231-235

Chapter 231: Destination

"I didn’t expect the BSI to integrate supernatural forces into their investigative operations so quickly..."

San Marino.

Through the system interface, Allen observed Maite's squad, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.

In his view, BSI’s decision seemed rather aggressive.

The massive battle in New York wasn’t long past, and the devastation caused by Andrew and his group highlighted the terrifying power they wielded.

Under normal circumstances, even someone as seemingly harmless as Maite wouldn't have been deployed so quickly.

The only explanation Allen could think of was the increasing number of supernatural incidents he had been orchestrating recently.

This had forced the BSI to compromise. After all, with supernatural cases occurring more frequently, they couldn’t rely solely on Amanda’s small team. They needed to train more specialized agents to tackle these cases.

In such perilous supernatural scenarios, who could be more suitable than someone like Maite, who already possessed supernatural powers?

Allen, however, wasn’t too concerned about BSI’s internal strategies.

To him, as long as the plot continued to unfold as intended, it didn’t matter who participated.

Watching Maite and Jonathan’s conversation through the system interface, Allen smirked with interest.

"Let’s hope you uncover the script. What’s happening now is merely the beginning."

His focus lingered briefly on the scenes in Texas before shifting.

The system display changed, revealing Amanda and her team.

---

"I want a solid reason."

Washington.

Amanda drove the car, glancing at Spike in the passenger seat.

"Don’t tell me your purpose here is just to grab a drink, Spike?"

Since leaving BSI, Spike had directed Amanda to keep driving without specifying their destination.

They passed numerous bars, but Spike never asked her to stop, his intentions growing increasingly unclear.

"Why not?"

Spike smirked at Amanda’s questioning glance, his droopy blue eyes fixed on the scenery outside the window, as though searching for something.

"Because, based on my research, you haven’t had a drink in a long time."

Amanda’s response prompted Spike to momentarily lose his grin.

Turning his head, he studied her profile intently before looking back out the window.

"Honestly, Amanda, I never thought you’d investigate me so thoroughly."

"I just want to know everything about my team."

Steering around a vehicle, Amanda answered calmly.

"After all, we’re not dealing with ordinary cases."

BSI had always been wary of Spike, given his role as a medium and the complex secrets he carried. Though his collaboration with BSI was currently amicable, the organization remained cautious.

As team leader, Amanda had her own suspicions about Spike’s hidden motives. Clues from his behavior, BSI’s findings, and even his recent conversations with Father Merlin suggested his intentions were far from simple and went beyond solving Father Merlin’s death.

"Technically, I’m a consultant, not your subordinate."

"To me, there’s little difference between a team member and a consultant."

Spike shrugged, clearly uninterested in arguing further. His gaze returned to the window as he explained,

"Though I’ve quit drinking, if we want information about the ‘Twisted Man,’ we need to find a bar."

"A bar?"

"What kind of bar?"

Amanda frowned as she steered the car, questioning his statement.

"A rather unusual one."

Spike scanned the streets as he spoke.

"Alright, you can stop here. We’ve reached our destination."

Amanda braked decisively, stopping the car.

But through the windshield, all she saw was an unassuming alleyway.

Turning to Spike, Amanda couldn’t help but question the glaring disparity between this alley and the bar he mentioned.

"I told you—the bar we’re looking for is special."

Unfazed by her skepticism, Spike stepped out of the car and paused at the alley’s entrance.

The surroundings were cluttered with garbage and graffiti, an unlikely location for a bar.

"Oh, and one more thing—if anyone offers you a drink, refuse it," Spike warned seriously.

Then, taking a deep breath, he touched the ring on his hand and snapped his fingers.

Snap.

A sharp sound echoed.

Under Amanda’s astonished gaze, the chaotic scene at the alley shifted violently. In an instant, a brightly lit bar appeared where there had been only debris.

Music and chatter spilled out as the neon sign above the entrance flickered—a glowing, burning bone emitting light.

The faint scent of something scorched lingered in the air.

"What is this?"

Amanda stared in shock at the bar’s sudden appearance.

"This is our destination," Spike said nonchalantly, as if expecting her reaction.

"Let’s head in."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 232: Supernatural Creatures

"Nothing unusual."

West Texas Forest.

BSI agents followed Jonathan’s intelligence to search the forest for a mysterious creature.

The superhero team, with Mike at the center, spread out in a fan-shaped formation as they advanced.

In the dense forest, Mike raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the team members surrounding him, his expression unfazed.

Having struck a deal with the BSI, Mike didn’t have to live under the tight surveillance that Andrew endured. However, as one of the individuals involved in the New York incident, he wasn’t entirely trusted either. While the team members ostensibly accompanied him on this mission, half of their task was to keep an eye on him.

Though annoyed, Mike accepted this arrangement.

The alternative was a life like Andrew’s—completely monitored and devoid of freedom—or becoming a fugitive pursued by the BSI.

With a smirk, Mike withdrew his gaze from the team members and began scanning the forest.

Unlike the well-trained BSI agents, Mike lacked professional investigative skills. Yet, thanks to the extraordinary supernatural powers he had acquired from the pool—or what the BSI referred to as psychic abilities—he could uncover traces in the dense forest that escaped ordinary perception.

Closing his eyes to shut out visual distractions, Mike steadied his breathing. Amid faint, eerie screams in his ears, he slowly turned his head, focusing on the sounds to discern their origin.

Soon, a particularly sharp scream made him pause.

"Hold on, I’ve found something."

Opening his eyes, Mike fixed his gaze in the direction of the scream and alerted his team.

"..."

Hearing his words, the superhero team exchanged glances and promptly aimed their guns toward the indicated area.

Though part of their orders involved monitoring Mike, they couldn’t deny the effectiveness of his abilities. After witnessing him levitate objects and deflect bullets during tests, they trusted his capabilities.

"We might have located the supernatural entity nearby."

"Report your position..."

"We’re at..."

The team members communicated with nearby BSI agents through their earpieces while one member cautiously approached the suspicious area, gun in hand.

"Wait..."

Mike instinctively called out to warn the advancing agent, but another team member shot him a stern look, silencing him.

Reluctantly, Mike raised his hand, ready to intervene if necessary, as the team member moved toward the anomaly.

*Crunch, crunch—*

The sound of sturdy boots breaking twigs on the forest floor echoed loudly in the eerie stillness. Under the watchful eyes of the others, the agent reached the forest edge and shone a flashlight into the darkness.

But the beam revealed nothing unusual.

Frowning, the agent scanned the woods deeper with his flashlight. Beyond the tangled maze of trees, there was no sign of life, let alone a supernatural entity.

"Nothing here."

The agent shook his head and turned to the others, but Mike’s sharp gaze caught something—an unnatural shadow beside a tree illuminated by the flashlight.

"Watch out!"

As the agent turned, the shadow began to writhe. A tall, skeletal figure emerged, its body covered in dry, mummified flesh the color of rusted metal. Its disproportionately long limbs ended in oversized, bony hands.

Instead of a head and neck, it had a thin, fleshy rod with two sirens attached, tangled with black wires resembling veins that connected to its shoulders and abdomen.

The creature twisted its siren-like head, emitting a cacophony of grating noises: air raid sirens, chaotic music, fragments of human conversations, and emergency broadcasts. The overwhelming sound struck the team’s ears like a hammer.

**"...If you miss the train I'm on...

You will know that I am gone..."**

In the midst of this chaos, Amanda stepped into a bar with Spike.

The atmosphere was immediately overpowering—boisterous noise mixed with an intoxicating blend of smoke and alcohol. Dim, yellow lights barely pierced through the haze as a somber country ballad played in the background, evoking a sense of sorrowful departure.

The melody stirred something within Amanda, drawing her thoughts back to her hometown in Texas. She had grown up there, eventually becoming a distinguished Texas Ranger.

In the haze of nostalgia, Amanda felt there was someone waiting for her back home, someone tied to her decision to become a law enforcement officer.

But no matter how hard she tried to recall, the reason eluded her.

Though she remembered her longing for home, her memories were incomplete.

(To be continued...)

*Chapter 233: The Boss*

“Now is not the time to be distracted.”

He reached out and patted Amanda on the shoulder, pulling the detective, lost in her memories, back to reality.

Coming to her senses, Amanda realized that Spike, who stood before her, had changed into an entirely different outfit at some point.

He was now wearing a flight jacket paired with acid-washed jeans. The refined air he usually carried was gone, replaced by a strangely lively vibe.

“Your outfit?”

Looking at the transformed Spike, Amanda opened her mouth in astonishment.

“Actually, you should take a look at your own outfit,” Spike replied with a faint smile, pointing at her attire.

Following his hint, Amanda looked down at what she was wearing. A dramatic shoulder-padded blouse, paired with a mini skirt, warm leggings, bright eyeshadow, and voluminous curled hair adorned with massive hoop earrings.

The drastic change from head to toe left Amanda dumbfounded.

She distinctly remembered wearing her BSI uniform before entering the bar. How did it turn into this exaggerated outfit in the blink of an eye?

Uncomfortably tugging at the mini skirt to cover her thighs, Amanda shook her head, causing the oversized earrings to swing. This overly feminine attire severely hampered her movement.

“What on earth is going on here?”

Removing the huge earrings from her ears, Amanda lowered her voice and questioned Spike.

“Just someone’s quirky sense of humor,” Spike replied with a shrug.

*Bang! Bang!*

He then walked straight to the bar counter and knocked on it.

“What would you like to drink, sir?”

The bartender’s lifeless voice came from behind the counter.

“I want to see your boss.”

At Spike's words, the bartender put down the empty glass he had been wiping, raised his gaunt, pale face, and looked at Spike.

“Sir, our boss isn’t someone you can just meet.”

Holding her oversized earrings, Amanda followed Spike to the counter. The bartender turned his lifeless gaze to her for a moment before addressing Spike again in a slow tone.

“I know the rules. Just tell him Spike is here to see him,” Spike said evenly, unfazed by the bartender’s reminder.

“In that case, please proceed to the private room.”

The bartender nodded and pressed a brass service bell beneath the counter.

*Ding-ling~*

With the bell's crisp sound, the once noisy bar suddenly fell eerily silent.

“Follow me, please,” came a monotone voice.

As Amanda turned to investigate the bar’s strange stillness, a gaunt figure appeared beside her, blocking her view of the main hall. The figure raised a hand to its chest and gestured for them to follow.

Amanda frowned at the pale face, almost identical to the bartender’s. Everything she had experienced and seen since entering the bar screamed of its oddity.

However, trusting Spike, she chose not to speak. Instead, she followed the figure toward the private rooms.

As they passed through the hall, the chatter, laughter, and clinking glasses resumed, as if the silence had been nothing more than Amanda’s imagination.

“Please wait in the private room. The boss will be here shortly,” the server said in a flat tone before leaving.

“So, what exactly is this place?”

Watching the server’s gaunt figure retreat, Amanda turned to Spike with a questioning look.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Spike casually sat in a chair and replied matter-of-factly, “It’s a bar.”

“Of course, I know it’s a bar.”

Amanda took a deep breath to suppress her frustration. Lowering her voice, she gritted her teeth. “But you didn’t tell me about the transformations, the patrons, the bartender, or the boss we’re about to meet. You didn’t mention any of it.”

“Actually, I did,” Spike replied, unbothered by her anger. He examined the room leisurely and added, “I said this was a special bar.”

“Special? Special enough to change people’s clothes the moment they enter?”

Amanda’s suppressed anger flared as she gestured to her outfit.

“I thought everyone would enjoy the costume change,” a slightly disappointed voice interrupted before Spike could respond.

Hearing the voice, Spike immediately straightened up, his casual demeanor replaced with seriousness.

Amanda instinctively turned toward the source and saw a tall figure in a red suit standing at the doorway.

“We meet again, Spike.”

The bar’s dim lighting cast shadows over the figure’s face, obscuring its features.

The figure swirled the red liquid in a crystal glass, the drink catching the light and refracting brilliant ripples.

From its tone, it was clear the figure was familiar with Spike.

Stepping into the room, the figure revealed a youthful, handsome face.

Despite its young appearance, the mature and enigmatic aura it exuded was unsettling.

The contradictory blend of youth and gravitas left Amanda perplexed.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 234: The Weird Club*

“What brings you here this time, Spike?”

Sitting down with a wine glass in hand, the bar owner fixed his gaze on Spike and spoke in an unsurprised tone.

“Just a minor issue.”

Spike flashed a grin in response, but his eyes were full of wariness. He knew all too well that the seemingly amicable bar owner before him was far from harmless. A single misstep could land him into one of the traps meticulously designed by this man.

“If it’s something that made you come looking for me, it’s certainly not as minor as you claim.”

Noticing the vigilance in Spike’s eyes, the owner’s expression remained unchanged, still carrying his habitual air of indifference and laziness. His gaze briefly left Spike and shifted to Amanda, scrutinizing the female detective from head to toe. His focus lingered especially on her neck.

“Interesting.”

He took a small sip of his wine, a flicker of intrigue flashing in his eyes.

“And what might your name be, my lovely lady?”

Hearing the owner’s question, Amanda instinctively turned to look at Spike. Only after seeing his subtle nod of approval did she reply, “Amanda.”

“Amanda—an excellent name, just like its bearer.”

The owner’s perceptive eyes caught the exchange between Spike and Amanda, but he showed neither annoyance nor interest. Swirling his wine glass, which exuded an alluring aroma, he offered Amanda a cryptic warning:

“As a first-time visitor to my bar, let me offer you a piece of advice, free of charge. What you rely on now will one day devour you. Be cautious when wielding its power.”

Amanda subconsciously moved her hand toward the necklace on her neck but quickly stopped herself.

“You seem to know something, Saigon.”

Spike’s sharp eyes caught both the bar owner’s words and Amanda’s reaction.

“My information network has always been vast—that’s why you came to me, isn’t it, Spike?”

Shrugging nonchalantly, Saigon downed the remaining wine in his glass.

“Saigon?”

Amanda repeated the name softly to herself, committing it to memory.

“Well, enough small talk. Let’s get to the point. What’s your issue this time, Spike?”

Placing the now-empty glass on the table, Saigon leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, and gestured for Spike to speak.

“A priest I knew well was attacked and killed recently. Before his death, he mentioned the name of someone—‘The Twisted Man.’ I want to know his motive.”

“The Twisted Man?”

Saigon raised an eyebrow upon hearing the name.

“That’s not someone to be trifled with. I didn’t expect your investigation to involve those lunatics.”

Spike and Amanda exchanged a glance at Saigon’s words. It was clear that Saigon held the information they needed.

From what he’d revealed so far, Spike also picked up a subtle hint.

“You called them lunatics. Are you saying The Twisted Man isn’t acting alone?”

Meeting Spike’s gaze, Saigon shook his head, his face showing clear disdain.

“If it were just one individual, it would be a problem. But when a group of twisted individuals comes together, it becomes far more than just a problem.”

“The Weird Club.”

Under Amanda and Spike’s watchful eyes, Saigon revealed the name.

“Initially, The Twisted Man was merely an anomaly that escaped from the spiritual realm into reality. Its activities were limited to the London area—until it joined an organization called the Weird Club.”

“Even with my resources, I don’t have much intel on the Weird Club. What I do know is that it’s a relatively new organization. Its leader is no simple figure, and their goal seems to have some connection to the ‘Dark Ascension.’”

“Dark Ascension?!”

Amanda’s eyes widened. She had heard the term before, mentioned briefly by Father Merlin. At the time, he had only described it as something that could herald the final judgment. But now, it seemed to hint at something far more complex.

In the private room, Spike silently processed the information Saigon had shared about The Twisted Man and the Weird Club. Finally, he broke the silence.

“Is there any way to find them?”

“As I said, I don’t have much on the Weird Club. However, if you’re truly determined to track them down, contacting other anomalies might be a good starting point. After all, the Weird Club seems to target such entities.”

Saigon’s answer was less a solution and more a suggestion.

Fixing his eyes on Spike, Saigon sighed and shook his head.

“If you die during this investigation, it wouldn’t necessarily be bad for me. But, for what it’s worth, I hope you live a bit longer. A soul steeped in the pain of time makes for the finest wine. So, Spike, try not to get yourself killed too easily.”

“After all, your soul already belongs to someone.”

Reaching for the empty glass beside him, Saigon gave it a light shake. The glass, once empty, was now filled again with rich, fragrant red wine.

Turning his attention to Amanda, he raised his glass and spoke softly.

“And you, beautiful Amanda—would I have the honor of offering you a drink?”

Amanda hesitated for a moment, stunned by the cryptic secrets Saigon had just revealed about Spike. However, recalling Spike’s earlier warning before they entered the bar, she quickly shook her head in refusal.

“What a pity. If you’d accepted, I might have even helped you with that little problem of yours.”

Unbothered by her rejection, Saigon shrugged lightly, his tone tinged with regret.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 235: The Mysterious Creature

"Ah…"

Texas, the western forest.

The deafening noise emitted by the mysterious creature left the Superhero Squad momentarily stunned, their minds going blank.

A few seconds later, they shook their heads, clenched their teeth, and raised their pistols to aim at the towering figure emerging from the shadows of the trees, firing their weapons.

*Bang! Bang!*

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

A barrage of bullets rained down on the creature, leaving clear holes in its mummified, rusted-metal-like body.

As the bullets struck, the two enormous sirens attached to the creature’s head emitted an ear-piercing, chaotic noise, as if expressing its pain. Despite this, the Superhero Squad showed no hesitation or mercy. They maintained heavy firepower, continuing to attack the strange, giant lifeform before them.

"What’s going on? I hear gunfire—and some kind of chaotic broadcast!"

The urgent voice of a nearby BSI (Bureau of Supernatural Investigation) agent crackled in their earpieces.

"We’ve located the target! All agents, put on your protective earmuffs to avoid being affected by its attack!"

Thanks to Jonathan’s earlier warning, the BSI team had already been briefed on the creature’s sound-based attacks. Armed with specially designed earplugs and earmuffs, all agents maintained communication through headsets, minimizing the risk of exposure to the creature’s auditory assault.

This preparation proved to be a wise decision.

While the protective gear couldn’t entirely block the creature’s noise, it was sufficient to prevent the agents from being immediately incapacitated. This gave the Superhero Squad just enough time to retaliate effectively.

Surprisingly, their counterattack seemed to have an impact.

The mysterious creature in the forest was more "fragile" than expected. The squad’s concentrated firepower inflicted noticeable damage, at least enough to slow its movements.

Bullets continued to rain down, halting the creature in its tracks. It raised its large, skeletal hands to shield itself, the bullets leaving various-sized craters on its oversized palms.

The creature seemed to fear the pain caused by the bullets. It darted back and forth through the forest, trying to evade the attacks and retreat into the shadows. However, once discovered, its camouflage abilities were significantly diminished. With so many eyes—those of the Superhero Squad and the approaching BSI agents—focused on it, hiding became impossible.

Its attempts at stealth were futile.

Despite being suppressed, one of the squad members, Matt, noticed something alarming: the bullets, while effective at slowing it down, were not truly harming the creature. Compared to its massive, ten-meter-tall frame, the bullets were as insignificant as grains of sand.

"Maybe it’s only afraid of the pain, not the actual damage?" Matt thought, observing the creature’s reaction.

"Don’t let it escape!"

After prolonged gunfire, the BSI team began to run low on ammunition.

Unlike the endless firepower seen in movies, the team’s supply was finite. While sufficient for a small skirmish, it quickly proved inadequate against such a colossal opponent.

Glancing at the agents around him, one squad member shouted, "We’re running out of bullets!" His gaze shifted toward Matt, signaling that it was now Matt’s turn to act.

Feeling the weight of responsibility, Matt took a deep breath.

Staring at the enormous, menacing figure before him, he extended his hands, summoning an invisible force from within.

The creature, sensing the squad’s diminishing firepower, grew bolder. Its siren-like head emitted an even louder, more chaotic noise, a discordant mix of cries for help and distorted broadcasts. Lowering its skeletal arms, it began sprinting toward the BSI team.

In just two strides, it covered the distance of several dozen meters.

"Take cover! Everyone, take cover!"

The squad member’s shout echoed, but the agents were already reacting.

The creature’s sheer size made its presence overwhelmingly threatening. Its footsteps alone created tremors, a stark reminder of how insignificant humans were compared to its massive form.

From its siren-like head, the creature emitted a cacophony of urgent screams, including distorted imitations of the Superhero Squad’s earlier shouts. It was mimicking voices, blending human cries for help with snippets of news broadcasts.

Despite the occasional bullet striking its body, the creature seemed unfazed, merely shifting slightly before resuming its charge.

Then, it raised one of its sharp, skeletal arms, its jagged claws glinting ominously as it reached for a BSI agent still firing at it.

Given the creature’s size, being caught would spell certain doom.

As the claw descended, the agent tried desperately to evade but appeared powerless to escape.

At that critical moment, Matt gritted his teeth and channeled his inner power.

"Now’s your chance! Run!"

Using his abilities to hold the creature’s arm mid-air, Matt shouted at the targeted agent. The agent, snapping out of his shock, turned and ran as fast as he could.

The moment the agent escaped, Matt’s control wavered, and the creature’s massive hand crashed down with a deafening boom, leaving a deep crater in the forest floor.

---

(End of Chapter)