206-210

Chapter 206: Rampage

The iron ball was about to fall.

In front of their TVs, viewers watching the live broadcast collectively gasped in horror.

“Andrew!”

At the critical moment, a shout pierced through the chaos as a shadow darted across the camera's view, slamming into Steve with tremendous force.

With this impact, the piercing screams abruptly ceased.

In the pit, free from the interference of the screams, Andrew instantly regained his awareness. Seeing the massive iron ball hurtling toward him, he gritted his teeth and extended his arms.

“Oh my God!”

Even the camera operator couldn’t help but gasp as the iron ball descended.

“No, wait…”

The next second, the on-site reporter quickly reacted, shouting in astonishment, “He’s still alive!”

As the reporter’s exclamation echoed, the iron ball that had struck Andrew was slowly lifted. It was eventually tossed aside, rolling down the street before crashing into a wall with a thunderous sound.

*Boom!*

Panting heavily, Andrew appeared in the camera’s frame, gasping, “Phew, made it just in time.”

Meanwhile, inside a parked car nearby, Agent Jonathan looked at the devastated street and let out a sigh of relief.

The situation had been critical just moments ago.

Had Jonathan not arrived with Mike in time to stop Steve’s final attack, the cameras might only have captured Andrew’s crushed body.

---

“Target located on XXX Street. Nearby support teams, proceed to the scene immediately...”

Due to a helicopter crash earlier, the newly dispatched helicopter remained cautious, keeping its distance from the battle zone and hovering several dozen meters above to monitor the fight below.

Even with this precaution, the pilot felt immense pressure, fearing the battle’s aftermath might engulf them.

With the helicopter’s aerial lock-on, emergency police reinforcements soon arrived at the street where Steve and the others were engaged in combat.

Amid the sharp wails of sirens, numerous police cars rushed in, forming a perimeter around the area.

“Freeze!”

Exiting their vehicles, the police drew their weapons without hesitation, pointing them at Steve and the others at the center of the battle.

Aware that they were confronting individuals with supernatural powers, the NYPD officers wasted no time. Guns were ready to fire at the slightest provocation from Andrew and his companions.

“Get down on the ground!”

“When did New York’s police get so efficient?”

Undoubtedly, the extensive damage caused by Steve’s fight had prompted an unprecedentedly swift police response. Yet, seeing the officers surrounding the scene, Jonathan frowned, his face devoid of any relief.

Having previously faced defeat against Steve, Jonathan understood that the police posed no threat to him. Worse, their presence might provoke him further.

Lowering his car window, Jonathan shouted a warning to the officers, “Leave now! It’s not safe here—this is beyond what you can handle!”

Jonathan’s warning was heartfelt, but the police didn’t heed his words. Instead, upon noticing him in the parked car, a few officers redirected their guns toward him, yelling, “Freeze! Get out of the car, now!”

“Idiots. Your concern shouldn’t be me.”

Jonathan’s expression darkened as his gaze landed on the officers’ raised weapons.

As his voice fell, Steve had already steadied himself, hurling Mike off his body. The impact left a massive dent in a nearby car.

Steve, controlling his hulking frame, glanced at the surrounding officers.

With his movement, shards of glass and rubble began levitating around him.

“Don’t move! Stop right now!”

Steve’s actions only heightened the officers’ anxiety. They trained their weapons on him, shouting warnings at the top of their lungs.

But their warnings fell on deaf ears.

Under the aim of countless guns, the blue glow in Steve’s eyes grew brighter. Distorted faces appeared on his body, emanating an intense hatred toward everything around him.

“Fire! Shoot! Shoot!”

Seeing this, the officers pulled their triggers without hesitation.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Amidst the barrage of gunfire, bullets rained down on Steve.

Yet, as in the previous encounter at the tunnel’s entrance, the bullets were suspended mid-air, unable to even graze him.

*Clang!*

Steve clenched his fist, crushing the suspended bullets into a single iron sphere before tossing it to the ground with a sharp clang.

Facing the stunned officers, he waved his arm, sending nearby police cars flying through the air with an invisible force. The vehicles hurtled toward the officers, flipping and crashing with devastating impact.

Amid the sharp crackling of breaking bones, the police’s perimeter was instantly shattered.

Steve, unfazed, continued swinging his arms wildly.

*Boom! Boom!*

His indiscriminate attacks sent shockwaves rippling through the area. Glass shattered, and cracks spread across the facades of once-sturdy buildings, breaking off into rubble that hovered around him.

“Oh my God!”

A distant cameraman exclaimed as a chunk of a high-rise collapsed under the influence of Steve’s powers, sending debris plummeting to the ground.

*Crash!*

The next moment, the camera’s lens shattered under the unseen forces.

“Stop it, Steve! Don’t do this—you’re going to destroy everything!”

Struggling out of the wreckage, Mike shouted at the rampaging Steve, hoping to reach him.

But Steve remained oblivious to Mike’s pleas.

Hovering in mid-air, his distorted faces screamed in unison, creating an ear-splitting sound.

*Boom!*

Accompanying Steve’s screeches, a corner of a nearby skyscraper collapsed with a thunderous roar.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 207: Bone Fragment

*Boom—*

The thunderous sound of a collapsing building instantly drowned out Matt’s shout.

Faced with the massive falling debris, “Andrew’s” expression changed drastically. Clenching his teeth, he raised his hands to block the descending slab of stone.

Struggling, he redirected the enormous piece of debris to crash elsewhere.

After completing this feat, “Andrew” clutched his chest, gasping heavily for breath, and looked up at “Steve” in midair with a grim expression.

In his current physical state, he could no longer withstand another attack from “Steve.”

---

*“Did you see that? Oh my God, what’s going on here?”*

“Is this a terrorist attack?”

The massive explosion in New York City and the collapse of a skyscraper instantly triggered widespread panic.

Looking at the fractured corner of the distant high-rise and the billowing smoke, even without knowing the exact cause, those witnessing the scene couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of dread.

This horrifying sight seemed to awaken a long-buried memory in the hearts of the American people.

Yet, what was unfolding before their eyes was far more terrifying than those memories.

---

*“Damn it!”*

The moment “Steve” began his indiscriminate rampage, Jonathan, sensing the danger, wasted no time abandoning his car and running out.

Limping away from the vehicle, Jonathan managed to escape just seconds before a massive rock crashed onto the car, crushing it into a metal pancake.

The deafening crash behind him left his mind blank for a moment. When he regained his senses, he turned to look at the flattened car.

Even as a BSI agent, Jonathan couldn’t suppress a wave of relief. Just a few seconds of hesitation, lingering in the car a moment longer, would have resulted in him being crushed along with it.

Shaken by his narrow escape, Jonathan felt a surge of fear.

But when his gaze shifted from the crushed car to “Steve,” that fear was quickly replaced by overwhelming despair.

The destruction “Steve” was causing was beyond anything Jonathan had imagined.

Facing such a powerful entity, Jonathan could think of no way to defeat him other than deploying the military.

However, deploying the military in New York would have immense consequences—something even Jonathan, as a BSI agent, understood all too well.

---

*“Spike, don’t you have any ideas?”*

At a hospital in New York, Amanda finished delegating evacuation efforts to the police on-site. Stepping outside, she turned to Spike and asked urgently.

She had received a call from BSI headquarters, making it clear how dire the situation had become.

Over a hundred NYPD officers were injured, and the governor of New York State had already requested military intervention to protect the city’s residents.

If the military were to move into New York, the nature of the situation would fundamentally change. Amanda knew they had to act before things got worse.

*“Frankly, there’s very little I can do.”*

Spike’s face showed a deep sense of helplessness. He frowned, glanced at the smoke-covered skyscraper in the distance, and subconsciously touched the ring on his finger.

*“Having so many spirits occupying a single body is far beyond my abilities as a medium. Even if I used my powers to convince one of the spirits to relinquish the body, it wouldn’t solve the problem.”*

*“So there’s really no way?”* Amanda frowned, unwilling to give up.

*“Not entirely.”*

Under Amanda’s persistent questioning, Spike hesitated before finally responding.

*“If someone could get close enough to the target, there might be a chance.”*

As he spoke, Spike pulled a small sealed box from his vest pocket and showed it to Amanda.

*“What’s this?”*

Amanda’s gaze fell on the box in Spike’s hand, her face full of curiosity.

*“This is a fragment of bone left behind by the medium Marilyn Raphael. She was said to have used her abilities to communicate with thousands of spirits during her lifetime. Although much of her legacy remains unverified due to her death, this fragment undeniably possesses extraordinary spiritual power.”*

Marilyn Raphael was a renowned medium in 20th-century America, known for her teachings in spiritual communication and psychic development over three decades. She specialized in bridging the living and the dead, and her work was featured on programs like Beyond in the U.S. and the BBC in the U.K.

Raphael claimed to host four spirits within her—James Jr., a brother of Joshua; Irene, a fellow medium; a healer; and a 20th-century American novelist. She often communicated with them, channeling their connections to the spirit world.

While these claims were part of her self-promotion, her historical status as a medium would have faded into obscurity if nothing had changed.

However, within the evolving script of the system, Marilyn Raphael transformed from a controversial figure into a true spiritual medium.

*“If this bone fragment could make contact with the body occupied by the spirits, the immense spiritual energy within might activate the fragment’s latent power, creating a brief spiritual gateway to banish the spirits back to their realm.”*

As Spike explained, Amanda noticed an ethereal blue glow occasionally emanating from the small fragment inside the box, identical to the glow they had previously seen in the tunnel’s water pool.

*“Of course, this is just my hypothesis. I can’t guarantee the fragment will open a spiritual gateway. If it fails…”*

Spike glanced in the direction of the street where “Steve” was wreaking havoc, his tone heavy with uncertainty.

*“At this point, no one can get close to him. Calling in the military might still be the best option.”*

He shook his head and moved to put the bone fragment back in his pocket.

At that moment, Amanda suddenly reached out and grabbed the box.

---

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 208: Sniper

A crisis of such magnitude in New York City naturally reached Washington, D.C., within moments.

"…In fact, we all know that America needs a new direction. Just this past January, the country saw a decrease of 598,000 non-farm jobs, the largest drop since 1974. Since entering a recession in December 2007, the total number of unemployed Americans has risen to 3.6 million. All of this indicates the urgent need for a brand-new economic stimulus plan..."

At the White House, the newly inaugurated President was announcing his freshly drafted fiscal policy.

Over the past year, the financial crisis, sparked by the subprime mortgage meltdown, had evolved into an economic crisis engulfing all of America.

To revive the economy, the new administration devised a series of financial aid and trade plans, which the President was now unveiling.

The persistent economic downturn in recent months had impacted the President's approval ratings, causing them to steadily decline over the past three months. To curb this downward trend, the President decided to personally address the media, hoping to stabilize public opinion.

Standing before reporters and television cameras, the President spoke with confidence, clearly relishing the opportunity.

However, just as he was showcasing his wit, a Secret Service agent in a black suit suddenly approached him, covering his earpiece and whispering a message into the President’s ear.

"..."

The President’s expression briefly shifted upon hearing the urgent update, but he quickly composed himself and resumed his unfinished speech.

The decision to inform the President about the events in New York was based solely on his right to be in the know.

In truth, even as the incident unfolded, the Pentagon had already begun mobilizing.

---

“I’ve locked onto the target, sir.”

From the rooftop of a building several hundred meters away from the incident, the NYPD’s SWAT sniper team had their rifles aimed at their distant target.

Through the sniper scope, the sharpshooter focused on "Steve," who was hovering midair. Taking a deep breath, the sniper emotionlessly reported his status.

“Wait, someone’s entered the line of fire!”

Finger poised on the trigger, the sniper was preparing to shoot when two unexpected individuals suddenly stepped into his scope’s view.

Seeing the man and woman enter the scene, the sniper instinctively halted his actions.

“Can you identify who they are?”

Hearing the sniper’s report, the NYPD commander on the other end of the communication line immediately asked.

“It’s a man and a woman. They seem calm—far too calm to be random civilians who wandered in by mistake…”

Observing the pair’s composed demeanor through his scope, the sniper provided further updates.

“Isn’t there anyone nearby to stop them?”

“Unfortunately, sir, it appears not.”

The sniper’s scope swept over the injured officers in the vicinity. Shaking his head, he replied in a low voice.

“Damn it.”

A curse echoed through the communicator on the other end.

The casualties caused by "Steve" were being broadcasted across New York’s media outlets, garnering far more attention and higher viewership than the President’s fiscal speech. If "Steve" wasn’t neutralized and the crisis resolved soon, the NYPD would face a torrent of criticism from the media.

“Forget them for now. The priority is the guy floating in the air!”

“Understood.”

Following his superior’s orders, the sniper silently adjusted his aim, realigning the scope’s crosshairs on "Steve."

But the delay caused by the intruders allowed a collapsing wall to crash down near "Steve," kicking up a cloud of dust that severely obstructed the sniper’s view.

Holding his breath, the sniper patiently waited for the dust to settle, gripping the rifle tightly and preparing to shoot.

“Wait!”

A voice rang out in his earpiece again.

“The police just received a call. Those two are agents from the Federal Special Division, BSI. Your next task is to assist them in their operation.”

“Assist?”

Hearing the vague directive from his superior, the sniper raised an eyebrow.

“What exactly does ‘assist’ mean, sir?”

“I don’t know the specifics. They said you’ll understand when the time comes.”

Another curse came through the communicator.

If they could, the NYPD would rather ignore BSI’s orders, but jurisdiction required compliance.

The sniper raised an eyebrow at the command but ultimately lifted his finger from the trigger. Watching through his scope, he quietly waited for the so-called moment to arrive.

---

“Are you sure about this, Amanda?”

Shifting his gaze from "Steve," who was brimming with spiritual energy, Spike looked at Amanda with an unusually serious expression.

“With the amount of spiritual energy gathered in his body, if the plan fails…”

“I’ve already made up my mind.”

Reaching for the necklace around her neck, Amanda turned to face the streets devastated by "Steve’s" destruction. Her expression was resolute.

Seeing Amanda’s determination, Spike said no more.

Handing her the fragment of Marilyn Raphael’s remains, he solemnly warned, “Remember, no matter what you see, don’t forget your own name. If you lose yourself, the spirits will drag you into the spirit realm along with them…”

Amanda silently took the fragment, engraving Spike’s warning in her mind.

Glancing at "Steve," who loomed in the distance, she took a deep breath and began moving toward the epicenter of danger.

Spike’s skepticism about the plan’s success stemmed from more than just "Steve’s" threat. The journey to approach him was equally perilous.

Watching Amanda’s unwavering back, Spike’s eyes flickered with a hint of emotion.

“If I’m not mistaken, despite being influenced by Andrew’s memories, you’re aware of your true identity. So, how about we make a deal?”

“I can help you hide everything, allowing you to use this body in the real world. But in exchange, I need you to act now—to protect Amanda and help us banish that guy. I’m sure you wouldn’t enjoy being targeted by those watching you.”

Faced with Spike’s proposal, "Andrew" cast him a dark glance before silently turning back. Raising his hands, he intercepted a large chunk of debris that was about to fall on Amanda.

---

Chapter 209: A Difficult Approach

With Andrew's intervention, Amanda’s attempt to approach Steve became somewhat smoother—though only marginally so.

The excessive concentration of spirits within Steve's body rendered his consciousness extremely chaotic. The conflicting emotions of resentment and jealousy from the spirits intertwined into a maelstrom of madness. Previously, the only thing that had kept Steve's body under control was his obsession with Andrew.

However, after his recent battle with Andrew—especially after defeating him—Steve’s residual consciousness could no longer suppress the spirits within. They spiraled into complete insanity.

The closer Amanda got to Steve, the more she could feel the overwhelming surge of twisted, hateful energy emanating from him.

This torrent of malevolent will bombarded Amanda relentlessly, and soon her expression began to mirror the resentment that engulfed her surroundings.

At that moment, the fragment of Marilyn Raphael’s bone in Amanda’s hand suddenly glowed with a ghostly blue light. A chilling aura emanated from the fragment, spreading across her body.

The chilling aura disrupted the influence of the spirits' hateful consciousness within Steve, allowing Amanda to regain her composure. She cast a wary glance at the levitating Steve. Thanks to the fragment, Amanda could now clearly see the swarm of spirits occupying his body. These spirits writhed and struggled against an invisible force that bound them, unable to escape. Their faces twisted with hatred as they stared at everything around them, letting out ear-piercing screams.

If an ordinary person were to witness this scene, they might be paralyzed with fear. After all, the sheer number of spirits clinging to Steve’s body was horrifying enough, not to mention the oppressive hatred radiating from them, which could easily drive someone mad.

But Amanda was far from ordinary.

As a seasoned agent of the BSI, she had already grown accustomed to supernatural encounters.

With the fragment of Marilyn Raphael’s bone protecting her, Amanda hesitated for only a brief moment before resolutely continuing her approach toward Steve.

One step, two steps...

The closer she got, the more Amanda had to endure. It wasn’t just the overwhelming hatred from the spirits; debris and rubble, floating under the influence of Steve’s supernatural power, also created significant obstacles.

“I can’t maintain this much longer to help Amanda get closer to Steve…”

Ahead, Andrew gritted his teeth as he used his power to shield Amanda from the flying debris. His expression grew increasingly strained and somber.

The spirits possessing Steve’s body were on an entirely different level compared to those within Andrew. Though their madness rendered them uncontrollable, their power was undeniable.

Watching Amanda draw ever closer to Steve, Spike frowned at Andrew's words. He glanced down at the ring on his finger, his expression flickering with hesitation.

“...”

Silently, Spike placed his hand over the ring, preparing to remove it.

“I’ll help you, Andrew.”

Clutching his injured chest, Mike stepped forward suddenly, gritting his teeth as he extended his arm toward Amanda in the distance.

Though Mike’s strength paled in comparison to Steve’s or Andrew’s, his assistance lightened Andrew’s burden slightly. This allowed Andrew to channel more energy into shielding Amanda from the onslaught of debris.

Even so, some fragments managed to bypass their defenses. A sharp piece of rubble grazed Amanda’s side, while others struck her directly. The force behind them was significant, each impact delivering a noticeable sting.

Without Andrew and Mike’s intervention, Amanda might have been in grave danger from the relentless barrage.

Despite the pain from the occasional hits and the increasing chill radiating from the bone fragment, Amanda finally closed the distance. She stood just beneath Steve.

Looking up at the levitating figure above her, Amanda turned to Spike and gave a nod before raising the fragment of Marilyn Raphael’s bone. She let it go, releasing it into the air.

As Amanda watched, the fragment began to glow more intensely with a ghostly blue light, drifting upward as though drawn by an invisible force. Amanda let out a small sigh of relief as she watched the fragment float toward Steve.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a vague figure flicker within the glowing fragment.

But the next instant, without the fragment’s protection, Amanda was fully exposed to the hateful energy emanating from Steve. Her face contorted with pain and resentment as she clutched her head, struggling to maintain her sanity. The overwhelming hatred threatened to consume her completely.

Meanwhile, the fragment of Marilyn Raphael’s bone hovered closer to Steve. Its ghostly blue light grew ever brighter.

The light began to affect Steve, whose body started emitting a similar glow. Distorted faces emerged from his form, their hateful expressions turning to sheer terror as they stared at the fragment. It was as if some unspeakably dreadful force resided within the small piece of bone.

The fragment’s surface began to crack, releasing an even brighter blue light. The spirits possessing Steve let out piercing screams as they directed every ounce of their power toward destroying the fragment.

A piece of debris—a car part—slammed into the fragment, shattering it into pieces.

However, instead of dissipating, the shattered fragments exploded with an even more dazzling blue radiance.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 210: Sniper*

“Oh, shit…”

The eerie blue glow erupted from the skeleton in front of "Steve," instantly engulfing most of the neighborhood.

From a distance, the sniper peered through his scope, watching the scene unfold. His face twitched involuntarily, as if he could faintly hear countless piercing screams echoing in his ears.

The cries were so shrill that, even from hundreds of meters away, they made his heart pound uncontrollably.

---

The ghostly blue light enveloped everything.

At the center of the devastated street, Amanda's eyes widened as she stared at "Steve."

Under her horrified gaze, "Steve" tilted his head back and let out a harrowing scream.

The sound was excruciatingly sharp, like the anguished wails of countless souls.

“No…”

Guided by the power emanating from Marilyn Raphael's skeletal fragments, "Steve's" facial features were completely obscured by the eerie glow. His bloated, grotesque body became a canvas of ghastly wounds, each now displaying a distorted face. These faces screamed in agony, struggling desperately to burrow deeper into "Steve's" body.

However, the blue light radiating from the skeleton seemed to possess a powerful suction force, pulling at the spirits inside "Steve," driving them away from their vessel.

On the street, where the glow spread, Andrew’s face contorted as his expression abruptly shifted. He quickly moved his body away from the affected area.

Looking back at the blue-lit neighborhood, a flicker of dread passed through Andrew’s eyes.

Even with just a fleeting moment of exposure, he felt a strange, faint force tugging at him, trying to expel him from his own body.

Glaring at the glowing region, Andrew turned to look at Spike and Matt.

The two had also been touched by the glow but showed no signs of discomfort.

“It seems this blue light only affects spirits?”

Matt, who had also gained power from the pond, wasn’t as fully controlled by a spirit as Andrew was. As a result, the light's effect on him was minimal.

Andrew, however, being entirely possessed, felt the pull of the light most intensely.

With a grim expression, Andrew shifted his gaze back toward "Steve," who hovered in midair not far away.

If merely brushing the edge of the blue light had such an impact, one could only imagine the devastating force being endured by "Steve" at its center.

---

The skeletal fragments of Marilyn Raphael had already shattered during "Steve's" last attack.

Yet, the power unleashed from the skeleton fragments wreaked havoc on the spirits inside him.

Stimulated by this force, "Steve's" bloated body turned into a swirling blue orb. Countless spirits wriggled and surged within him, unwilling to abandon the hard-earned vessel and return to the spirit realm. Yet, the intensifying force pulled them bit by bit toward the outside world.

It was a battle between the pull of the skeletal fragments’ power and the spirits clinging to "Steve."

The conflict turned "Steve's" body into a battleground.

If either force weakened, the outcome would spell doom—for the spirits within or for the citizens of New York.

Ultimately, however, the power from the shattered skeletal fragments was merely a remnant of the spirit medium’s strength.

After a period of stalemate, the skeleton’s energy began to wane.

The blue glow that once enveloped the neighborhood started to recede visibly, shrinking rapidly. Likewise, the light that filled "Steve's" entire body began to dim.

“Damn it!”

Noticing this, Spike frowned instinctively.

This was clearly not the outcome he had anticipated.

He hesitated, his hand moving subconsciously to the ring on his finger. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.

---

“Well, this doesn’t look good.”

Elsewhere, the police sniper hidden in his position observed the dissipating glow through his scope.

Although he couldn’t grasp the full extent of what was happening, one thing was clear: the blue light had a significant effect on "Steve."

As the light receded, "Steve's" shrieks grew sharper and more frenzied.

“Now’s the time the commander was talking about.”

Watching as the blue glow shrank to cover only a small section of the street, the sniper stopped hesitating.

He took a deep breath, adjusted his aim on the "conspicuous" target hovering in midair, and recalled his conversation with the commander.

A second later, he pulled the trigger.

Bang!  

The bullet shot through the air and struck "Steve" with pinpoint accuracy.

The impact was catastrophic. His grotesque, bloated body seemed to collapse under the force of the shot. The spirits that had been struggling to resist the skeletal fragments’ pull went berserk. The precarious balance shattered, and from the point of impact, a twisted face screamed as it was wrenched out of "Steve's" body.

The spirit writhed and shrieked, desperately trying to return to the host. But without a vessel to anchor it, the spirit could not resist the pull of the blue light and dissolved into an orb of energy.

This escaping spirit acted like a breach, and as it screamed, countless others were dragged out from within "Steve."

Each spirit bore a twisted, hateful visage, attempting to fight back.

But one by one, they were pulled out, leaving "Steve's" ruined body like a leaking balloon.

Above the street, the liberated spirits coalesced into an even brighter blue glow than before, painting the sky in an eerie hue. They darted back and forth through "Steve’s" shattered body, as if desperate to return, but his vessel, riddled with holes, could no longer hold anything.

---

---

(End of Chapter)