The Heir's Dominance

8

The padlock around Harry's neck emitted an intensely bright blue light. The red smoke, shaped like an old man’s face, was forcibly sucked back into the black wooden barrel of the pen.

The pen trembled violently for a few seconds before its red light finally faded completely, transforming into an elegant, pure golden hue.

A mystical echo sounded softly within Harry's mind.

[Purification Successful: Oath-Breaking Pen]

[Contract Formed: Spirit of the Writer of Destiny Successfully Subdued]

[Soul Capacity Increased by Level 1: Collect 2 out of 3 souls to level up]

Harry let out a very long sigh of relief. The light on the fourth floor slowly returned to normal. The neon lights flickered briefly before finally shining brightly.

He picked up the antique pen. Now, as he held it, the deadly chill had given way to a warm sensation that was submissive and obedient to his will.

“Not bad work for an office worker who can only sit around,” praised the Spirit of the Padlock with a faint smile.

“You’ve acquired your second spirit.”

After uttering those words, the Spirit of the Padlock glided back inside and vanished into the iron pendant around Harry's neck.

“So where can I find the third spirit?”

“You don’t need to look for it. It will surely give you a sign. That spirit is bound to the heir’s blood.”

“So I just have to wait for it?” The lock spirit nodded firmly.

Harry sat alone beside Mr. Thomas, who was breathing steadily. In his hand was the gleaming Oath-Removing Pen. A priceless heirloom, ready to help him face an even greater threat.

Harry wiped the sweat from his forehead. He approached Boss Thomas, who was still slumped on the floor, then checked their pulses at the neck, one by one.

"Mr. Thomas’s pulse is stable, but why hasn’t he come round yet?”

“Humans really are that weak,” remarked the padlock spirit sarcastically.

“Perhaps Mr. Thomas is still unconscious because he was too shocked by seeing that figure. What can we do for him? Will he be all right if we leave him like this?” asked Harry.

“Why do you care so much about your boss? Is he a good person?” asked the Spirit of the Padlock in surprise, as it hovered above Harry’s shoulder.

"I can’t say he’s a nice person. He’s always telling me off and docking my pay. He loves bossing everyone about and lazing about. He only cares about the results," complained Harry.

"If I were you, I’d let him die."

"Your boss nearly stabbed you in the eye with a pen just now. Why don’t you just let his energy be drained away until he dies? That might be the best revenge you could take.”

Harry snorted softly, took off his rimmed glasses to wipe the lenses with his shirt, then looked at the Spirit with a steady gaze.

“Because he has a family at home, he works his fingers to the bone, no doubt for his family, who are waiting for him to come home,” replied Harry calmly but firmly.

The Spirit of the Padlock fell silent for a moment, gazing at Harry with a slightly changed expression; a faint glimmer of respect flickered in its dim red eyes.

“It turns out you’re not just a cowardly lad. You’re actually a good lad,” murmured the Spirit of the Padlock softly.

“Very well, from today I’ll help you fight those spirits. You’re no longer a cowardly lad. You’re more than that.”

“Will you really help me? But how long must I have to deal with this sort of thing? Is there any way for me to escape all this?”

"No, you really are destined to be a guardian. You just need to develop your abilities."

"What’s the point? I’m not interested."

"You have to do it. To… help people, just as you did for your boss." Harry fell silent. He was the sole heir to the guardians’ bloodline. If it weren’t for him, those spirits would roam freely and claim many victims.

Harry nodded slowly. He sheathed his silver dagger and slipped the antique pen into his shirt pocket. Through his Level 1 Inner Eye, he could now see the world in a different way.

He was no longer simply Harry, the accounting clerk who had resigned himself to his circumstances.

He was a guardian.

The padlock pendant around Harry's neck vibrated warmly, as if signalling that his new duty to protect ordinary people from mystical terror … was officially beginning tonight.

"It looks like this is a call for us."

"Don’t be mad. I’ve only just praised you! Don’t be stupid and reckless," shouted the Spirit of the Padlock when he saw Harry's reckless behavior.

Through his Level 1 Inner Vision, the world appeared shrouded in a silvery-grey mist. Amidst the darkness of the city at night, he could make out thick, jet-black trails.

These were trails of malevolent aura. The trails stretched across the rooftops towards the densely populated residential area in the eastern corner.

"I’m not mad," replied Harry, his eyes brimming with confidence. Who knows where he’d found the courage? The padlock pendant on his pubic bone kept vibrating warmly, but not as a warning of impending danger; rather, it was a warning signal.

"I can see it! That aura is heading towards the settlement. If that ancient artifact breaks free and infiltrates the settlement… there’ll be more than just one or two victims,” replied Harry to the Spirit of the Padlock, who was trying to stop him.

“But your body’s already at breaking point, lad!” snapped the Spirit of the Padlock, hovering just outside the window whilst pointing at Harry's trembling hand.

"Your stamina is completely drained after activating the Purifying Dagger and taming the Oath-Breaking Pen one after the other. Fighting again tonight would be tantamount to suicide!"

"If I just stay here doing nothing, it’ll be ordinary people who know nothing who’ll become the victims," replied Harry coldly. His eyes radiated unshakeable determination. “Besides, I’ve got two new additions to my collection, haven’t I?”

"Couldn’t they help me?"

The Spirit of the Padlock was taken aback for a moment. Its dim red eyes gazed at Harry with a mixture of a shake of the head and a hint of admiration.

"You reckless lad… very well. But don’t blame me if every muscle in your body feels like it’s about to give way tomorrow." Just as they were about to walk out.

CRASH!