The Eldritch Files

The savage charges of the Ghost Truck, appearing and disappearing at all sorts of unbelievable angles in the thick fog, were a nightmare in themselves. But for the survivors who used every trick up their sleeves to dodge its assault, another nightmare awaited.

Han Su swung his blade, slitting Lady Whiskey’s throat, then threw it in a smooth motion, piercing a figure who was struggling to get back up.

Immediately after, he rushed forward and delivered a fluid soccer kick, snapping the neck of someone screaming in terror.

He then turned, pulled out his makeshift long blade, and charged toward a figure that was roaring as it lunged at him.

One man, one truck. One savage, one nimble. One towering, one spectral.

Within the chaotic, nightmarish fog, they covered for each other, weaving together as they began to reap human lives.

The Ghost Truck appeared and disappeared within the fog, its engine roaring like a beast as it ran down one fleeing figure after another.

Han Su, long blade in hand, was even more vicious.

Those who managed to dodge the Ghost Truck’s rampage had already demonstrated a certain maturity in their use of Mysterious Power.

At the very least, they could accurately judge what kind of Mysterious Power to use to save their own lives when facing such a monster. Moreover, they could maintain their concentration under immense pressure, allowing them to successfully use an Encrypted Spell at the critical moment.

If the Disaster Management Bureau were to conduct an assessment, only those who survived the Ghost Truck’s assault would be considered qualified Investigators.

But what could they do? Next to the Ghost Truck, there was also a Han Su.

Right now, Han Su wasn’t even bothering to use Encrypted Spells, conserving his Spiritual Power by relying on the simplest and most efficient methods.

But it was enough.

Encrypted Spells could kill, and so could a blade.

”CRACKLE...”

Blade after blade sliced across the necks of those struggling to their feet, as if he were harvesting weeds struggling in the dense fog.

Arcs of fresh blood sprayed into the air, occasionally accompanied by a flash of electric light.

This makeshift weapon in Han Su’s hand was not only incredibly effective for both stabbing and slashing, but it was also dangerous to even touch.

If someone managed to grab it, the high-intensity current was no joke.

With 69% Spiritual Activity, the advantages to Han Su’s reflexes, focus, and perception were already exceptionally obvious, even without using Encrypted Spells.

When making a move, someone with high Spiritual Activity is inherently faster and more precise than someone with low Spiritual Activity. At a critical moment, even a 1% difference in Spiritual Activity creates a noticeable gap, to say nothing of the fact that Han Su’s was more than just 1% higher than theirs.

Another problem was that while there were people who managed to survive the Ghost Truck’s shocking, frenzied, and unpredictable rampage, very few of them were unafraid or had escaped the chaos completely unscathed.

At any moment, the massive front of the truck could appear before or behind them.

Thus, they were constantly dodging, desperate to escape. In such a state, how could they have the presence of mind to fight back against Han Su, who moved freely through the fog?

”You’re insane! Are you insane?”

”To... To actually kill so many people...”

An enraged roar echoed from in front of Han Su. He looked up to see Investigator Bai Yang, who was covered in blood.

His entire body was wrapped in a layer of hazy shadow—a characteristic of the power of the Banshee Sequence, one of the three great Sequences. At that moment, he had once again used an Encrypted Spell from the Banshee Sequence to achieve Vaporization, dodging one of the Ghost Truck’s collisions.

Now, he didn’t even dare to deactivate this Mysterious Power, terrified that the Ghost Truck would ram him the very next second.

Looking back at the battlefield, the survivors were also predominantly from the Banshee Sequence.

Within the Banshee Sequence, there was an Encrypted Spell called Banshee’s Shadow that allowed one to achieve Vaporization.

Therefore, as long as they weren’t killed instantly before they could react, they had a chance to become completely immune to the Ghost Truck’s damage.

But because they were in this vaporous state, they couldn’t save anyone. They could only watch as Han Su moved through the fog, reaping one life after another with a ruthlessness that was numbing to behold.

Investigator Bai Yang was truly enraged—or rather, terrified—by Han Su’s current actions.

When he saw more than ten Investigators mobilize to ambush this rookie, he had already imagined countless consequences, even considering the possibility that Zhang Chiguo might kill them all in a fit of rage.

But he’d concluded that was impossible; Zhang Chiguo couldn’t even manage to expel all of them from the Disaster Management Bureau. He just never imagined they wouldn’t have to wait for Zhang Chiguo.

They were going to pay the price right here and now.

’No matter what kind of star Investigator he is, he only joined the Disaster Management Bureau two months ago. How is he doing this...?’

’How can he be so ruthless, killing without even blinking?’

’Aren’t Executioners’ lives still lives? Aren’t the assistants’ lives still lives? And an Investigator’s life is even more precious...’

’How could they all die here in an instant?’

A cautious man by nature, he had never in his life imagined seeing such a scene. Filled with boundless fury, he lunged at Han Su. Alongside him, two other grey shadows and one distinct figure with fierce, vicious movements also charged forward.

They were two other Investigators from the Banshee Sequence and a seasoned, skilled Senior Executor.

As one, they decided to focus their strength on taking down Han Su first.

But Han Su met their charge head-on, raising his blade and rushing forward.

His eyes were cold as he growled in a low voice, ”I told you, you’re the ones who forced your way onto this battlefield!”

”...”

”CRACKLE...”

As he swung the makeshift long blade, he activated the mechanism, and brilliant arcs of electricity began to flicker across it.

Physical attacks were temporarily ineffective against the vaporous Banshees, but the strong current enveloping the blade could still affect them. The three Banshees, including Investigator Bai Yang, hurriedly dodged back to avoid the strike.

However, the Senior Executor with the ferocious movements swung his own blade to parry the makeshift long blade. The hilt of the dagger he wielded was wrapped in rubber, allowing him to resist the current on Han Su’s weapon for a short time.

In the middle of the parry, his other hand reached for Han Su’s collar.

But Han Su’s Spiritual Activity erupted. His body moved like lightning as he suddenly leaped up and brought down a Superman Punch.

The man’s head snapped to the side, his eyes feeling as if they were about to shatter. As he staggered back, Han Su followed up with a mid-air axe kick to his jaw, launching him into the air. Before the man even hit the ground, with a ROAR, the Ghost Truck flashed past where he’d been.

The Senior Executor, a man so skilled he could trade blows with an Investigator, died without so much as a grunt.

On the battlefield, dangers were countless. For anyone, a single mistake meant death.

”SHLICK!” ”SHLICK!” ”SHLICK!”

But as Han Su whirled around, he felt an icy chill as six palms plunged into his body.

It was the three Banshees, Investigator Bai Yang included. They had closed in, their ten fingers like knives, and thrust them into Han Su’s body.

But because they were wary of the Ghost Truck, they didn’t dare drop their vaporous state. As a result, their fingers were actually more of a spiritual intrusion.

Han Su didn’t feel his flesh being torn, only the icy chill of Spiritual Power invading the spots where they grabbed him.

But he only gave a cold, grim smile. In an instant, the burn scars on his body came to life, flowing across his skin.

As they passed, the Banshees all cried out, pulling their hands back and shaking them rapidly. Blue Ghost Flames were even flickering on their palms.

The next moment, Han Su’s left eye closed, and his right eye turned a vast, milky white.

’What Sequence’s power is he even using?’

Investigator Bai Yang gritted his teeth against the searing pain of the Ghost Flame. Rage and anxiety welled up in him, and he was about to lash out when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

’What is that in the star Investigator’s eye?’

The thought had barely flashed through his mind before he was enveloped by a vast white light. He felt as if his body had been submerged in a current of warm water. The power of the Banshee he had summoned was being stripped away, forcing him out of his vaporized state.

It wasn’t just him; the other two from the Banshee Sequence beside him were also standing there, completely defenseless, just like him.

”PFFT!”

At that moment, Han Su abruptly swung his blade, slitting one person’s neck and following up with an Ear Drum-Piercing Palm.

Their head was sent flying before they even had time to use a Spell to heal the injury.

Immediately, he spun around with a side kick, sending the other person flying. Their body slammed onto a jagged piece of metal sticking out of the ground and was dragged along with it for a great distance, sliced completely in two.

”Stop! Stop it...”

Investigator Bai Yang, his mind seized by terror, shrieked and lunged forward, his ten fingers as sharp as knives under the influence of the Banshee’s power.

But Han Su just spun around, shot out a hand, and grabbed him by the collar, hoisting him into the air.

Investigator Bai Yang stared at Han Su’s strange eye, screaming unconsciously as he desperately activated his 61% Spiritual Activity.

It felt as if an infinite power had suddenly erupted from within his body.

His body flickered, and he struggled four or five times in an instant, like a slippery loach thrashing about in a large hand.

And then, he found he was still held fast by Han Su. The explosion of his own Spiritual Activity had had no effect whatsoever.

It was as if the loach had been thrashing but never escaped.

In that instant, an indescribable despair flooded his heart. ”Your... what is your Spiritual Activity?”

Han Su raised the makeshift long blade in his hand and said in a low voice, ”69%.”

”No...”

As the blade fell, he felt a subtle change and smiled. ”...Now it’s 70%.”

Under the crushing pressure of this immense difference in Spiritual Activity, the tenacious Investigator Bai Yang breathed his last in despair.

Han Su, too, felt a strange sensation.

Because he had summoned the Ghost Truck, his Spiritual Power was being rapidly consumed, no matter how much he tried to conserve it. It had been nearly depleted, especially after clashing with others using Encrypted Spells.

A ten-year reserve was too little; it couldn’t withstand this level of exertion.

But he never expected that amid this fierce and perilous confrontation, he would feel his Spiritual Activity being stimulated, unexpectedly jumping from 69% over the 70% threshold.

’My Spiritual Activity, which wouldn’t even rise after enduring contamination, actually increased now?’

He couldn’t help but laugh. ”Heh, they say that crossing 70% means entering the Divine Forbidden Area. Does that mean I fought my way into this Divine Forbidden Area?”

”...”

Ordinarily, this would be a pleasant surprise.

But at this moment, Han Su couldn’t be bothered with it. There was still much to be done.

The night’s festivities had only just begun...