LOM: Lord of Mysticism

"I need you to be my support!" Swain added and quickly made his way to the exit.

Klein, Old Neil, and Swain ran across the road and entered the harbor district.

"On that boat." Swain pointed at a cargo ship not far away. "Two Mandated Punishers are circling the Rampager, preventing him from entering the Tussock River. Help me influence him and bring him under control. Leave the rest to me."

"Alright, b-but you have to give me a minute. Phew, a minute to recover." Old Neil said.

Swain charged up to the ship and joined the fight.

Upon hearing the sounds of combat on the ship, Old Neil looked at Klein. He took out a piece of silver from a hidden pocket near his waist and passed it to Klein. "Slumber Charm. The incantation to activate this amulet is the phrase 'Evernight' in ancient Hermes. After you finish the incantation, inject your spirituality into the charm and then throw it at the target after three seconds."

This charm was carved with Hermes incantations on both sides, as well as the corresponding symbols, Path Numbers, and the spell's characteristics. Klein didn't need to activate his Spirit Vision to feel its serene power.

Old Neil took out a similar charm from his hidden pocket and held it in his palm as he walked toward the cargo ship.

Klein placed the charm into his left pocket, took out his revolver, and made his way up the steps with Old Neil, boarding the cargo ship.

This ship had obvious signs of age. Although it was powered by steam and had a chimney, it retained its past fixtures such as its mast and sails. Furthermore, only its surface and some other portions were plated with metal; the remaining sections of the ship were made of wood.

As the sounds of the battle intensified, Klein heard a loud noise amid the din while searching for a way to enter the cabin.

The wooden cabin was instantly shattered, its fragments flying everywhere. A figure fell through the hole and crashed onto the side of the ship.

Klein didn't have the luxury of time to evaluate the man's injuries. His gaze was focused on the monster, which was charging towards the hole.

The monster wore a tattered shirt and trousers. Its ankles were covered with dark green scales, and a layer of skin had formed between its fingers and toes, as if they were the webbed limbs of an aquatic creature.

Its scales were coated with a sticky fluid that continuously dripped onto the floor.

Sizzle!

The sticky dark-green liquid corroded the deck slightly, leaving visible marks behind.

Bam! Swain punched the monster from the side, causing it to stagger two steps.

Despite having his punches and kicks connect, they were unable to smash through its scales and cause physical harm.

Swain was momentarily reduced to a wretched state as he staggered. If not for his astounding sense of balance and the efforts of the other Mandated Punishers to shoot and suppress the monster, Klein suspected that this blue-eyed elder would've been beaten to death by it.

Swain took multiple steps back, then advanced once again. Klein could sense that he was accumulating something.

Swain was sent to retreat, his body obscuring another Mandated Punisher's field of vision. The monster took this chance to charge towards the opening, wanting to escape the ship and jump into the Tussock River!

Looking at the monster, Klein lifted his right hand and pulled the trigger, and the silver demon-hunting bullet hit the monster's body just as he predicted but failed to fully penetrate its body.

The monster let out a shriek before pouncing at him, but Klein hunched down and rolled to the side.

Clang! He felt the ship shake. At the same time, he heard an old but deep voice recite an incantation in ancient Hermes, "Evernight!"

Klein rolled over two more times and saw Old Neil tossing out his charm.

The piece of silver was instantly swallowed by a dark red flame and released a faint sound.

A deep, serene power spread forth. The monster, who had almost destroyed the side of the ship, became sluggish.

Swain charged out from the cabin and hit the monster on the head, barely inflicting a wound. Klein could sense that whatever the blue-eyed elder was accumulating had finally reached its peak.

The monster seemed to recover. It flailed its arm and made Swain take five steps back in retreat, his steps causing cracks to form on the deck.

Seeing that the monster was about to turn around and jump off the cargo ship, Klein hurriedly took out his own Slumber Charm. After which, he recited in Ancient Hermes the phrase, "Evernight!"

Klein felt the silver charm turn ice-cold. He injected his spirituality into it, then threw it, sending the charm flying towards the monster.

Meanwhile, the monster jumped into the air, emitting dark red flames that illuminated the surrounding darkness, and fell onto the dock in a half-asleep state.

Klein was just about to rush to the side and shoot at the monster's head when he suddenly saw Swain charge out.

Using his spiritual perception, Klein could feel something erupt. Swain descended and slammed into the monster, landing a heavy fist on its head.

The monster's skull shattered into pieces. Dark red blood and grayish brain matter laced with the green sticky liquid splattered all over the ground.

"Is this one of the abilities of a Folk of Rage?" Klein muttered as he stood near the broken side of the ship.

Old Neil held his left arm and leaned over to look at what had happened below.

Swain stood straight, staring at the monster under his feet that had just lost its life. He took out a metal flask and opened the lid, drinking a good half of the liquor before pouring the remaining onto the monster. After finishing this, he looked like he had aged considerably, his back hunching a little.

Old Neil sighed as he looked at the scene below. "I know this Mandated Punisher who lost control. He followed Swain for almost thirty years, once clearing water ghosts who had been killing people on the shore. He also captured evil Beyonders who were trying to escape through the Tussock River..."

He didn't continue, but Klein understood: a guard who had made many contributions and killed countless monsters ended up becoming a monster himself.

This was not an isolated incident. It was a possible outcome that many members of the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, or Machinery Hivemind would one day face.