The Heir's Dominance

11

Harry plucked up the courage to face his fear. Behind the terrifying shadows of the demons, he recalled many beautiful moments.

The sense of relief and satisfaction at having succeeded in protecting another person’s life was very real. And it could not be replaced by any illusion.

“But I… won’t let anyone else die right before my eyes!” Harry shouted, his voice booming and shattering the silence!

The illusory world shook violently. Harry looked up; his gaze, which had been dim moments before, now burned with intensity.

“How do we fight it this time, Old Man?!” cried Harry, demanding guidance from the Spirit of the Padlock.

“Try using the Oath-Removing Pen you’ve just acquired!” replied the Spirit of the Lock swiftly.

“Use the purifying energy of that object! Recall some of the ancient incantations your grandmother used to chant when she was purifying a place! Use one of them!”

"I don’t know if this will work or not… but Grandma always used to say it!" said the padlock spirit, trying to help Harry.

With a lightning-fast movement, Harry reached into the inner pocket of his shirt. He pulled out the Oath-Breaking Pen, its body intricately engraved in gold, which he had just subdued. As soon as it was in his grasp, the pen began to vibrate violently, responding to its owner’s emotions.

Harry took a deep breath.

Harry’s hand wrote in the air, tracing bright, glowing golden lines—the incantation his grandmother often recited.

Harry closed his eyes, channeling all his pure intent into those strokes.

[Action: Use of the Purification Spell with the Oath-Breaking Pen]

Strokes of magical golden ink floated gracefully through the air, coalescing into ancient, knotted characters that radiated a pure, sacred light so dazzling!

BLAM!

A wave of golden light from the aerial script exploded and struck directly at the red flash of illusion emitted by the Enchanting Mirror.

A sound like shattering glass echoed loudly! The power of the dark illusion shattered into pieces just like that glass.

Harry’s consciousness returned. Harry re-entered the real world. The old man holding the knife was violently thrust backwards by the shock of that pure energy. His grip slipped, causing the old silver mirror to be flung away and float through the air!

Harry didn’t let that opportunity go to waste.

“Spirit of the Padlock! Summon the Barong Mask!” Harry shouted commandingly.

The old padlock pendant around Harry’s neck emitted red smoke. The smoke swirled rapidly, condensed, and formed a protective barrier around the mystical wooden Barong mask he had just retrieved from the office cupboard.

The wooden mask hovered nimbly in the air. Its two mysteriously carved eyes glowed a bright red. The Barong mask extended a shield-like aura of mystical wood that encircled the mirror. The mirror hovered just before it touched the floor.

TING!

A mystical echo resounded loudly in Harry’s mind. The aura of the evil spirit within the mirror was severed.

[Artifact Combination Successful]

[Soul-Capturing Mirror Successfully Sealed]

[Soul Capacity Increased: Level 1 FULL (3/3 Progress)]

[Congratulations! Inner Eye Successfully Upgraded to Level 2 – Soul Controller]

A sensation of an explosion of incredibly warm and pure energy suddenly erupted within Harry’s chest. That warmth surged through every vein in his body. The exhaustion that had previously drained his body vanished instantly, replaced by a wave of new spiritual power that was far more robust and stable.

The elderly shopkeeper collapsed onto the stony ground. The clang of a rusty kitchen knife hitting the ground rang out through the stillness of the night. The old man breathed a sigh of relief as the mirror’s malevolent red aura vanished completely from his eyes.

Harry knelt on the ground, gently embracing and supporting the old man’s body.

“Are you all right, Grandad? Everything’s safe now,” whispered Harry soothingly.

The old man slowly opened his eyes. His gaze, which had been vacant, now showed signs of life once more. Even so, his body was still trembling, holding onto the lingering fear.

The old man looked at Harry with sorrow, his eyes brimming with tears. His trembling hand clutched tightly at the sleeve of Harry’s shirt.

“T-thank you… my boy… Thank you so much…,” the old man whispered hoarsely. “If you hadn’t come… this old man would surely be dead by now. The old man didn’t know that the mirror contained an evil spirit.

Harry smiled faintly. A priceless sense of inner satisfaction suddenly welled up warmly in his chest. He felt a sense of pride as an ordinary man who had succeeded in protecting his fellow human from a supernatural terror invisible to the untrained eye.

“You’re welcome, Grandad! The main thing is that you’re safe,” Harry replied softly.

“How are you now, Grandad? Can you stand up?” The old man shook his head slowly.

“My legs… feel so weak, son,” he replied honestly, whilst trying to move his legs, which had spun round due to the mirror’s effect.

“Harry! Harry! Are you in there?!”

A hysterical scream shattered the silence of the alley. From behind, Jack came running, panting heavily, his face deathly pale. In his right hand, he clutched a car wheel lock as a makeshift weapon.

"Jack? I told you to wait in the car!" exclaimed Harry, startled to see his friend recklessly following him.

"How am I supposed to stay calm just waiting for you in the car?!" Jack grumbled, panting, his eyes darting wildly around.

“Just now, over there, I heard a loud bang—really loud! Then I heard it again—you shouting! I thought you were being attacked by this gang!”

However, Jack’s steps suddenly halted when his eyes caught sight of the Barong Mask still floating in the air.

“Harry… that… what’s that floating there?!” Jack screamed, pointing with the wheel key, which was shaking violently. “Why is there a wooden mask flying around?!”

“I’ll explain it in the car later, Jack. You’d better help me now—let’s get this old man up onto the terrace first,” Harry cut in quickly.

Jack swallowed hard. Although he was scared out of his wits and felt as though the world had gone mad, he still stepped forward and helped Harry support the old man so he could sit back against a wooden chair on the shop’s terrace.