Chapter 36 Earthbound Spirit ②
"Watch out!" Ai Haibara's eyes were filled with determination. She held a yellow talisman between two fingers, gently pinched it, and the paper instantly ignited, erupting in a bright flame. Without hesitation, Ai threw the burning talisman at the earthbound spirit.
The earthbound spirit shrieked, a piercing sound that grated on the ears, and thick black smoke billowed from its shadowy form, as if it had been scorched. "Success!" Conan shouted excitedly, his face alight with surprise and anticipation.
However, at that very moment, the earthbound spirit suddenly became even more ferocious. It opened its bloodied maw, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs, and lunged viciously towards Ai Haibara.
Ai was startled, her expression shifting rapidly from hope to alarm. She reacted quickly, attempting to dodge the attack. But the earthbound spirit was incredibly swift, moving with lightning speed, and was mere inches away from striking her.
In that critical instant, Ran reacted instinctively. She stepped in front of Ai and delivered a powerful, swift kick to the earthbound spirit's side. The shadowy figure was sent tumbling through the air several times before crashing heavily to the ground.
Although the earthbound spirit didn't appear to have sustained significant damage from Ran's kick, it was clearly enraged. It quickly righted itself, a palpable aura of anger and resentment radiating from its form.
"Damn human!" the earthbound spirit roared, its voice a guttural snarl filled with fury and frustration. It lunged at Ran again, an unstoppable force.
With graceful agility, Ran sidestepped the earthbound spirit's attack. Then, with the speed of a striking viper, she unleashed another powerful kick, this time connecting squarely with the spirit's abdomen.
The earthbound spirit groaned in pain, its shadowy body contorting as it fell heavily to the ground.
While the earthbound spirit was reeling from Ran's karate strike, momentarily weakened, Koizumi Hongzi seized the opportunity. She swiftly mounted her broom and soared into the air, beginning to chant a series of arcane words. In an instant, dark clouds began to blanket the sky, as if a violent storm was imminent. Immediately following, a brilliant bolt of lightning streaked down from the heavens, striking the earthbound spirit with pinpoint accuracy.
As the thunderclap echoed and the lightning illuminated the scene, the earthbound spirit howled in agony. Smoke curled from its dissipating form, and its already grotesque face twisted into an even more distorted and terrifying visage, as if it were enduring unbearable pain. But this torment did not cause it to retreat; instead, it seemed to fuel its rage even further.
Koizumi Hongzi pressed her advantage, continuing her incantations to summon more bolts of lightning. Thick streaks of electrical energy relentlessly lashed down at the earthbound spirit like silver serpents, leaving it no chance to retaliate. Each lightning strike inflicted significant damage, causing the spirit's shadowy form to flicker and its malevolent aura to gradually weaken.
Under the relentless magical assault, the earthbound spirit finally could no longer maintain its corporeal form. Its shadowy body began to dissipate, gradually dissolving into wisps of black smoke that vanished into the air.
"Great! We finally defeated it!" Inspector Megure cheered, his voice filled with relief and elation. This entire incident had completely shattered his preconceived notions of reality. Without witnessing it firsthand, who would ever believe in the existence of monsters and people who could fly on broomsticks?
Ai Haibara and Ran also breathed sighs of relief, exchanging weary but triumphant smiles.
However, Koizumi Hongzi frowned, a vague sense of unease settling over her. She couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't quite that simple, and the earthbound spirit might not have been truly vanquished.
Her apprehension proved to be well-founded. Just as everyone was beginning to relax, a thick, swirling fog suddenly materialized in front of one of the police officers, engulfing him instantly, leaving only his terrified screams echoing in the air.
Everyone watched this horrifying scene in stunned silence, instinctively stepping back. Eerie, chilling laughter emanated from the dense fog, sending shivers down their spines.
"What's going on? Wasn't the Earthbound Spirit destroyed?" Inspector Megure asked, his face pale with renewed fear.
Koizumi Hongzi said solemnly, "I fear this is just a trick of the earthbound spirit. It may not be dead yet."
As soon as she finished speaking, a figure slowly emerged from the thick fog. It was the police officer who had been swallowed moments before. But now, his eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and a hideous, twisted smile stretched across his face. He had clearly lost control of his own mind.
"Oh no, he's possessed by the earthbound spirit!" Ran exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm.
Koizumi Hongzi quickly began to chant another spell, attempting to break the curse that had taken hold of the police officer. However, the power of the earthbound spirit was too strong, and her magic proved ineffective against its influence.
The possessed police officer approached the terrified crowd step by step, a pistol materializing in his hand, its barrel pointed directly at them.
Chapter 37 Earthbound Spirit ③
"Damn it, how dare you desecrate my men like this!"
Inspector Megure's eyes blazed with fury. He tightened his grip on his handgun, aiming it squarely at the earthbound spirit. The spirit responded with a chilling, sinister laugh, as if mocking Megure's futile attempts.
"You vile creature, get out of his body!" Inspector Megure roared.
He squeezed the trigger, and the bullet whizzed through the air, aimed directly at the possessed officer. However, the earthbound spirit's essence was like smoke; the bullet passed straight through the officer's body without causing any harm to the possessing entity.
Inspector Megure refused to yield. He continued firing, desperately trying to find a weakness in the elusive spirit. The earthbound spirit floated erratically around the room, effortlessly dodging the hail of bullets.
Suddenly, the earthbound spirit halted its movements, its eyes flashing with an eerie, unnatural light. Inspector Megure's heart clenched with dread. He felt a surge of immense power emanating from the malevolent entity.
"Oh no, get out of the way!" Inspector Megure yelled a frantic warning.
His men scrambled to dodge, but it was too late. The earthbound spirit let out a piercing shriek as a powerful wave of dark energy erupted from its form, tearing through everything in the immediate vicinity.
Inspector Megure and his officers were struck by the devastating energy wave and slammed to the ground. Their bodies were riddled with severe injuries, rendering them unable to move.
The earthbound spirit turned its gaze towards Inspector Megure, who lay helpless on the floor, and let out a smug, triumphant laugh.
Just as the earthbound spirit was reveling in its apparent victory, a beam of vibrant green light shot forth from Ai Haibara's hand with the speed of lightning. Channeling the power of the Horse Talisman, the light descended upon Inspector Megure and his fallen officers like a gentle, healing rain. This light pulsed with an extraordinarily potent restorative energy, rapidly mending their ravaged bodies.
Bathed in the emerald glow, the wounds on the injured officers began to close at a pace visible to the naked eye. Their once deathly pale complexions gradually regained their natural color, and a renewed vitality seemed to flow back into their limbs.
"It's unbelievable!" Inspector Megure exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. He could feel his physical strength returning rapidly, and the agonizing pain that had gripped his body vanished without a trace.
The other officers also cried out in astonishment, utterly stunned by this sudden, miraculous recovery.
The earthbound spirit, sensing the unexpected shift in the situation, turned its glowing red eyes towards Ai Haibara, a flicker of surprise and then intense anger in its gaze. It realized that its powerful attack had been effortlessly countered, and that its opponent possessed a mysterious and formidable ability.
"Damn human! How dare you interfere with me?" The earthbound spirit roared, its shadowy form surging forward, intent on interrupting Ai Haibara's healing spell.
However, facing the menacing spirit that advanced step by step, Ai Haibara showed no signs of fear or retreat. She stood her ground, her eyes unwavering and focused, all her concentration directed towards the Horse Talisman clutched tightly in her hand.
Seeing the earthbound spirit drawing closer and closer, now only a few steps away, Ai Haibara felt a surge of nervousness, but her outward demeanor remained calm and resolute. At that precise moment, she suddenly shouted, "Ran, now!"
Hearing Ai's urgent cry, Ran reacted instantly. Without hesitation, she hurled a yellow talisman into the air. The talisman soared in a graceful arc, as if imbued with life, flying directly and accurately towards the approaching earthbound spirit.
The instant the talisman made contact with the shadowy form, it erupted in a blinding golden light, transforming into what looked like massive, ethereal shackles that tightly bound the earthbound spirit. The spirit thrashed violently, desperately trying to break free from the spell's powerful constraints, but no matter how fiercely it struggled, it could not escape the golden bonds.
Seizing this crucial opportunity, Ai Haibara once again amplified the power output of the Horse Talisman. A steady stream of warm, revitalizing energy flowed from her hands like a soothing torrent, pouring into the bodies of Inspector Megure and his men. As time passed, their wounds continued to heal, and the lingering pain gradually dissipated.
Finally, after a concerted effort, Ai Haibara successfully healed Inspector Megure and all of his officers. They stood up one by one, their bodies restored to full strength, their eyes filled with profound gratitude towards Ai and Ran.
"Thank you, Haibara-san, for your incredible help!" Inspector Megure said emotionally, bowing slightly. "If it weren't for you, I'm afraid we would have had a very difficult time escaping this disaster."
"You're welcome, Officer Megure. It's what we had to do," Ai Haibara replied with a small, reassuring smile.
Chapter 38 Earthbound Spirit ④
"Roar!" Ink-black mist billowed from the earthbound spirit, thick and swirling like boiling ink, rapidly corroding the golden restraints binding it. With a guttural snarl, it lunged towards Ai Haibara, its fangs bared and claws extended.
"Ai, squat down quickly!" Hearing the urgent voice, Ai reacted instantly, dropping into a crouch. A powerful gust of wind rushed over her head, followed by the swift passage of a slender, straight leg.
"Bang!" Ran's kick connected solidly with the earthbound spirit, producing a dull thud. The spirit was struck with considerable force, its shadowy form staggering backward several steps. However, it didn't relinquish its attack, immediately surging forward again, its bloody maw gaping open, revealing its sharp fangs, as if intent on tearing Ran to shreds.
Ran's eyes narrowed in focus, her body shifting fluidly as she nimbly evaded the earthbound spirit's pounce. With a light leap, she vaulted over the spirit's head, landing gracefully and firmly beside it.
Ai Haibara stood up, her gaze fixed nervously on the unfolding battle. She knew Ran's strength and skill, but she couldn't help the knot of worry tightening in her stomach. She clutched the yellow talisman tightly in her hand, ready to provide support at a moment's notice.
Just as the earthbound spirit was about to launch its second assault, Ran spun around without hesitation, her movements fluid and precise. She swiftly grabbed the spirit's head, using its own momentum against it, and slammed it forcefully towards the ground.
"Bang!" The earthbound spirit's head made brutal contact with the hard floor, producing a sharp crack. The spirit roared in pain, thrashing and struggling to rise. However, breaking free from Ran's powerful grip was no easy feat.
The earthbound spirit roared again, its shadowy claws flailing wildly, attempting to scratch Ran. But Ran was too agile, easily sidestepping the desperate attacks.
The fierce battle raged on, the confrontation between Ran and the earthbound spirit growing increasingly intense, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Just as Ran was about to deliver a decisive blow, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. The intense movements had aggravated her condition. Seeing her momentarily falter, the earthbound spirit seized the opportunity, lunging at Ran with the intent to deliver a fatal strike. In that critical instant, a figure suddenly materialized – Lin Yu.
He moved in a blur, appearing instantly in front of Ran, shielding her protectively behind him. He effortlessly intercepted the earthbound spirit's attack. Turning to Ran, Lin Yu asked with deep concern, "Ran, are you alright?"
Ran clutched her stomach, shaking her head in pain. Lin Yu quickly helped her sit down nearby, allowing her to rest. Looking at Ran's pale face, Lin Yu felt a pang of distress. He gently stroked her forehead, comforting her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here now, and I won't let anyone hurt you and our child."
However, the earthbound spirit remained relentless, surging forward again, attempting to breach Lin Yu's defenses. Lin Yu's eyes turned cold, and he whispered, "You have a death wish!" He stood up abruptly, unleashing a wave of overwhelming power.
"ROAR!"
With Lin Yu's furious bellow, the sheer force of his aura instantly blasted the earthbound spirit away. The shadowy figure tumbled through the air several times before crashing heavily to the ground, its form shaking uncontrollably as it struggled to rise.
"How dare you harm my loved ones? You've just signed your death warrant!" Lin Yu's voice was laced with fury. He extended his hand, and a massive Qigong wave erupted from his palm. The energy blast was incredibly potent, completely annihilating the earthbound spirit in a blinding flash, reducing everything within a hundred-meter radius to mere ashes.
Lin Yu turned back swiftly, his gaze filled with anxiety as he checked on Ran. He carefully helped her to her feet, asking urgently, "Ran, how do you feel now? I'll take you to the hospital immediately!" Although Ran's face was still pale, she forced a weak smile and replied softly, "I'm fine, Ayu. Luckily, you arrived just in time..." Hearing Ran's reassuring words, a wave of relief washed over Lin Yu.
At this moment, Sonoko Suzuki, who had been watching the incredible display, suddenly exclaimed, "Wow, are you the man who was photographed by the satellite last time? You're so incredibly strong! You destroyed that Earthbound Spirit with a single blow! So cool!" Her face was alight with admiration, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"You jerk, you took so long to come back! I thought you didn't want us anymore!" Ai Haibara launched herself into Lin Yu's arms, pounding his chest with her fists, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Lin Yu held Ai tightly, feeling her warmth and softness, his heart filled with guilt and remorse for the worry he had caused. He whispered soothingly, "I'm so sorry for making you worry. I swear, I will never leave you for so long again."
Ai raised her tear-filled eyes, a hint of her usual sharpness returning. "Hmph, I don't believe you. Get out of the way, I want to check on Ran." With that, she broke free from Lin Yu's embrace and walked directly towards Ran.
However, at that very moment, the Hogyoku within Ran's body seemed to sense its owner's distress and instantly released a surge of powerful energy. This energy flowed through Ran's abdomen like a warm, comforting current, quickly soothing the developing fetus. In just a few seconds, Ran's body returned to its peak condition.
Ai Haibara watched the scene in amazement, secretly marveling at the Hogyoku's miraculous power. Ran looked at Lin Yu with profound gratitude, her eyes filled with tenderness and love.
Chapter 39 Koizumi Akako
In the bar booth, the lights are dim and the music is dynamic.
"Ms. Koizumi Akako, I wonder what's the matter with you asking me out?" Lin Yu held the wine glass and looked at Koizumi Akako who was sitting opposite him, with a faint smile on his lips. Ever since the last incident of the Earthbound Spirit was resolved, he has been immersed in the sweet time with Ran and Ai Haibara, and is reluctant to leave. Now that Koizumi Akako had invited me here, I couldn't help but feel a little curious.
The corners of Koizumi Akako's mouth rose slightly, revealing a meaningful smile, and a mysterious light flashed in her eyes. She said softly, "Mr. Lin Yu, actually I came to see you this time because I do have something very important to discuss with you." Before she finished speaking, she slowly stood up and walked towards Lin Yu gracefully.
As she got closer, a faint fragrance blew across Lin Yu's nose like a breeze. He couldn't help but be slightly stunned, and his eyes were involuntarily drawn over there. Today, Koizumi Akako was wearing a black low-cut cheongsam. The exquisite tailoring perfectly showed off her curvy figure, exuding an irresistible charm. Especially when she bent over and got closer to Lin Yu, the fullness of her breasts was clearly visible, which was a feast for Lin Yu's eyes. Lin Yu swallowed unconsciously, and a strange feeling surged in his heart.
He quickly looked away and coughed to cover up his embarrassment: "Ahem... Miss Koizumi Akako, please tell me what's going on!"
Koizumi Akako seemed to sense his embarrassment, and the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a sly smile: "Mr. Lin Yu, actually, I asked you to come here this time because I want to discuss the secrets of magic with you~"
Lin Yu scratched his head and said, "Magic, but I don't understand magic?"
Koizumi Akako smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Anyway, I just need an heir."
"Heir? Miss Koizumi Akako, what do you mean?" Lin Yu asked in confusion.
Koizumi Akako chuckled and said, "I am the inheritor of Red Magic, but unfortunately my generation will lose the inheritance of Red Magic. The spiritual energy in this world is exhausted. Not only our Red Magic, but basically all the inheritances of the chain cultivation have been broken or disappeared. And you are so powerful. If you and I have children, it will be much easier to inherit Red Magic in the future, and I don't have to worry about the inheritance."
Lin Yu widened his eyes. He didn't expect Koizumi Akako to make such a request, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed that it was not unacceptable. After all, Koizumi Akako in front of him was indeed very charming.
Koizumi Akako sat on Lin Yu's thighs, half of her body leaning on Lin Yu. She gently stroked Lin Yu's chest and said softly, "How about it? Think about it. You won't suffer any loss if you have such a beautiful woman like me."
"Don't you like Kuroba Kaito? Why do you want to be with me?" Lin Yu asked puzzledly.
"Oh, you even know this?" Koizumi Akako said in surprise, "Hehe, I don't like him. I just see that he obviously cares about Aoko, but doesn't dare to express it, so I give him some trouble." After saying this, she blinked mischievously.
After hearing this, Lin Yu was still a little hesitant. After all, there were already two women in the family. If he added Koizumi Akako, there would be three women in the family, and it would become a drama. It is terrible when women get jealous. Thinking of this, his brows furrowed slightly.
Seeing that Lin Yu was still hesitant, Koizumi Akako showed a hint of displeasure on her face, and deliberately provoked: "Why, I delivered it to your door, but you don't want to eat it, can you be incapable of it?"
Lin Yu was a little annoyed by Koizumi Akako's provocation. He looked at Koizumi Akako's seductive eyes and plump figure, and a sense of impulse surged in his heart. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
"Oh, I can't do it? Don't regret it." Lin Yu raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a confident smile.
A hint of surprise flashed in Koizumi Akako's eyes. She smiled and hugged Lin Yu's neck, offering her sweet lips...
Chapter 40: Dragon
Early the next morning, Lin Yu opened his eyes and looked at Koizumi Akako, who was sleeping beside him. Her arms were wrapped tightly around him, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, as if she was having a sweet dream.
Carefully, Lin Yu broke free from her embrace, not wanting to wake her. He knew he had a very important task to accomplish that day.
Koizumi Akako noticed Lin Yu's departure and asked sleepily, "Hmm... Lin Yu, why are you up so early?"
Lin Yu gently stroked her cheek and replied softly, "Baby, you should sleep a little longer. I promised Ai-chan today that I would help her sister revive. I'm going to an uninhabited island to summon the dragon."
When she heard the word "resurrection," Koizumi Akako's eyes suddenly widened. She immediately became alert and said excitedly, "Resurrection?! I want to go too!"
However, in her excitement, Koizumi Akako aggravated the wound on her lower body, causing her to frown in pain and let out a groan.
Lin Yu quickly asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is your wound hurting again?"
Koizumi Akako pouted and glared at Lin Yu playfully, complaining, "It's all your fault. You have no pity for me at all. You were so rough last night. It was my first time!"
Lin Yu hugged her lovingly, gently stroking her smooth back, and apologized softly, "Okay, okay, it's all my fault. I'll be more careful next time and will never hurt you again. But last night, didn't someone keep saying things like 'harder'..." After saying that, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted in a subtle smirk.
Hearing this, Koizumi Akako's face flushed red with embarrassment, like a ripe apple, making one want to take a bite. She lowered her head shyly, gently pushed Lin Yu, and said coquettishly, "Oh, you're so annoying! You only know how to tease me."
Lin Yu chuckled, gently scratched her cute nose, and said lovingly, "Okay, I won't tease you anymore, but do you really want to go to the island with me?"
Koizumi Akako nodded firmly, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and said, "Yes! It's resurrection! How can I miss such a magical thing? Maybe I can learn a lot about magic!"
Lin Yu looked at her expectant expression and felt a warmth in his heart. He smiled and nodded, saying, "In that case, let's set off now!"
After they got dressed, they inevitably made love for a while. It wasn't until noon that Lin Yu brought the exhausted and breathless Koizumi Akako home.
...
At home, Xiaolan was doing housework while Haibara Ai was sitting quietly on the sofa reading a book. However, when she looked up, she unexpectedly saw Lin Yu and Koizumi Akako walking into the living room. She immediately realized that the two must have gone out together last night, and something might have happened. Thinking of this, Haibara Ai's face suddenly became gloomy, a trace of anger flashed in her eyes, and she glared at Lin Yu fiercely.
When Lin Yu noticed Haibara Ai's gaze, his heart tightened. Knowing he was in the wrong, he quickly hid behind Koizumi Akako, trying to avoid her angry eyes and make himself less noticeable.
When Koizumi Akako saw Lin Yu's embarrassed look, she hurried forward to greet the two girls. After a few words, the three girls began chatting happily.
Lin Yu suddenly felt very curious and muttered to himself, "Just now they were so tense and confrontational, how come they're like good sisters in the blink of an eye? The friendship between women develops so quickly!" He couldn't help but sigh, "Sure enough, three women make a drama!"
At this moment, Koizumi Akako suddenly said, "Ai, thank you so much! Your ability is amazing! My body has completely recovered, and I no longer feel any pain!" Her face was full of joy and gratitude.
Hearing this, Haibara Ai's face flushed with shyness, and she whispered softly in Koizumi Akako's ear, "Actually, I have another secret to tell you... My ability can not only heal injuries but also repair that area!"
After hearing this, Koizumi Akako widened her eyes and asked in astonishment, "Really? Even that can be repaired?" She was obviously very shocked.
Haibara Ai nodded gently to confirm and then continued in a low voice, "Of course, it's true, but you must not tell Lin Yu about this, because I don't want to repair that layer of membrane; the pain is simply unbearable!" There was a hint of grievance and helplessness in her voice.
Koizumi Akako nodded repeatedly to show she understood and comforted her, "Yeah, I get it. Come to think of it, I was in so much pain this morning that I could hardly walk!" After that, the two smiled at each other, sharing a tacit understanding.
"Ahem! Ladies, we should get going. If we don't leave now, it will probably be dark soon."