Time passed, and under Ava's protection, Jack gradually grew into a resilient young man. However, the peaceful days did not last long; a dark force was quietly taking root in the shadows of the small town.

　　At school, Jack made friends with Tom and Lily. Tom was an enthusiastic and cheerful boy, curious about Jack's special abilities, while Lily was a clever and quick-witted girl whose family seemed to harbor some hidden secrets. The three often explored various corners of the town together, sharing their joys and sorrows.

　　One day, they heard rumors about an abandoned factory near the town that often emitted strange sounds. It was said that when night fell, eerie lights flickered within the factory, accompanied by chilling whispers. This rumor attracted them like a magnet, and driven by curiosity, they decided to investigate the abandoned factory together.

　　As they stepped into the factory, a foul odor assaulted their senses, making them gag. In the darkness, they could faintly hear the sound of machines operating, as if something was lurking in the shadows, watching them. Jack's heart raced; he could sense a powerful evil force residing here.

　　"It's so creepy here, Jack. Are we really going to continue?" Lily asked, fear gripping her as she clutched Jack's arm, her voice trembling slightly.

　　"Don't be afraid, I'm here," Jack replied, tightening his grip on Lily's hand in an attempt to comfort her, even though his own heart was filled with fear.

　　Tom tried to appear calm, waving his flashlight and saying loudly, "Maybe it's just some homeless people messing around. We can scare them off."

　　They cautiously made their way through the factory, the rusty machines resembling sleeping giants that could awaken at any moment. Suddenly, a mouse darted past their feet, causing Lily to scream. The scream seemed to break some kind of taboo, and in an instant, the temperature around them plummeted, revealing pairs of blood-red eyes flickering in the darkness.

　　"Jack, be careful!" Tom shouted, directing the flashlight toward the eyes. They saw a group of ghostly evil spirits slowly approaching, their bodies twisting and contorting, exuding a suffocating aura of malice.

　　Jack's heart tightened; he knew these spirits were stronger than any he had encountered before. He quickly concentrated, trying to communicate with Ava, hoping to harness her power to combat the spirits. However, strangely, Ava's voice seemed to have vanished; no matter how he called out, he received no response.

　　"Ava? Where are you?" Jack whispered anxiously, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

　　The spirits drew closer, emitting sharp roars that echoed hauntingly in the empty factory, as if they aimed to tear apart the souls of the three friends. Tom and Lily huddled closer to Jack, their bodies trembling with fear.

　　"What should we do?" Lily cried out in despair, tears welling in her eyes.

　　Jack took a deep breath, knowing he had to rely on himself at that moment. He recalled some exorcism spells he had read about in books, though he had never practiced them before. At this point, he could only try anything. He closed his eyes and murmured incantations, attempting to summon the spiritual energy within him.

　　However, the spirits seemed unfazed by his spells and charged at them even more frantically. One spirit extended its sharp claws toward Jack's face. He couldn't dodge in time, and a deep gash was cut into his cheek, blood immediately streaming down.

　　"Jack!" Tom shouted, rushing forward without hesitation, swinging his flashlight at the spirit. The spirit staggered back a few steps but quickly lunged at them again.

　　Just as Jack felt despair creeping in, he noticed that the cross around his neck began to emit a faint glow. Though weak, this light gave him a glimmer of hope. He gripped the cross tightly, channeling all his spiritual energy into it.

　　In an instant, the cross burst forth with a brilliant light, like a sharp blade slicing through the air toward the spirits. The spirits shrieked in agony as the light struck them, retreating in fear. Seizing the moment, Jack intensified the flow of his energy; the light grew stronger, gradually enveloping the spirits.

　　Under the illumination, the spirits' forms began to twist and dissipate, ultimately transforming into wisps of black smoke that vanished into thin air. Jack collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. His face was drenched in sweat and blood, and the wound throbbed painfully, but his heart was filled with relief at having survived.

　　"Jack, are you okay?" Tom and Lily rushed over to help him up.

　　"I'm fine, just a bit tired," Jack managed to smile weakly, reassuring them.

　　After this incident, Jack realized his abilities were still far from sufficient. He needed to delve deeper into understanding his powers and learn more techniques to combat the spirit world. Ava's sudden disappearance also left him feeling uneasy; he didn't know what secrets lay hidden behind it.

　　Meanwhile, the strange events in the town did not cease. More and more people reported seeing bizarre phenomena, and eerie figures often appeared on the streets at night, plunging the residents into deep fear. Jack knew he had to unravel these mysteries quickly, or the town would descend into an irreparable abyss.

　　During his investigation, Jack uncovered shocking secrets about the town's history. It turned out that long ago, this town had been the domain of an evil sorcerer who conducted a series of cruel black magic experiments, leading to the deaths of many innocents. The grievances and suffering of those victims had long shrouded the town, creating a breeding ground for evil spirits.

　　Jack's presence seemed to disrupt some kind of balance. His unique abilities attracted the spirits' attention while awakening the dark forces hidden deep within the town. He realized he bore a significant mission; he had to find a way to purify this land, dispel the evil, and restore the town's former tranquility.

　　As the investigation deepened, Jack discovered a mysterious method to communicate with the spirits. He decided to take the risk, hoping to extract more information about the town's dark history and the reason for Ava's disappearance. However, he was unaware that this decision would lead him into an even more perilous situation.