Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Prelude to Death
Two days later.
The lively town festival finally began.
The whole town was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
Colorful flags were hung in every corner, and people wore special festival outfits everywhere.
In the town square, townsfolk were selling their agricultural products.
Amidst the bustling crowd, the noise was deafening.
Azu followed behind Peter, his eyes dazzled by everything.
"Hey, Mr. Podrick!"
Nell, dressed in her festival attire, greeted Peter warmly.
Standing beside her, Lana, wearing a light green long dress with a floral wreath on her head, shyly greeted Peter as well.
"Uncle Peter."
"Lana looks beautiful today."
Peter patted the floral wreath on Lana's head and replied to Nell, "Just call me Peter."
Nell, tall and mature, had a unique charm when dressed up.
Peter glanced at Azu.
He originally thought Azu, like Clark, would be interested in chasing after girls like Lana.
Unexpectedly, Azu's gaze kept sneaking towards Nell.
Peter was speechless.
This kid really hasn't changed! Even after being reborn, he's still into mature women, just like in his past life.
Wait!
Peter rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
Could Azu's lack of a mother in this life have caused him to develop a complex, awakening his attraction to older women?
Should I find a mother figure for Azu to fill that void of motherly love?
Wonder Woman, Mera, or Catwoman?
These familiar female superheroes entered his shortlist.
He couldn't help it. These were the only female superheroes he knew.
Normal people weren't an option; he was afraid Azu might crush them with his strength.
As Peter wrestled with his thoughts, night quickly fell.
In the town's main hall, the townspeople gathered to watch a dance performance.
Before the show started, Father Norma, who hadn't been seen in days, finally appeared and gave a speech on stage.
Peter narrowed his eyes at the priest, who had been absent in Metropolis and out of sight until now.
After a few words, the old man hurried off the stage.
Peter whispered to Nell to help look after Azu, then immediately followed after Father Norma.
After leaving the main hall, Norma rushed home.
Entering the basement of his study again, he took out a black magic book and left in a hurry.
Once he was gone, Peter slowly emerged from the shadows.
Standing inside Father Norma's house, he entered the study and opened the door to the basement.
The basement was dark, and the canvas piled in the corners emitted a faint scent of old paint.
In the center of the room stood an altar, and dim shadows loomed around it like sentinels.
Peter's senses allowed him to see everything clearly, even in the dark.
He walked slowly toward the altar.
Candles and a ritual skull were placed on the altar, the skull gleaming like an amber lagoon.
His gaze shifted to the yellowing calendar on the wall.
Someone had drawn a shadowy outline in red pen on the calendar.
Surveying his surroundings, Peter frowned.
Was this old man Norma practicing black magic?
Peter immediately connected the dots between the resurrected corpses and Father Norma.
Meanwhile…
In the main hall, the warm orange glow of lights blended with the soft dimness below, resembling the fiery hues of a sunset.
Clark stood on the edge of the dance floor, watching the crowd inside.
"If you want to dance, Clark, you can ask a girl."
Azu had appeared behind Clark at some point.
"I can't dance, Azu."
"Neither can I. It's normal for kids not to know how to dance, so there's no need to envy them. Hey, Lana!"
As Azu spoke, he turned around and greeted Lana.
"Hello."
Lana greeted the two of them cheerfully.
Clark, however, blushed slightly. He stole a glance at Lana, thinking she looked particularly pretty today.
Moreover, Lana carried the scent of Avon soap and Juicy Fruit gum, which made him a bit nervous.
"Lana, I—I'm sorry about last time when we scared your horse."
Clark had been thinking for a while and finally found a reason to start a conversation.
"I've already forgotten about that."
Lana didn't mind at all. "It was Uncle Peter who saved me, and Aunt Nell told me to properly thank him."
She had a very good impression of Peter, thinking he was the very image of the knight in shining armor she had imagined.
If she were a princess, she'd want such a knight to protect her.
But soon, she became a little downcast.
Aunt Nell had said she was more like Cinderella.
And at midnight, Cinderella turns back into an ugly duckling, which made her feel a little gloomy.
Just as Lana was caught up in her thoughts, wondering why Cinderella's magic disappeared at midnight, a sudden scream echoed.
Shocked, she turned around, and what she saw would be etched in her memory forever.
A man, his face pale and covered in sticky blood, with his mouth stretched wide as if it could tear to the back of his head, suddenly went berserk and attacked the audience in the hall.
Splat!
Blood sprayed from the neck of one of the victims as they were bitten.
The creature, growling low in its throat, swiftly took down several people nearby, leaving them lifeless on the floor.
This all happened in the span of one or two minutes. No one understood what was happening—everyone was stunned.
Clark and Azu were just as shocked, their mouths slightly open as they stared at the horrific scene unfolding before them.
Then came the screams. The crowd erupted in fear, scattering in all directions.
Azu was the first to react. Grabbing Clark and Lana, he ran toward the door.
Following Peter's survival tips, the most important thing now was to escape this confined space.
As the trio neared the door, they realized that everyone had the same idea.
A mass of people crowded near the door, but the sturdy entrance was suddenly locked, sealed tightly.
No matter how much they pushed or pounded on the door, it wouldn't budge.
The people closest to the door were crushed, gasping for air, cursing, and crying out in despair.
"Clark! Azu!"
Jonathan and Martha, caught in the surge of the crowd, called out their names as they were swept away.
Nell was also frantic with worry. Not only was her niece missing, but so was Azu, whom Peter had entrusted to her care.
"Fire exit!"
Gasping for breath from the crush, Azu shouted to the others, "Dad said—if something happens, we can escape through the fire exit!"
As he spoke, he pushed forward with all his might, pulling people aside along the way.
Clark counted carefully. Along the way, Azu slapped two boys and even punched a screaming man in the eye.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone