THUD!
The oak club in Lucifer’s hand blazed with golden patterns as it slammed across Reverend Jeremiah Ketcham’s face.
Williamson couldn’t see anything standing in front of Lucifer with his naked eyes, but the instant Holy Light erupted from the weapon, a pale and twisted face appeared clearly on the DV camera’s screen.
“Oh my God!
I got it!”
Williamson nearly shouted with excitement, while Ketcham let out a furious scream.
“How is this possible?
Why didn’t my illusion control you?”
Lucifer had no interest in answering.
With roughly two minutes remaining on Holy Seal of Justice and Blessing of Might, he kept swinging the empowered oak club, each strike scattering black resentment from Ketcham’s spiritual body as golden light burned through him.
“You talked a lot for someone who can’t take a beating.”
Ketcham staggered beneath several more blows before finally recovering enough to escape.
His spectral body shot backward and floated above the stone floor, noticeably dimmer than before.
Realizing he couldn’t defeat Lucifer directly, Ketcham raised the chains in his hand.
“My servants!
Rise and kill this intruder!”
The more than twenty Native American Earthbound Spirits remained where they were.
None obeyed him.
Instead, their hollow eyes slowly turned toward Ketcham with unmistakable hatred.
The chains around their necks had enslaved them, but after watching their tormentor being overwhelmed, whatever control he still possessed was beginning to weaken.
Lucifer rolled his aching shoulder and smiled.
“Looks like nobody wants to work for you anymore.”
He stopped advancing and raised his left hand toward Ketcham.
His expression became solemn.
“Ketcham, I pronounce you guilty.”
Golden light filled Lucifer’s eyes.
“Face your Judgment.”
[Judgment activated.]
The active effect of Holy Seal of Justice disappeared from Lucifer’s body as the skill consumed it.
At the same instant, brilliant golden light gathered above Ketcham.
A massive pillar of Holy Light crashed down.
Ketcham’s spiritual body was swallowed completely.
“AAAAH!”
His scream echoed through the chamber loudly enough that even Williamson could hear it.
The director flinched from the painful sound but refused to lower the camera, keeping the DV pointed toward Lucifer and the column of golden radiance.
This time, the supernatural scene was clearly visible through the lens.
Lucifer stood beneath the golden glow with one arm extended, while Ketcham’s dark, distorted spirit writhed inside the descending pillar of Holy Light.
Williamson’s hands trembled.
This footage alone could make their show famous.
Ketcham’s screams quickly weakened.
Then his spiritual body shattered completely.
[C-rank Earthbound Spirit eliminated: Reverend Jeremiah Ketcham.]
[Reward: 5 Holiness Points.]
[Reward: 100 EXP.]
[Level increased.]
[Level-up reward: Agility +1.]
[Current Class: Apprentice Paladin — Level 3.]
[Current EXP: 5/400.]
Lucifer immediately felt his body become lighter as the additional point of Agility took effect.
His Agility had risen from seven to eight.
He looked toward the place where Ketcham had disappeared and frowned slightly.
Chucky was also C-rank, but Ketcham was much harder to deal with.
The golden pillar faded, and the underground chamber returned to its previous dimness.
With Ketcham destroyed, the chains binding the Native American spirits began dissolving one after another.
Their suppressed awareness slowly returned, and the resentment clouding their expressions gradually faded.
Jodie DeFeo was the first to approach Lucifer.
She bowed deeply.
“Thank you.
We can finally leave.”
Behind her, the other liberated spirits looked toward Lucifer with gratitude.
Their expressions were no longer filled with the hatred and suffering that had consumed them only moments earlier.
Lucifer let out a quiet breath and placed his right hand over his chest.
“May the Holy Light be with you.”
Soft white-golden radiance immediately filled the bloodstained chamber.
For the first time, peaceful smiles appeared on the faces of the trapped spirits.
Jodie turned back toward Lucifer and waved.
“Goodbye.
Please tell Chelsea I’m sorry I can’t play with her anymore.”
Lucifer nodded.
“I’ll tell her.”
One after another, the spirits dissolved into gentle points of light.
The brightness floated upward through the chamber until all twenty-four Earthbound Spirits had completely disappeared.
[Successfully purified 24 F-rank Earthbound Spirits.]
[Reward: 48 Holiness Points.]
[Reward: 240 EXP.]
[Current Holiness Points: 60.]
[Current EXP: 245/400.]
Williamson slowly lowered the DV camera.
“My God…” His hands were still trembling.
“That was a miracle.
Lucifer, I don’t even know what else to call what I just saw.”
Lucifer remained silent for several seconds as he watched the final traces of golden light vanish.
Then he noticed the camera.
His business instincts immediately returned.
Lucifer turned toward the lens and gave Williamson his best professional smile.
“Are unexplained noises keeping you awake at night?
Are ghosts, possessions, or other supernatural problems making your life miserable?
Don’t wait until things get worse.”
Williamson’s expression slowly changed.
Lucifer continued confidently.
“Call Lucifer’s Supernatural Consulting Agency.
Professional supernatural problems require professional solutions.”
He flashed a bright smile toward the camera.
Williamson lowered the DV.
“You ruined it.”
Lucifer blinked.
“What?”
“That was incredible footage, and you turned the ending into an infomercial.”
Lucifer’s confidence faltered slightly.
“I thought this was the perfect time to advertise.”
“It absolutely wasn’t.”
Williamson started walking back toward the passage.
Lucifer followed, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“Fine.
Edit that part out.”
“I was planning to.”
“Send me a copy of the edited footage too.”
Williamson glanced back.
“Alright, but don’t circulate it before the episode airs.”
“No problem.”
Lucifer’s embarrassment disappeared almost immediately.
Once he received the edited video, he could show Jennifer what a real exorcism looked like.
The two made their way through the hidden passage and eventually returned upstairs.
By the time they stepped outside onto the lawn, the rain had stopped completely and the clouds above the house were beginning to clear.
George and Kathy were waiting with Billy, Michael, and Chelsea.
Lucifer walked over.
“It’s done.
The house is clean.”
Kathy covered her mouth in relief, while George looked as if an enormous weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.
“Thank you,” George said.
“Thank you so much.”
The haunting had pushed the family close to collapse, and for the first time in weeks, they could finally believe the nightmare was over.
Lucifer smiled and waved off their gratitude.
“I was only doing the job I was paid for.”
He reached into his pocket and held up Chelsea’s one-dollar coin.
Chelsea immediately smiled.
Lucifer crouched slightly so he could speak to her.
“Jodie asked me to tell you she’s sorry.
She can’t play with you anymore.”
Chelsea’s smile became a little sad.
“But she was happy when she left, right?”
Lucifer nodded.
“Very happy.”
That seemed to satisfy her.
Lucifer gently ruffled her hair before standing again.
The house behind them was quiet now.
The oppressive cold had disappeared, the trapped spirits were gone, and sunlight was beginning to break through the clouds above Los Angeles.
Lucifer looked at the peaceful scene and smiled.
Perhaps from this moment on, his career as an exorcist had truly begun.