America: The Cremator

The clay sculpture floated silently in mid-air. It was completely black with a smooth surface, perfectly replicating Elena's figure, and even the tense expression on her face due to pain was lifelike.

The next moment, a black thread shimmering with oil extended from the base of the clay sculpture, stretching straight toward the core of Shoggoth.

Surong understood that once this thread touched the Shoggoth's true form, the voodoo doll-like curse would be fully established, and Elena's life would be completely in the monster's grasp. It could crush Elena as easily as crushing a porcelain doll.

At that very moment, the silver sword that Elena had pierced into Shoggoth's body continued to emit light, and countless fine threads of light finally pierced through layers of obstacles, igniting a small ball of red light like charcoal fire deep within the monster's core.

That's its lifeblood!

Sulong's pupils suddenly contracted. He no longer considered the risk of being exposed to the Primal Flame, because he knew clearly that if Elena died here and the lantern that could suppress the eerie flame was lost, everyone would die here!

"FUCK YOU!"

Su Long cursed loudly, and the golden primordial fire burst into flames, instantly covering his entire right arm and engulfing the revolver in his hand.

He used the burning revolver as a bayonet and stabbed it fiercely into Shoggoth's still writhing, massive body, attempting to thrust the muzzle directly into the flashing red light.

The golden flames inflicted devastating damage on the Shoggoth's body; its tough, gelatinous surface rapidly melted and carbonized under the high temperature, becoming much softer.

However, the thick, viscous interior still contained immense resistance, causing the gun muzzle to stop a few centimeters from the core, unable to advance any further.

Su Long knew that there were no bullets left in the gun.

But he remembered how, not long ago, a man named Old John walked to the end of his life in the silence of this gun.

The extremely reliable revolver fired six shots without detonating, even when fully loaded.

Was it trying to persuade its master, who was determined to die, to stay?

If it cannot be fired even with ammunition, then if the owner's emotions and strength are strong enough, can it fire a shot even without ammunition?

Suron decided to take a huge gamble, betting on a miracle to happen.

His thoughts sank into the cold gun in his hand, calling out the name he had just learned in his heart.

Sirius.

You also want to avenge your master, don't you?

You also want to kill this ugly monster, don't you?

This is the last chance!

Please!

One shot is all it takes!

The next moment, Su Long pulled the trigger.

There was no hollow sound of the firing pin striking the primer.

boom!

A muffled yet highly penetrating gunshot rang out inside Shoggoth's body.

A golden bullet, formed entirely from primordial fire, shot out from the muzzle, instantly tearing through the last few centimeters of obstruction and precisely piercing the shimmering red light.

"Takli-ri!"

Shoggoth let out a final wail.

Just as the cursed threads of the clay sculpture were about to connect to its main body at the last moment, the massive core remnant was completely ignited from the inside by golden flames. Subsequently, the entire body rapidly burned, turning into grayish-white powder that filled the sky.

However, the black mud thread that had lost its target did not disappear.

It twisted in mid-air, abruptly changed direction, and plunged straight at Sulong.

The tip of the thread precisely pierced the wound on his right shoulder caused by the tentacle, and then, in less than a second, the entire thread completely merged into his flesh.

At the same time, the exquisite clay sculpture that had been floating in the air lost its levitation power and fell vertically, landing right on the back of Su Long's raised left hand.

The moment the clay sculpture touched his skin, it melted rapidly like wax, seeping into the skin beneath the back of his hand.

Su Long felt an unbearable itch on the back of his hand. He looked down and saw a series of strange runes made of complex and twisted lines rapidly emerging under his skin, eventually forming a black, tattoo-like mark.

Elena struggled to her feet. She had witnessed the entire unbelievable process and for a moment didn't know whether to focus on Suron's arm burning with golden flames or the vanished cursed clay sculpture.

She rushed forward and grabbed Su Long's wrist, her voice hoarse with shock and weakness.

"you!"

Almost at the same moment, two lines of pale blue light screens appeared clearly in front of Su Long's eyes.

[Burning the corpse of the B-rank eerie Shoggoth grants the attribute "Rapid Regeneration☆"; and 20 experience points!]

[You have inherited ownership of the Atonement Clay Sculpture - Elena, and obtained the entry "Elena's Clay Sculpture☆"]

Su Long's eyes widened suddenly.

Can you do this?

"What did you do to my clay sculpture?"

Elena's voice carried an undisguised urgency and accusation. Her uninjured hand gripped Su Long's wrist tightly, and one could faintly feel the tremor emanating from it.

Su Long did not answer, but slowly raised his left hand, showing the back of his hand, which was branded with black runes, to Elena.

With a thought, the exquisite clay sculpture of Elena slowly rose from under the skin of his hand, like a carefully displayed work of art.

Elena's breath hitched. Almost instinctively, she reached out her other hand and grabbed the clay sculpture, trying to snatch it from Sulong's grasp.

However, just as her fingertips touched the clay sculpture and she tried to take it away, two thin strands of black mud were pulled between the sculpture's feet and the back of Su Long's hand.

An indescribable, excruciating pain suddenly exploded from the depths of Elena's soul.

"Ugh—"

Elena let out a painful groan, her legs instantly losing all strength, and her whole body went limp, kneeling heavily in front of Su Long.

As she released her grip in exhaustion, the clay sculpture quickly shrank back, disappearing beneath the skin of Su Long's hand as if it had never existed.

Su Long looked down at the woman kneeling before him, her body trembling slightly from the intense pain, and said with a hint of pity and helplessness, "I'm sorry, Captain Elena, I didn't expect this clay sculpture to change its contract partner at the last minute."

Elena raised her head, a look of disbelief and humiliation flashing in her grey-green eyes, and forced out a few words through clenched teeth: "Untie it!"

Su Long shrugged, a look of innocence and embarrassment on his face: "How do I solve this? I don't know how..."

Elena stared intently into Surong's eyes, trying to find even the slightest trace of a lie in his calm expression, but she failed.

Elena took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and reassess the situation.

"I can break this curse with the power of the lantern," she said slowly, her tone regaining its usual calm and indifference. "But the process is complicated and may take one to two months."

"During this period, you must cooperate with me completely."

Upon hearing this, Su Long's lips, hidden beneath his mask, slowly curled into a smile.

He knew his chance had come.

"Wait, Captain Elena."

"It's not impossible for me to cooperate, but I want to see some sincerity."

Elena's eyes instantly sharpened: "What are your conditions?"

Sulong raised his left hand again, his gaze falling on the clay sculpture that had risen on the back of his hand, as if admiring a fine collectible:

"First, use your authority to resolve my identity issue at the Corpse Management Bureau, and incidentally, increase my salary and benefits. This shouldn't be difficult for the captain of the 'Black Chess' task force."

"Secondly, you must keep the information about the flame I control, and everything you saw today, a secret from me. You must not reveal it to anyone in the Odds and Ends Bureau."

"Third, I will cooperate with you to lift the curse. However, during the lifting process, if I do anything to this statue due to my lack of control over the curse, or for any other reason... you cannot hold me accountable afterward for any reason."

Elena frowned deeply: "This is..."

However, Surong made a move that she had never expected.

He stretched out his right hand and gently pinched the round, perky buttocks of the clay sculpture with his thumb and forefinger.

A strange and unfamiliar tingling sensation rose from Elena's tailbone without warning and instantly spread throughout her body.

Her body trembled violently, and a short, sharp sound, somewhere between a gasp and a groan, escaped her throat.

Looking at Elena's face, which flushed instantly, and her eyes, which were filled with shame and humiliation, Su Long spoke again, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Captain Elena, if you don't agree, I'll have to keep this clay sculpture for the rest of my life."

"When I have nothing to do, I take it out and squeeze it; it's relaxing and stress-relieving."

"Captain Elena, you wouldn't want me to suddenly get bored and start sculpting a sculpture while we're fighting the monsters, would you?"

Elena's teeth nearly ground to powder as she glared at Su Long: "I... I agree!"

After a pause, she added, "However, when I need your cooperation to lift the curse, you cannot refuse for any reason."

Su Long withdrew his hand, and the clay sculpture sank into the back of his hand.

"it is good."