Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 550 Keeping the Promise (First Update)

Dave could smell it—the ancient stench emanating from the mindless Great Old Ones, emanating from that formless, pitch-black nightmare. Then, the abominable spirit began to devour the wandering souls around it, the malevolent spirit from the lightless void growing stronger. As if shedding the skin of the real universe, its shimmering, sticky flesh began to grow out of thin air; twisted, deformed, bat-like wings hung wetly from its back; deformed ribs protruded grotesquely; and countless bloodshot, trembling eyeballs, dripping with foul-smelling slime, emerged from its ever-extending facial tentacles.

Like a venomous snake slowly shedding its skin, its pupil-less eyes stared at him with a malevolent, mocking gaze. In the filthy light, the monster donned a heavy, opulent velvet robe reeking of nauseating incense. Embroidered in gold thread were numerous tormented human faces, from which faint, agonizing wails could be heard. It stared at him with a face riddled with necrotic eyeballs, its bony, twisted, and broken fingers slowly pointing at Dave with a strange elegance. Dave noticed six drops of blood flowing from his finger. The watch's noise amplified infinitely; the second hand ticked six times erratically before transforming into nauseating flesh and slime. His chest remained still, as if he were already dead.

The terrified little magician was completely oblivious to the monster and his own abnormality. He only thought about running away, dragging his ignorant and foolish steps, fleeing this ocean of extreme madness born of unrestrained emotions, fleeing this monster that had no will other than chaotic thinking.

This thing's appearance completely defied scientific principles and violated all the common sense of the real universe! This deformed, repulsive monster did not belong to this world! He had thought that after learning magic, fear would be a thing of the past. He could banish ghosts, kill vampires and werewolves, and bring sculptures to life. But he had never encountered such a hideous monster! He couldn't recall any of his magic, not a single spell; all the obscure words he had learned had vanished from his mind. He had lost the aid of fire and lightning, lost the ability to shape anything in his palm. This feeling nearly drove him to the brink of collapse; the viscous footsteps of the monster approaching felt like they were tearing his heart apart.

Just as Dave was about to turn and run, he suddenly calmed down, for he saw light behind him. That light possessed a beauty unmatched by anything in the world, a ray more dazzling than the stars piercing the darkness. A familiar voice rang out, and a gleaming sword vaporized the endless nightmares lingering around the evil spirit. Dave regained his memories. Merlin, Salomon, interstellar travel, outer dimensions. Salomon's voice sounded extremely majestic, his figure overwhelming the sinister chaotic creature like a giant. The filthy fear and guilt that had festered in the corners of Dave's heart were washed away and diluted by a warm current of courage that seemed to come from nowhere.

His back straightened again, and his fingers stopped trembling.

"I think I can do it, I definitely can this time," Dave whispered, forcing himself to turn away and face his fear.

"Maybe this time he can complete his transformation." Merlin crossed his legs and sank into the filthy sofa provided by the ship's black market merchant. Chemical fibers peeked out from the holes, protesting Merlin's weight. This was a spaceship carrying Xandar snails. For many, Xandar snails were a delicacy, but Salomon, jet-lagged, didn't really want the slimy stuff, so Merlin ate everything by himself. Poor Dave lay pale on a chair next to him, his forehead covered in cold sweat, a pillow under his head, enduring the side effects of his first physical journey through an outer dimension. The hybrid nightmare's educational methods were simple and brutal, but extremely effective. He wanted to mold Dave into an invincible magician, so he didn't provide any protection, allowing the demons of Sithon to erode his will.

Salomon remained pessimistic about his approach, but his protests were ultimately rejected.

“Transformation doesn’t happen overnight,” Salomon frowned. “Dave’s past is filled with weakness and compromise. He doesn’t know what he should be doing. He studies physics only because he’s good at it, and the only thing he does according to his own will is pursue that girl. If that girl dies—which is inevitable, she won’t live more than a hundred years. Have you thought about what he’ll become? I can’t exactly make him do the Collatz conjecture, can I?”

What is the Kolas conjecture?

"Mathematical problem."

"Damn it, don't mention that stuff. Math is the devil! Besides, you weren't exactly prepared to take responsibility from the start, were you? That's the meaning of education. To awaken the soul, develop abilities, and unlock potential. Dave has potential, I'm willing to bet, because I set the talent test threshold for that ring extremely high… Okay, I admit, I just wanted to give poor Balthazar something to do, and I didn't expect him to find Dave. This boy's potential hasn't been fully realized yet; he needs time and training." Merlin narrowed his eyes, looking at the sleeping Dave. The poor boy had suffered terribly, was mentally exhausted, and could be possessed by evil spirits at any moment. He said meaningfully, "You've helped him again, with your very nature. Do you really realize what that means?"

"I promised Balthazar and the Venerable One to protect Dave until he gains the ability to fight extradimensional beings alone." Salomon shrugged, a small braid slipping from his shoulder. Bayonetta had braided it for him before they set off; the witch's wicked sense of humor had led her to use her own black lace leg bands to bind Salomon's long hair. Salomon gave her a passionate kiss, which resulted in him being chased by Joan of Arc with a hunting rifle, while Bayonetta watched the spectacle wrapped in a sheet.

"And I didn't offer much help; it was mostly his own effort," Salomon said. "I wouldn't watch Dave get possessed and corrupted in front of me."

"See? You're used to saying one thing and meaning another!" Merlin said with a laugh. "Why don't we watch some of Akinka's talk show while we're at it? I love listening to him talk about the British! The TV channels in Xandar are so boring; they're running their 210th anti-discrimination march, and the broadcasts are full of politicians. Who would imagine this is a country that just signed a peace treaty not long ago?"

Salomon rolled his eyes and said nothing.

He could imagine how worried Balthazar was right now. He had made a promise, and he would absolutely keep it. Dave wouldn't die here, at least not now. He kicked aside the smuggler's corpse, walked to the side, and closed his eyes to rest. Xandar snails were never a specialty of the Xandar system; Xandar was just using the name.

He planned to eventually sail the ship back. As for the fact that he didn't have a pilot's license and couldn't understand the ship's control panel, Salomon didn't think it was a big problem. He could learn on the spot, or he could control the pilot to drive it back for him.

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(End of this chapter)