CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: THE ONE WHO PRAYS FOR PEACE

The probing light cut through the pitch-black space, revealing a low tunnel into which everyone jumped.

The tunnel was quite low and so narrow that they had to stoop and advance slowly, one by one.

Gami piloted the mechanical walker in the lead. Its four tentacles extended forward, holding the lantern, its weapon muzzle already pointing straight ahead.

Alka walked in the middle, while Jason guarded the rear.

The three maintained this formation, cautiously passing through.

The tunnel, apparently unopened for years, held a thick, somewhat pungent odor.

Simple supports lined the tunnel walls. It wasn’t very long, and they soon neared its end.

"We’re almost at the end," Gami said, sensing a stone wall in the dimness ahead.

Hearing this, the two behind them became more vigilant.

They slowed their steps further.

"I feel it! It’s a Soul Body!"

Lucilia’s voice suddenly came through. Hearing her, Alka hastily grabbed the back of Gami’s vehicle, bringing it to a halt.

The vehicle stopped immediately. Sensing Alka’s abrupt action, the other two stopped obediently without question. Their coordination was perfect.

Alka said nothing; a bullet imbued with the Holy Light Attribute appeared in his hand.

Seeing what Alka held, the other two understood immediately; after all, they had just used similar bullets with the Holy Light Attribute to eliminate an Evil Spirit.

This environment wasn’t suitable for fighting an Evil Spirit; they could easily be trapped.

Jason was about to retreat from the tunnel when a mechanical tentacle snatched the hem of his clothes.

He saw Gami in the cockpit point upwards, then quickly close the hatch.

Jason immediately understood. The crown temporarily on his head could emit Holy Light and imbue all his attacks with the Holy Light Attribute.

Jason’s Magic Power already possessed a trace of the Holy Light Attribute; amplified by this Magic Item, it should have a powerful suppressive effect on Evil Spirits. Realizing this, he immediately nodded.

The three squeezed past each other in the narrow space to swap positions.

Jason moved to the front, and the other two retreated slightly.

At Jason’s hand signal, the three advanced again, this time even more cautiously.

It was only a few more meters, but they took over ten seconds to cover the distance.

As the lantern light spread, they saw the scene at the tunnel’s end.

There, they saw the soul of a woman. Her entire form was a faint, transparent white, with wisps of mist swirling around her.

She sat quietly on the ground in a corner, watching them, showing no intention of attacking. Nor did she make any attempt to hide.

Furthermore, this female Spiritual Body looked surprisingly normal. She lacked the sinister, eerie green glow often seen in such entities and still retained a human appearance, aside from being semi-transparent and pale white.

Upon seeing them, a joyful expression clearly lit up her face.

"You’ve come in! Thank heavens."

The three already had their weapons aimed at her.

Seeing the three pointing their weapons at her, she tilted her head in confusion. "Didn’t that young lady sense the fluctuations I sent her way?"

Hearing this, the trio’s aim didn’t waver; their weapons remained pointed directly at the Spiritual Body before them.

Meanwhile, Lucilia materialized, perched on Alka’s back. She made a shushing gesture towards the Spiritual Body lady ahead.

The Spiritual Body lady immediately spoke, "Please don’t be afraid. I’m not like those Evil Spirits outside; I’m just a soul trapped here. I won’t harm you. I only hope for your help."

Seeing that they remained silent, she continued.

"I pray for Eternal rest, not this unending confinement."

Hearing this, Alka was the first to ask, "Who are you, and why are you here?"

The three remained vigilant, their weapons unmoving, fingers on the triggers, ready to fire at the slightest provocation.

"My name is Jasmine. I was once the mistress of this estate and, in life, an Observer. You know of Observers, don’t you? You don’t seem surprised to see me."

"Continue," Jason said.

Hearing Jason, the Spiritual Body girl named Jasmine nodded.

"This is my secret passage for hiding things. That day, I was placing something here when suddenly a powerful surge of Energy swept over me, draining the life from my body."

"When I awoke again, I had become a Spiritual Body, imprisoned in this dark world."

She then waved her hand, and a section of the floor beside her suddenly flipped open. This abrupt action made the three even more wary; they nearly pulled their triggers.

The floor panel opened, revealing a skeleton beneath.

"That’s my body... my corpse. Well, you’ll have to forgive a girl who hasn’t spoken to anyone in who-knows-how-many years for her desperate urge to talk."

After hearing the Spiritual Body girl’s account, Alka stepped back a few paces and said, "If that’s the case, then there’s nothing more for us to discuss. We can’t help you with the darkness here."

"We’ll take our leave now."

At his words, the other two also retreated a few steps, preparing to follow Alka and slowly back out of the tunnel.

This place wasn’t safe. Although the ghostly girl before them seemed to have no hostile intentions, who could truly know? It was better to leave.

Seeing the three begin to leave, the Spiritual Body girl immediately reached out, calling urgently, "Wait! I need your help!"