"Kid, you're just too stupid. You actually think you can use me?"
At that moment, a voice echoed in my mind—it was the Hell's Sentinel.
The writhing maggots let out sharp, piercing squeals, trying to burrow into my body.
"Strength, stone-piercing, radiance, Five Wraith Command..." Suddenly, the man with the corroded cheek lunged at me, vicious ghosts clawing and writhing behind him.
The maggots crawled into my body. I swung the Hell's Sentinel, staring at the glowing barrier outside, but all I heard was a dull thud—it was impossible to break through.
It felt as if the maggots were gnawing at my flesh from inside. I screamed, swinging the Hell's Sentinel wildly, hacking at anything around me.
"Enter his body, drink his blood, eat his flesh, gnaw his bones—Five Wraiths, go now..."
"Let me teach you, kid. You're just hopeless—I actually had high hopes for you."
The Hell's Sentinel spoke in my mind again. Suddenly, all those negative emotions surged back into my head. I screamed in agony as half my body was engulfed in black mist, which then began to harden.
"I won't eat you yet. It hurts a bit, but bear with it," the Hell's Sentinel said again.
A sharp squealing sound rang out as I saw the maggots explode, splattering sticky green liquid all over me. The stench was so strong I nearly vomited.
The half of my body covered in black moved. I raised the Hell's Sentinel high and plunged it into the ground with a clang. The earth trembled and cracked open all around, shattering the formation that trapped me.
With several sharp sounds, I swung the Hell's Sentinel, instantly slicing the five attacking ghosts into pieces. They whimpered and turned to ash.
The man with the corroded cheek stared blankly at me, raising his hands as if to cast another spell. In a flash, I leapt before him, raised the Hell's Sentinel, and brought it down on his head.
I sensed something behind me and swung my blade. A whip shot toward my back like an arrow, but my blade struck its tip with a clang and split it in two, sending a black wave of energy toward the Ghost Syndicate man.
I spun around again. The Ghost Syndicate man started to flee, but I didn't hesitate—I swung my blade at the back of his head.
Vivian Ouyang stepped forward, grabbing my Hell's Sentinel. The whip struck me hard, and I cried out in pain. When I turned, everything that happened seemed like a dream—the whip that had been split in two was now perfectly intact.
"It's a dream, Ethan Zhang. Hmph, aren't you getting a bit too cocky? You're just a coward."
Vivian Ouyang sneered, and suddenly one of his hands began to change—sharp red nails grew out, stabbing at the other side of my body.
I cried out as several large holes were punched into my left ribs, blood gushing out.