1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 44: Kidnapper Phantasmal

Through some wandering, the spirit returned to him, wordlessly leading him through the confusing fog. It was just some strides ahead–a closed cellar attached to a boarded-off cottage.

It was kept locked with enough chains wrapped around the handles that it might as well be a warning to turn back. Either way, he lifted his axe and brought it down–snap.

The metal was cleaved through, no longer preventing his hands as they forced the cellar doors open. A cold air escaped, followed by a stench unlike anything else he’d smelled before.

It was death; not just that, but a sort of "death" that had been lingering for years.

"Alright, lead the way," Noah said, stepping aside so the fragment of the wolverine could go in.

To his surprise, it refused his words, standing there with a timid growl without budging an inch. It should’ve been unable to experience fear, at least, that’s what he believed, but it was clearly afraid of something down in the cellar.

"Fine then," Noah said, leading the way as he planted his foot on the first step.

Immediately when entering the cellar, the air felt different; a cold, hollow atmosphere, drenched in death surrounded him. Of course, the moment he entered, the doors swung close behind him.

’I should’ve figured that would happen,’ he thought.

It wasn’t that he was immune to the fright of being in the jaws of the supernatural, but he knew that showing any fear would only feed into it. Maybe it was the strength he wielded that made it easy enough for him to compose himself, though his worry was for his companions.

’First and foremost, gotta find Otto...Astrid and Redrum should be able to handle themselves in this kind of situation, but Otto...Well, knowing how he is with ghosts,’ he considered.

Reaching the bottom of the steps, a dim basement awaited, though much more vast than it made any sense to be. It was held up by old, stone pillars, seeming to go on and on further than he could see into the darkness.

There he saw it: a giant bubble fixated above the ground, near the tall ceiling–and with somebody inside of it. From the flowing, dark-purple hair, it was undoubtedly a girl, in a deep slumber floating in the see-through orb.

’She looks trapped, almost in stasis,’ he observed.

While his first instinct was to run over to help, the feeling of being watched as though a thousand eyes were embedded in the walls couldn’t be shaken.

He slowly held his hand out, staring in the vast, empty chamber while taking in a breath:

"Come on out."

[Invoke] [B-Rank Exorcism Skill]

A pulse emitted from his hand, shifting through the isolated air. In return, the quiet space vibrated before the walls shuddered, beginning to rumble like an upset stomach. It slithered out from a gaping hole in the grey flooring; a snow-white being with the upper body of a man and its lower half like that of a serpent.

[Greater Identification] [A-Rank Close-Quarters Combat Skill]

["Kidnapper Phantasm"] [Designated Level: Appx. 9] [Species: Phantasmal]

[Weaknesses: Spiritual attacks | Magic] [Immune to physical harm.]

’Immune? That sounds annoying, but otherwise, I can handle this,’ he thought confidently.

The supernatural being possessed a face like that of a smiling man, only its grin contorted and split open, letting its elongated tongue hang out and drip saliva. In every way, it was frightening and grotesque, standing two times his own height.

As he raised his axe, the entity vanished–no, it was right there in front of him with unnatural speed. It slithered, yet he only processed it closing the distance after blinking. It led with its fist, sending it right for his abdomen–

He flipped himself backwards before its pale knuckles could reach his gut, landing smoothly on his feet.

["Acrobatics" Proficiency +1] [41/999]

’Can’t say I expected a "Kidnapper Phantasm" to be so...head-on?’ He thought.

The grin greeted him again, finding himself moving his head side-to-side as its fists came in with quick jabs, feeling the wind given off of each strike. He slid back, spinning himself around, guiding his hand over the edge of his axe:

"Engulf," he whispered.

A flame manifested, gifting from his palm to the onyx head of his weapon, sprouting the bright, orange element. He waved it in front of himself, using the raging fire to counter the aggressive assault of the phantasmal yet–

It weaved by the loose strikes like a professional boxer, slipping through and delivering a counter right against his stomach.

[Muscle Hardening]

He clenched his core right as the knuckles made contact, though the force was still enough to knock the wind out of him. Even if he avoided serious harm, he slid back, setting his sight ahead, though the phantasmal was gone–

In truth, he discovered in the very next moment it was in the air, nearly touching the high ceiling as it flipped forward, crashing down with its serpentine half.

[Tintri]

The tail was used like a whip, slamming into the stone floor with a crackling sound. He moved himself out of the way, using the positioning granted by the moment of superspeed to position himself behind the malignant spirit.

Finally, he got the opening he needed with the girl in the bubble now behind him, leaving nothing in the crossfire between him and the phantasmal.

He brought the axe behind his shoulder, squeezing the handle while sharply inhaling:

[Giga-Chop]

The weapon grew tenfold its normal size, its grip becoming as thick as a tree trunk, though he handled the unwieldy axe naturally.

In front of him, the phantasmal contorted its torso around, presenting its unfading smile.

[Soul Rend]

He met it without an ounce of fear, swinging the gigantified axe, carrying with it the visceral aspect of soul cutting. It was carried forward with tremendous power, carving through the chamber and straight through the supernatural assailant.

The walls rumbled, though only a hissing sound released from the kidnapper before being split in two.

[EXP: 10,000] [25,000/50,000]

["Exorcism" Proficiency +1] [2/10]

[Skill(s) Acquired: "Spirit Binding"]

[Soul Rending: "Fragment of Kidnapper Phantasm" obtained.]