Unfortunately...
Even though he found it hard to watch, York understood that all this was an illusion.
Centuries had passed, and whatever he wanted to do was in vain.
All he could do was take on the pain of the female corpse, Janet Laurie, and let her pass away peacefully.
The temperature was rising.
The third memory fragment burst into crystals and dissipated into the void.
"Phew!"
York exhaled, feeling pain from burns inside out due to the fire.
This breath was a smoky haze.
"Is this what it feels like to walk through a sea of fire?"
As he endured the heat of the flames, York's consciousness was immersed in his personal panel.
Although it was an illusion, it was a form of reality, at least an imitation.
[Health 129/135.5]
"I lost about six points, as expected."
York wasn't surprised; he was already heading towards being more than human.
So much so that even when being roasted by fire, he only felt a slight warmth on his skin.
"There's a feeling of burning, but not much. Also, my recovery is stronger than before..."
York observed his health fluctuating and gained some understanding. He could feel his body constantly experiencing hot and cold extremes.
Damage and recovery were in opposition.
"Continue!"
York's right hand remained on the female corpse's forehead. Although his vision was covered by memory fragments, the touch from his right hand told him that Janet Laurie was slowly changing.
Initially cold and hard, but after he repeatedly took her pain upon himself, it started to turn warm and soft.
This was the natural touch of a living person.
"It seems to be effective."
York exhaled lightly and continued to click on the next memory fragment.
Pain wasn't just physical; emotional pain, though not physically tangible, was hundreds of times more painful than physical pain.
"Fear."
York watched a slowly shattering memory fragment where Janet Laurie, lonely and unsupported, was facing accusations from her neighbors.
"Loneliness."
Janet Laurie, living alone, rejected advances from the men around her.
"Helplessness."
Janet Laurie started trying to live on her own, enduring the mundane routine.
"Sorrow."
Janet Laurie's father died accidentally, leaving her all alone.
Memory fragments burst one after the other.
The surrounding, glowing glass pieces contained all of Janet Laurie's memories.
York kept clicking, like an invisible observer, silently witnessing a life from end to beginning, taking everything upon himself.
Physical pain, emotional scars, joys, and sorrows.
Unnoticed by York, the female corpse's expression became more vivid, softer, and lifelike.
Her constantly open eyes and temples showed traces of tears at some point, leaving a puddle underneath.
"Happiness."
"Joy."
"Innocence."
Surrounded by fragments, York stared at the last memory fragment, silent.
It showed a couple, happily surrounding a cradle, looking at the child inside.
"It's over."
York sighed, believing everything that happened in this illusionary space.
Only by believing in the illusion's events could there be a corresponding reaction in reality.
Like those corpses, they believed in everything that happened in the illusion, which is why bleeding incidents occurred in reality.
As he accepted and believed in what happened in the illusionary space, York heard the completion prompt of the task.
[...] [Task Requirement: Grant peace to the unnamed female corpse (Completed)]
[Reward: +15 attribute points (Issued)]
"Combat tasks are indeed the best."
Looking at the myriad of fragments, York waved his hand, clearing them away. The entire space cracked and burst, revealing the real dissection room.
Compared to the previous, surreal dissection room, this was so much more real.
York looked down at the dissecting table in front of him.
Janet Laurie's body had long disappeared, leaving only a puddle of water and some residual ashes in human shape.
Of course, there was also a faint, lingering pain.
This was the consequence of believing in the illusion, but in reality, without continuous pain, his recovery power instantly overcame the damage, slowly restoring him.
The next second, his health was fully restored.
Now York was only mentally and emotionally tired, nothing else.
"It's easy, but tiring. Without proper analysis and this non-human physique, the task would have failed long ago."
York looked at the human-shaped ashes and the puddle of water, shook his head, then took out a bottle of holy water from his backpack and poured out the contents.
For a moment, the floor was covered with a glowing liquid.
Once the bottle was empty, York waved his hand again, his robust psychic energy transforming into telekinesis, lifting the ashes on the dissecting table into the bottle.
When there was no trace left on the table, and the bottle was full, York carefully placed the bottle back in its original spot and left the dissection room.
"Ah, another prayer to add."
......
Outside the building.
Police cars were everywhere.
Everyone waited quietly for the result inside.
"Jeffrey, have you ever experienced such quietness?"
Beck glanced at Jeffrey and continued.
"It's too quiet, isn't it? Do you think something happened to Father York?"
Jeffrey's right hand remained on his gun holster. Hearing this, he looked back at the main entrance of the building, the vivid memory of the Jesse building emerging in his mind.
"Beck, you don't understand. I have faith in Father York. This supernatural event should be simple for him since he even exorcised demons that time."
"You seem to trust Father York more than anyone."
Beck was speechless, realizing over the years his partner had developed a mysterious worship of Father York.
"Don't you have faith in Father York?" Jeffrey replied calmly, not turning his head.
"Who's the one who always says to inform Father York whenever he encounters something he doesn't understand?"
Caught off guard, Beck looked towards the front door about ten steps away, his face showing a hint of embarrassment.
"Hey! I was just..."
Before he could finish, the sudden appearance of a figure stopped him mid-sentence.
A priest in a robe was seen calmly walking over.
Beck and Jeffrey, who had also turned their heads, exchanged a glance.
Years of tacit understanding brought the same thought to their minds.
That was fast.
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT
"It's over,"
As usual, York only mentioned that it was over and didn't elaborate.
"You can clean up the scene now."
He didn't bother with any further niceties.
"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
Leaving these words behind, York walked towards his parked Ford Raptor, leaving Jeffrey, Beck, and the others exchanging glances. As he reached the car, he turned to look at Jeffrey.
"Jeffrey, about the speeding issue?"
Jeffrey quickly responded, "It's already been handled, Father."
"That's good."
York smiled, got into the driver's seat, placed his backpack on the passenger seat, and drove off under everyone's gaze.
"Phew!"
Watching the car disappear from view, Jeffrey turned his attention back to the building and motioned, "Let's go inside!"
.........
At that moment.
Far away in Vatican City, a phone call was taking place in an overseeing corridor.
"Bishop Gabriel, Emily's situation is getting worse. She says she's seen a pen holder slide off a table on its own, doors closing suddenly, and at night she's been pinned down by an invisible force, unable to move or breathe for minutes."
Bishop Gabriel, carrying a thick book under his arm, paused his walk to the church and calmly inquired, "And the doctor's conclusion is?"
The voice traveled across to a plain-looking church in America.
Father Ernest, dressed in a priest's robe, pursed his lips and looked down at the diagnosis report on his knee, obtained from Emily's parents.
"The doctor thinks Emily might have epilepsy. He says that after an epileptic seizure, patients can lose consciousness for a few minutes with muscle contraction, so the pressure Emily felt could be due to muscle contractions."
"Possibly?" Gabriel noticed the ambiguity of the word.
"No tests were conducted?"
"They did an EEG on Emily and found possible evidence of epilepsy in the lower left side of her brain," Father Ernest answered earnestly.
"Bishop Gabriel, the doctor's conclusions are all 'possibly,' indicating he's not 100% certain whether Emily has epilepsy. He's only prescribed Gambia Ultra (a fictional anti-epilepsy drug) for her, similar to Gabitril (tiagabine) but with a milder effect and no significant side effects. What's more, the pen holder moving on its own and doors closing don't quite align with epilepsy…"
Gabriel sensed the underlying meaning of these words and said, "Father Ernest, as per the Church's rules on possession, these observations alone aren't enough."
Father Ernest was silent for a moment, aware his reasoning was somewhat far-fetched, but he had felt something off about Emily since he first saw her.
"Bishop, Emily saw a demon with her own eyes. She's suffering from dark forces! Shouldn't we do what's necessary?"
Gabriel furrowed his brow and finally sighed, "Ask about Emily's and her parents' wishes. If they all agree, I'll reconsider your request."
"Thank you, Bishop Gabriel. I'll reorganize the documentation."
"Good."
Gabriel hung up the phone and proceeded silently to a church.
Guardians stood on both sides of the main entrance.
"Bishop Gabriel."
Gabriel nodded and pushed open the door to a magnificent church.
The neat, clean pews and the unchanging figure of Jesus.
An elderly man in a white robe was kneeling in prayer.
Gabriel carefully approached, trying not to make a sound, then stood silently behind the elder.
After a long time, the river of time flowing silently, the elder spoke.
"Gabriel, you're here?"
As if he already knew, the elder then shakily stood up.
"Bishop Gregory." Gabriel quickly helped the elder to a pew.
"Getting old, can't kneel for too long," the elder joked, touching his knees.
Gabriel was silent, worry in his eyes.
For some time now, Bishop Gregory, who used to travel and enjoy life, had been deteriorating, growing weaker by the day.
Seeing no response, the elder raised his eyebrows and spoke gently, "Don't worry, I can still hold on."
He then chuckled, "Has York applied for any exorcisms recently?"
Gabriel frowned, "No, but he's supposed to submit a report of his recent activities today."
The elder's eyes sparkled with curiosity, "It seems that boy has been busy. I heard his deaconess is taking over church responsibilities?"
Gabriel was somewhat helpless, "Yes, Your Eminence. He's too lazy, not at all like a priest should be."
"Hehe, either looking for trouble or on the way to it," the elder chuckled.
"With his words, 'exorcising demons and maintaining world peace.'"
Hearing this familiar phrase, Gabriel smiled but then became serious again.
"Your Eminence, have they complained about York to you again?"
The elder dismissed it and changed the subject, "Gabriel, do you know why I called you here?"
Gabriel shook his head and then nodded, "I have an idea."
"I intend to promote York in ecclesiastical rank. After you step down, he will take your place as Bishop. His achievements and merits are sufficient to take on this role."
Gabriel's eyes showed relief. There are only three main clerical ranks: deacon, priest, and bishop. Only a bishop can bypass many restrictions, including the need for permission to perform exorcisms.
"Your Eminence, I will recommend him and submit the application for my successor before I step down."
The elder nodded, stood up, and Gabriel helped him.
"I'm curious to see his reaction when he finds out he's been nominated by you. What expression will he have? Anger? Confusion? Resignation?"
Gabriel smiled, "You'll see when he comes here for the ordination ceremony."
"That will be an interesting sight," the elder grinned.
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT
Bạn cũng có thể thích
bình luận đoạn văn
Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.
Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.
ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC