Chapter 004: The Oddity

The young man quickly ran to Merlin's side, and together they lifted his father out of the pool of blood, each taking a side.

Phil! Phil, come here quickly!

Merlin pressed his cracked lips together, his face marked with the black soot and scars left from rescuing others, giving him a somewhat tragic appearance. The Phantom Stranger waved his hand, and the coffee machine on the bar began to operate on its own

At the moment of contact between fire and oil, the flickering flames spread rapidly. In the eyes of the panicked, screaming crowd and the fleeing Merlin, the flames danced even more violently, as if ignited, propelled by a fierce chemical reaction. Ultimately, that dangerous force erupted in an explosive manner.

Merlin's expression did not change much; he asked:

Two massive fireballs, enveloped in black smoke, rose from the ruins, their explosive flames consuming everything in the vicinity. The force that rapidly dissipated during the explosion rolled outward in all directions like a shockwave, striking everything around with the ferocity of an invisible fist.

Merlin's question elicited a series of long laughs from the Phantom Stranger, as if Merlin had asked a foolish question. The mysterious figure took a sip of coffee and said to Merlin:

His father lies there

What you saw yesterday was also me... I did not intend to scare you, I merely wanted to remind you in that manner, hoping that you would be well-prepared. It seems that you are indeed ready now

Quickly call an ambulance

After the explosion, the shattered pickup truck could no longer bear the burden. Following the cooling of the high temperatures from the blast, the vehicle began to disintegrate. In Merlin's frantic search, he heard the sound of metal breaking behind him. He turned around and saw James lying in a pool of blood, unconscious, behind the twisted hood that had crashed to the ground.

What preparations?

At this moment, Phil was so overwhelmed with emotion that he was on the verge of tears, but Merlin felt no sense of relief. He watched as James was loaded into the ambulance, he looked at his adoptive father, James had escaped death, but he had suffered terrible injuries, and it was even uncertain whether he would awaken in the future

In fact, there is no need to call for help anymore. After James and a few other fortunate individuals were rescued, the piercing sound of sirens began to echo from all directions within 5 minutes

He is dressed in a black suit, with an incongruous blue cape draped behind him, and wears a gentleman's hat that obscures much of his face. His fingers are adorned with black gloves, and his white shirt features a high collar, complemented by three unique silver coin cufflinks, resembling a necklace made of silver coins.

Merlin could even see those fearful faces in the turmoil, those expressions, as the flames of disaster rose inch by inch into the air

After finishing this sentence, the Phantom Stranger moved his shoulders, stood up, and spread his arms wide. A ghostly blue light wrapped around his ten fingers as he looked at Merlin, who wore a wary expression

What sets me apart from others? Is it merely because, as that demon said, my soul is so pure?

At the very least, he will not die

The nightmare has come true

I, I am called Phantom Stranger, you may call me Judas, of course, I must explain further, I am not entirely the 'Judas' you are familiar with

It promised me

Until he spoke, even Merlin and Phil, who were close at hand, did not notice him

I know you have many questions, many doubts, and even anger that has no outlet. But believe me, your father's situation has nothing to do with me, at least not directly

Merlin sat quietly by the window

I am truly looking forward to seeing what choice you will make after discovering the truth

A few seconds later, a cup of coffee with sugar was gently placed on the table in front of Merlin by an invisible hand

The Phantom Stranger said to Phil, as if it were a command. In the next moment, Phil, who seemed to awaken from a dream, turned around without hesitation, crossed through the crowd, and rushed towards the ambulance that was about to leave

Go!

Why did you not agree to that contract! If you had agreed, James would have safely weathered this disaster! He only received half of the 'redemption'! It is all because you refused!

On the contrary, there was a trace of unmasked disgust on his face

It has been a long time since we last met, Mr. Merlin. Now it is just you and me left

Of course, it is the preparation to embrace your true destiny. You cannot truly believe that your life is simply about being a doctor in New York, marrying a wife, and having a few children. I think after experiencing such bizarre events in your childhood, you will understand...

clang

What demon? What exactly are you talking about

Like a true madman

The high-speed collision between the two vehicles left their bodies shattered. The damaged fuel tank leaked a pungent fuel, flowing at the accident scene like yellow water. This is a very dangerous situation; for these explosive materials, it often only takes a small spark to trigger extremely severe consequences

Yes, it is me

Come with me quickly

Opposite him sat a mysterious stranger, holding a cup of coffee and crossing his legs. Their postures resembled those of long-lost friends, yet there was not a trace of excitement to be seen on Merlin's face

In such a violent explosion, the overturned vehicle fortuitously shielded James, who was lying on the ground, at the moment of the blast. The shattered vehicle absorbed most of the explosion's force on his behalf, yet James was still affected; his clothes were on fire, and he was bleeding profusely

Faced with Merlin's sudden anger, Phil looked bewildered, and Merlin gritted his teeth and said

That is just a dream; there are no demons in this world! Wake up.

This peculiar attire, to be honest, is unforgettable at first glance. Yet, amidst the bustling disaster scene, with so many people present, not a single one has noticed the appearance of this mysterious individual

The flames chased after them, but upon seeing Merlin and Phil's efforts to rescue others, the men in the surrounding crowd also hurriedly stepped forward. They twisted open the fire hydrants by the street or simply took water buckets from the nearby shops

Mr. Phil, go accompany your father to the hospital, Mr. James needs you very much, and your mother also requires your support. As for your brother, there is no need to worry; he will stay here to help others as much as possible

Merlin's expression was also quite grim. He struggled to avert his gaze from the twisted corpses. Amidst the scorching heat waves from the burning bus before him, he took off his coat and began to beat it around the wreckage of James's shattered pickup truck, attempting to extinguish the flames.

bang

Merlin laid the unconscious and near-death James flat on the ground, and pinched his neck from behind. The pulse was still beating, but extremely weak. Merlin knelt on the ground, preparing to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation to sustain his father's precarious life

Father is still alive, how wonderful

He is indeed still alive

Merlin's heart echoed with the words, all who believe in demons are mad, yet in this hell filled with death, he had no choice but to believe

He kicked aside the small fragments, searching for his loved ones on the ground covered with blood and flesh.

All of this is true, which means that the contract he signed with that demon is also true... The demon promised him that his father, James, would receive "redemption"

Merlin and the Phantom Stranger locked eyes, maintaining this tranquility until one minute later, the Phantom Stranger leisurely took a sip of coffee and said

He was terrified

The Phantom Stranger extended his left hand and gently snapped his fingers, causing Phil's expression to become vacant, as if he had suddenly lost the ability to think.

Meilin, you are different from others

This mysterious man sipped his coffee and said softly

Let us first get down to business

Just as the two brothers were arguing, a gentle voice suddenly sounded behind them. Merlin and Phil turned their heads simultaneously and saw a man leaning against the entrance of the café, holding a cup of steaming coffee.

When you were still an infant, the figure you saw was me. It was I who rescued you from the sea of fire

Time holds no significance for me, Mr. Merlin, but it is precious to you in the present. Moreover, if you wish to obtain answers, you must first ask questions; the correct questions correspond to the correct answers

As he watched Phil leave, the mysterious figure turned to look at the wary Merlin. He straightened his posture, turned to the side, made a gesture of "please," and then said to Merlin:

... ...

There is also that unbearable smell, a scent imbued with a sense of dread

Due to the disaster occurring on the street outside, the café facing the street is completely empty. Even the plump and kind owner has gone out to help

So, why is it me

The Phantom Stranger lifted his head, and in the shadow cast by the brim of his hat on his cheek, an inexplicable light shone in his eyes as he said to Merlin

hahaha

Merlin immediately retorted, while the Phantom Stranger shrugged and said meaningfully

Who exactly are you

That object did not emit a glimmer of light under the sun, appearing dull as if it had absorbed all the light.

If you wish to know more, including how to evade the impending pursuit belonging to the demons, then please take a few minutes to chat with me

Phil Coulson responded with a sound, following closely behind Merlin, as he surged against the tide of the panicked crowd, rushing towards the crash site that was ablaze following the explosion

Then he finally replied:

Merlin recognized him; this was the mysterious person he had seen once during his infancy and again just yesterday

The police car, fire truck, and ambulance all stopped at the scene of the accident. Several nurses rushed to Merlin and Phil with a stretcher, assisting Merlin in providing emergency care, and placed James Coulson, who had suffered burns, blast injuries, and scalds, onto the stretcher

Perhaps for James, such a later life would be far more painful than completely dying

Yet within Merlin's heart, there lingered a strange sense of unwarranted relief.

Phil stood helplessly to the side, and he shouted to a person nearby, who hurried into the café by the street to make a phone call there

Merlin rubbed his aching chest, breathing heavily, and shouted to Phil behind him

He was violently thrown to the ground, and at the moment of collision with the earth, Merlin even experienced a feeling of suffocation

Oh

Merlin, with a face full of black and gray, turned to look at Phil. In his black eyes, there was an inexplicable anger. He pulled Phil's arm and took a few steps back, saying fiercely:

But he quickly got up from the ground. Behind him, the terrified young man Phil was cold with fear; he did not know whether to help his brother up first or to rush into the fire scene to see if his father was still alive

You do not need to worry about the Three Palaces, at least not for now. It will not pose a threat before you truly become powerful.

It is you

Merlin rushed to James's side, shouting his brother's name. Phil, weakened by witnessing the true ugliness of death, turned his head and saw Merlin and their father at his feet. In that moment, the power of familial love erupted, overpowering the fear within Phil.

Please believe that I am here to help you

You are crazy! Merlin!

What are you still dawdling for

It is extremely tragic

Last night's dream! I had the same dream, because I promised it, James could survive! That was not a dream, that was real

Phil's eyes widened as the young man shook off Merlin's hand and screamed:

Rushing towards the scene of the accident, Merlin felt his body being propelled into the air by an invisible force. He heard the increasingly terrified screams from the crowd, the sound of shattering glass on the surrounding streets, and the intermittent safety alarms of the vehicles parked by the roadside. In that moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely.

No, Mr. Phil, demons do indeed exist in this world. Although you often confuse them with devils, they are real. As for you, Mr. Merlin, I can understand your feelings at this moment, but please remain calm; shouting and making a fuss will not solve the problem

Meilin is a student about to enter medical school. He has worked in a private hospital for 3 years and has seen too many such cases.

Boom

They worked together to help Merlin and Phil extinguish the flames behind and in front of them, allowing the two young men to rescue their fortunate father from this damned disaster

As for where your "difference" lies, I believe this question does not require my answer. You only need to face your fate bravely, and sooner or later, you will discover that truth

After experiencing the unfortunate events involving James, Merlin became filled with vigilance and aversion towards these strange supernatural powers. Although he was well aware that it was perhaps precisely because he had made a deal with that demon that James was able to survive

The power of the Three Palaces is formidable, yet its perspective is rather ordinary. It can only perceive the purity of your soul, but it cannot discern the truth hidden behind that purity. If it were to uncover that truth, it would only flee from you, distancing itself as much as possible. Unfortunately, it is already entangled in the situation.

Alright, you have finished asking your questions, although you did not ask the correct one, but that is alright

The scene after the explosion was utterly tragic. At the moment when the two rushed into the site, brushing against small flames, the first thing that caught their eye was the body of a woman, thrown to the ground and engulfed in flames. The smell, a mixture of acrid fuel and the stench of burning flesh, made the place resemble hell itself. Phil took just one glance, his face turning pale as he turned his head away and began to retch

The Phantom Stranger lifted his head, and a smile appeared on the cheek covered by the brim of his hat. He spoke in a very magnetic voice: