Today, the barricades outside the East Gate are far more numerous and cover a wider area than yesterday. Over a hundred meters from the city gate, hordes of Gray Wraiths collided with the obstacles.
Masses of Gray Wraiths instantly dissolved into white smoke. But then, I saw five Ember Wraiths, moving at breakneck speed, faster than any other Ember Wraiths. They tore through the barricades with ruthless efficiency—within seconds, many obstacles were already destroyed.
A flood of Gray Wraiths surged toward the gate. Today, the wraiths seemed even more organized. In the center, a cluster of two or three dozen Green Wraiths—massive and muscular—advanced slowly, but clearly aiming for the city gate.
“Ethan Zhang, find a way to stop them. We can't let them breach the gate.”
Henry Cole shouted from below. I immediately stood up, holding my breath and focusing, watching as the first wave of Gray Wraiths closed in on the city wall and leapt up.
Gunfire rattled incessantly. I spread my black wings, Deathbane Aura swirling in my hands—I had to take out those Green Wraiths targeting the gate.
But just then, I saw a barrage of ice spikes flying toward the city wall like a rain of arrows. Among the Dream Wraiths, I recognized the five Ember Wraiths.
I roared, spreading my arms wide. Behind me, a thick cloud of Deathbane Aura billowed out, shifting shape and condensing into a volley of pitch-black arrows.
As the ice spikes closed in, I willed the black arrows to intercept them. Explosions echoed as the spikes shattered midair.
I beat my wings and shouted, diving toward the ground. The Green Wraiths were almost upon us. With both hands, I shaped the Deathbane Aura into a spinning swastika, determined to eliminate them quickly. The Ember Wraiths were still far off, but they would be here soon.
I dove toward the cluster of Green Wraiths, the two swirling black swastikas in my hands slicing through the front row. With a swift slash, several Green Wraiths lost their heads and bodies, dissolving instantly into white smoke.
The moment I landed, my Ghost Network sensed two Ember Wraiths speeding toward me. Thinking quickly, I ducked as a few Green Wraiths swung their massive fists at me. Deathbane Aura erupted violently from my hands.
I instantly condensed the Deathbane Aura into a greatsword and slashed hard at the feet of the wraiths. In an instant, I severed the legs of five or six wraiths. I hurriedly beat my wings, hearing a ripping sound as a wraith lunged at me with its claws.
I dodged the attack and turned, flying back toward the city tower without hesitation. The fatigue from this barrage of attacks was real, but the results were clear—I’d wiped out a batch of Green Wraiths and crippled another wave. The next dozen Green Wraiths tripped over the fallen ones whose legs I'd cut off.
This would temporarily slow their assault on the gate. I made it back to the East Gate tower, shaken but unharmed. Turning back, I saw an Ember Wraith’s attack had sliced a massive Green Wraith into several pieces.
The area ten meters in front of the gate was in utter chaos. Many low-level wraiths, seemingly mindless, couldn’t dodge in time and crashed into the giant Green Wraith, which loomed like a small mountain.
Gunfire echoed nonstop. Today, not a single wraith managed to climb the city walls. The residents, taking turns at the barricades, kept shooting—never stopping for a moment. Empty ammo boxes were tossed down from the tower one after another.
I watched as our bullets dwindled. Then, from the distance, came a tremendous wailing sound. We looked over—it was a colossal orange beast, like a prehistoric monster, as tall as the city walls, striding on four legs. Its approach made the ground tremble.
I stared in shock. That thing seemed to appear out of nowhere—a true behemoth.
“Don’t let what’s in front of you scare you. Whatever happens, don’t stop shooting.”
Henry Cole shouted. Suddenly, an Ember Wraith, undeterred by the hail of bullets, clawed its way up the city wall. I saw it clearly and began gathering Deathbane Aura in my hands.
Deathbane Aura spun in my right hand like a black drill, growing faster and faster. There was no time to think—I shouted, beat my wings, and flew straight at the wraith that had scaled the wall.
In an instant, the residents on the wall aimed their guns at the wraith, but bullets had no effect on it.
But it was too late. With a swift slash, the Ember Wraith swung its claw, slicing more than a dozen residents into pieces.
“Try this!”
I roared, striking at the wraith with my right hand. It turned and let out a piercing shriek. With a boom and a wail, my attack pierced its chest, black light surging. The Deathbane Aura spun like a meat grinder, obliterating it completely. It dissolved into white smoke and vanished.
The behemoth drew closer and closer. The colossal Ember Wraith, as tall as the city tower, had a round head and otherwise resembled a normal wraith, except for its four legs. It moved with ponderous weight, each step shaking the earth with overwhelming force.
[This chapter is not finished ^.^ Please click next page to continue reading!]
“Don’t stop—fill the gaps!”
Henry Cole called out, and the fear caused by the Ember Wraith’s assault quickly faded. Over a dozen residents rushed to fill the breach.
“Hold the line! I’ll take care of it!” I shouted. Everyone roared back, firing their guns wildly at the enemy below.
I crouched quietly, staring at the giant Ember Wraith before me. Now, I had to unleash everything I had to bring it down. I began gathering Deathbane Aura, focusing it bit by bit toward my head.
At that moment, what came to mind was the Iron Masked Man. I’d seen him gather Deathbane Aura at his crown and launch it like a missile at the dream monk, piercing him in an instant. Thinking back, his aura spun as it struck.
“Don’t stop shooting!”
Henry Cole shouted again. I glanced over—the left side of the wall was out of ammo, gunfire had ceased, and waves of Dream Wraiths surged up.
The situation was dire. The tremors grew closer. If that colossal Ember Wraith reached us, the city would be wiped out in an instant.
Deathbane Aura reached its peak. I spread my black wings, half-crouched, my back shrouded in dark energy. The swirling aura above my head stilled. I aimed directly at the behemoth’s head.
The behemoth was now just fifty meters away. I waited in silence as it crept closer. Then I saw the Ember Wraiths gather around the giant, climbing onto its body as if to shield it.
The wall was in total chaos. Screams and shouts echoed as the Dream Wraiths, emboldened by dwindling ammunition, stormed the ramparts.
“Now!” I shouted. With a crash, the rooftop behind me collapsed. I became a streak of black, hurtling toward the giant Dream Wraith like a meteor.
In an instant, the smaller Ember Wraiths around the giant leapt up, snarling and clawing as they rushed at me. I saw flames, ice spikes, and razor-sharp claws everywhere.
With a thunderous roar, flames erupted before me. I shouted, smashing through ice spikes and tearing through layers of fire. My Ghost Network sensed the giant Ember Wraith’s head, its mouth opening wide, filled with jagged teeth.
“Die!” I roared. A tremendous crash followed, black light bursting in all directions—I could feel its force.
With a bang, I tore through the giant Ember Wraith’s skull, flying clear through. It seemed like it was over; I’d reached my limit. The Deathbane Aura dissipated completely as I fell toward the ground, surrounded by Dream Wraiths.
A chorus of shrieks surrounded me—dozens of small Ember Wraiths lunged, intent on ripping me apart.
"Am I going to die here?"
I muttered, closing my eyes.
“Son-in-law, you’ve worked hard, haven’t you?”
A pungent stench and a gentle voice reached me. I opened my eyes, realizing something had caught me—it was Old Moe.
"Damn, you..."
Old Moe scanned the surroundings. I felt myself lying on something soft—looking closely, it was red silk. Old Moe raised his hand and shouted loudly.
“Vermilion Mantle!”
In an instant, crimson flames enveloped Old Moe, and the cry of a giant Vermilion Bird drowned out all other sounds on the battlefield.
Small flaming phoenixes burst from Old Moe’s body, growing larger as they soared. In an instant, the sky was filled with Vermilion Birds, as if the end of the world had come.