Season one, chapter thirty-six

"I am stronger
than you think"

"The release of CCTV footage from random serial killings that occurred this afternoon at a commercial building in Jungjin has shocked the public" The journalist on the television said "The police collected all the footage from the area..."

"That's Ji Cheong-sin. Isn't it?" Mun asked when he saw pictures of the aforementioned next to Baek Hyang-hui, Park Ye-jun and another man. Thea did not expect anything more from her uncle, after seeing his memories it made her hair stand on end

Let's add that she still hasn't told the group anything about the fact that she now knows everything her uncle did before her parents were brutally murdered. And she had no plans to do it, she would make him pay on her own without anyone's help.

"They're narrowing down..."

"What are those jerks doing?" Mo-tak asked without taking his eyes off the television screen

"What should we do?" Hana questioned "They'll keep doing that when we they get hungry" She turned to look at Ms. Chu, the leader of the group

"It's not something we can handle. This isn't good. Let's go up together" Ms. Chu recommended colliding glances with each team member

"According to the police, the tip line or social media..."

Minutes later Thea and Mun bowed to the spirits of Yung in front of them as they walked towards them with the rest of the team behind them.

"Ji Cheong-sin has become complete" Wi-gen began to say

"Complete?" Mun asked with confusion

"The host and the evil spirit have become one" Hana explained, both of them clashing glances when they turned to look at each other at the same time

"What?"

"That's the infamous final level of the evil spirit" Mo-tak exclaimed with his eyes wide open not believing what his ears were hearing

"He's now immortal. He'll now live forever" Gi-ran explained with a serious expression

"Wait, then what... what's going to happen now?" Mun stammered, thinking of the worst

"Our references say that an evil spirit who become whole obtains a new kind of power" Wi-gen explained once again

"What is it?" Mo-tak tilted his head to the side in interest

"It can began to heal itself just as Ms. Chu does" Her eyes turned to the short-haired woman

"What is this?" Thea sighed heavily, this meant that their job would become even more complicated, and they might not stand a chance against him

"So how can we capture him? It's our first time, but I'm sure you have some kind of data" Ms. Chu exclaimed with hope that there was a solution to all of this

"Yes, you just mentioned that you had references" Mo-tak pointed out agreeing with Ms. Chu

"It's from over a century ago" Su-ho explained just as doubtfully as the others

"What?"

"It's practically our first time too, Ms. Chu" U-sik added

"What kind of nonsense is this?" Mo-tak murmured, taking menacing steps forward

"Wait" Hana grabbed his arm, stopping him from taking another step "So, what do you guys suggest? All of us together barely managed to capture a level three. So..."

"One second" Mun interrupted her "Then... what will happen now? I mean, my mom and dad's souls. If Ji Cheong-sin won't die and will live forever, what will happen to my mom and dad?"

"A month after an evil spirit unites with its host, the souls it ate up..." Wi-gen stopped for a few seconds "Will perish"

"Perish?"

"We can't summon them?" Mo-tak questioned with his eyes wide open in surprise

"You promised... to let me see my mom and dad. You promised!" Mun began to say out loud, feeling like tears were threatening to come out of his eyes "I have to tell them something one last time!"

"Mun" Thea said quietly, taking steps forward until she was finally at her boyfriend's side, thus taking his trembling hand in hers with the intention of calming him down a little

"There is one way" Wi-gen said standing in front of the couple

"What is it?" He wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jacket as he squeezed his girlfriend's hand for comfort "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Barrier" Wi-gen said simply leaving everyone confused

"Barrier?" Mo-tak asked with confusion "What is that?"

"Su-ho" Wi-gen looked at the aforementioned who nodded before leaving in some direction

"What is it?" Mo-tak went after him waiting for answers

Su-ho then returned with a white blanket wrapped around what seemed to be something mysterious, but large and important. He placed the blanket on the floor beginning to untie the ropes that wrapped it and thus reveal five white wooden sticks.

"We've only seen this method in old writings" Su-ho explained, now all of Yung's spirits holding one of the wooden sticks in their hands

"It's our first time, so we can't make any guarantees" U-sik warned them

"So what is this?" Mo-tak asked, watching how the group positioned themselves in different parts of the place "Are you asking us to do something that's not even verified?"

"What are these staffs? You always just stay there. Where did you get these?" Ms. Chu began to ask, going after her son

"What kind of nonsense is this? What is this?" Mo-tak said approaching his partner Yung

Thea stood in front of Hyun-ki, with her hands behind her back, she had nothing to say, she deeply trusted her partner and did not doubt that if he did not oppose to all this it meant that a part of him trusted that this was going to work.

"These were made with birch trees planted by the first Yung people. I Guess you could call them magical staffs" Gi-ran began to explain

"Like in Harry Potter?" Hana asked her Yung partner in front of her

"But I'm not sure if these can really do magic" Gi-ran added stopping Mo-tak's hand before he could touch the sacred stick in her hands

"Be careful not to get hurt. It could get dangerous" Wi-gen warned with a serious face

"We could get hurt?" Hana exclaimed, worry washing over her in seconds, approaching the eldest of Yung's spirits

"Why are you telling us to do this? You haven't even examined this" Mo-tak claimed with hurried steps before being stopped by Mun

"This is the only way... to catch a level four" Hyun-ki explained, all eyes landing on him in a matter of seconds

"Hyun-ki, are you serious..." Mo-tak exclaimed, raising his voice, walking menacingly towards the aforementioned

"No" Ms. Chu stopped him halfway "Let's hear them out first. He says it's the only way"

"Okay. U-sik, you go first" The aforementioned sighed before hitting the stick against the floor, followed by Gi-ran, Su-ho and Hyun-ki "Now, everyone, watch closely. Especially you, Mun" Wi-gen sighed deeply, closing her eyes before hitting the stick against the white floor

Immediately, a transparent barrier began to be created around them, weakening the group of counters in a matter of seconds.

"What you're seeing right now is the barrier. Someone from Yung or someone who's with them can raise this staff to create a barrier. And those who have souls in them will become weak once they're trapped in this barrier and they can't use any powers like psychokinesis. On the other hand, Counters will lose their spiritual powers as the territory powers them" Wi-gen explained not even opening her mouth to do so, her eyes now a white color that looked as if she had been possessed by some evil spirit

Thea watched as Ms. Chu and Hana were now on the floor, however she remained standing feeling a great invisible force trying its best to knock her down to the ground.

"Then if we can bring Ji Cheong-sin into this barrier, we can also summon him, right? Right?" Mun asked with difficulty standing

"But remember, in order to use your power within this barrier, you need Yung's territory. That means, Mun, you must be in full control of the territory" Wi-gen added

"Enough!" Mo-tak shouted and finally the barrier around them disappeared completely "It almost killed me to just stand here. Are you sure we can do this?"

Thea took a deep breath as if the oxygen had escaped from her lungs. Her legs felt weak and seemed like they wanted to give up at any second.

"Those who create it are outside, so it's possible. But you won't be able to move while you hold the barrier up" Gi-ran explained with her heavy breathing "And even though it isn't as bad as being inside, it's still draining. There's a chance you won't be able to hold out" She added based on her experience

"It's even tough for the people of Yung" Hana exclaimed holding her partner who was now on the floor

"He must be summoned quickly to maintain the safety of the Counters who are outside the barrier, as well as the ones inside" Su-ho added as Ms. Chu patted his shoulder helping him control his breathing

"Everyone, remember. When the territory is gone, the barrier will be gone too. And once the barrier is gone, the Counters could also find themselves in danger" Wi-gen explained holding the white stick

"Be careful" Gi-ran said to Mo-tak patting his shoulder

"And, Mun... In creating the barrier and summoning the evil spirit within that barrier, the most important thing is the territory. Do you understand?"

"I'll do it" Mun nodded determinedly "I will... make sure I'll control the territory of Yung"

Thea sighed deeply, recovering her posture, Mun sounded determined to do it and The doesn't want to see how far he can go to fulfill the requirement that Wi-gen asked of him.

Author's note;

Can you guess which episode of the series were currently in? Not cheating and entering Netlix to check out 👀 whoever guesses it will surely mean that they are true fans 😁

Question of the day: What is the worst food you have ever had in your entire life? 🍔🥗

The most horrible thing I've ever tried would probably be sushi 🍱 See y'all in the next chapter my dear readers! 💞