[Chapter 95: The Last Resort]
Daniel looked down at the severed tentacles lying lifeless on the ground. He walked over and picked one up. The tentacles had completely lost their vitality; the Dark energy within had been thoroughly cleansed by the thunder-charged Exorcist's Sanctum Blade and the evil suppression seal plate.
A faint sense of helplessness washed over Daniel. Sometimes, having too much raw power in a magical artifact wasn't always beneficial. These tentacles were now utterly cleansed, meaning the hope of tracking the Slender Man using them was nearly zero.
Still, Daniel decided to give it one last try.
He quickly set up a makeshift altar and wrapped red cords tightly around one of the brittle, nearly shattered tentacles. Then, he began pacing slowly as he chanted in a steady, rhythmic voice:
By blood as witness and corruption as mark, the claim is established.
Through sealed authority, the trace is revealed and concealment broken.
Let no false veil endure; let the hidden path be exposed.
By lawful command, the shadowed source stand revealed. So ordered.
The red rope -- intentionally left loose at one section -- as if pulled by an unseen force, started to move. However, it spun in place without any meaningful direction.
Daniel's heart sank. As he suspected, these withered tentacles wouldn't lead him to the Slender Man.
He extinguished the incense, and the red rope slackened and fell back down.
...
"How's it looking, Mr. Cross?" Bane asked, hopeful.
Daniel shook his head. "No luck. I can't find it."
Bane frowned with disappointment. "Is there any other method?"
"There is one more."
At Daniel's words, Bane's family's eyes brightened.
Amy asked eagerly, "What is it?"
Daniel spoke slowly, revealing the final method. The expressions around the room froze in somber realization.
...
In Amy's room, everyone else had left, leaving only Daniel behind in the cluttered, untidy space. He sat at the table staring at the video loaded on Amy's computer screen.
This was the method Daniel had just mentioned: watching a video related to the Slender Man, then performing a ritual.
Since he couldn't locate the Slender Man's hiding place, he would let the Slender Man find him instead.
In fact, the Slender Man belonged to the category of Rule Ghosts, alongside the One Missed Call Female Ghost.
The One Missed Call Female Ghost could only attack after her summons were heard.
Similarly, the Slender Man could only strike after the related video had been viewed, the ritual performed, and it was actually seen at the video's conclusion.
Only then could it launch an attack.
That explained why the Slender Man's tentacles hadn't attacked Daniel directly earlier. It had only used its psychic influence on him.
Previously, the Slender Man had targeted Amy and Erin -- the two sisters.
At first, Daniel hadn't planned to take this risk.
But now, after driving the Slender Man away and failing to find its hideout, this was his last option.
...
The person who hears the three bells, accept his invitation.
When you hear the first sound, close your eyes and remain silent.
Hold your eyes tightly shut, open your mind, and clear away distracting thoughts while waiting for the second bell.
Only after the third bell may you open your eyes.
Daniel recited these instructions silently three times in his mind while staring at the video.
The chimes rang out from the computer's speakers.
At the first chime, Daniel shut his eyes.
Then came the second chime.
Finally, the third.
He opened his eyes just as the video's image began to flicker rapidly, cycling through dozens of scenes in a matter of seconds.
It stopped on a dark, fog-shrouded forest.
At the center of the shot loomed a massive tree shown in extreme close-up.
Suddenly, a faceless figure dressed in a formal suit emerged from behind the tree.
Though the figure had no facial features, Daniel felt an intense sensation -- as if it was staring directly into his soul.
The moment crackled with connection; he felt their bond strengthen.
Then the screen went black. The video ended.
"It's done."
Daniel shut off the computer.
According to the video's narrative, next he would dream of being inside the forest he had just seen -- and confront the Slender Man there again. This would deepen their connection, solidifying the coordinates that bound them.
To Daniel, it was a process of strengthening the rules, anchoring their interaction in both physical and spiritual planes.
...
When Daniel emerged from the room, Bane's family quickly gathered around.
"Mr. Cross, did you perform the ritual?" Amy asked anxiously.
Daniel nodded. "I did."
Bane's brow furrowed in concern. "Are you sure this won't seriously affect you?"
A slight smile touched Daniel's lips. "Of course there will be consequences, but this is the price I have to pay to find it."
Gratitude and worry mingled in their eyes.
What began as a mission to save Amy had evolved into saving both sisters -- and now, Daniel himself had to pay a heavy cost, risking his own safety with this dangerous ritual.
"Alright, arrange a room for me. I need to sleep."
"Of course, right this way."
...
Daniel lay down on the bed, centering himself before quickly drifting off.
About an hour later, his eyes flew open, confusion flickering across his face.
He hadn't dreamt anything.
'That's right. At my level, dreams don't come easily,' he thought. 'It seems I need to lower my spirit and mind to that of a normal person to dream.'
Daniel adjusted his spiritual flow silently, closed his eyes again, and finally found himself within the dreamscape.
He was standing in a gray fog-shrouded forest, visibility limited.
The forest was dim, with two iron gates visible in the distance, half open and leading who knew where.
'I really did dream this time,' Daniel muttered to himself.
Though it was a dream, Daniel was incredibly lucid -- far beyond an ordinary person's confused dream state. Ordinary people get lost in dreams and forget them shortly after waking. But Daniel's mind was sharp; he examined every detail around him carefully.
The trees were leafless, thick-trunked with sprawling branches like monstrous hands reaching out, their silhouettes all the more terrifying against the fog.
His gaze settled on the two gates -- it was clear from the video these gates held significance, but the meaning behind them remained unexplained.
Daniel approached the half-open iron gates. Suddenly, a shadow lunged at him.
He turned quickly.
It was the Slender Man.
Tall, at least two meters, dressed in a formal black suit with impossibly thin, long legs.
Its faceless visage was chillingly distinctive.
If Daniel were an ordinary person, he would have scared himself awake by now.
But he felt no fear -- only a strange desire to act.
Still, this was a dream; killing the Slender Man here would be meaningless.
Instead, Daniel silently chanted a spell to rouse himself from sleep.
Back in the physical world, Daniel's eyes snapped open to the ceiling of Bane's guest room.
He sat up and whispered, "That should be enough."
*****
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