Charlie Carter swore he had never run so desperately in his life...

He dashed past the black ring left by Charles Carter, across the grass, past the locust trees...

Charlie Carter's pupils suddenly contracted...

The woman's corpse hanging from the locust tree? Gone?!

But there was no time to look back. His reason told him that every minute wasted now was a betrayal of the life of the child in his arms.

So the thought flashed through his mind for only an instant. His sprinting body leapt up, clearing the creek in one bound, and rushed toward the already open car door.

Sitting in the car, Charlie Carter gasped violently, turning anxiously. Deep in his sky-blue eyes, a flash of bright silver gleamed. In his vision, the scenery shifted rapidly until it locked onto Charles Carter's presence—

A silver-white beam of light was approaching at an incredible speed. The familiar aura of holy power finally allowed his heart, which had been in his throat, to settle. His gaze shifted back—

His ragged breathing suddenly stopped, as if his throat had been seized—

A parade of a hundred ghosts...

As far as the eye could see, countless evil spirits trailed behind Charles Carter, roaring and howling, filled with resentment—resentment so thick it was almost tangible!

How could there be... so many?!!

Just how many people had died on this farm!

And during all this... why hadn't the Church acted?!

Could it be...?

Charlie Carter's face suddenly turned as pale as paper. At that moment, Charles Carter, moving clearly faster than the evil spirits, barely managed to burst out of the farm's gate. His steps overlapped as he dove into the back seat of the van, not even pausing to catch his breath, and shouted directly at Smith in the driver's seat.

"Drive!"

"There are too many evil spirits. If they concentrate their power into a few of them, they could even temporarily break through the restrictions of earthbound spirits! Go now!"

Smith's face turned white at these words. He practically floored the pedal, and the overloaded car let out a deep roar as it sped away from the farm's gate. Only when the farm was receding in the distance did Charles Carter finally lean back wearily in his seat.

It was only now that Charlie Carter and the others noticed that Charles Carter's usually cold face was already as pale as paper.

With his eyes half-closed, Charles Carter murmured softly in his heart.

"As expected, over a hundred victims... that means over a hundred evil spirits..."

"But... where is that witch?"

In Charles Carter's ear, the system's voice sounded mechanically:

"Number of evil spirits killed—7"

"Number of evil spirits escaped—134"

"Did not engage the witch, unable to confirm her location..."

"Mission, continue..."

(Vote for me, or leave a comment... Friends over there, let me see your hands~ (╥╯﹏╰╥)?)

Chapter 8: Shocking Change!

The overloaded car sped along the country road. Throughout the journey, Charles Carter silently recovered his strength, while Charlie Carter, still shaken by the sight of over a hundred evil spirits, was left anxious and unsettled, constantly wondering if the tragedy had some unspeakable connection to the Church.

The only priest who could communicate with Charles Carter fell silent, and a suffocating atmosphere filled the car. In this oppressive mood, the car finally arrived safely at its destination.

A small town abandoned by its youth.

The car slowly stopped at a roadside motel. Smith and his wife took the children to check in, while Michael Thompson led the sheriff to the town's only doctor—

Although he had received basic treatment, he had still taken a solid blow to the leg from Charles Carter's frost attack. Even at its lowest power, for a man who was only somewhat physically strong, it was still a truly unbearable pain.

In the car, only Charles Carter, eyes half-closed, and the priest lost in thought remained.

"...Charles Carter..."

After a moment of silence, the priest said, "Just now you encountered... no, thank you..."

"I was only trying to resolve the problem."

Charles Carter slowly opened his eyes and replied calmly, "Your eyes are very important—at least for solving this curse. Your ability to see through the forms of evil spirits is no less valuable than my sword."

He stretched slightly, braced his right hand on the seat, and leapt out of the car. Looking at the motel before him, he lazily narrowed his eyes.

"Before dawn tomorrow, I plan to go to the manor again. As repayment for saving you all, you will accompany me."

"Rest well for now..."

Inside the car, Charlie Carter stared in astonishment at Charles Carter as he pushed open the door and entered the motel. After a moment of daze, his brows gradually relaxed. He placed his right hand over his chest and bowed slightly.

"It is my honor... Sir Knight."

A smile reappeared at the corner of his mouth, but this time it carried more determination and sharpness.

Yes... just like Sir Knight's choice!

No matter how difficult the ordeal, no matter if it means death or a tainted soul! This evil must be eradicated!