236-240

Chapter 236: Escape

Suspending his body mid-air, Matt avoided the shockwave caused by the massive hand.

Staring at the gaping crater that had formed in front of him, Matt's eyes flashed with a trace of fear.

Among the three, he had interacted with the *Summoning Water Pool* the least.

This had allowed him to retain his autonomy, avoiding possession like Andrew and Steve. However, it also meant that the power he could wield was far inferior to theirs.

If Andrew had been in his place, even if he couldn’t suppress this colossal and mysterious creature, he wouldn’t have been so easily overwhelmed.

Matt, on the other hand, was already struggling just to block and restrain the creature’s attacks.

Floating mid-air, Matt tilted his head back to stare at the pair of enormous sirens atop the creature’s head.

Though it lacked eyes or similar organs, Matt felt an instinctive sense of being "watched" as his gaze landed on the sirens.

“...Warning, warning! Falling rocks ahead!”

“Breaking news: At 2:32 PM, a young Black girl in a red dress went missing at the mall…”

“Don’t miss out! The world’s greatest circus performance awaits you!”

“Attention, all participants! The competition deadline is approaching. Please prepare accordingly.”

Raising its sharp claw-like hand, the mysterious creature sent a cascade of dust tumbling down as a cacophony of garbled broadcasts blared from the sirens on its head. These bizarre noises merged into a deafening roar that assaulted Matt’s ears. Even with protective earmuffs, his face contorted in discomfort.

Mid-air, Matt shook his head, his floating body trembling slightly.

*Boom!*

In that moment, the massive creature swung its arm again, whipping up a fierce wind that tore through the forest, sending branches and leaves hurtling toward Matt’s position.

“Ah!”

Faced with the sudden attack, a shrill scream echoed in Matt’s mind.

Spurred by the mental jolt, Matt immediately pulled his body backward, narrowly dodging the devastating strike.

The gigantic claws missed him and crashed into the forest, unleashing a thunderous roar as they shattered countless trees with ease.

Splintered wood and debris scattered across the ground. To an uninformed observer, it might have seemed as though a typhoon had swept through the woods.

But all this destruction had been caused by a single casual swing of the creature’s arm.

Retracting its claws from the forest, the mysterious creature lowered its sirens, as if dissatisfied with the results. The broadcast sounds from its sirens grew sharper and more grating. Grabbing a nearby tree, the creature ripped it from the ground and prepared to hurl it toward Matt and the others.

If the tree struck, Matt might escape thanks to his flight ability, but the rest of the BSI agents would undoubtedly be crushed into pulp.

Although the tree seemed weightless in the creature’s grasp, for the agents, even a glancing blow would mean pulverization—or worse.

As the creature uprooted the tree, the surrounding BSI agents scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.

Against such an overwhelmingly irrational supernatural entity, no tactics or mission objectives mattered anymore. Survival was their only priority.

Compared to the creature’s massive claws, the uprooted tree almost seemed comically small.

Gripping the tree, the creature swung its leafy end like a broom toward the terrified BSI agents on the ground.

This motion wasn’t an attack so much as a child casually toying with ants using a stick.

But when the "ants" were BSI agents, the playful gesture became a horrifying threat.

In the forest, Jonathan scrambled to evade the creature’s attacks, mingling with the fleeing agents. From the occasional screams, he could glimpse some of his colleagues being flung into the air by the swinging branches.

Amanda’s face suddenly surfaced in his mind.

If the task force deployed for this mission had been the Psychic Squad instead of Matt’s superhero team, perhaps the situation wouldn’t have turned so dire.

In the air, Matt extended his arms, catching as many BSI agents as he could.

But as the attacks intensified, Matt began to show signs of fatigue. Gritting his teeth, he pushed his power to its limits to hold out.

The shrill scream in his mind grew louder, further disrupting his control over his body.

*Moo—*

Suddenly, the sound of an elephant’s trumpet, accompanied by cheerful music, echoed through the forest.

The mysterious creature froze, seemingly terrified. Without hesitation, it dropped the tree and turned, stomping away into the distant shadows.

Watching the creature flee without looking back, Matt was filled with confusion.

However, the relentless screaming in his mind left no room for further thought. Exhausted, he deactivated his powers and crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

The pain coursing through his body strangely dulled the mental screams.

“Are you alright?”

Jonathan rushed over to Matt, his gaze shifting from the direction the creature had fled. For some reason, the enormous silhouette had seemed almost panicked as it ran.

But before he could dwell on it, Jonathan focused on the fallen Matt.

“I’m fine, just a little overexerted,” Matt replied, his pale face showing traces of strain. Feeling the fading screams in his head, he looked up at Jonathan, who was watching him with concern, and began to speak.

“Guess what I found…”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out from the forest.

Startled, Matt and Jonathan turned to see a chubby figure emerging from the woods, limping on a cane. The man wore a top hat and a tailcoat, his sharp teeth revealed in a grin as he scanned the gathered agents.

“Well, aren’t you lucky,” the man said, his eyes glinting. “You’ve stumbled upon the circus’s touring performance…”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 237: A Story from the Past

“Phew~”

As Amanda stepped out of the bar, she glanced down at her restored attire, then turned back to look at the neon sign behind her—a burning bone hanging prominently. She couldn’t help but quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

The moment she shifted her gaze, however, the once brightly lit bar seemed to blur, as if shrouded in mist. It reverted to its unremarkable alleyway appearance. The noisy bar sounds and music faded into silence as well.

Standing at the mouth of the alley, Amanda froze for a few seconds, caught in the stark contrast of the change.

“Well, this investigation wasn’t perfect, but at least we’ve gained some insight into the Twisted People. The Bizarre Club?”

“Just hearing the name sounds like trouble. I wonder what the priest did to get entangled with them. No, perhaps it wasn’t the priest who attracted them, but rather that guy on Elm Street drew one of their members in, and the priest was just an unfortunate bystander caught in the crossfire...”

Amanda snapped back to reality at the sound of Spike’s voice.

“Don’t you have something you want to tell me, Spike?”

Turning to face him, Amanda couldn’t help but speak up.

From the bar owner’s conversation with Spike, Amanda had learned many secrets she hadn’t known before, especially about the connection between Spike and the bar owner.

“What do you want to know?”

Spike’s face betrayed no surprise at Amanda’s questioning.

“The bar, your relationship with the owner, and just what kind of being is Secong? Why did it mention that your soul already belongs to someone else?”

Amanda had a lot of questions about the bar.

“That would take a long and complicated explanation. Perhaps we could discuss it at another, more suitable time.”

Spike’s slightly drooping eyes met Amanda’s determined gaze. He curled his lips into a faint smile, seemingly about to change the subject.

“That’s fine. I think now is the perfect time.”

This time, however, Amanda didn’t give Spike the chance to dodge.

She stared into his deep blue eyes and spoke, enunciating every word.

“I thought that after everything we’ve been through, we’d be friends, Spike.”

“...”

Under Amanda’s steady gaze, Spike’s expression remained silent for a few seconds before he finally looked away, almost as if conceding defeat.

“Alright, if you insist.”

Hearing his response, Amanda’s previously pursed lips couldn’t help but curve upward slightly, though she quickly returned to her neutral expression.

Spike didn’t seem to notice the subtle change in her expression. He stared at the alleyway behind her, his face clouded with memories. After a long pause, he spoke in a low, reflective tone:

“To carry out my revenge, I tried every means possible. The bar was one of my attempts.”

“It was something recorded in an obscure book. It described how to enter the bar. Using the ritual methods mentioned in the book, I successfully found the bar, entered it, and eventually met its owner, Secong. I signed a contract with it and gained the power to seek revenge.”

As he spoke, Spike unconsciously touched the ring on his finger, his eyes flashing with a deep, searing hatred.

“And the soul Secong mentioned? That was the price of my revenge.”

When he mentioned the price, Spike’s tone was casual, as if the cost he had paid was something insignificant.

“...”

After hearing Spike’s story, Amanda remained silent for a moment.

“Was it worth it?” she asked, looking directly at him.

“Absolutely.”

Spike’s response came without the slightest hesitation.

“To me, as long as I can carry out my revenge, any price is worth it.”

Amanda: “Even your soul?”

Spike: “Even my soul.”

Although Amanda couldn’t fully empathize with Spike’s pain, his unwavering determination was palpable in his words.

It was a resolve that spoke of revenge at any cost, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Because she understood the tragedy Spike had endured, Amanda offered neither comfort nor foolish attempts to dissuade him.

“Then, I hope you can fulfill your revenge soon.”

“Thank you.”

Hearing Amanda’s words, Spike finally withdrew the hatred from his expression, replacing it with a calm demeanor. He smiled as he replied.

For Spike, there was no better blessing.

“Although revenge is my ultimate goal, I’ll continue working with the BSI to investigate the Twisted People and the Bizarre Club before that. It’s not just for Father Merlin. As you said, we’re friends.”

From his words, it was clear that Spike had come to accept Amanda and her team.

He no longer saw them merely as tools for infiltrating the BSI.

Hearing this, Amanda’s stern expression softened slightly.

*Ring, ring, ring!*

Just then, a sudden ringing interrupted their conversation.

Amanda reached for her phone. At Spike’s gesture, she answered the call.

“Boss, we’ve got a case.”

The voice on the other end belonged to Agent Zhou.

...

“Looks like the Superhero Squad failed.”

In San Marino, Allen observed through the system interface as Matt and his team confronted the circus leader. He shook his head lightly.

Given their current state, Matt and his team’s encounter with the circus was bound to end poorly.

Though the circus leader appeared kind and approachable when interacting with Allen, as its creator, Allen knew its true nature all too well. Matt’s half-baked abilities were no match for the circus leader, let alone the entire troupe backing him.

After confirming the dire situation of the Superhero Squad and the BSI agents, Allen turned his attention away from them.

At this point, the agents were beyond help. Being dragged into the circus, they might have more to show in the future, but that was for later chapters.

For now, the only ones worth watching were Amanda and her team.

He could only hope Amanda’s group would perform well. Otherwise, he’d have to expend some *Plot Points* to make corrections.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 238: Siren Head*

"Didn't I already say that the main task for the team right now is to investigate Father Molin's case?"

Washington, BSI Headquarters.

Amanda returned to her office, expressing dissatisfaction with Agent Zhou.

"The BSI agents responsible for Texas have gone missing, including a newly-formed special task force. The director personally issued the order to hand the case over to us."

Agent Zhou gave a response that left no room for refusal.

"Special task force?"

Hearing that the case involved a special task force, Amanda frowned and continued, "How many BSI agents are currently missing?"

Angela, seated at the computer, immediately provided an answer.

"Over twenty."

The sudden disappearance of more than twenty highly trained BSI agents was enough to cause alarm at headquarters.

Learning of the situation from Angela, Amanda's expression grew solemn—this was a matter of more than twenty lives.

"What case were they working on before they disappeared?"

After a brief moment of thought, Amanda asked about the missing agents.

"It was related to supernatural sightings in Texas. Someone reported seeing a mysterious, unknown creature there. As per protocol, BSI dispatched agents to investigate."

Agent Phil began reporting the information he had gathered: "According to subsequent reports from Texas, there’s no doubt this is a legitimate case involving a supernatural entity. A BSI agent named Jonathan was attacked by the creature during his investigation and reported it to headquarters. In response, a special task force was dispatched, but not long after, headquarters lost all contact with them."

"This is a sketch created by a professional artist based on the description given by the attacked agent."

As Phil spoke, Agent Zhou handed a sketch to Amanda.

Taking the sketch, Amanda glanced at the paper.

The drawing depicted a grotesque and deformed creature, emaciated with disproportionately long limbs. Its head and neck were replaced by a thin pole topped with two sirens. Even as a mere sketch, it exuded an eerie, unsettling aura.

"This is just a rough sketch based on the agent’s description. In reality, the creature’s size is reported to be much larger, estimated to exceed ten meters in height."

Looking at the mysterious creature's sketch in Amanda’s hand, Agent Zhou added.

"I know this creature…"

As Zhou was reporting, Spike, who had been observing the sketch, raised an eyebrow and spoke up.

"…"

Hearing Spike’s comment, everyone in the office fell silent and turned their attention to him.

Under their collective gaze, Spike took the sketch from Amanda and examined it closely.

"Spike, is there something you’d like to share with us?"

After watching Spike scrutinize the drawing for a moment, Amanda couldn’t help but ask.

"What?"

Spike shifted his gaze from the sketch to Amanda.

"You said you know this creature."

Amanda’s face showed a hint of exasperation.

"Oh, right. This thing is called ‘Siren Head.’"

"Siren Head?"

Hearing Spike's answer, Phil's gaze fell on the sketch, and he commented, "Well, the name certainly suits its appearance."

"Actually, that's just the modern name people have given it. The history of Siren Head is far older than one might imagine. I once read about it in a damaged journal. The journal’s author claimed to have discovered an ancient mural during an expedition, which depicted Siren Head fighting humans. Based on this, it’s clear that Siren Head is not a modern creature but one that has existed since ancient times."

Spike’s explanation prompted Agent Zhou to frown. Looking at the creature's sirens, he questioned skeptically, "If this Siren Head has existed since ancient times, how do you explain the sirens on its head?"

Sirens, after all, are a relatively modern invention, which seemed to contradict the idea of Siren Head being an ancient creature.

"The journal’s author addressed this as well. They theorized that what we see might be the latest or most outdated form it has taken, constantly changing over time. Perhaps our brains interpret it as something familiar to us. This suggests that Siren Head adapts to fit its era or that its true form is incomprehensible, and we perceive it as something we can relate to."

Spike calmly provided an explanation in response to Zhou's doubts.

"You mean it only looks like sirens because that’s how our brains interpret it, but it’s not actually a siren?"

Phil, still staring at the sketch, seemed confused.

"That’s one way to put it."

Despite Phil’s roundabout phrasing, Spike understood his point and nodded.

Seeing the puzzled expressions on Amanda and the others, Spike continued, "In fact, according to the journal, Siren Head is a hostile species. There were once many creatures similar to it, but they’ve all gone extinct. Siren Head is the last surviving member of its kind, possibly due to its unique traits. It is adept at camouflaging and hiding, often mimicking trees or streetlights and luring victims with sound. In some ways, it’s a relatively timid creature, especially compared to others of its species."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 239: Puzzled*

“Cowardly?!”

Inside the office, Agent Phil couldn’t help but comment when he heard Spike use the word “cowardly” to describe Siren Head.

“Don’t forget, more than twenty BSI agents have gone missing—likely dead—because of this ‘cowardly’ creature.”

Spike didn’t immediately retort to Phil’s remark. Instead, he turned his attention back to the sketch of Siren Head in his hand, furrowing his brow in confusion.

“In fact, that’s what puzzles me,” Spike muttered. “Theoretically, Siren Head isn’t the type of supernatural being driven by strong predatory instincts. It usually relies on camouflage and stealth to hunt its prey, quietly approaching and capturing them. And each attack typically targets no more than five or six individuals at a time. It’s precisely this characteristic that has kept its whereabouts elusive and difficult to track…”

Hearing this, Agent Zhou, who was sitting opposite Spike, began to understand.

“You’re saying this particular Siren Head isn’t behaving normally.”

Spike nodded in agreement with Zhou’s observation.

In a low, contemplative tone, Spike added, “Something significant must have caused Siren Head to deviate from its usual behavior. I suspect the disappearance of these BSI agents isn’t as simple as it seems.”

“Simple or not, we need to head to Texas to check the scene for any traces of the missing agents,” Amanda interjected, pulling everyone’s attention back to the BSI disappearance case.

---

*Beep beep, beep-be-deep, de-de-deep deep—*

*Beep beep, beep-be-deep, de-de-deep deep—*

*De-de-deep, beep-be-deep, beep-beep—*

In the vast expanse of a Texas highway, lively music drifted through the air.

A flamboyantly decorated circus caravan moved in a long procession down the road. At the front, the circus master cracked his whip over a struggling horse pulling a carriage. The animal neighed miserably as it dragged the weight forward.

As the caravan passed, a BSI badge-bearing document fell from the carriage and was trampled into the dry Texas road by the following procession.

---

“Long time no see, Chief!”

Austin, Texas.

“Robin, it’s been a while.”

“I heard your first encounter with the supernatural was right here in Texas,” Agent Phil remarked quietly to Zhou as they stood outside the Texas Mounted Police Headquarters, watching Amanda greet her old colleague.

“I know,” Zhou replied coldly. “When I worked for the FBI, my first supernatural case was tied to it too.”

Phil turned to Zhou with a mix of curiosity and exasperation. His colleague’s perpetually stoic expression made it hard to tell whether he was being serious or boasting about his past.

Meanwhile, Amanda wrapped up her brief reunion with Robin and introduced her team.

“This is Robin, my former partner from when I was a state trooper in Texas. Robin, meet my BSI team: Agent Zhou, Agent Phil, Agent Angela, and Agent Spike.”

“Pleasure to meet you all.” Robin shook hands with each team member.

“You don’t look all that thrilled to see us,” Spike said bluntly as he shook Robin’s hand.

Caught off guard, Robin withdrew his hand, his face turning slightly awkward.

“Don’t mind him, Robin,” Amanda said, attempting to smooth things over. “Spike’s always like this.”

“No, he’s not wrong,” Robin admitted with a sigh. “While I’m personally glad to see you again, Amanda, the Mounted Police aren’t as welcoming. They weren’t happy with BSI requisitioning so many troopers for an operation, and after the agents went missing, the department poured resources into the investigation. Let’s just say your arrival isn’t exactly popular.”

“It seems we’ve made it onto Austin’s ‘least wanted’ list,” Angela quipped.

Special departments like the BSI, with their authority to take over and command local forces, were often resented. The FBI was already disliked, and now the BSI was following suit.

“Whether they like it or not, we have a job to do,” Amanda said firmly. “Robin, I need you to inquire with the Mounted Police about their findings on the missing agents and the location where they lost contact.”

“Understood.”

Though tensions existed, Robin didn’t hesitate to agree. Amanda was still his former superior, after all.

“Thanks, Robin.”

After delegating tasks, Amanda wasted no time leading her team to the forest where the BSI agents had reportedly encountered Siren Head.

Despite being exhausted from their long journey, the team pressed on. Time was critical in cases involving supernatural beings, as delay only increased the risk to the missing agents.

---

*Beep beep, beep-be-deep, de-de-deep deep—*

The lively tune played as the circus caravan drew closer to a small town.

The ringmaster stood atop the lead carriage, his mustache curling upward, a sharp grin spreading across his face to reveal razor-sharp teeth.

*Crack! Crack!*

“Move faster! If we’re late for the show, you’ll regret it!” the ringmaster shrieked, snapping his whip at the horses.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 240: Anomalies*

“Zhou, any discoveries?”

In Texas, within the forest where the last BSI agents vanished.

Amanda and her team arrived at the site, methodically searching for clues as per protocol.

“None.”

Standing before a massive crater, Agent Zhou scanned the surroundings before shaking his head.

The initial investigation had already been thoroughly conducted by the Texas Rangers. Any further discoveries here would undoubtedly be challenging.

“This place looks like it was hit by a bomb,” Agent Phil remarked as he stood amidst the shattered forest. Picking up a splintered piece of wood, he examined it and couldn’t help but voice his thoughts.

“A typical explosion wouldn’t do this,” Angela said, brushing her hand along a massive uprooted tree. Following the tree’s fallen direction, she approached a pit left by the roots, speaking with amazement.

“Have you noticed? This tree was ripped out of the ground entirely.”

“Considering this, their disappearance might indeed be linked to Siren Head,” Phil speculated, connecting the forest’s chaotic state and scattered bullets to what he saw as the most plausible explanation.

“While the evidence of destruction suggests the BSI agents likely encountered Siren Head…”

After circling the scene, Spike paused at the edge of the forest and added, “...it’s likely someone or something else was involved in their final disappearance.”

“What did you find?” Amanda immediately approached, intrigued by Spike’s conclusion.

“Look at this!”

Amanda followed his gaze and spotted a set of footprints embedded in the ground.

“It seems that more than just the BSI agents and Siren Head were present. Someone—or something—we’re unaware of was also here. Even if they’re not the direct cause of the agents’ disappearance, they’re undoubtedly connected.”

Pointing to the prints, Spike raised an eyebrow and inspected them closely before adding, “From the look of it, whoever we’re searching for doesn’t move very gracefully.”

“That’s just a guess. We can’t abandon the investigation into Siren Head solely because of these footprints,” Amanda reminded Spike.

Deep down, Amanda agreed with some of Spike’s reasoning, but she wouldn’t shift her focus from the primary lead—Siren Head.

After all, unlike the ambiguous footprints, the evidence strongly suggested an encounter between the BSI agents and Siren Head.

“You’re the boss,” Spike replied without objection.

As a consultant for the BSI, Spike knew his role was to assist with insights, while Amanda was the one to make final decisions.

Moreover, when it came to a supernatural entity like Siren Head, even Spike couldn’t claim absolute certainty. His knowledge was primarily derived from recorded notes, which, while detailed, were not infallible.

---

“This is the investigative material provided by Robin, the boss’s former colleague…”

Austin.

Back in the city, the team showed signs of exhaustion.

“According to the Texas Rangers, their findings match ours. They only realized something was wrong hours after the agents disappeared. By the time they arrived, the forest was void of any traces.”

The limited information from the Texas Rangers offered little help to their investigation.

“I’ve combed through all recent Texas news related to supernatural creatures. Aside from Siren Head sightings, there’s nothing useful,” Angela reported, scrolling through interviews on her laptop, frustration evident in her voice.

“So, these BSI agents just vanished into thin air?” Phil groaned, staring at the tabloid interviews on Angela’s screen.

“Maybe they were eaten by Siren Head,” Zhou suggested grimly.

“Zhou!” Angela shot him a look of disgust.

“Why else would it attack humans? If Siren Head is an ancient creature, it would need sustenance to survive.”

“I get that, but eating people…” Angela shuddered at the idea.

While Zhou’s theory wasn’t implausible, the thought of Siren Head being a human-eating predator made her uneasy.

While the others debated Siren Head’s hunting habits, Spike studied the news reports, his expression turning contemplative.

“What’s on your mind, Spike?” Amanda asked, noticing his pensive look.

In cases involving supernatural entities, Spike’s insights were vital, especially since their knowledge of Siren Head was almost entirely based on his expertise.

“It’s odd,” Spike replied, shifting his gaze from the reports.

“According to the notes, Siren Head has a habit of camouflaging itself—typically as a tree shadow or a roadside lamp—and luring prey with sound. This hunting strategy makes Siren Head heavily reliant on its environment. Its transformations to blend in require days of meticulous mimicry. Once camouflaged, it usually remains at the same hunting ground for extended periods to avoid exposure.

“However, these news reports indicate frequent sightings of Siren Head relocating its hunting grounds within a short time. What’s stranger is that the witnesses in these interviews weren’t severely attacked. This behavior contradicts what we know about its habits.”

“So, what are you saying?” Amanda asked, piecing together the discrepancies.

“There are two possibilities,” Spike explained. “Either the notes describing Siren Head’s behavior are inaccurate, or there’s more to this entire situation than we’ve uncovered.”

(End of Chapter)