Ch: 347-354
347, The Selection Begins
Locke rubbed his chin.
To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that he had refreshed his tasks before coming to New Orleans, he would truly feel like the system had calculated his every move.
Right now?
Had destiny already marked his price in secret?
Locke stared at the "Dimensional Fusion Device" and the "Level 3 Talent Upgrade Card" in the discount mall, which likely needed to be used together, his eyes flickering slightly.
The next day.
"Ding!"
Locke, Gwen, and Carrie stepped out of the elevator and arrived at the hotel's breakfast buffet.
Gwen immediately spotted Nameless sitting in the same old spot as yesterday and said to Locke, "Look, your boss is here again."
Locke smiled and looked at Gwen. "You should say partner."
Locke defined his relationship with Nameless as partners—not as superior and subordinate, and certainly not through nepotism; they were simply partners.
Locke needed the CIA to expand his task range to the entire World after he graduated, and Namelessneeded someone as talented as him to serve the country.
It was just a matter of mutual benefit.
Gwen shrugged, said a word to Carrie, and pulled her along to walk ahead first.
Since learning that Locke had joined the CIA, Gwen had tactfully avoided participating in Locke and Nameless's conversations, except for that first time.
After all, being a CIA Agent could be considered Locke's career.
Locke walked over.
"Morning!"
"Good morning, Locke."
Nameless, who was reading the newspaper in the same spot as yesterday, looked up and smiled at Locke as he sat down with a cup of coffee. "The coffee here is quite good, much better than the coffee at The Bureau's branch."
Locke sat down. "The coffee at the NYPD is better than the coffee at The Bureau, isn't it?"
This was something Clyde Shelton had said.
Nameless laughed heartily and handed over the newspaper in his hand. "Take a look."
Locke took the newspaper.
It caught his eye immediately.
"Oh."
Locke smiled and looked up at Nameless. "That fast?"
There wasn't much content in the newspaper, just one sentence: The Dolan Church in multiple locations had encountered a joint enforcement action from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security; several local heads of the Dolan Church were unfortunately killed during a firefight with the feds.
Locke handed the newspaper back to Nameless. "Why hasn't the one in New York been shut down?"
Every organization has a center.
The headquarters of this widespread Dolan Church was the one in New York. Striking other places without taking down the New York branch was nothing more than all bark and no bite.
"We're looking for evidence."
Nameless took the newspaper and folded it. "That Pastor Dolan knows several Senators; in fact, several members of Congress are funded by the Dolan Church in New York."
Locke nodded. "Alright then."
He hadn't expected the CIA to bring the New York Dolan Church to justice anyway. After all, if they really did, where would the lingering rage in Carrie's heart be vented?
Although the West doesn't talk about 'Qi deviation' or 'cultivation madness'...
...they do talk about falling from grace.
If Carrie couldn't clear her mind, what if she fell into darkness?
Locke shrugged. "That's The Bureau's business."
Nameless smiled. "You're the one who started it."
"True."
Locke looked at Gwen and Carrie, who were chatting and laughing while picking out breakfast. He stood up and looked at Nameless. "But I did it to increase The Bureau's strength, didn't I? So, no need to thank me. I'm off."
With that said...
Locke walked straight toward Gwen.
The whole day's work depends on a good start in the morning; breakfast cannot be skipped.
Nameless turned to watch Locke walk toward the buffet table and shook his head, sighing that it was good to be young. Then, he stood up, put on his sunglasses, and walked toward the elevator.
Agent Nash and Agent Yegorova, who were dining nearby, also stood up and followed closely behind.
Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies!
By the time Locke drove Gwen and Carrie to the academy, it was already ten o'clock in the morning.
As they entered the road leading to the academy, Gwen immediately felt that something was different.
It was a bit too quiet.
The pedestrians walking on the roadside... "CIA?"
After Gwen got out of the car, she looked at the pedestrians on the sidewalks on both sides of the road and whispered to Locke, "Right?"
Locke hummed in affirmation and rang the academy's doorbell.
The next second.
The academy's iron gates opened automatically.
Zoe's boyfriend, Kyle, who had been resurrected from the dead, walked over. "The three of you, Zoe and the others are performing the ritual of the Last Supper."
Locke nodded.
Just as the Witches liked to send their enemies to see God, the Last Supper was also something they favored, because after the Last Supper, that fellow known as the Son of God was hung up.
However, Gwen was slightly stunned. "The Last Supper?"
Kyle nodded.
The Supreme Witch selection was not a smooth process; it was an exceptionally dangerous affair.
Before the once-in-three-hundred-years Supreme Witch selection, this Last Supper was the candidates' chance to enjoy a final moment of freedom and peace.
Because becoming the Supreme Witch meant having to think for all the Salem Witches.
After all... they never wanted to elect another Witch who used public office for private gain like Fionaagain.
But there could only be one Supreme Witch. For the other candidates, this Last Supper was very likely to be their final banquet.
After Locke and the others were led into the large lounge by Kyle, Locke's ears twitched, and he located Cordelia, who was holding the 'Last Supper' next door.
"Since the founding of the Coven, selecting a successor has always been the responsibility of the Supreme Witch."
Cordelia spoke to Zoe, Madison, and Misty, then glanced at Myrtle—a member of the Salem Witches Council who treated her like her own daughter—and said in a heavy voice, "But Fiona not only neglected her duties, she even tried to murder her successors..."
The 'pure yet bitchy' Madison narrowed her eyes and pouted, her lips moving slightly.
Yes.
She was talking about her.
Myrtle took over the conversation, looking at Zoe, Madison, and Misty sitting on either side of her, and even at Cordelia. "So, we are going to make an unprecedented decision. All four of you have the chance to prove yourselves, but only one will succeed."
Zoe, Madison, and Misty were slightly stunned.
Although they had known a few days ago that they were all eligible to participate in the Supreme Witch selection...
...but Cordelia?
This seemed to be the first time they had heard of it.
Cordelia was also participating in the Supreme Witch selection?
"The Bible says..."
"Even though the Bible is mostly nonsense to us, there are still some words I like."
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
"Childhood is over, girls!"
Cordelia raised the champagne in her hand and looked at the three girls. "Set aside your fears, do not hesitate, do not be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Good luck!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"..."
Locke snapped back to reality and looked at Gwen. "I suddenly realized that being a Witch actually seems to have its perks."
Gwen blinked. "Huh?"
Locke shrugged. "I suddenly remembered that the legal adult age for a Witch seems to be eighteen. In other words, an eighteen-year-old Witch can legally drink alcohol."
Gwen had a strange expression. "So, you want to be a Witch just so you can drink legally?"
Speaking...
A bright smile appeared on Gwen's face as she looked at Locke. "Then what should I call you? Sister Rococo?"
Locke: "..."
Forget it.
Anyway, he drank just the same even though he wasn't twenty-one yet. At most, it was just a bit inconvenient when going out to restaurants. He'd endure it; after today, there were only three years left.
Changing his gender just to drink three years early—no matter how you looked at it, that was stupid.
After a while.
The lounge doors were pushed open, and the Supreme Witch candidates, dressed in their finest, walked in under the leadership of Myrtle, the red-haired member of the Salem Witches Council.
"Wow."
Gwen and Carrie stood up, letting out gasps of admiration as they saw Zoe, Madison, and Mistydressed as if they were going to a graduation prom.
After all, the Witches' aesthetic was always on point and had always been at the forefront of fashion.
Gwen looked at Madison's evening-gown-like outfit and said, "Madison, you must tell me who the tailor for this dress is."
Madison nodded. "Of course, if I can make it back alive."
Gwen was slightly stunned and looked at Madison.
Madison smiled. "I'm joking."
Just then.
Ding-dong!
The academy's iron gates opened once more. This time, it was Mr. Nameless with Agent Nash and Agent Yegorova, along with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Maria Hill and Agent Natasha Romanoff, who had arrived this morning.
Entering.
Handshakes.
Mr. Nameless shook hands with Myrtle Snow, the member of the Salem Witches Council, expressing both formally and personally the honor of witnessing this Supreme Witch selection. At the same time, he reiterated the CIA's attitude toward the Salem Witches—one of win-win cooperation.
Maria Hill, on the other hand, brought Natasha Romanoff to shake hands with Cordelia. Her words were much the same, except she added that S.H.I.E.L.D. had already ordered its Agents worldwide to search for descendants of the Salem Witches.
Everyone had arrived.
Locke took his seat with Gwen and Carrie.
The first row.
VIP seats.
Mr. Nameless and Maria Hill were also in the first row. As for the second row, it was Agent Nash, Agent Yegorova, and Agent Natasha Romanoff, who had just arrived and had processed the information but had not yet seen it with her own eyes.
Soon.
The red-haired Witch Myrtle Snow, presiding over this selection assessment, stood in her designated position.
The next second!
Chapter 348: Shining Zero
Boom!
With the red-haired Myrtle Snow spreading her arms and beginning her chant, bang, bang, bang, the seven candlesticks on the table were instantly lit.
The next second.
Locke looked up thoughtfully.
In the dimensional space composed of countless dimensions, the Salem Dimension, which had been located and captured yesterday, seemed to be drawn towards them under the influence of this spell.
Descending!
"Thud!"
Gwen turned her head in surprise to look at the large, spacious glass window. A hint of astonishment flashed in her eyes, and upon seeing the scene outside, she whispered, "So beautiful."
Coming into view.
The originally bright scene outside the window had turned into darkness.
No, that's not right.
It was a brilliant starry sky, as if composed of countless stars, dotting the darkness and pulsing like a breathing light, flickering in and out.
"I pray for the descent of Salem!"
The red-haired Myrtle Snow chanted the spell. When an equally magnificent and beautiful starry archway abruptly appeared before them, she slowly stopped chanting. She gazed into the gateway within the archway that truly led to the Salem Dimension, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her eyes as she looked at the endless starry sky.
"Salem!"
"The source of the witches' power!"
"And also, the one that responded to and protected us in that barbaric era."
"Salem gives us the power to protect ourselves. Even after we pass away from old age, our souls can enter Salem, existing alongside it to protect those who come after us."
"In the Bible, there is the Silver City, the legendary kingdom where Angels reside."
"Then..."
"Star City is the Silver City of our Salem Witches."
"Unfortunately..."
"On that night in 1692, the lights of Star City, which protected us day and night, were extinguished."
"But..."
"Witches never die, and Salem is eternal."
"One day, the lights of Star City will be relit, guiding the countless wandering Salem Witches from all over the World to return home."
"And..."
The red-haired Myrtle Snow said so, then looked towards Locke and the others, saying with a smile, "In the past, we fought alone, but this time, we have allies—allies who understand and identify with us."
Locke smiled.
Nameless and Maria Hill were also smiling.
However... Nameless and Maria Hill clearly had impure motives. As for understanding and identification, if the Witch clan were severely lacking, Locke had no doubt that Nameless and Maria Hillwould continue to side with the Doran Church.
What?
Locke also had impure motives?
Non-existent.
Compared to the severely impure motives of Nameless and Maria Hill, Locke's motives were completely pure.
From the moment he left New York and arrived in New Orleans, his goal was already set.
Complete the mission.
He hadn't thought about using the witches for anything in the future, not at all. At most, he thought about turning Salem into his own territory—or rather, a territory that could never betray him.
"Anyway..."
The red-haired Myrtle Snow responded to the three smiling people, then looked at Cordelia and the other three, who were dressed in evening gowns as if they were going to a graduation prom. She took a deep breath and pointed at the starry archway. "Go, face your trials within the Salem Dimension. When you reach the end and see that brilliant starlight, you will know the result."
As she spoke.
Myrtle Snow glanced at Cordelia, then looked at Zoe, Madison, and Misty.
"Good luck!"
As a member of the Salem Witches Council, she shouldn't have favorites, but as someone who treated Cordelia as her own, Myrtle also hoped her 'daughter' could become the new Supreme Witch.
At the very least, Myrtle believed that if Cordelia became the Supreme Witch, she would definitely not be as unreliable as Fiona, who had wasted three hundred years of Salem's time for nothing.
Cordelia took a deep breath, turned to the three behind her, and then glanced at Locke out of the corner of her eye. "Let's go!"
While speaking.
Cordelia took the lead and stepped into the starry archway.
Madison followed closely behind.
After her awakening, Misty, who excelled at resurrection, followed Madison.
Zoe hugged her boyfriend, Kyle, before following suit and stepping into the starry archway.
Instantly.
With a whoosh, the starry archway disappeared.
The next second.
"Buzz!"
"Wow!"
"My God!"
The few of them were slightly surprised, looking at the starry sky appearing beneath their feet—no, appearing all around them—and all blinked in unison.
"This is..."
Mr. Nameless took off his sunglasses and looked at the starry sky they were in with surprise and appreciation. "Salem?"
Myrtle shook her head.
"Yes, and no."
"Hmm?"
"You are not Salem Witches, so you cannot enter the true Salem. Furthermore, the currently dormant Salem cannot manifest for long. Three hundred years of accumulation only allows Salem to manifest for one hour. After the Supreme Witch is chosen, Salem will return to the dimensional space. This place is merely a projection of the Salem Dimension."
This was actually why the Witches Council had not removed Fiona from her position.
Although Fiona had been negligent and lacked the responsibility of a Supreme Witch since taking the role, she hadn't neglected to replenish Salem's energy. With her powerful talent, she had managed to over-replenish Salem's energy two hundred years ahead of schedule. This was why, during these past three hundred years, the Salem Witches could still use some high-power magic.
Such as the magic of resurrection.
Three hundred years ago, when the dormant Salem Dimension had just been found, the witches of that time—let's just say—were actually the same as the Alchemists in China.
He says he knows spells, but if you ask him to perform, he can only perform a void.
Gwen looked down at the starry sky beneath her feet, then looked around and asked Myrtle curiously, "What about Zoe and the others? Can we see them?"
Myrtle shook her head and pointed to the starry sky on the right, where four stars stood out particularly brightly and remained constantly lit amidst the pulsing stars. "You cannot see what they are experiencing, but those four stars are them."
The others looked in the direction Myrtle pointed.
Carrie took this opportunity to glance at Locke, seemingly asking if he needed her to provide cover.
Locke understood and gave a subtle shake of his head.
In this situation.
The Peerless Assassin didn't need to appear.
Witch Locke wasn't suitable to appear.
Cain of the Blood Clan was even more irrelevant to this matter.
Therefore... no cover was needed, because Dimension Zero only existed within dimensions, making it a perfect match for the currently manifested Salem Dimension.
It's time.
Locke gazed at the four stars, specifically the one belonging to Cordelia, which was the first to start pulsing in sync with the breathing frequency of the Salem Dimension, and thought so to himself.
The next second.
Locke closed his eyes and then opened them again.
Boom!
In the space where Endless Dimensions existed, with a whoosh and a flash of instantaneous brilliant light, he appeared at a normal height but transformed into a radiant Zero using endless energy.
With a turn.
He spread his arms and struck Zero's signature pose.
Purchase Level 3 Talent Upgrade Card!
Purchase Dimension Fusion Device!
Upgrade Extraordinary.
Ding!
Upgrade successful!
Status refreshed!
Supreme Talent: Extraordinary: My energy is endless. You are the master and creator of energy. Your energy is restless, attempting to carve out a dimensional space.
Locke took a deep breath.
Buzz!
His body grew larger, glowing with brilliant golden light to calm the restless energy that was about to carve out a dimensional space right then and there. Then, he vanished from the spot.
Thud!
As a Supreme Witch in the process of evolving, the sign was a radiant appearance and being full of vitality.
In a place within the Salem Dimension filled with flowers and waterfalls, resembling a secluded retreat, Cordelia walked along. She looked down at her skin, which had become increasingly loose with age but was now becoming tighter and firmer, recalling the descriptions of the Supreme Witch.
"I succeeded?"
"Of course you succeeded."
"..."
Cordelia's soul suddenly throbbed, seemingly sensing a warning from this place that someone had intruded.
Looking up.
Cordelia looked at Locke, whose body was largely projected against the starry sky, arms crossed as he gazed down at her from above. She couldn't help but gape in shock.
It was the same saying.
The true appearance seen with the naked eye is different from that seen with the soul.
The people outside looked at the giant creature suddenly projected onto the starry sky and couldn't help but cry out in surprise.
Even the red-haired Myrtle, who had just exclaimed about the true Supreme Witch, was shocked and frowned as she looked at the projected Locke.
"Who is this?"
"..."
Myrtle snapped back to her senses and murmured, "Zero!"
Nameless and Maria Hill looked at each other.
Zero?
The name sounds a bit familiar.
Gwen was slightly stunned, seemingly remembering something. "The one who appeared during the trial of the New York prosecutor and defeated the projection of Hell?"
Nameless and Maria Hill immediately remembered.
"It's him."
"From the M78 Nebula Dimension?"
"The dimension where Dark Sovereign Syndra exists?"
Carrie looked up, gazing at the golden, shimmering Zero with a look of adoration.
Actually... Carrie had never said it, but compared to the Locke standing next to Gwen, she felt that Locke's true form, Zero, was the most handsome and domineering, like a ray of light...
Chapter 349: Fusion! Sublimation!!
After all... from a certain perspective, the one who brought light to Carrie wasn't Locke, but Zero.
At least.
In Carrie's sea of consciousness back then, Zero, as majestic as a deity, had blown away the weak and pitiful Nightmare—who had horns and a tail—with a flick of his finger.
That was what left the deepest impression on Carrie.
It was Zero who, just as she was about to sink into the inescapable abyss of darkness due to Nightmare's temptation, shone upon her like the first light of dawn.
He saved her and protected her.
Just like right now.
Inside the Salem Dimension.
Buzz!
With the endless energy that became increasingly restless after the upgrade, Zero, who almost surrounded the Salem Dimension, could completely ensure that those outside remained unaware of his true form's descent.
"..."
Cordelia gazed at Locke, who stepped out from the brilliant golden light wearing a suit, then looked up at the Shining Zero who was practically looking down upon the Salem Dimension, before looking back at Locke: "So, this is your true form?"
A Dimensional God.
No wonder.
Cordelia's thoughts raced; she felt as though she had guessed the entire truth.
She knew it.
Why a Witch who believed in another power would be so reverent toward Locke and even follow his words to help the Salem Witches.
After all, no dimension would choose to help those of another dimension for no reason.
And since Locke was the Dimensional God and the power supplier for the Dark Sovereign Syndra, then everything made sense.
But... Cordelia was confused.
Because in the past three hundred years, extraordinary beings who believed in other dimensions had never extended a helping hand to the Salem Witches; the most they would do was choose to stand by and watch when a few Salem Witches fell to darkness and planned to destroy the World.
Ordinary people might think they were cold-blooded.
But in reality... this was the help those extraordinary beings gave to the Salem Witches; standing by was the only helpful action other extraordinary beings would provide.
After all, extraordinary beings were one and the same.
Would a human feel sad over the death of an ant? But if an ant killed a human, other humans might not choose to help, but they certainly wouldn't choose to help the ant kill their own kind.
This is why, when an extraordinary being chooses to destroy the World, one always finds that while other extraordinary beings exist, they will not participate.
When witches destroy the World, Vampires and mages watch coldly from the sidelines.
When dark mages destroy the World, witches and Vampires also choose to watch coldly.
Humans... in the eyes of the extraordinary, are viewed the same way humans view ants.
The next second.
Cordelia gazed at the Shining Zero, who was practically looking down upon the Salem Dimension from above, and then at Locke before her, seemingly understanding something.
"Do you want to devour the Salem Dimension?"
"No!"
Locke shook his head: "Cooperation."
Cordelia: "..."
After upgrading his endless energy to level three, that restless energy, which intended to open up its own dimensional space, sublimated Locke while also bringing more information that someone of his level should know.
Just like in a game, when you reach a certain level, a pop-up appears to tell you what game functions and other things you've unlocked at that level.
After Locke leaped his life level to that of a Primary Dimensional God, he also learned everything a Dimensional God should know.
A Dimensional God is not a god.
To be precise, being a Dimensional God at most means you've stepped beyond ordinary life and are standing at the end of extraordinary life, able to see that thorn-filled, exceptionally difficult-to-climb Path to Godhood.
To put it bluntly.
Extraordinary status maxed out, yet still outside the gate of divinity, neither up nor down—that describes a Dimensional God. For a Dimensional God, there is no such thing as level suppression; as long as a slightly stronger extraordinary being finds the right method, they can also brutally crush a Dimensional God.
For example... the ultimate boss of extraordinary beings.
The Sorcerer Supreme, Her Excellency the Ancient One.
Are there few Dimensional Gods who have been beaten up by the Ancient One? There are probably a thousand, if not a hundred. Even Dormammu, who claims to be the most powerful in the dimensional realm and won't let anyone freeload off his power, can only let the Ancient One freeload off him without daring to say a single word, right?
Therefore.
He still needed to save money to buy the Sun God Bloodline.
Feeling the Path to Godhood that allows a Dimensional God to ignite Divine Fire, Locke decisively resolved to buy the Sun God Bloodline. He was a salted fish; the path of constantly fighting monsters to level up didn't suit him.
He preferred the farming style; not to mention developing in silence, at the very least, Locke felt that in the time it took to grind levels, he could have already bought the Sun God Bloodline.
Thinking this, Locke looked at Cordelia and said with a smile, "I'm here to help you, Cordelia."
He had come with good intentions from the start and had no intention of taking over the Salem Dimension.
And now?
Still none.
Locke sensed Cordelia, whose soul was gradually merging into the Salem Dimension as time passed.
The Salem Dimension wasn't asleep; it was truly dead.
Currently, the Salem Dimension was just an empty shell, maintained by generations of Salem Supreme Witches who used their own souls as fuel to keep it in existence.
This secret existed between every Salem Supreme Witch.
Simply put, only the Supreme Witch knew the truth about the Salem Dimension; other witches wouldn't know a thing about it.
That is... the energy the Salem Witches used now was actually the soul power of the past Supreme Witches of the Salem Dimension. When a new Supreme Witch emerged, she would inherit the Salem Power. Then, over time, the Supreme Witch who was radiant because of Salem would age as her magicdrained, and then her soul would return to Salem, and the cycle would repeat.
No wonder Fiona chose to sit idly by while the Voodoo Queen slaughtered various Salem Witches.
After all, from a certain perspective, the Voodoo Queen was saving her.
"Fortunately, I like to have a backup plan!"
Locke thought to himself. When the system reminded him to pay attention to the details and he realized he might have to intervene, he made full preparations. A Salem Supreme Witch who needed to be elected every three hundred years did not seem to fit the peaceful and stable development environment required by the mission: "We can cooperate for a win-win!"
Cordelia frowned: "Not devouring?"
Locke's expression was serious as he shook his head: "I don't mind trouble, but I hate trouble. Cordelia, I told you, you are my chosen partner. You help me, and I help you."
His M78 Nebula Dimension needed to be born. If it were born so openly, even if Earth's location in the Universe was remote, the gazes of numerous gods would likely be cast upon it under the Will of the Great Universe.
But if it were born through fusion with Salem, then there would be no problem.
Salem was a local, after all.
And now?
Locke said to Cordelia with a smile: "You lack power, and I have endless energy."
Cordelia gazed at the Shining Zero, which was composed entirely of endless energy and was still slowly overflowing and growing. She raised an eyebrow but said calmly: "Then what do you lack?"
Locke spread his hands, very honest: "An identity."
The foundation of cooperation is no lies.
Locke deeply agreed.
Besides, Cordelia wasn't a fool, and he wouldn't choose a fool as his ally. After all, he had no intention of constantly cleaning up after an ally.
There are pros and cons.
Instead of choosing a fool and then cleaning up after them non-stop, it was better to choose a smart person from the start.
There was a precedent for this.
Look at that Black Egghead, Nick Fury.
Presumably, at this moment, Alexander Pierce, who thought choosing a fool would be easy to manipulate back then, was probably regretting it deeply.
Cordelia was silent for a while.
"Can I choose to refuse?"
"Yes!"
Locke's expression was very free and easy, not appearing fake.
He never liked forcing people into deals. If this one didn't agree, wouldn't it be fine to just find someone else who would?
Locke was very open-minded.
Cordelia chuckled and looked up at Locke: "I can't find a reason to refuse."
She truly couldn't find a reason to refuse.
Although Cordelia knew that "fusion" was just a polite way of putting it, setting aside the Salem Dimension which now lacked a power source, in the real World, Locke had indeed been helping them from start to finish.
The Doran Church.
The Voodoo Queen.
To be honest, without Locke, the Witch Academy wouldn't have been able to handle either of those two, especially since Locke had even found them a backer.
So... Cordelia pursed her lips and said in a low voice: "How should I cooperate with you?"
The corners of Locke's mouth curled up: "Your consent is enough."
"What?"
Locke walked up to Cordelia and gestured for her to look up.
Within the Salem Dimension, Shining Zero's figure began to rotate slowly, as if countless starlights were starting to flow like a magnificent and brilliant vortex.
"Let's put it this way..."
Locke smiled slightly and looked at Cordelia: "I know what choice the ally I pick will make."
"Extract mission rewards!"
[Extraction successful!]
[achievement points * 500,000, potential points * 500,000!]
"Purchase Dimensional Fusion Device!"
[Purchase successful!]
"Fuse!"
[Please select target!]
"M78 Nebula and Salem Dimension!"
[Ding!]
Boom!
Buzz buzz buzz!
Accompanied by a stirring, familiar sound effect—boom!
The entire Salem Dimension seemed to be shattered into fragments, and with the outside, that brilliantly rotating Nebula seemed to begin merging together!
Immediately after.
Fusion!
Sublimation!!!!
350: Locke Version 2.5 Update
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
As the entire Salem Dimension shattered, Zoe, Madison, and Misty—still undergoing their trials inside—were forcibly ejected.
Fortunately so.
Had they not been expelled, Misty, in the middle of her so-called out-of-body soul trial, would have fused with the Salem Dimension and been devoured.
Zoe was in much the same plight.
During the body-swapping trial she had nearly teleported onto an iron railing that would have skewered her through the heart.
Once out, Zoe clutched her chest, heart still racing.
The next second.
She noticed the Salem Dimension, now fractured into countless shards.
A gasp.
'The Salem Dimension's been invaded?'
'No.'
'What?'
Red-haired Myrtle met the trio's gaze, feeling the magic in her body—briefly severed from Salem, then reconnected and now surging. Smiling, she stared at the broken dimension as though she already saw Cordelia among the starry nebulae: 'Behold—unique, the true Supreme Witch is born!'
Zoe and the others realized who hadn't returned.
'Cordelia!'
'My God…'
'…'
They covered their mouths, half in disbelief, half feeling it was only right.
After all, Cordelia was their teacher; though she rarely flaunted her power, she was without question the dependable matriarch.
Madison Montgomery shared that sense of inevitability, yet a tinge of Unwilling flickered—natural as the straight-A student who aims for first only to find herself second when scores arrive.
Even witches nurse the basic instinct to compete.
Boom!
Within the dimensional space.
The shattered Salem Dimension, meeting the descending, whirling Nebula of countless energies, surrendered without resistance, letting the Nebula overtake and absorb it.
On the flower-strewn platform visible from outside.
Cordelia stood shoulder to shoulder with Locke.
Endless magic flooded Cordelia's body, making her ever younger, but she halted the process at the age she deemed perfect.
Locke looked at her.
Cordelia said, 'At twenty-six I hadn't yet met Hank Fox.'
Locke lifted a brow. 'Jerk. Not worth a second thought; good men are everywhere.'
'Are you one?'
'I will be.'
Locke smiled.'So don't try to tempt me, Cordelia.'
He had decided.
Henceforth, whoever tried to lure him into jerk-hood would be cut down on the spot, no hesitation.
Cordelia blinked, laughed softly, then gazed up as the endless Nebula descended and the magics interwove. After a moment she murmured, 'I hope you won't regret that choice one day.'
Locke met her eyes.
Did she mean the merging of Salem with the M78 Nebula?
Or his vow never to be a jerk?
He blinked, shook his head; either way the answer was the same—and singular: 'Trust every decision I make; I never regret any of them.'
Rather than rue things later.
He always calculated thoroughly beforehand.
Just as when he carved up a target—he always left a slim chance of survival, so if regret surfaced later, it would be the victim's fault, not his.
The words had barely landed—
—when a deafening roar burst forth.
As the shattered Salem Dimension fully merged with the spinning Nebula, a radiance blazed forth like the birth of a Universe.
The next instant!
Ping!
Fusion successful!
Ascension successful!
Note: Your power no longer comes from nowhere; it now has an anchor. None can claim your strength is born of the void, none can trace its source.
Ping!
Status refresh!
Life-state leap detected. Activating Version 3.0.
Name: 'Locke Broughton—Sole Player'
achievement points: 300,000
potential points: 300,000
Current: 'Dimension Zero'
Domain: 'Land of Light Dimension Domain'
Level: 1
Faction: 'Salem Witches'
Member: 'Carrie!'
Member: 'Cordelia Goode!'
Status Note: 'Converted from the apex talent Extraordinary (Gold Quality/Level 3) and the Land of Lightfaction. Possesses all traits of an apex talent, with boundless energy, and serves as your stronghold.'
Apex Talent: 'Iron Body!'
Quality: 'Gold!'
Level: '1!'
Status note: "Your body is as tough as Iron Body; ordinary firearms have basically lost their effectiveness against you. Maybe you could try upgrading to see if you can fly?"
The dazzling radiance vanished instantly, and then a resplendent golden Nebula formed of endless energy appeared within the dimensional space.
And Salem, like a star, slowly rotated within that golden Nebula, drawing in boundless dawn-like energy.
Whoosh!
All dimensional scenery receded.
Right at that moment—
ROAR!
Just as the newly sublimated Land of Light Dimension, having merged with the slumbering Salem Dimension, settled back into the endless dimensional space, a dark-skinned, Voodoo-ancestor-looking evil spirit—its body covered in dense black tattoos—seemed unable to wait and came knocking with fierce determination.
"You killed my follower!"
"Damn you!"
The Voodoo evil spirit roared; with a bang, so furious it ignored self-injury, bloodshot eyes locked on Cordelia as it began to change.
Apparently intending to transform into Cordelia's likeness and then cast a vicious curse.
Locke raised an eyebrow.
Goodfellas—Cordelia had just allied with him and already someone was kicking in the door?
What was the meaning of this?
Dimension Zero slowly lifted his head, planning to make an example of this intruder.
After all, newly arrived and surrounded by dimensional neighbors as numerous as the cults on Federal land plus Korean soil combined, showing a bit of friendliness wasn't a bad idea.
But… "Marie Laveau!"
From a certain perspective still one in spirit with the Salem Dimension—but more precisely second only to Locke within the Land of Light Dimension—Cordelia stared at the evil spirit morphing into her form, seemed to recognize it, and said gravely, "Let me handle it."
Locke raised a brow: "You sure?"
He had been the active party in the merger.
Though the fusion had gone smoothly, Cordelia's soul had tasted the agony of shattering the moment Salem Dimension broke apart.
Cordelia nodded: "Yes."
Locke understood her intent.
Unless something went wrong, this evil spirit had come for the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau; Voodooevil spirits were likely the source of Marie's power.
Clearly it sought revenge for losing its best follower.
Cordelia, however, wasn't thinking of revenge.
As always, Fiona had brought it on herself.
Cordelia wanted to act because the evil spirit carried fluctuations of the Salem Dimension—specifically, the soul breath of countless Salem Witches.
Evidently, over the years the Salem Witches Marie Laveau hunted had been offered as sacrifices to her Master: this very furious evil spirit now audaciously demanding answers.
Hum!
Cordelia spread her arms; the evening gown she'd worn for the trial began to burn, turning to magma, then quickly solidifying.
By the time she hovered above Salem Dimension, the dress had become splendid armor, her golden hair crowned by the Supreme Witch's circlet: "You—shall die!"
ROAR!
The Voodoo evil spirit, now half-transformed into Cordelia, grinned: "Your last Supreme Witch said the same, yet she sat back and let me devour you. Once I finish, I'll return to Earth and turn it into my pasture!"
Outside, Nameless and Ms. Maria Hill rose to their feet in unison.
Goodfellas—they'd come to watch the ceremony, only to find a spirit planning to invade Earth.
Could things get any more intense?
Cordelia's heart stirred.
The last one—Fiona?
Thoughts raced; she recalled how Fiona had once been dazzlingly talented, hailed the greatest Witch of her age, which was why three centuries ago she'd been chosen as Supreme Witch.
Yet the moment Fiona took the title, she seemed to change overnight.
One night she left New Orleans and stayed away for three hundred years.
Could this be why?
The evil spirit continued: "The last Supreme Witch was just like you. After I finish training you, you'll obediently—what!"
Cordelia lifted her gaze; with Locke's boundless energy empowering her, witchcraft arrays spun within her eyes.
Transposition!
True transposition doesn't just move oneself elsewhere—it can also switch places with an enemy of choice.
Swap!
351. The Dimension's Strongest Deadbeat!
"What!"
"Roar!"
Above the dimensions, the Voodoo Evil God, who had been attacking with extremely vulgar language, only felt a blur before his eyes. Then, he saw himself suddenly and inexplicably appearing in front of Cordelia.
The next second.
A ball of brilliant fire rose directly into the air.
The Voodoo Evil God roared instantly. In an instant, the countless witch spirits who had been sacrificed by the Voodoo Witch and then enslaved by him poured out in full force.
Boom!
"Jie jie!"
The Voodoo Evil God watched as the countless summoned witch spirits blocked the flames for him. He cackled at Cordelia, who had pulled back her hand in time, seemingly unwilling to harm them.
Standing in the distance and not getting involved in this battle, Locke's eyebrows twitched, and he prepared to take action.
This was considered the first battle of the Land of Light Dimension after dropping anchor in the Endless Dimensions.
Crushing the opponent was the only way to go.
A back-and-forth fight might look good, but it would give the countless neighbors watching the show outside a very bad impression. At the same time, it would give them some improper ideas.
After all, a Dimensional God who doesn't want to become a true deity is not a good Dimensional God. There is only one way to grow from a Dimensional God into a deity: to strengthen one's own dimension and ignite one's divine fire.
So... Locke didn't want to waste his precious time on this during the next few years, which would be the most profitable for earning points.
A quick resolution was the kingly way.
Buzz!
Locke returned to the state of Dimension Zero and prepared to transform into Shining Zero to kill the Voodoo Evil God with one blow, deterring the countless surrounding dimensions.
Kill one to warn a hundred!
Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys!
Coincidentally, he didn't even need to look for a chicken. Just right, the chicken had delivered itself to his door.
Just then.
Cordelia seemed to have figured something out. With her right hand, she unleashed endless magicpower. With a boom, she directly blasted the witch spirits lunging at her into powder.
The next second.
The armored cloak formed by her evening gown behind her fluttered without any wind.
"Today, I will show you what it means to be the Supreme Witch!"
Cordelia spread her hands wide.
She tilted her head back.
Rumble!
Locke also stopped his movements and looked down. He watched as the Salem Dimension seemed to come alive in a daze.
That's right.
Cordelia's soul was bound to Salem. From a certain perspective, the Supreme Witch was actually Salem. After all, the original Salem was already dead. It's just that the past Supreme Witches didn't have enough magic power to activate Salem, so they always felt that the Supreme Witch needed to sacrifice her soul for Salem.
"Boom!"
"What?"
The Voodoo Evil God snapped back to his senses. With a'shoo,' he left the ground directly, intending to flee from Salem. He also felt as if the space he was in was imprisoning him.
Cordelia's eyes turned red as she watched the Voodoo Evil God fleeing Salem at high speed.
"Come down!"
"...No!"
The Voodoo Evil God let out a 'puff.' Accompanied by his soul being constantly squeezed and crushed by space, in almost an instant, a force broke through the Voodoo Evil God's life-saving measures and slammed into his true body.
The next second.
Like a bird that had been shot, the Voodoo Evil God fell rapidly from the sky.
Locke withdrew his gaze.
This was the kind of air the first battle should have.
Locke felt the ill-intentioned gazes cast upon the Land of Light Dimension begin to decrease, and he thought so in his heart.
This was why he was unwilling to directly go against everything and enter the Universe.
The Dark Forest.
He liked to play a steady game. Taking steps that were too large would cause trouble. A game that could clearly be played as a crushing victory could easily turn into a leveling-up grind.
If he wanted to play a leveling-up game, then what was the point of playing at all?
"Boom!"
The Voodoo Evil God was suppressed directly to the ground by the space that had almost condensed into a red hue, letting out a loud bang followed by: "Cough, cough, cough!"
Whoosh!
Cordelia appeared expressionlessly above the human-shaped crater created by the Voodoo Evil God. She watched as countless mud hands, transformed by the endless magic after he fell into the crater, grabbed him, preparing to stage a scene of being torn apart by five horses. She said in a deep voice: "Blood debts... must be paid in blood!"
The Voodoo Evil God's eyes shrank violently.
"No!"
"Nightmare..."
"Puff!"
Before he could finish his words, the Voodoo Evil God was instantly torn apart by Salem. That large wave of foul blood was burned into nothingness by magic power the moment it appeared.
Even the five separated parts of the Voodoo Evil God were burning fiercely under the fire of magic.
"Nightmare..."
Locke landed beside Cordelia, his eyes flickering as he watched the Voodoo Evil God turn to ash. He frowned: "Was he just about to say Nightmare?"
Goodfellas.
Locke felt it was quite miraculous. It seemed that so far, whenever a story involving the supernatural was concerned, he could always encounter this old friend.
Once in Augusta.
Once in New York.
And here, once again?
Damn it, if Nightmare were a woman, Locke felt that after meeting for the third time, if they didn't go to bed, someone would probably say he was being a hooligan.
After all, going to bed after three dates was a thing.
That was an unspoken rule.
Cordelia frowned: "You know Nightmare?"
Locke chuckled: "He's an old friend."
Cordelia said: "This guy is the Voodoo Demon under Nightmare."
Locke: "..."
Voodoo Demon?
Was the naming... a bit too casual?
Just then.
There was a commotion in the Endless Dimensions. Then, Nightmare, who had horns on his head, a tail on his back, and a face that was an insult to the word ugly—even 'hideous' would be an insult—appeared irritably in the invisible dimension: "Who, who is it? Who killed my loyal servant, Voodoo Demon? Come out!"
"Hello!"
"Who?"
Feeling the deathbed plea for help from the Voodoo Demon who was loyal to him, and seeing that even the soul had not flown back, Nightmare angrily turned his gaze.
The next second.
On Nightmare's indescribable large face, those eyes as big as a bronze bull's began to widen as he looked at a certain someone greeting him: "It's you."
Locke folded his arms and looked at Nightmare with a look of joy: "It's me. Long time no see, old friend!"
Goodfellas.
He was still thinking about whether to catch another chicken to warn the surrounding neighbors not to have any bad thoughts about him. After all, Locke had originally thought that the Voodoo Demon was also a member of the Endless Dimensions, but it turned out he was just a small fry.
Even if he was killed in a crushing manner, he was still just a small fry. The deterrent effect of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys would be very low.
He didn't expect... that an old friend would be more reliable.
Locke thought so in his heart. Although the Nightmare in front of him was incredibly ugly, it didn't hinder the increasingly bright smile on Locke's face.
The expression on Nightmare's face was very solid.
Amazement.
Shock.
And then... anger!
"Roar!"
Nightmare roared directly: "It's..."
"Boom!"
Before he could finish his sentence.
Just as Nightmare was about to pull out a weapon from behind to give this Zero, who had opposed him time and again, a painful blow, he saw the Zero in front of him instantly shine with golden light, transforming into the state of Shining Zero. Then, with a turn, a huge finger slammed directly into Nightmare's body. Just like the greeting Nightmare had given during their first meeting, it directly caused Nightmare to turn into light and disappear before his eyes once again.
"Heh!"
In the Endless Dimensions, Locke raised two fingers toward the place where Nightmare had disappeared: "If you want to defeat me, you're still twenty thousand years too early."
It would be more like it if Mephisto came in person.
But... it wasn't a big problem.
He couldn't beat Mephisto, but he could still manage a draw, as long as he didn't enter Mephisto's Land of Light Dimension Domain.
Similarly.
If Locke entered Mephisto's dimension domain, he couldn't beat the dimensional lord Mephisto. If Mephisto entered Locke's Land of Light Dimension Domain, he would also be unable to do anything to him.
Ultimately.
Although Nightmare was Mephisto's son, a dimension only submits to one Master.
As long as Mephisto didn't die, Nightmare was, in the end, just a dimensional... creature with high status.
He was actually quite similar to that Voodoo Demon just now.
But.
The Endless Dimensions bought into this.
Locke's gaze swept across the surrounding Endless Dimensions. He sensed the prying eyes from countless surrounding dimensions change from greed to curiosity, and then simultaneously into awe and fear.
After all, a dimension that had just settled in and dared to go head-to-head with Nightmare was not something this group of weaklings could provoke.
Even.
Twenty thousand years?
Could it be that this was another old monster who had held back for twenty thousand years and finally couldn't hold it in any longer, planning to charge onto the path of godhood?
Many dimensional lords looked at each other, recalling the words Locke had just spoken and discussing fervently using their respective communication methods.
Earth.
Somewhere!
There was a temple on a Great Snowy Mountain. In the temple, a bald person was drinking tea.
"Hmm?"
"Teacher?"
Since joining, Mordo, who had been practicing on the snowy mountain and serving as his teacher's assistant, looked at the Sorcerer Supreme, who had suddenly paused while drinking tea, and said: "Is the water not good?"
The Sorcerer Supreme returned to her senses, glanced at Mordo, and shook her head: "No, the water is very good."
"Then..."
"In the Endless Dimensions, an ancient dimension has been revived."
"..."
Mordo seemed to have an epiphany. He stood up, changed his attire, and with a buzz, his magic shield appeared: "Teacher, I'll go call the others."
This was to go and knock on the door of the newly born dimension to let it know whose territory Earthwas.
They were very familiar with this business.
But.
The Sorcerer Supreme stopped Mordo, who looked exactly like a gangster, and shook her head: "No, this is not necessary."
Mordo was slightly stunned.
Are there dimensions that... don't need to be taught the rules?
The Sorcerer Supreme continued to sip the clear tea in her cup.
Yes.
It was not necessary.
Moreover, she could find a time to visit and see if she could borrow some power to use.
Ancient One drank her tea with a calm expression!
352. The Secret Can't Be Hidden Any Longer
No choice.
As the IOUs piled up, the first few dimensions that had lent their power came knocking last year, ready to collect the agreed-upon price.
Luckily,
Ancient One, relying on her title of Sorcerer Supreme, sent those two creditors packing with a single shout.
Just one sentence!
This old man—bah!
This Old lady is the Sorcerer Supreme; would I take your power for nothing? Relax, I won't take it and not pay it back. Set your minds at ease. With my vast estate, are you afraid I'll run off?
The two dimensional creditors, one after the other, thought it over. Looking at her resolute face, so solemn and clearly not lying—and the name of Sorcerer Supreme resounded throughout the Endless Dimensions—she really didn't seem the sort to renege.
Besides, offending the Sorcerer Supreme meant giving up a market as big as Earth; that didn't add up. So the two creditors left, glancing back with every step.
But
This can't go on.
Ancient One thought to herself. Actually, when she'd borrowed power from Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, she'd already worked out a perfect way to slip away and wash off every last debt.
The time hadn't come, though.
And frankly, she didn't want to die branded a deadbeat. With several years still to go, she considered the newborn dimension that had just appeared in the Endless Dimensions, wondering if she could borrow a batch of power from it to clear the old arrears.
After all, owing one creditor 100 million, or owing a hundred creditors 1 million each—frankly the former sounds better. You can say you have just one debtor, not a hundred.
Forget it.
The Sorcerer Supreme sipped her clear tea, smiled, and shook her head. Wait a bit. No rush. If I approach them now, I'll just be refused.
As for when—
She lifted her gaze and swept her right hand; a mirror appeared, showing what looked like some place in South Africa. A woman was walking along.
Soon!
Ancient One thought.
Buzz!
Locke's frame shuddered. When the leap in life-form ended, a cold spasm shot through him. Before he could adjust, a violent sneeze burst out.
Achoo!
…
Fur bristling, Gwen—who'd thought the hall's sudden return to normal had startled her—snapped her head toward the thunderous sneeze. Seeing Locke, her face brimmed with concern: Someone curious about you again?
Locke waved it off. I've got 3-D motion sickness.
Gwen's mouth opened.
3-D… motion sickness?
You think we were just watching a movie?
Locke pinched his nose and gazed east. His Sixth Sense told him the curiosity that triggered the sneeze had come from that direction.
But…the east?
I don't recall knowing anyone out east.
Forget it.
He rubbed his nose.
Whoever it was didn't matter; results counted. Feeling his life-form sublimated, every cell seemed to cheer.
He clenched a fist.
Explosive power—he felt he could blow George away with one punch.
Just then—
Before he could savor it, the hall doors were blasted open from outside and a squad of heavily armed troops poured in.
They looked tense.
But after spotting Nameless and Ms. Maria Hill their anxiety quickly faded.
Nameless and Ms. Maria Hill exchanged glances, frowning.
What's going on?
Nameless asked the first man—ostensibly FBI, actually his own—who'd burst in. I told you not to enter unless it's an emergency.
Across the room, Maria Hill put the same question to Hawkeye Barton.
Langley Agent opened his mouth.
Moments earlier, CIA and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents outside had stayed in their own command vans, each watching their respective bigwigs.
After all, if anything happened to Nameless or Maria Hill the fallout would be huge.
The instant Salem Dimension descended, outside Agents lost all signal.
Langley Agent stepped out of his van, met a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent doing the same, and both stared in shock as the building's daytime façade became a star-strewn sky.
Then came lockdown, door-busting—
Yet the hall doors never budged.
Because, in a way, once Salem Dimension began merging with Land of Light Dimension, the hall was no longer on Earth; those Agents were hammering on thin air.
When the Agents finally broke in, expecting their bosses to be in grave danger, they found those very bosses sitting inside as attentively as students in class—clearly, all the panic had been for nothing.
Thank goodness.
Nameless and Ms. Maria Hill didn't scold the Agents for their concern.
As for the damage…
After Nameless and Maria Hill stepped out of the hall and saw the wreckage everywhere—floorboards practically tilled up across the entire room—their temples throbbed; they exchanged a look.
"I'm putting in a hundred grand."
"Fine, I'll match it—another hundred."
The two shared the wordless glance unique to Agents, then simultaneously pulled out checkbooks, scribbled the amounts, and signed their names.
But… "Two hundred thousand?"
Hill blinked at the figure on Nameless's check. "The CIA prints its own money these days?"
Nameless shrugged. "I like to save."
Hill nodded and handed over her own check.
Nameless glanced at it and gaped. "Five hundred grand? S.H.I.E.L.D. throws taxpayers' cash around like confetti?"
Hill smiled sweetly, passed the checkbook to Natasha beside her, and told him, "Mr. Nameless, you keep saying we at S.H.I.E.L.D. have five rich daddies—well, they're all loaded."
Nameless: "…"
Still—
The smug look on Hill's face didn't last; at the doorway her eyes narrowed, and she turned back.
Nameless frowned as Hill returned.
Hill frowned at Hawkeye Barton, who was quietly asking Natasha what had gone on inside. "Barton, why are there reporters swarming outside?"
Barton snapped out of it, remembered, and said, "Ma'am, it wasn't me—"
Before he could finish—
BANG.
Detective Kaup of the New Orleans Police Department and Police Chief George Stacy—here from New York on a supposed vacation that had turned into nonstop casework—strode into the hall past a Langley Agent and a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent.
SWISH.
Startled beside Locke, Gwen squeaked and darted behind him.
George paused mid-step, tracked the blur of motion, and his mouth twitched.
"Heh."
He gave Locke a death-glare. "You again."
Locke blinked innocently.
Nameless and Maria Hill exchanged looks, then moved to intercept George Stacy. Two federal heavyweights running into New York's top cop here in New Orleans—fate, or something darker.
The worst kind of fate.
"Chief Stacy—"
"Agents."
George's gaze swept past Locke to Gwen's ponytail poking from behind him, then to Carrie and the women who could only be witches—Cordelia and company. He forced a chuckle. "CIA and DHS running a joint training exercise?"
Nameless and Hill traded glances.
"Exactly."
"…"
George sucked in a breath—Goodfellas, you're actually rolling with that?
Still smirking, he asked, "So the star-spangled sky and the thousand-foot giant outside—part of the drill too?"
"Hmm?"
"Heh."
Reading their faces, George turned to Kaup. "Well, if CIA and DHS say it's their exercise, we're done here."
With that
he snapped his gaze to Locke—or rather to Gwen's ponytail. "Come on out, planning to give an interview?"
Gwen yelped, peeked out. "Coming!"
Nameless and Hill had already pulled their Agents aside for damage control.
As Locke and Gwen slipped past, Locke shot Nameless a look—You've got this, boss—and followed George and Kaup out the back, low-profile.
They climbed into the squad car.
Locke suddenly remembered: "My ride's still out front."
George, riding shotgun, turned. "Want to fetch it?"
Locke shook his head. "Let it rot; I'll pay the fine."
Outside,
once the cruiser cleared the block, Locke saw the streets around Witch Academy jammed solid with reporters.
Goodfellas.
So… what the hell happened out here while they were inside?
353. The Exposed Witch
It's easy to find out what's happening outside.
It's the age of the internet now.
You can know everything in the world by going online.
However... Locke didn't scroll through his phone in the police car. After all, playing with a phone in the back of a police car felt like being given anesthesia but not falling unconscious, which seemed disrespectful to the police profession.
Back at the hotel.
"Make yourselves at home."
After opening the room, Locke smiled at Copp and George, who walked in behind him, and said, "Don't be shy, just treat it like your own home. Copp, vodka or bourbon?"
"Bourbon."
"Alright."
Locke nodded and walked towards the bar.
George, after entering, expressionlessly surveyed his surroundings.
It truly was a suite worth two thousand dollars a night.
The space.
The layout.
The air... it did seem better than outside, exuding a strong scent of money that wasn't present outside.
"Here."
"Thank you."
Locke handed the bourbon to Copp, then looked at George and offered him the bourbon in his hand: "George?"
George snapped back to attention and looked at Locke.
The enthusiastic wild boar held a glass of bourbon, which also exuded a wild, moneyed aura.
George expressionlessly took it, squeezing out a thank you through gritted teeth.
Locke smiled faintly: "You're welcome!"
George: "..."
Just then.
On the sofa.
Gwen, looking at the screen on the tablet in her hand, couldn't help but exclaim.
Locke walked closer, looking at the tablet in Gwen's hand, who had grabbed it as soon as she entered, seemingly very concerned about what had happened at the Witch Academy.
What he saw!
Locke raised an eyebrow.
He had originally thought that the Salem Dimension existed here yet didn't exist here, like Schrödinger's cat, where only those inside the box could observe the specific situation, and those outside couldn't.
But... Locke suddenly remembered that, apparently, the Salem Dimension had once separated from the endless dimensions and become a region within the Federation solely to protect witches.
So.
That made sense.
In the footage, the moment the Salem Dimension appeared, the starlight dotted like countless stars and the unique Salem appeared like a mirage at the Witch Academy.
But it wasn't a mirage. After all, no one's mirage appears all around them instead of in the sky.
Even the scene where Shining Zero transformed into an endless nebula and began to merge with the shattered Salem was included. However, when the photographer ran closer to get a better shot, the footage began to shake as if dropping frames, and then, with a whoosh, the screen turned to static.
Other videos from photographers circulating online were the same.
There were no issues filming about a kilometer away from the Witch Academy, but if one got closer than a kilometer to film, the video footage would suddenly distort or even automatically shut down.
It was normal.
It was like why every time humans photograph something else, like a sea monster or a yeti, every time they are discovered, the only evidence available is some long-distance videos or photos.
Actually, it's not that they can't produce it.
It's that the rules don't allow it.
A rule similar to 'one can only admire from afar, but not profane,' simply put, means that the technological side can only observe the existence of the mystical side from a distance and cannot appreciate it up close.
After all, gods and the like all follow the mystical path. Naturally, although in the Marvel Universe, mysticism and technology coexist, ultimately, this universe is still dominated by the mystical side, and it's quite normal for the technological side to be suppressed by the mystical side.
However, Locke and the other two found this footage normal, but that didn't mean others found it normal.
Not to mention the many live media reporters who, now that the mirage had receded, could finally resume their broadcasts outside the Witch Academy.
Just in this room, there were two curious people.
George and Copp.
However... George, on the way back, combined with the previous Voodoo Queen story, seemed to already understand what had happened, but to be safe, he still needed to confirm.
"Tell me!"
George directly pulled over a chair and looked at his daughter Gwen, who had once been sweet and lovely but had now once again upgraded to a seriously revealing, black-hearted fishnet cotton dress, seemingly giving up completely: "Those few people you said were your friends that day, are they witches? Like the Dark Archon?"
Oh my god!
Every day I'm out there trying to catch the Dark Archon, so I can follow the clues and catch the Dark Archon's accomplice, the Peerless Assassin.
But... I never thought the mole was right by my side all along?
And it was my once beloved daughter?
George found it a bit hard to accept for a moment.
Gwen paused slightly, then snapped back: "What? No, Zoe and the others are from a different faction than the Dark Archon."
Hmm.
This was something Gwen had learned in her witch classes.
Just as people are different from each other, witches are also different from each other.
Gwen tried to justify Zoe and the others: "Zoe and the others are Salem witches, and the Dark Archon is a witch from the M78 Nebula. They're different."
She didn't know that, in fact, Salem had just merged with the M78 Nebula, like two companies merging and going public.
George blinked, shocked by the professional terms that popped out of Gwen's mouth.
Locke, on the other hand, checked his watch and suggested, "Let's eat first."
When working, he didn't feel time passing quickly, but a quick glance at the time showed it was already past six o'clock. At this hour, if they didn't eat, there would be a problem with their thinking.
After dinner.
George seemed to want to continue pursuing the truth.
But.
Gwen blinked, looking at George: "Dad, we're going back tomorrow, you know."
George looked at the upward curve of his daughter's lips, then at Copp's already arranged knowing gaze beside him, took a deep breath, and chose to go with Copp.
He could slowly investigate the witch matter when they got back. Anyway, he had already seen vampires, so witches were just a minor thing.
This last night was more important.
After all, Copp had already arranged his itinerary for the last night.
Drinking.
Watching the game.
And then drinking again.
George felt that brotherhood was more worthy of his attention than this witch incident. Anyway, he wasn't a witch, and with the CIA and Homeland Security there, no matter how much he paid attention, he was just a bystander.
Locke watched George and Copp stride away, then opened his mouth and looked at Gwen beside him: "When you go back, are you really not going to tell Helen about George letting loose?"
Gwen looked at Locke and blinked: "I report to Mom every day."
Locke looked at Gwen, who was blinking her big eyes, and then at the disappearing taillights, his eyes gradually filled with sympathy.
Poor George, he'll probably have his two hundred dollars monthly allowance cut in half when he gets back.
Locke silently mourned for George in his heart.
Back at the hotel.
As soon as Locke took off his clothes, he heard Gwen call out from the living room: "Locke, come quickly."
He walked into the living room.
Gwen stood by the TV.
What he saw.
The TV screen showed the interior of the Witch Academy.
He glanced at the live broadcast station's logo.
Hmm.
From Washington D.C.
It should be a media outlet with deep ties to the CIA.
This was normal.
Washington D.C., after all.
Not to mention media having deep ties with the CIA, even call girls and the like had madams who had certain cooperative relationships with the CIA.
After all... some politicians from European countries, when they came to the Federation, to Washington D.C., would definitely need to vent some fatigue. Let's put it this way, basically, any high-class call girl in Washington D.C., from a certain perspective, could be considered an unofficial collaborator of the CIA.
Otherwise, how would the CIA get so many scandals involving foreign politicians?
Do you really think agents are omnipotent?
Agents, to put it plainly, are salaried assassins. What they're best at is killing people. Gathering intelligence has never been the specialty of agents or assassins.
On screen.
Cordelia, wearing a simple floral dress and with long, smooth golden hair, was giving an interview and issuing a statement.
A statement about witches.
A statement that comprehensively analyzed and elucidated the past and present of the Salem witches, starting from the Salem Massacre.
Gwen opened her phone.
Without a doubt.
This statement, released just an hour ago, had quickly become a trending topic, even being discussed in the Midtown High School group chat.
The same was true in Locke and his friends' small group.
Cindy: "Gwen, Gwen, come out quickly, something big has happened in New Orleans."
Karn: "Witches, they're all pretty, right?"
Cindy: "???"
Kim: "Damn it, I wish I hadn't come to Hawaii. I should have gone to New Orleans."
Betty: "Did Gwen go to New Orleans too? Wasn't it Carrie and Locke who went?"
Gwen: "Locke and I are going back tomorrow."
As Gwen popped up.
The next second.
Cindy immediately sent a video call.
Gwen answered.
As soon as the video connected, Cindy started talking like a machine gun.
Chattering away.
Cindy looked excited: "Gwen, Gwen, quick, tell me what happened! Wow, witches! I just found out online that the Dark Archon Syndra has also been in New Orleans these past few days. Oh my god, if I had known, I would have gone with you. Damn it!"
Carrie, watching the excited Cindy in the video, blinked and looked at Locke, as if to say, 'It's just witches, what's there to make a fuss about?'
Locke, meanwhile, sipped his drink.
That question should be directed to the Doran cultists you've already judged.
In a word.
She regretted not being a witch, right?
Gwen opened her mouth several times, but Cindy gave her no chance to speak.
Cindy chattered on and on, finally saying: "Gwen, wait for me, I'm coming over tomorrow too."
Gwen finally found an opportunity, covering her forehead: "Why are you coming? Do you think you'll be able to meet witches if you come? And, aren't we going skiing anymore?"
Cindy: "..."
354. The Resurrection of Salem
Let alone Cindy and the others.
Even Locke, Gwen, and Carrie, when they were about to leave for the Witch Academy the next morning to say goodbye to their friends, Zoe and the others, and then head to the airport to catch their midday flight, were almost stopped outside the Witch Academy.
Several burly men in black suits glared at them.
If Mr. Nameless hadn't come out in time, those burly men would have probably tried to arrest Locke and the others on the spot.
"CIA?"
After being let in by Nameless, Locke turned his head to look at the men in black who were blocking the street corner, and even saw one of them grab a reporter trying to crawl through the bushes: "Pretty impressive."
Nameless also turned his head for a look, then shook it.
"No, for dealing with these paparazzi, Hollywood's 3A Security is more professional."
"..."
Professionals do professional things.
Besides, sending Langley's elite agents here to be security guards is clearly overkill. Langley never lacks agents, but truly elite, presentable agents are still very scarce.
Otherwise, frankly speaking, even if Nameless admired Locke, he wouldn't have let Locke join the CIA.
"I originally thought the best journalists were in Washington D.C. and the best paparazzi were in Hollywood. I never imagined the paparazzi here in New Orleans would be so formidable."
Journalists in Washington D.C. can report a politician's twenty-four-hour schedule, detailed down to the second.
Hollywood paparazzi can also report a female celebrity's specific twenty-four-hour schedule.
But the paparazzi here in New Orleans?
Mr. Nameless shook his head and said, "Several times at night, two paparazzi almost sneaked in, forcing me to quickly bring in a professional team from Hollywood."
Locke smiled.
Gwen said from the side, "It might have something to do with the New Orleans media offering a million dollars as a reward for the first reporter to get the news."
Mr. Nameless chuckled, "Is that so? Then they probably won't have a chance."
He pushed open the door.
In the hall, a professional media team was busily adjusting their live broadcast equipment, and a meticulously dressed host in a suit was tidying his clothes with the help of an assistant.
Cordelia was also doing the same, arranging her hair with the help of Zoe and others.
Gwen was slightly stunned.
"This is..."
"An interview."
Mr. Nameless smiled, "The public is very curious about witches. They say they have a right to know, so let's tell them. Gwen, the CIA is very open now."
Gwen looked at Mr. Nameless, blinking.
Really?
I don't believe it!
Locke, seeing Gwen's expression, spread his hands towards Mr. Nameless: "There are no outsiders here. There's no need to say those words meant for the ignorant masses, is there?"
The public does have a right to know, but their right to know is based on information that has been filtered.
Nameless laughed heartily.
It was actually quite simple.
Yesterday, Maria Hill advocated for secretly bringing in a Hollywood film director and transporting him here, then claiming that this was just a collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security to film a movie.
Nameless, however, advocated respecting Cordelia's opinion.
And now, the Salem Dimension had fully recovered. After merging with the Kingdom of Light Dimension, magic power was flowing continuously, enough for Salem to return to its original intention.
That was, the Salem Dimension would protect all witches who believed in her.
Cordelia stated that she wanted to find all witches of Salem bloodline who had experienced the Salem Witch Trials, were displaced, and perhaps even suffered persecution from the Dolan Church and were feared by other evil gods, their lives possibly hanging by a thread.
Locke stroked his chin: "And then S.H.I.E.L.D. withdrew?"
Nameless smiled: "Not exactly withdrawn. Maria Hill went back to Washington D.C. to deal with the five major powers. I still prefer S.H.I.E.L.D. when that black bald guy was in charge."
Locke narrowed his eyes.
Those words... dangerous.
The next second.
Nameless chuckled and looked at Locke: "At least, there was no pressure to confront that black bald guy. This Maria Hill is different; she knows how to adapt and isn't so pigheaded. Such a person is easy to talk to and deal with, without pressure, but if you really have to contend with her, she's much harder to deal with than that black bald guy."
Locke quite agreed with that statement.
However... that didn't stop him from continuing to dislike the black bald guy.
Soon.
The host and Cordelia took their seats directly.
Unrelated personnel exited the room.
Locke, Nameless, Gwen, and Carrie stood outside the camera's view, watching Cordelia, who was about to be interviewed and then reveal her existence.
The mission's settlement requirement was for witches to have a good living environment.
The revived Salem Dimension not only allowed Locke to expand his own dimension, but also restored the Salem witches to their former magical glory.
But this was still far from enough.
Just as Cordelia had said before, in various corners of the world, there were still Salem witches living in dire straits.
Therefore, at least until a wave of witches re-enrolled in the Witch Academy, this mission could only be considered truly completed and settled.
Locke thought to himself.
"Since your excellent public statement yesterday, the response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Your church's candid disclosure has caused a sensation in the media, and..."
"I'd like to clarify, Bill!"
Cordelia, facing the host from Washington D.C. who had deep ties with the CIA for a live interview, smiled and interrupted Bill's opening remarks: "We are not a cult, nor do we proselytize. We have no agenda, and we don't recruit followers. My statement was not meant to tell the world that we exist."
Bill listened attentively.
Locke and the others also watched seriously from the side.
Cordelia faced the camera, a gentle smile on her face.
"Those identified as witches are born that way. Their abilities, which we call magic, or you could call it mana in your terms."
"Their identity, their genes, are innate."
"Because they possess the Salem bloodline."
Bill nodded: "I understand. So, you mean that becoming a Salem witch is not a choice, and one cannot become a Salem witch through some kind of training?"
"Yes."
"That's what I want to say. Salem witches are born Salem witches because of their bloodline, the descendants left behind by the witches who were displaced during the Salem Witch Trials and then went into hiding and reproduced."
Cordelia nodded: "Many young witches resist the call from within, or many witches are suffering the same persecution we previously experienced, because of their fear, and because of the scrutiny and criticism of others."
"But some people still hunt witches, like the Dolan Church?"
Bill, recalling the content of the interview script he had read, looked at Cordelia: "I understand that the Dolan Church's headquarters are in New York. So, the Dolan Church has always known of your existence, and has been hunting you?"
Cordelia pursed her lips and nodded: "Yes, that is true."
Locke, standing not far away, whispered to Nameless: "You arranged this?"
Nameless looked at Locke and also whispered: "No, but I didn't stop it."
Even media outlets collaborating with the CIA, to ensure a smooth collaboration, ultimately need some juicy scoops. At a normal pace, they would dig deep into the witch coven's information.
But... Nameless didn't want too much attention on the witch coven, and S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't either, so they needed to shift the focus.
And so.
The Dolan Church was a perfect target to divert attention.
The most important point.
The witch coven consisted of women.
And the Dolan Church hunting the witch coven, from a certain perspective, was men hunting women.
Heh heh!
This topic was far more sensational than the witch coven itself.
Locke looked at the smiling Nameless: "Insidious!"
Nameless responded with a smile: "Thank you."
Cordelia's interview continued.
After admitting that the Dolan Church had been persecuting witches, Cordelia changed the subject: "But, Bill, we've figured it out."
Bill was very cooperative: "Figured out what?"
"When you are in the dark, you may be so insignificant, and you lack protection. We always become targets of attack by the ignorant, or by those with ignorant beliefs. That's how things are, but we are strong, Bill."
Cordelia said, "Now, we are no longer afraid, no longer scared, because the Federation is a country that champions freedom and is very democratic. We stand in the sunlight, abide by federal laws, and receive federal protection."
Locke, not far away, continued to roll his eyes.
Undoubtedly.
These words were definitely Nameless's personal touch. However, it was normal; a reason always had to be given, and rather than giving a true reason, it was better to give one that would make the Federation happy.
Bill nodded: "So, Cordelia, what would you like to say to the female viewers watching our show who suspect they might be witches?"
Cordelia was silent for a moment.
She looked up.
Then, facing the camera, she displayed her gentle smile, refined by the passage of time.
"Call us, email us, or come directly to New Orleans. There's a home and family waiting for you to return."
"Don't be afraid!"
"Just like our ancestors who cooperated to escape during the Salem Witch Trials."
"Our home has returned."
"It's time to come home."
"Family!"
"We Are Family!"
Cordelia's gentle smile and words, broadcast live, reached the eyes of the viewers watching the program at that very moment.
At the same time.
They also reached Locke's ears.
The next second!
Ding!