[Chapter 207: Soul Guidance]
Boom!
The parchment on the altar flared and burned out in an instant, turning into a ball of fire. But the crimson cord tied to it seemed to be yanked hard from the other end by some unseen force.
With a crisp snap, the cord broke cleanly in two.
Pfft!
Daniel swayed slightly, his expression darkening. He had failed.
That so-called "The Further" wasn't as simple as he'd thought. The rules there -- or perhaps the power of the "Red-Faced Demon" -- had fiercely resisted his attempt to summon Dalton's Soul.
"Mr. Cross! How is it? Is Dalton back?" Renai couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed to the bedside.
But Dalton lay motionless, eyes shut tight, no response -- like an empty shell without a Soul.
"No," Daniel said, his tone heavy. "That place... it's more complicated than I imagined."
"Then... what do we do?" Josh asked, desperation thick in his voice. "Is there no other way?"
Daniel stayed silent for a long moment, his eyes fixed on Josh.
"There is," Daniel finally said slowly. "Since I can't go in myself, we'll find someone who can."
"Who? Who can go in?" Renai asked, urgency rising in her voice. "I'll go! I'm his mother -- I'll do anything for him!"
"Not you," Daniel replied firmly. "Astral Projection isn't something just anyone can do."
Josh jumped in, hopeful, "What about me?"
A sharp glint flashed in Daniel's eyes, but a smile softened his face.
"That's right -- you have the talent."
He nodded. "Your Soul can project -- you've been to the Further before. Even though your memory of it is gone, that instinct remains. You're the only one who can bring him back."
Josh looked dazed. "I've been there before?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't I remember anything?"
Daniel waved a hand dismissively. "That part of your memory was sealed. But it doesn't matter. The question is, are you willing to go and bring Dalton back?"
"Of course I am," Josh said without hesitation. "Tell me what I need to do."
Renai looked worried. "Josh, this could be too dangerous..."
"For Dalton, I have to try," Josh said, taking his wife's hand with a steady gaze.
Daniel watched the touching scene but was calculating something else in his mind.
In the movie, though Josh successfully brought Dalton back, the Josh who returned wasn't the real one -- it was the Old Woman evil spirit who had long coveted his body. If things followed the movie's plot, Josh would bring Dalton back, yes -- but lose himself in the process.
Still, it didn't matter.
Dalton was trapped because the Red-Faced Demon of the Further was watching him, preventing any forced summoning. But Josh wasn't being guarded.
When the time came, if they could deal with the Old Woman spirit -- the Bride in Black -- and then summon Josh's Soul back, everything would be resolved.
Truthfully, as a Lesser Ascendant, Daniel could have forced a Astral Projection himself and entered the Further to save Dalton. But doing so would drain more than half his strength. Going into the Further was just too dangerous.
In the end, he decided to let Josh take the risk.
Josh faced Daniel. "Mr. Cross, please help me. I want to bring Dalton back."
"Alright," Daniel said. "Come lie down."
...
Josh pulled over a chair and lay down next to Dalton. Daniel tied a crimson cord connecting Josh's and Dalton's arms, extending the string onto the altar.
"After your Soul projects, you'll see this crimson cord on your wrist," Daniel explained. "The other end leads to where Dalton is. Follow the string, and you'll enter a magical domain filled with terrifying beings. Ignore them and keep going -- you'll reach a red door. Behind that door, you'll find Dalton."
Josh and Renai exchanged amazed looks.
They hadn't expected Mr. Cross to describe things so clearly. It was as if he had been there himself, making him seem even more powerful.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the room. Even with the windows closed, the curtains swayed wildly and eerily.
Daniel pressed a Spirit-Guiding Seal onto Josh's forehead and lit three sticks of special green incense.
By the Edict of Sealed Authority, I command the soul to depart its mortal vessel.Let the body remain preserved, and the spirit walk the hidden path unhindered.By consecrated light, guide it swiftly to its appointed destination and safely home again.So ordered. Let the soul proceed.
Lying on the bed, Josh's breathing grew faint.
As Daniel finished the incantation, Josh's body jolted; he suddenly sat up. But then he realized another version of himself was still sitting on the recliner, eyes closed.
He raised his hands, now fully aware his Soul had projected.
Looking up, he met Daniel's smiling face.
With a flick of his wrist, Daniel sent a Seal sailing into his hand.
"At the critical moment, this Seal can save your life. Follow the crimson cord and go. But remember -- you must return within half an hour, or I'll lose the connection to you from this side. At that point, you'll be in great danger."
Josh noticed the crimson cord tied around his wrist, the other end stretching into the Void, location unknown.
He tucked the Seal away, glanced at his wife and son, gave Daniel a grateful nod, and then dashed out.
In an instant, he disappeared into the night.
Renai clenched her fingers until her knuckles whitened. "Mr. Cross, can he... can he come back?"
Daniel wasn't confident either.
If events followed the original story, it should be fine.
He answered vaguely, "Let's wait and see."
...
Waiting was agonizing.
Twenty minutes passed without a sign.
The air in front of the altar felt heavy, almost solid.
Renai stared at the crimson cord disappearing into the Void, every breath weighted with anxiety.
The green incense had burned more than halfway; the smoke no longer rose straight but swirled chaotically.
The nearly half-hour seemed to stretch on for centuries.
"Mr. Cross, the cord... it moved!"
Just as the last of the incense was burning out, Renai let out a sharp cry of surprise.
Daniel's eyes snapped open, narrowing.
The slack crimson cord was now being pulled hard from the other side, stretched taut.
It hummed faintly.
The two candle flames on the altar flickered violently, shifting eerily from bright yellow to a ghostly, deathly green.
"They're back," Daniel said in a low voice, the thunder-struck ashwood Sanctum Blade in his hand trembling slightly.
In his vision, a small, illusory shadow sped along the crimson cord.
It suddenly plunged headfirst into Dalton's body.
*****
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