Chapter 14: Gothic Punk Doesn't Suit You
"I like challenging tasks."
Allen narrowed his eyes, waiting for Alessa to assign the mission.
"Collect two fragments of the Flauros, fuse them, and then destroy them with the Redemption Blade," Alessa stated bluntly.
Allen didn't react at all, his eyes locked onto Alessa's.
The two stared at each other for a long time.
Alessa started to feel uneasy and tentatively asked, "Is it too difficult?"
"Give me the mission details and key information so I know where to find the necessary items. I've been waiting here forever, and you expect me to solve riddles?"
"…"
Alessa was momentarily stunned. It seemed she hadn't explained things clearly.
Silent Hill was vast; expecting someone to search aimlessly alone was unrealistic.
"There are two fragments. One is inside the former priest's body—I can provide his location. The other is with Krista. She has been hiding in the church, but she is protected by hundreds of followers. You'll have to figure out a way on your own," Alessa explained.
"This mission is indeed challenging. I'll need extra payment."
Allen stroked his chin, bargaining.
"The fragments are made of gold," Alessa added.
"What are we waiting for? Eliminating a cult is a righteous cause!"
"…"
Following Alessa's guidance, Allen passed through several buildings and arrived at a hidden house.
A heavy iron lock secured the door, and there was no other entrance.
Alessa hesitated and warned, "There's another demonic force protecting this place. I can't open the door—you'll have to do it yourself."
"Not a problem."
With one strike, Allen cleaved through the iron lock.
A normal sword might not have been able to cut through a lock as thick as a thumb, but with the Shadow Blade skill infused, the result was completely different.
Alessa was shocked by the sheer power of the strike—it even made her feel a sense of threat.
Clearly, the blade carried some form of supernatural force.
Pushing open the door, Allen stepped inside.
Inside the sealed room, an unkempt old man was shackled by multiple iron chains.
When he sensed someone entering, he raised his head. His murky eyes, resembling lychees, emitted an eerie glow.
Allen blurted out in shock, "Damn! The potential of an emperor! Born with double pupils—could it be that you're Shi Yi?"
"Come closer, young man. I have cataracts and can't see clearly," the old man weakly pleaded.
Allen patted his chest in reassurance and muttered, "I haven't even developed the Supreme Bone yet, and Alessa wants me to solo a double-pupil wielder? That would be suicide. Good thing he's just a half-blind old man—I got scared for nothing."
"Alessa?"
The old man became agitated. "The demon child Alessa sent you?"
"Yeah, she gave me this mission," Allen answered sincerely.
"She is the demon child—everything she says is a lie. You must be careful," the old man warned gravely. "Alessa must have sent you to retrieve the fragment from my body, then collect the other one and destroy them both. You must not do this! If she regains her full power, no one will survive."
If Allen hadn't watched Silent Hill: Revelation, he might have actually believed the old man's words.
This guy was the very same priest from the second movie—after fusing both fragments, he transformed into a monstrous abomination.
His imprisonment here was simply the result of losing a power struggle.
"I already have one fragment. What should I do now? Maybe you should hold onto it for me?"
Allen smirked mischievously, though he had no fragment in hand—he was merely testing the old man.
In the second movie, the new high priest had entrusted the other fragment to his son, temporarily taking it out of Silent Hill to deliver it to the protagonist, Sharon.
Now, it was confirmed to be in Krista's possession.
"That deceitful Krista likely created a fake to hide the real one. Show me so I can verify its authenticity," the old man said impatiently, reaching out eagerly.
The mere thought of obtaining the complete Flauros crest and regaining his power made him visibly excited.
Splat…
A sword pierced through his throat.
Allen grinned wickedly. "You actually believed me? How can you be so gullible at your age?"
Cough cough…
The old man clutched his throat, blood bubbling from his mouth, unable to utter a single word. His expression shifted from confusion to pure rage.
Allen delivered another diagonal slash, slicing from the neck down to the heart.
A radiant golden disc was embedded within the old man's chest.
"Such a big chunk of gold—I'm rich!"
Allen tore off a piece of cloth from the corpse and wrapped up the fragment.
It seemed the fragment's power needed cultists to activate it. The moment the old man died, Alessa appeared in the room.
"I heard the conversation outside. Do you believe him, or do you believe me?" Alessa asked.
"Sorry, I just made a mistake that all men tend to make."
Allen leaned against the wall with one hand on his hip, speaking in the tone of a domineering CEO. "Baby, you'll forgive me, won't you?"
Alessa realized how pointless it was to ask a madman such a question.
On the way to the church, they passed a restroom.
Allen suddenly stopped and waved Alessa over. "Come here for a second."
"What is it?"
Alessa frowned, unable to guess what Allen was up to this time.
"Just come in, and you'll see."
As she followed him inside, Allen turned on the faucet, letting water fill the sink.
"What are you doing?"
A sudden sense of unease crept over Alessa.
Splash!
The next second, Allen dunked her head into the water, scrubbing her dirty hair vigorously. He grinned. "I've been wanting to wash your hair for a while now—Gothic punk really doesn't suit you."
"Enough!"
Alessa struggled and shouted angrily, lifting her head.
Splash!
But her petite frame was no match for Allen's monstrous strength.
Filthy black water spilled over the sink as the faucet continued running, flushing away the grime.
Only when the water finally ran clear did Allen end his merciless hair-washing session.
Alessa sat motionless, her drenched hair dripping onto the floor, her eyes vacant.
That cold water had seemingly washed away her dignity as the demon child.
An utter humiliation.
She endured it.
Vengeance was her priority.
For now, Alessa swallowed her anger.
…
Inside the church.
The Otherworld had descended, and all the cultists had gathered, seeking refuge from the encroaching darkness.
A golden disc lay at the center of the church, surrounded by worshippers in prayer.
The Flauros fragment, imbued with demonic power, radiated a brilliant glow, offering solace to the terrified cultists.
Krista, leading the prayers, gazed at the golden disc with a somber expression.
After five years, its power was waning again. A new sacrifice would be needed to maintain its strength.
One should never make deals with demons without expecting a price.
After all, the most expensive things are often those given for free.
Luckily, each sacrifice only required a single life, buying them another five years of safety. And now, with two outsiders captured, they could secure ten years of peace.
"Bruce, I think we're in trouble. That old woman is looking at us strangely."
"Oliver, we might be facing the worst-case scenario."
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