I released the Specter Web, sensing everything around me, but discovered not a trace of any presence. As I approached and looked closer, I saw that the white walls had no doors. Only then did I realize that what looked like an electric fence was, in fact, not one.
It was a series of black, wire-like strands, though somewhat different from ordinary wires. I extended my Specter Web toward them, probing for anomalies, but sensed nothing unusual at all. (Ethan Zhang POV)
I moved a bit closer and saw that inside each of these Containment Blocks, every floor had a black iron door. (Ethan Zhang POV)
With a creak, two of the iron doors on the Containment Blocks swung open, followed by a rumbling noise. Startled, I looked over and saw a black claw, like that of a beast, reaching out from within. (Ethan Zhang POV)
Then suddenly, I stared in shock as a creature with four legs, a horse-like body but no head—only an eye where the neck should be—emerged. Its chest bore a three- to four-meter-long whip-like arm, and its whole body was black-blue, reminiscent of the monsters Dalton Fang became after being transformed by the Immortality Society.
I watched in astonishment as its black, razor-clawed hand struck the ground, sounding heavy and powerful with each thud. (Ethan Zhang POV)
On the other side, another emerged: short and squat, with two heads, both mouths lined with shark-like white teeth. It had four arms, each ending not in hands, but in hook-like appendages. (Ethan Zhang POV)
Its two powerful legs were like those of a feline. Clenching my fists, I glared at the scene, gritting my teeth. These were creations of the Blue Wraith known as Thousand Hands, the mysterious ghost doctor associated with the Immortality Society. (Ethan Zhang POV)
I edged closer. Suddenly, the horse-like monster charged at the squat creature. In a flash, I saw the small monster leap atop the horse-like one, and then its two heads began to bite and tear. (Ethan Zhang POV)
In an instant, black blood splattered everywhere. The horse-like monster's whip-like claw lashed toward its own back, moving with unnatural speed—nothing here was ordinary. (Ethan Zhang POV)
The squat monster suddenly leapt up. The horse-like creature's whip-claw missed, but its back had already been bitten away in large chunks, exposing pitch-black bones—human ribs, I realized in shock.
Black blood spilled everywhere, but strangely, as soon as it touched the ground, it vanished, as if the earth absorbed it instantly.
I saw the squat monster chewing in its mouth. As it landed, the horse-like creature's whip-claw suddenly extended, grabbing the squat monster in an instant. Then I heard a series of cracking sounds.
Right before my eyes, flesh and blood splattered. Its claws spun, grinding the squat monster into a bloody pulp—broken limbs and torn flesh scattered everywhere. Then the horse-like creature rushed over, its belly suddenly splitting open to reveal two tongues and sharp fangs, devouring the shredded meat and severed limbs.
The sight made my heart race with fear. Why were these things moving? I couldn't sense any souls at all. My Specter Web could only detect a chaotic sensation, as if someone had shattered soul and flesh, then fused them back together.
It's just like what the Immortality Society does—soul and flesh remain bound together, even in death.
Suddenly, a vibration sounded, and then some words appeared: Ethan Zhang, record the data on video.
It was a message from The Engineer. I nodded, turned on the camera, and let my baleful energy envelop my phone as I began filming.
Within minutes, the horse-like beast had devoured all the scattered limbs and flesh, then returned to its room.
Half an hour passed without a sound. I wanted to go down and take a look, but hesitated. I didn't know how many more monsters lurked here—all created by the Immortality Society.
After much deliberation, I sprang into action, flying into the center of this vast arena. I looked around—this place was at least four or five soccer fields wide. Suddenly, all around me, black tendrils, like tangled ancient roots, began to stretch skyward.
Gradually, they enveloped the entire building. I felt a powerful force pressing in, sealing off the area. I was trapped inside.
Then, not far from me, a burst of white light appeared. I hurried over and realized the ground was rough and matte, its material unknown but extremely hard. Nearby, a movable panel flipped up, and with a sizzle, an image appeared—it was Thousand Hands, laughing loudly.
"Welcome to the Monster Arena, Ethan Zhang."
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
I roared in anger and, with a swipe, drew Hell's Sentinel.
"Sigh, don't be hasty, Ethan Zhang. The intelligence on this base was leaked by us, and the purpose, naturally, is just for a test—a test of your current abilities."
With a whoosh, I flew in front of the screen displaying the image. Hell's Sentinel slashed down with a swish, splitting the screen in two. With a bang, a small explosion erupted. I looked around.
Those Containment Blocks looked just like cages—each probably housing one of those engineered beasts.
"All right, all right, Ethan Zhang. Since you don't want to see my face, I'll just talk to you like this."
Thousand Hands' sinister voice echoed, as if coming from a loudspeaker. I began searching around.
"Don't bother searching. I'm not here. Only the losers are here, Ethan Zhang. By the way, let me tell you—unless you're the last victor, you can't get out of this formation."
As Thousand Hands spoke, I immediately understood. I'd been set up. They deliberately leaked the intel, letting Samuel Young think he'd obtained it, then told me. The real purpose was to test me, since I hadn't been under their surveillance for the past two and a half years. (Ethan Zhang POV)
"If you've got the guts, come out—come out now!"
I roared, and then the loudspeaker erupted in crazed laughter.
"A test only works when the power is equal, or even slightly higher. That's the only way to draw out your full strength. All right, Ethan Zhang, let's begin. The creatures here are almost all used up—just a few dozen left, and they're all vicious. If you're not careful, you could die."
With a creak, I spun around. Across from me, a cage on the third floor opened. A buzzing sound, like a giant mosquito's wings, filled the air.
I saw only a shadow, then a spike shot toward my forehead at terrifying speed. With a snap, I turned into a cloud of black mist, narrowly dodging it.
Before me stood a mosquito-like monster, though it wasn't truly a mosquito. It had a human head with a single spike, eight pairs of wings buzzing rapidly, and no limbs except for the spike and its long, cylindrical body. Its surface was covered in layers of black and green stripes.
Missing its first strike, the monster immediately locked onto me and attacked again. I raised Hell's Sentinel; its spike jabbed at me. With a clang, I blocked with Hell's Sentinel and crashed to the ground.
The instant I hit the ground, I dodged to the right. With a clang, the spike stabbed into the floor—I had evaded it. My eyes turned gold-red, and now I could track its movements, even at high speed.
Missing its strike, the monster began circling in the air, then swooped at me with a piercing buzz. I raised Hell's Sentinel; blades of wind began to coil around it.
With a clang, I dodged the monster's spike. Roaring, I unleashed a surge of violent baleful energy. In an instant, I severed the creature's right-side wings, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Why not kill it, Ethan Zhang?"
I glared fiercely at my surroundings. Even as the monster lay on the ground, its left wings kept flapping, screeching loudly.
Anger boiled inside me. Then, with a creak, another cage opened. Out came a nearly three-meter-tall black monster, gorilla-like, with a massive head—almost a meter in diameter—and a maw like a carnivorous flower, rumbling as it charged. I floated upward instantly.
The monster ignored me, grabbing the wingless creature with both hands and, with a snap, twisted it in half. Black blood splattered everywhere. The gorilla-like beast devoured the flying monster quickly, then turned to me and let out a deafening roar.
"The more it eats, the stronger it gets, Ethan Zhang. If I remember right, this one has already eaten over a hundred. It used to be so scrawny. Heh, look forward to it, Ethan Zhang—the arena is quite the spectacle."