[Chapter 81: Authority Order]
Extreme suppression often leads to one of two outcomes. The first is a person's true nature being stifled -- turning them timid, cowardly, and easy to manipulate. The second is the rise of a rebellious spirit; the more they're held down, the more violently they lash out.
Megan clearly fit into the latter category.
Her family's rigid religious strictness had suffocated her for years, driving her to the edge of madness and rebellion. Daniel recalled that Megan was also a tattoo enthusiast. She was covered with tattoos, though before she was underage and California law kept her from getting any. Now that she was of age, she hadn't taken the chance yet -- meaning her skin was still bare of ink.
But it wasn't just about tattoos. Once her fame with Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles faded, her appearance had rapidly declined. Her skin looked dull and rough -- pockmarked and unhealthy -- a clear sign of smoking, drinking, long nights out, and probably drugs. This was all part of her backlash, an act of self-indulgence after breaking free from years of repression.
...
After a long while, the session finally ended. The two went to shower and rinse away their sweat.
"You really shouldn't get any tattoos from now on," Daniel warned.
"Huh? Why?" Megan lifted her towel to start dressing. "I was just about to get one."
Daniel shook his head. "People are born whole, with a fixed energy field -- a sort of magnetic force. Tattoos disrupt that field and can alter your luck. You're currently undergoing a luck transfer, and any further changes right now could cause irreversible damage."
"Ah!"
Startled, Megan paused and stopped getting dressed. "Then I'll wait."
Daniel wasn't just talking out of his ass. Tattoos, especially large ones, weren't something to choose lightly. Applying permanent ink on your body often invites unexpected trouble. There's a saying: 'That person can't carry such-and-such' -- meaning the pattern they tattooed interferes with their fate. If your destiny isn't strong, random tattoos can bring nothing but bad luck.
After she got dressed, Megan asked, "Anything else I need to watch out for?"
Daniel listed firmly, "No smoking, no drugs. And you're not old enough to drink, so don't touch alcohol either."
Megan smiled playfully. "You're starting to sound like my dad all of a sudden."
"Don't call me that," Daniel said sternly.
Her smile deepened, and her eyes flickered downward. Slowly, she moved closer, her hand teasingly reaching for him. Daniel quickly grabbed her wrist. "That's enough -- you've got to keep it moderate."
Pouting, Megan relented. "Alright, then give me a key to your place."
Daniel shook his head. "No. If you want to come over, call me first."
Being refused like this, Megan might have thrown a fit with anyone else, but with Daniel, she felt a little intimidated. "Understood." Picking up her bag, she slung it over her shoulder. "I'm going then."
Daniel called after her, "Did you forget something?"
"What?"
"The rest of the payment."
Megan slapped her forehead. "Right, I almost forgot. But... we're already like this -- do you really want me to pay?"
"Why not?"
"You're heartless," she grumbled, reluctantly pulling out her checkbook. Just as she started to fill in the amount, Daniel said, "I know you're not in the best financial shape. You can pay $50,000 now and the remaining $30,000 later."
She burst out laughing. "You're so nice." She pounced on him again, showering his face with kisses. Only when Daniel gently pushed her away did she start writing the check.
Finally, she handed him a $50,000 check.
Megan watched with curiosity as the check vanished from Daniel's hand, but knowing how mysterious he was, she didn't press for explanations.
Daniel walked her to her car. Megan threw herself back into his arms, and after a long, lingering kiss, she got in, waved goodbye, and slowly drove away.
...
Once Megan was gone, Daniel returned indoors and immediately accessed the System. He'd received 100,000 Merit Points this time and had wanted to upgrade for a while, but Megan's company earlier made it inconvenient.
The System showed his points now totaled 132,100. A Golden Aegis Rite had been added to his Spell list, and all the upgrade buttons were glowing.
A brilliant smile spread across Daniel's face.
"Let's upgrade Exorcism Level!"
Without hesitation, he pressed the upgrade button next to Exorcism Level.
A powerful force erupted inside him, bringing the familiar, intense pain back -- this time even stronger than before. Gritting his teeth, sweat quickly beaded on his forehead as he endured.
About ten minutes later, the pain began to fade.
The screen showed:
[Exorcism Level: Senior Exorcist (Max)]
[Merit Points: 80,900]
Daniel exhaled deeply, confused as he read the words "Senior Exorcist (Max)," since his previous level was "Senior Exorcist."
Then he noticed something odd -- the upgrade button next to Exorcism Level was still lit.
"Shouldn't the next level need 102,400 points? How can it be upgraded again?"
He frowned, a bit confused, but since he could still upgrade, that had to be good.
"I'm already Senior Exorcist (Max). The next step must be a different tier."
He pressed the button again, excitement rising.
An even more majestic power surged through him, thickening the density of his magical energy.
His body shifted with the power coursing through it.
Suddenly, a flood of knowledge poured into his mind, bringing clarity to things he'd barely understood before.
But the pain only intensified.
Ten minutes later, the world shifted before his eyes.
He could now see energy flowing naturally -- without using his Spiritual Perception Technique.
Not only could he see it; he could feel it -- and even manipulate it.
Daniel realized he could alter the spiritual energy's flow, changing the very nature of any place.
If an area was malevolent, he could transform it into a benevolent, nurturing environment. If it was good, he could turn it malevolent.
He could wield spiritual energy as a weapon against enemies.
Daniel's heart soared.
This tier was in a league entirely above the previous one.
While the first tier relied solely on their inherent magical power, this new tier had that plus natural spiritual energy to tap into -- an entirely new, expansive power source.
This was a quantum leap in strength, a level completely incomparable.
His gaze sharpened.
[Exorcism Level: Mandated (Authority Order)]
[Merit Points: 79,900]
*****
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