Jimmy felt physically unwell after the events in the elevator the previous night. After a brief visit to the Taoist temple, he returned to the office to check in on work but skipped his usual overtime and left around 7 PM after a quick dinner downstairs.
Seeing the crowded area, Derek decided it wasn't the right time to act. Instead, he used a Marking Card on Jimmy to track him. Derek hailed a cab and tailed Jimmy from a distance, following him to his residential complex.
Sneaking into the bustling complex was easy for Derek. Thanks to the Marking Card, Derek only needed to stay within a kilometer radius to launch a Ghost Domain at any time. After pinpointing Jimmy's exact apartment, Derek retreated to a nearby motel within range, paying for a room where he could stay hidden. He activated a Surveillance Card, allowing him to monitor Jimmy's every move from his safe location.
Through the surveillance feed, Derek could see Jimmy sitting on a couch with his young, attractive wife, Lily, watching the news. A while later, Lily got up to take a shower, leaving Jimmy alone, his attention glued to the television.
Seeing an opportunity, Derek decided to create a Ghost Domain. His idea? Recreate a classic horror scene where a ghost crawls out of the television.
Jimmy was engrossed in the news when the TV screen flickered with static interference. Moments later, the broadcast returned, but the news anchor had transformed into a long-haired ghost. Crawling out of the screen with a spine-chilling grinding noise, the ghost dragged itself across the floor toward Jimmy.
Jimmy tried to scream but couldn't make a sound. He wanted to run, but his body felt paralyzed, as if pinned down by an unseen force. Fear consumed him as the ghost drew closer, preparing to leap onto him.
Just as the ghost lunged, a talisman Jimmy carried flew out, adhering to the ghost's face with a loud snap! The talisman ignited in green flames, incinerating the ghost and restoring everything in the room to normal.
"What the hell was that?" Derek cursed. His summoned ghost clone had been neutralized, and the Ghost Domain, which cost him 10 mana points, was terminated.
"It was a protective talisman made by the Taoist from the temple. It can repel ghosts but is single-use," the ghost clone explained. "You can create another Ghost Domain in five hours."
"A talisman? So all the mana I used to create the domain, plus the Marking and Surveillance Cards, were wasted?" Derek snapped.
"I warned you that creating Ghost Domains carries risks. However, the Marking and Surveillance Cards remain active as long as you stay within range," the clone reassured him.
"This ghost clone is so weak! Just one talisman, and it's done for?" Derek grumbled, annoyed that he wasn't yet as invincible as he had imagined.
"Well… we just need to gather enough fear energy to grow stronger. Don't worry, world domination is only a matter of time," the ghost clone replied, trying to comfort him.
"Damn it." Derek was frustrated but decided to bide his time. As long as he stayed within range, he could try again in five hours.
Through the surveillance feed, Derek noticed Jimmy's wife, Lily, reenter the living room wrapped in a small towel.
"You look awful. What's wrong?" she asked Jimmy.
"Nothing," Jimmy replied curtly, his face sour.
"You look like you've been cursed. Maybe a ghost is haunting you?" Lily teased.
"Don't be ridiculous," Jimmy snapped, his temper flaring.
"Why are you talking to me like that?" Lily pouted, annoyed by his attitude.
"I'll talk however I want! I'll do whatever I want!" Jimmy yelled. In a sudden fit of frustration, he yanked the towel off Lily and pushed her onto the couch.
"Hey! You haven't even showered!" Lily protested.
Jimmy ignored her, taking his anger out on her.
"Oh wow, it's like watching a live-action drama," Derek muttered, zooming in on the scene through the Surveillance Card.
"Maybe you shouldn't look…" the ghost clone said, slightly disapproving.
"I'm studying the target's weaknesses for the next Ghost Domain," Derek replied nonchalantly.
Unfortunately, Jimmy's bravado didn't last long. Lily stood up, unimpressed. "All that talk, and you're done in two minutes? You're pathetic compared to other men," she mocked.
"Other men? Are you thinking about your first love, you little tramp?" Jimmy snapped, his jealousy flaring. He slapped her on the backside.
"Ugh, you're impossible!" Lily stormed off to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
"This guy is a walking insecurity complex," Derek observed. "Let's exploit that in the next Ghost Domain."
Setting an alarm for five hours later, Derek planned to catch up on some rest before enacting his next scare.
At 2 AM:
Jimmy woke up needing the bathroom. Rushing to the restroom, he prepared to relieve himself when the bathroom mirror made a sudden loud bang! Looking at the mirror, Jimmy saw something terrifying: it was no longer reflecting the bathroom but instead showed his bedroom.
In the mirror, Jimmy saw a man wearing only a shirt on top of Lily, moving rhythmically. Lily's face was one of blissful pleasure, her eyes closed. The man looked suspiciously like her first love.
"Damn it!" Jimmy roared, charging toward the door. But to his horror, the bathroom door was locked tight. No amount of force could budge it.
Derek's Ghost Domain had begun again, and he was ready to break Jimmy completely.