura caused the vengeful spirit leader to recoil, feeling the burn of the sacred spell even from a distance.
"Are you... a new Grand Paladin from the Vatican!?" the leader hissed at Daniel, fearing the burning sacred light emanating from the saber. His question, however, was ignored by both Daniel and Albert.
"It's fine, my lord," Albert said with a smile before tapping his cane on the ground. "We can take them."
Suddenly, hundreds of red, vengeful eyes appeared in the darkness behind them. Hundreds of shadow morphs emerged from the canopy of darkness, wielding various cursed weapons, ready to enslave the vengeful spirits.
"No..." the spirit leader uttered, fear gripping his heart.
The vengeful spirits knew that being struck by Daniel's blessed weapon would strip them of their cursed power and foul enchantments, a fate they dreaded.
But the weapons held by the shadow morphs were even more terrifying. These cursed tools of the old necromancer order could enslave their very souls, condemning them to eternal servitude under the man before them. This was a fate worse than death, a never-ending nightmare they desperately wanted to avoid.
"Enslave them... all of them," Albert commanded, and the hundreds of shadow morphs surged into action.