Is Chapter 58 appropriate?
The "wizard" named Nice was making good progress and was about to peel away the monster's flesh layer by layer and completely suppress it. But Luze suddenly spoke up, telling Klein and the others to step back.
His eyes, belonging to the Mystic, saw clearly that the "wizard's" display was indeed impressive and effective. However, as the surface curse was removed, something deeper within was revealed. A corrupt, malevolent black aura clung to that body, which even the glow of the wizard's powder could not conceal.
As the flesh and blood disappeared, a vague human figure emerged, and the darkness was about to burst forth.
But the others couldn't see it at all; they only saw that Nice's ability was truly working. The night watchmen of Enmat Harbor were overjoyed, pinning their hopes on this single clue that might provide them with a chance to solve the case.
Leonard and Klein heard Luzer's whispered reminder, glanced at him in surprise, and then followed his example by taking a step back to shield everyone in front of them.
"call."
As the last bit of powder was sprinkled over, the monster became completely still, lying prone in a humanoid form. Niss let out a long breath and said seriously, "I have removed the mutation of its flesh, but its life will not last much longer. You'd better investigate it quickly, whether it's through psychic abilities or divination."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Nice, I'll be right there."
Before Edward could finish speaking with a smile, the monster, which had been lying quietly on the ground, suddenly began to move!
"roar--"
It raised its head, and a sharp, piercing roar came from its bloodied, mangled mouth, like a knife being plunged into a person's soul!
"Buzz!"
Even though Lu Ze was prepared, he still felt a jolt in his head. Fortunately, the illusory tide had already resounded, absorbing most of the damage. But the others were not so lucky. They all covered their ears, showing expressions of pain, and several low-level extraordinary individuals even fainted on the spot.
"That's impossible!"
Nice himself was closest, and blood was seeping from his ears. Just as he reached into the bag, he saw the monster move again. It opened its mouth wide and spewed out a pure black breath.
The aura ignited upon contact with the air, transforming into a ball of black flame.
"boom!"
The flames, as if alive, surged towards everyone present, especially Nice and Edward in the front. Before the powder Nice threw out could be ignited by the sign, the flames had already engulfed his hands, burning fiercely and scorching his flesh.
"Aaaaaah! This is the witch's curse!"
Nys screamed in agony. He had thought the other party was merely being corrupted by flesh magic, but who would have thought that another vicious curse was hidden within? He had not prepared any such countermeasures at all, and now, with his vital hands injured, he was unable to cast spells.
The monster was still screaming, its flesh gradually returning to its crimson color, and its cursed cries seemed to be filled with mockery.
The scene was chaotic. The night watchmen dodged the black flames, and some were hit from time to time, crying out in pain, making the situation increasingly difficult to control.
Among the crowd, Ms. Daly was surrounded by invisible spirits, protecting the night watchmen around her. Several black flames flew towards Lu Ze and the others. He stopped Leonard, drew his silver dagger, slashed his hand while chanting incantations, and flicked a few drops of blood onto the ground in front of him. The black flames then changed direction and rushed towards the bloodstains on the ground.
"Did you already know this would happen?"
Amidst the noise, Leonard leaned close to Luzer's ear and whispered with a smile.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Lu Ze looked at him and shook his head.
"Enough!"
A roar drowned out the other sounds, and a twitch began to stir within Edward's black coat, as if something was hidden inside, causing invisible ripples to spread. The monster, which was screaming and emitting black flames, was touched by these ripples and stopped moving, lowering its grotesquely twisted head and falling into a deep sleep.
He pulled a black iron revolver from his pocket, pressed it against the monster's head, his expression furious, but in the end he didn't pull the trigger, instead sealing the cage.
It's true that a Sequence 6 Night Watcher can actually make such a monster sleep peacefully.
Lu Ze thought to himself.
Seeing that the situation was gradually under control, Lu Ze picked up the ritual silver knife and continued in the same manner, leaving blood beside each person burned by the black flames. The unquenchable black cursed fire was then drawn to his blood, leaving the bodies and falling into his veins.
By the time he finished walking around, everyone was saved. Nice, whose right arm was the most badly burned, was exposed bone, and he had fallen into a deep coma. Edward's once neatly combed hair was now disheveled; he slowly surveyed the scene, his face turning ashen.
He seems to have messed up.
"Captain Edward, are you alright?"
With utmost politeness, Lu Ze approached Edward and asked, his clear, captivating blue eyes filled with sincerity and concern as he looked directly into Edward's eyes. "It was a disaster, so unfortunate. Thankfully, no one was killed in the process."
Then he was pleased to see the other person's eyebrows twitching violently and his chest heaving.
"Save them first!"
Edward suppressed his anger, turned away from him, and instead called on the Night Watchers present to begin organizing a rescue.
About half an hour later, the chaos in front of Chanis's gate finally subsided. One person was seriously injured, three night watchmen were slightly injured, and the three night watchmen from Tingen City were unharmed. The seriously injured one was none other than the outside help that Edward had invited, Sequence 7 of the Mechanical Heart, Nis Brown.
Edward stood before Charness's door, his face terribly grim. Behind him, the monster in the birdcage remained dormant. The incident had not only failed to resolve itself but had brought even greater trouble; his mood was understandably sour.
Everyone was busy and no one dared to talk to him, but everyone had a thought in their minds—what if they hadn't invited this clairvoyant? Would things have turned out differently?
After all, that mysterious person from Tingen had just easily removed the black flames of the witch's curse, so he seemed to have a better way of dealing with similar problems.
Ms. Daly sensed the atmosphere in the crowd, thought for a moment, then stepped forward to Edward's side and whispered:
"Captain Edward, things have come to this point, so we should make a decision quickly. The longer we drag this out, the worse it will be for solving the case, and the more your reputation with the Sanctuary will suffer."
She meant that Edward should ask Luzer for help and resolve the matter as soon as possible.
Hearing her say that, Edward's face twitched slightly. He knew Daly was right, but that would mean everything he had done before was just asking for trouble.
After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth, walked up to Lu Ze and the others, and forced a smile.
"It seems my judgment was wrong. I will need the help of everyone in Tingen again this time. Please."
"Huh?"
Lu Ze looked somewhat embarrassed and said shyly, "But I only know that kind of depraved ritual. Is it a little inappropriate to do it in front of the sacred gates of Chanis?"
"puff--"
Leonard, who was standing to the side, forced himself to suppress his laughter, and a burst of air shot out, making his lips make a strange sound like brakes.