North America Gunman Detective

Chapter 1253 - 687: Elimination

If it weren't for Father Rodney's quick reflexes, shielding Jimmy directly, he would have emptied the chamber when the woman lunged at him. Now that Father Rodney was engaged in battle with the woman, he could only back off a bit, ready to ambush from the side.

Father Bennett stood nearby. With the woman fighting against Father Rodney, other priests didn't just stand by, including Bennett; three priests with close combat skills joined the fray, each wielding their weapons.

The woman's combat strength didn't seem particularly strong, at least far inferior to Father Bennett when he was possessed, but she possessed a unique ability: rapid recovery.

Father Rodney and the other three slashed numerous wounds on the woman with short swords and daggers, but only moments later, the wounds vanished as if they were never there.

Nearby, Jimmy raised his revolver, noticing the same thing. Just like the previous shot he fired, the hole quickly healed.

Dealing with a monster that heals rapidly posed a challenge to the priests, as their injuries seemed not to affect her abilities. They had to avoid getting hurt as the wraith's power threatened to erode them. Gradually, the priests expanded their encirclement, giving them more room to maneuver.

"Bang! Bang!" Seizing the enlarged encirclement, Jimmy fired two consecutive shots at the woman's forehead. The demon-breaking attribute, along with the bullet's momentum, blew open a hole at the top of her head. The woman staggered back, tilted her head, and fell, but as Father Rodney raised his short sword to strike, she straightened back up. After she pushed Father Rodney back again, the damage from Jimmy's earlier shots had wholly healed.

Jimmy: "Her ability must be water-related; she'll heal. Think of something, Father."

Father Rodney, clearly aware of the issue, shouted while fighting, "Antonio, prepare for confinement."

During combat, Father Rodney set down his Bible, drew a bottle of Holy Water from his person, and hurled it as he neared the woman. He instantly slashed the bottle with his short sword, letting Holy Water spill onto the woman, a sizzling corrosion sound ensued, causing her to painfully retreat.

Engaged priests continued their assault but, as before, seemed to achieve little.

Jimmy did not relent, seizing opportunities as the priests were driven back, firing at the woman to hinder her movements, dealing significant damage. The exorcism weapons inflicted damage that healed swiftly, but Jimmy consistently aimed for the white spots, exploiting demon-breaking and weak point attacks, causing far more harm than the priests' step-by-step sword cuts could. If not for the priests keeping her occupied, she'd likely have targeted Jimmy first.

This woman seemed to be composed of lake water; though Holy Water countered her, its impact was not severe due to her water constitution, though it was highly painful.

Three priests uninvolved in combat had been reading from the Bible nearby when Father Rodney called. One immediately dashed to a nearby chest, extracting the Holy Relic to prepare the Confinement Array; the others also approached to assist.

They found a stone, clearing soil and debris off its surface, using the Exorcism Badge as a center, carved patterns and words onto the stone, cleansed it with Holy Water, and covered the engravings with Holy Salt, soon completing an Exorcism Altar.

"Done!"

Antonio, who led the preparation of the Confinement Altar, shouted, and the three priests promptly branched off around the stone-made altar, each holding a Bible and a crucifix, forming a triangle and waiting for Rodney and the rest.

Hearing Antonio's call, Father Rodney and Father Bennett coordinated, striking the woman with reinforced Bibles, little by little luring and driving her toward the altar.

Although already a Resentful Spirit, the woman retained some intelligence and heard their plan. She intensified her attacks, trying to break free, but escaping from the four priests' assault proved challenging, as she was slowly driven toward the altar. Each time she attempted to escape the encirclement, Jimmy would seize the opportunity to shoot, hindering her movements; even trying to fly away failed, as Jimmy restrained her flying height.

Finally, Father Rodney and his cohort moved within the triangular zone formed by the three altar-making priests, who simultaneously commenced chanting Holy Words, "O Sacred Lord, descend upon this land and bind the wicked force."

As they chanted, the hastily crafted Confinement Altar emitted a soft white glow, not blinding but enveloping the space between the three priests. Bathed in light, the woman emitted painful cries absent of their former jarring discomfort, now only reflecting her agony.

As the glow gradually enveloped her, her movements became increasingly sluggish, allowing Father Rodney and his comrades' short swords and daggers to strike her more frequently, pushing her toward the altar's center.

Nearing the altar, the flashing altar light suddenly intensified, and several light-formed bindings akin to ropes appeared on the woman, anchoring her in place. Finally, Father Rodney and the others could pause while the surrounding priests formed a circle, accompanying the trio in their continued chant.