Chapter 17: Astral Dread

Samuel looked at me, eyes wide with fear. Before he could say a word, the woman snapped out of it, dropped to the ground, and screamed, "How dare you hit me! Ronald, I got hit! Are you just gonna stand there?"

Ronald looked super uncomfortable. The woman kept yelling, "Ronald, get someone to arrest them both!"

Everyone was on edge, waiting to see what Ronald would do. Just then, someone rushed over from the edge of the crowd and whispered something in Ronald's ear.

Seeing Ronald ignore her, the woman lost it even more. She got up and threw herself into Ronald's arms, "I'm telling you, if you don't arrest them, I will..."

"Shut up!" A powerful voice boomed through the hallway, and the woman instantly went quiet.

I turned to see an elderly man, around seventy, walking slowly towards us. The crowd parted for him like the Red Sea.

Someone in the crowd whispered, "It's Mr. Clark."

"Oh man, the young girl is Mr. Clark's favorite granddaughter."

"This is gonna be good!"

Edward Clark first walked up to his son Ronald and said coldly, "You, the police chief, can't even control your wife. What kind of future do you have?"

Then he turned and walked towards Fiona and me, "I have a general idea of what's going on. I'm swallowing my pride here to beg you, please save my granddaughter."

With that, Edward actually bowed slightly to Fiona and me in front of everyone.

Fiona and I quickly reached out to help Edward up. Just as I was about to say something, Edward waved his hand and turned to the woman, saying, "Come over here and apologize to them!"

Terrified of Edward, the woman wordlessly approached and bowed to Fiona and me, "I'm sorry, both of you. I was just anxious. Please forgive me..."

"Alright, time is ticking," Edward cut her off, "Please save my granddaughter!"

Fiona and I rushed towards the emergency room. The woman still looked skeptical, glancing at Edward like she wanted to say something but kept quiet.

Samuel led us back to the emergency room and closed the door. I pulled out a dark gold ring from my pocket.

This was a Beneware, something I had grabbed from the miscellaneous cabinet.

The outside of the ring had the seven brightest stars of the Ursa Major constellation engraved on it. Inside, there was an engraving of a playful child, whose posture matched the seven stars perfectly.

At that moment, the scene before my eyes was like an astrologer treating patients until the end of their life, earning praise throughout their lifetime.

This ring was called Sunstrike.

I stared at the ring and took a deep breath, hoping it would work its magic.

The girl's vitals were still dropping. I placed my hand between her eyebrows, gently drew a circle, and then placed the Sunstrike on her abdomen. Suddenly, a black mist surged from between her eyebrows and rushed towards her abdomen!

This was exactly what I wanted. The black mist, underestimating the power of the Sunstrike, attempted to enter the girl's abdomen but was immediately ensnared by it, rendered immobile!

I grabbed the Sunstrike and traced the path of the seven brightest stars of the Ursa Major constellation in the air. A white light flashed from the Sunstrike's star path. Sensing trouble, the black mist desperately attempted to flee, but the radiant white light swiftly enveloped it. Within moments, the black mist dissipated completely.

At this point, the girl's vital signs were slowly returning to normal.

I felt a tightness in my chest, just as Lorenzo had once told me, "We're ordinary people, and trying to suppress things beyond our understanding, like the Sinwaft, inevitably harms our bodies."

"Are you alright?" Fiona asked, seeing my pale face, and quickly supported me.

Samuel also looked at me with concern.

I smiled weakly and waved my hand, "I'm fine, she should be fine too."

Seeing that I was okay, Samuel quickly helped me out and shared the good news with everyone outside.

Edward and his family thanked me before going in to see the girl.

Half an hour later, the girl woke up. Ronald came up to me and tightly grasped my hand, "I must apologize to you. Please don't mind my wife's behavior. How would you like me to show my appreciation? Just say it, and I'll make it happen."

I shook my head, "Mr. Clark, I just saved a life, I don't seek any reward."

"I knew I wasn't wrong about you! From now on, don't be a stranger. If you'll allow me, how about I become your brother?"

I was taken aback. Ronald was at least thirty years older than me, and it wasn't easy for him to say that.

Fiona chimed in, "I second that on Dennis' behalf. You guys should consider each other brothers from now on."

I no longer stood on ceremony, "Alright, then I'll see you as my brother from now on! But..."

Seeing that I had more to say, Ronald looked around to make sure no one was nearby, "Go ahead, Dennis, spill it."

I nodded slightly, "Ronald, I think someone is trying to harm you. A few days from now, on June 12th, which is the day of 'Astral Dread,' don't go anywhere after sunset. Stay home and wait for me."