[Chapter 209: Red-Faced Demon]
"Holy shit?!"
Daniel blurted out a curse, alarm bells ringing in his heart.
Almost simultaneously, the air inside the room seemed to solidify.
A bone-chilling cold erupted from within.
The windows instantly frosted over with thick black ice, and even the lights dimmed and flickered.
A low, hoarse voice, layered with countless agonized wails and the crackle of burning sulfur, resounded directly in everyone's minds inside the room:
"Cunning insect... you escaped the trap... Then... come and accept... judgment yourself..."
A terrifying figure suddenly appeared in the room.
It was twisted and crimson all over, as if molten lava flowed beneath its skin, emitting a dark red glow.
Scales covered its body; its long hair whipped wildly, and its face was drenched in crimson.
The Red-Faced Demon.
It had actually followed Josh's Soul, deceived the heavens, crossed realms, and smuggled itself into the human world!
"Th-this... what is that?!" Reina's voice trembled with fear.
Dalton buried his face in his mother's embrace, shaking violently.
Josh, who had just regained consciousness, was stunned for a moment, then quickly pulled the mother and son aside for safety.
"Lowly insect, to make me run an errand personally, you truly deserve to die."
The Red-Faced Demon shifted its gaze, eyes burning with malice as they locked on Daniel, filled with cold contempt.
"Fuck off!"
Although startled, Daniel didn't panic. He reacted swiftly.
He quickly formed a hand seal.
"Five Thunders Strike, fall!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Five dazzling silver thunderbolts, as if breaking through the bounds of space, condensed simultaneously from all directions inside the room.
They burned with an aura that destroyed all evil as they fiercely struck the Red-Faced Demon!
"Roar----!"
The demon let out a roar filled with pain and rage.
The demonic flames around its body were blasted away, and charred cracks appeared on its newly condensed skin.
But it only staggered, its burning eyes locked on Daniel.
The malice in that gaze was almost tangible.
"Mortal... you have angered me..."
It opened its massive, fang-filled mouth.
A dark red breath, charged with hellfire, abyssal filth, and destructive will, erupted like a volcanic blast, instantly filling more than half the room.
It aimed to burn Daniel and the altar behind him to ashes.
Daniel pushed his hand forward, sending out an orange-red light that blocked the breath.
But it only held for a moment before fading silently.
Daniel's expression darkened as he stepped forward.
By sealed authority, let the ward awaken.
Let the firmament above and the earth below become a single consecrated barrier.
He traced the ritual pattern across the floor, his spiritual authority flowing into the ward stones hidden in the four corners of the room, causing them to resonate as one.
Hum--!
The ground lit up with earthy yellow light, and a golden rune network appeared on the walls.
Like an inverted bowl, it sealed the entire room.
Powerful Earth energy and pure magical power pressed inward, enwrapping the Red-Faced Demon and its hellish breath within.
"Petty tricks..."
The Red-Faced Demon, now over six and a hlaf feet tall and covered in crimson scales, let out a low roar.
It raised its right arm, transformed into a sharp claw, and swiped casually at the golden rune network.
Rip----!
With a single swipe, the rune grid flickered with golden light but continued to shrink inward.
"What? How is this possible?"
Shock filled the demon's eyes.
Taking the opportunity, Daniel formed precise hand seals.
By sovereign order, all forces are set in place.
By consecrated rite, my mandate stands unchallenged.
No hostile claim holds ground before affirmed authority.
Golden Aegis, rise and seal my body in light.
A profound, mysterious aura rose from him. Streams of golden light burst from Daniel's body.
Visible and invisible, all realms bear witness.
This light encompasses all dominion and sustains rightful order.
Through unwavering invocation, the radiance intensifies and fills the body.
No hostile force approaches; mandate stands unchallenged.
The aura around Daniel grew stronger and stronger.
The golden light brightened.
Let all spirits bow to lawful command; let thunder answer authority.
Ghost and demon falter; corruption loses form.
Within this light rests consecrated thunder, sealed in sacred name.
Wisdom pierces all veils; power surges under affirmed mandate.
Hum...
A dazzling golden light exploded outward.
Golden Aegis, rise without delay — defend under sovereign mandate.
Authority affirmed. Judgment sealed.
Between Heaven and Earth, a humming sound echoed.
Under this radiance, the evil energy in the room rapidly dissipated, vanishing completely.
Josh, Reina, and Dalton immediately felt a comforting warmth spread through them. Their fear eased significantly.
But Daniel didn't stop there.
Seven Lamps of Dominion, let your holy radiance govern the firmament.
Sovereign Judge of the Highest Order, let your glory shine without measure.
The stars in the sky seemed to respond, triggered by the incantation.
A grand, immense power began to focus on this land.
Above the heavens and across the earth, cut off corruption at its source.
Let your authority descend upon this altar and make judgment manifest.
Boom!
The grand power poured into Daniel's body. His aura surged violently.
A terrifying pressure radiated outward.
The Red-Faced Demon inside the Ward roared in fury and shock.
"How is this possible? What kind of power is this? Break for me!"
The demon's aura surged as a red mist spilled outward.
The golden grid flashed wildly, on the verge of collapse.
Then the demon surged, suddenly towering to nearly ten feet tall.
Let consecrated light pass through mist and shadow, leaving no place concealed.
Let every realm bear witness, and let every unclean spirit stand before judgment.
Let corruption be erased, every captive soul set free, and the righteous path restored.
Authority affirmed. Judgment sealed.
Boom, boom, boom!
As Daniel finished the last line of the spell, his aura transformed.
Pfft...
His clothes burst apart as his body suddenly grew taller -- 7 feet, 8 feet, until about 9 feet tall.
Muscles bulged and veins writhed under his skin like restless earthworms.
His body was wrapped in visible orange-red airflow, distorting the space around him slightly.
Using the Seven Lamps of Dominion Rite again, Daniel became even larger than before.
Thump, thump, thump!
Daniel's massive frame strode forward toward the Red-Faced Demon trapped within the Ward.
The demon's glowing red eyes shifted, locking on Daniel.
"Damn it, you're far stronger than they said."
As it spoke, it stretched its hands, tearing through space as it shredded the golden grid in an instant.
With a grasp of both hands, the golden grid was obliterated.
The terrifying aura of the Red-Faced Demon radiated fiercely.
"But you are still going to die."
Facing these two overwhelming forces, Josh's family turned pale, huddling in the corner, trembling uncontrollably.
"Heh... overestimating yourself!"
Daniel's voice rang like a booming bell, but his massive form moved with lightning speed, closing the distance with the Red-Faced Demon in a single step.
The orange-red airflow around him intertwined with golden light, creating subtle ripples in space.
"Roar!"
The Red-Faced Demon let out a low, terrifying roar.
A sound wave ripped through the room, striking at the Soul level.
Every glass object shattered instantly, dust falling from the walls.
Josh's family clutched their ears and collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from their orifices.
This screech could damage a soul and awaken deep-seated fears, sapping the will to fight. But Daniel, shielded by the Golden Aegis Rite and the Seven Lamps of Dominion Rite, had a soul enveloped in light.
The sound wave slammed into an aura field of orange-red and golden light that surrounded him, neutralizing most of the attack.
Only a slight frown crossed his face.
"My turn!"
With both hands, Daniel pulled forth a thunder sword into his grip.
*****
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