Agonizing pain wracked my body. All around me were thick, dark red Despair Thorns, tangled and twisted together. Above, I could glimpse a clear blue sky; below, only a bottomless void.
I smiled faintly, my body clinging helplessly to these dark red Despair Thorns. I couldn't move; every ounce of strength had been drained from me. I could no longer sense my primal instincts.
Why did I make such a foolish decision? I should have abandoned these things long ago. But the moment my blood mingled with the Human Soul, I felt an overwhelming heat—a scorching intensity that threatened to melt everything, reaching deep into my heart. It was a sensation I had never experienced before.
Or perhaps I had felt it before, but never this strongly. Memories from childhood to adulthood flashed through my mind—all belonging to the Human Soul. That was his life, the existence known as Ethan Zhang.
In front of me was a golden-red eye, burning with rage. I could feel its icy killing intent rushing toward me. A face, twisted by ferocity, wore a sickly smile. The laughter was chilling, eerie, and low.
"You know, don't you? No one who deceives others ever meets a good end."
I chuckled dryly and murmured in response. All around, on the dark red Despair Thorns, I saw scattered clothing—some reduced to mere scraps by time. Countless people must have died here, thousands, maybe tens of thousands, and every one of them wore modern attire.
"Just how many people have you killed?"
Entity 001 giggled, then stared at me in silence. Her smile slowly faded, leaving a cold, expressionless face.
"I don't remember. Even if you die here, you won't return to the world of the living. Everyone who dies here shares the same fate."
I let out a soft cry, tilting my head to silently observe everything around me. Last night, I had tracked Entity 001 into this lair, and after witnessing all this, I discovered something that filled me with dread: this woman intends to destroy the world. The power here has been present for some time, slowly eroding the fabric of reality.
The power here is somewhat like Endbringer, but distinctly different. This woman is orchestrating the world's destruction—or perhaps this world was always doomed to end, its fate sealed from the very beginning.
I never told the Human Soul about any of this. Beneath the woman's beautiful exterior lurked a heart of pure malice. Once I understood that, I chose to escape the Junkyard with the Human Soul.
"In the time you have left, you'd better reflect on your past life."
The pain in my body grew even worse, my life slipping away bit by bit. Entity 001 laughed wildly, but suddenly her eyes widened and she threw her head back, roaring in fury.
"That wretched woman, so this is what you wanted? Even if you killed Agent Two, you still can't do anything to me."
Shock flashed across my face—Agent Two was dead. That nondescript man in his fifties with glasses was gone. It was unbelievable, especially since he was killed by one of the lower-numbered Forsaken.
With a sudden whoosh, Entity 001 flew out toward the mouth of the cave. Instantly, the patch of blue sky above was swallowed by the dark red Despair Thorns.
The pain nearly made me faint. I gritted my teeth and quietly reflected on my reckless actions just now.
"Emotions really are a nuisance!"
Before coming here, I had only one goal: to obtain the Blood Jade and leave this world immediately. But now, I'm trapped, my life hanging by a thread. This is the worst situation I've ever faced.
Against the overwhelming power of that woman, I was helpless. Now, I might die here, in this world—and it's all my fault. There's no one else to blame.
Coming to this world exposed me to a different kind of power—one tied to faith. Suddenly, my eyes widened behind my glasses as I stared at the thorny, dark red vines.
The word 'manifestation' flashed through my mind. I was beginning to understand the nature of this world and the source of its power—something I'd never considered before. In this bizarre realm, beneath all the strange phenomena, what is its true core?
Suddenly, the vines blocking the entrance parted. Entity 001 descended, stopping just in front of my face, staring at me in a daze.
"What's this? Absorbed by Despair Thorns and still holding on?"
I sneered as I spoke.
"I'm not like those people you can kill with a flick of your hand."
I flexed my hand; something was stirring inside my body.
"Thank you. My power just leveled up again."
Entity 001 stared at me in disbelief, then gaped as she watched a stream of black energy swirl from my hand, gathering and condensing into the shape of a sword.
"How did you do that?"
Immediately, Entity 001 glanced up at the sky, then looked back at me.
"Everyone has faith, right? I once had faith too, but now it's changed. Everything... will return to Endbringer."
The sensation was real—I gripped Endbringer in my hand, the sword's black vortices slowly spinning. I hadn't excluded myself from this world.
"Don't even think about it."
Entity 001 immediately raised a hand. The Despair Thorns around me blotted out the sky, writhing closer. A crushing force pressed against my body, bones and soul screaming—I was about to be shattered by this immense power.
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My heart blazed with heat, the face of the Human Soul flashing in my mind. I had watched every one of his battles—always so stubborn. No matter how powerful the enemy, he never backed down. I smiled.
"Maybe this time, it's my turn to thank you, Ethan Zhang."
"What are you muttering about? Die..."
With a crack, Entity 001 clenched her right hand. Instantly, the crushing force around me surged like a tidal wave. I roared, raising Endbringer in my hand.
"I've told you, it's not just you who has faith—I do too. It's embedded in my body, fused into my soul. That's what I call faith."
A buzzing sound filled the air as I struggled against the force threatening to crush me. Black lightning streaked across the blade of Endbringer in my hand.
"Faith..."
Entity 001 stopped, then stared at me with a twisted smile, bursting into loud laughter.
"Don't mention those words in front of me."
With a boom, my body felt like it was about to explode. Swellings bulged across my flesh; I heard bones and organs shattering inside me. Blood streamed from my mouth, eyes, and ears.
The thick Despair Thorns closed in, squeezing me. My consciousness blurred, my vision twisted.
My awareness felt like it was melting away. Suddenly, a streak of crimson light flashed in my mind—brilliant and intense. It was something I saw within the Human Soul, inside Ethan Zhang's body. Something that should have cooled long ago, frozen and buried deep underground—the heart.
Time and again, I narrowly escaped death—so weak, unable even to protect the one I loved. Remembering that day, I felt Ethan Zhang's inner turmoil and set out, finally finding the path to Ghost Mound Mountain, only to be ambushed by a golden-masked man.
"What was I really feeling back then?"
A smile appeared at the corner of my lips. Maybe, like Ethan Zhang, I was angry. Maybe I was terrified. That day, I fought with all I had to drive off the golden-masked man. By the time I reached the foot of Ghost Mound Mountain, it was all over. The Human Soul I saw was someone I'd never met before—or rather, I'd never seen Ethan Zhang so sorrowful.
Still not strong enough. I was still not strong enough. I wanted to help him, but I didn't make it in time. I always thought I was much stronger than the Human Soul, that I mastered power faster, always competing with him.
I worked tirelessly, searching for every breakthrough, just to reach the point where he would look up to me. It worked—I grew stronger, colder, lowering the temperature of my own heart.
Most of the time, I was cowardly inside, alone, with no one around. Often, I thought of the Human Soul. I wanted him to see me, to know I existed.
After the Human Soul realized I existed, I even felt a hint of joy. I was happy—he would regret it, regret not listening to me, and eventually come back in tears begging for my forgiveness. But that was just my delusion. He never changed—maybe it was me who changed.
"I still lost, didn't I, Ethan Zhang..."
With a thunderous boom, I swung Endbringer and instantly appeared before Entity 001. The black Endbringer swept upward through her body, sizzling as a black aura slashed through, lightning erupting everywhere. The black, thorny vines around us instantly crumbled into dust.
"You bastard..."
Entity 001 let out a shrill scream as I slowly sank into the darkness below. My consciousness faded, my grip on Endbringer loosened, and the sword vanished into the air.
"Ah, what am I doing? From now on, no one owes anyone anything, right, Ethan Zhang?"
The black vines swept over me. I raised a hand, and in the instant my consciousness slipped away, I saw a flash of crimson light.