I screamed, a surge of terror erupting from within me, flooding my body. I began to tremble, overcome by waves of weakness that left me paralyzed.
Smack, smack—my cousin gave me two hard slaps without hesitation.
"Damn it, cousin, what the hell are you doing at a time like this?"
I stared blankly at my cousin. Lord Wraith landed on the ground, and two Blue Wraiths brought him a chair.
"Does everyone want to see a show?"
Suddenly, Lord Wraith shouted loudly, and the surrounding ghosts all stood up, causing an uproar.
I stared blankly as Ironmask's head tumbled to my feet, his eyes wide open as if he were looking at me.
"How do you want to play, Lord Wraith?"
Beside me, Hugh Thompson adjusted his glasses. The purple Rakshasa Sludge on the ground receded, and Hugh Thompson calmly walked toward Lord Wraith. He took off his glasses, turned to me, and looked at me seriously.
"If you're scared, you can run away later. No one will blame you, Ethan."
Hugh Thompson just smiled, and then we walked onto Bridal Avenue.
Thompson, you said earlier that Dalton Fang and Miles Mao would definitely do something. Why do you think that?
Mason Yu asked in a low voice.
I don't know. Those two aren't particularly powerful, but this is a critical moment, and they haven't shown up yet. Maybe they've learned something and are doing something as we speak. Don't worry, we'll have a chance to take down Lord Wraith—especially you, Mason Yu. Isn't it time to show some real attitude? I know about your situation, even if I don't know everything. You've lost your power, haven't you?
For a moment, Mason Yu's face was filled with complex emotions. We had arrived at Bridal Avenue, and the ghost brides had retreated far away.
Lord Wraith, dressed in a gold-and-red groom's suit, stood twenty or thirty meters ahead of us.
Justin Huang and I stood together.
Ethan Zhang, I can probably last ten minutes at most. When the chance comes, it's all up to you.
I nodded, feeling much calmer inside. The fear was gone, and Hugh Thompson's battle plan had filled all of us with confidence.
Well, are you done discussing? Heh, I can't wait any longer!
We're ready. You can strike at any time.
As soon as Hugh Thompson finished speaking, Justin Huang suddenly roared, crouched down, and I climbed onto his shoulders.
With a bang, Justin Huang stomped the ground. I kept channeling Deathbane Aura into him; his bones creaked, his body swelled, and he charged at Lord Wraith.
Ethan, up above!
I shouted, raising my hand as streams of Deathbane Aura transformed into sharp black spikes, stabbing upward.
Nice reflexes, but too weak...
Lord Wraith was already overhead, reaching out with purple nails. With a hiss, the Deathbane Aura I sent up vanished instantly.
Justin Huang suddenly leapt aside, and with a squeak, a shadow-like figure appeared before us.
Serpent of the Rite, devour heaven and earth... arise!
From afar, Mason Yu shouted, and a shadow-like serpent burst from the ground, opening its jaws and, with a bang, swallowed Lord Wraith whole.
The real body is below...
Mason Yu immediately shouted again, and with a boom, the ground split open and withered branches sprang up.
Firebinding Spell...
Hugh Thompson shouted, and a burst of fire appeared—a rope-like flame, thin and fast, flew toward us.
With a thunderous stomp, Justin Huang leapt backward. Instantly, the withered branches that had risen from the ground before us caught fire.
Hurry, Rufina! Hugh Thompson urged. Rufina Howard half-sat on the ground, the Spirit Scroll spinning above her head.
Not bad, you can sense my location. As expected, you're elites of the Nether Syndicate.
Lord Wraith praised, then appeared in the sky before us, raising hands like withered branches with long, purple nails.
I stared at Mason Yu in surprise, then suddenly noticed his remaining hand had turned completely black. I'd seen hands like this before; the members of the Nether Syndicate all had black hands.
Boring. The game's over.' Lord Wraith said, then, with a whoosh, turned into a green light and vanished before us.
Right front!' Mason Yu shouted. Justin Huang roared, grabbed me, and with a swing of his fist, punched toward the right front.
With a bang, rubble flew behind us. Justin Huang dented the ground with his foot, but Lord Wraith caught his punch with one hand.
Suddenly, Justin Huang grabbed with his other hand and firmly gripped Lord Wraith's arm.
Ethan...
I leapt from Justin Huang's shoulders, gathering Deathbane Aura in my hands, and slashed at Lord Wraith's head. At first, Lord Wraith was all smiles, but suddenly, red talisman strips appeared around him, and he instantly stopped smiling.