"Yuna, are you alright? Let me see your hand."
Lona Long looked anxiously at Yuna Ji, who was crouched on the ground. Leonard Lei stood at the front, Sebastian Zhao and Terry Mao on either side, while the others trembled in the distance, facing Wraithshade.
"I'm fine."
Yuna Ji replied coldly. She tried to stand, but pain immediately twisted her face. Her jade-green spear lay on the ground beside her. As she reached for it, Lona Long stopped her.
"Fall back, Yuna."
Leonard Lei immediately raised his axes to shield Yuna, and the two quickly retreated.
"I said I don't need it."
Suddenly, Yuna Ji grabbed the spear, but the pain in her hands was too much and she let go again. Staring at her ten trembling fingers, Lona Long smiled gently, took out some linen from her clothes, and began to carefully bandage Yuna Ji's hands.
The battle remained fierce. No matter how desperately everyone fought, they couldn't harm Wraithshade at all.
With a loud bang, Leonard Lei crossed his axes in front of his chest, blocking Wraithshade's heavy palm. The blow was like a boulder crashing down—Leonard Lei could barely keep his footing.
"Don't force it."
Sebastian Zhao shouted. Leonard Lei immediately released his strength and was flung backward. A rope flew over, catching him around the waist. On the other side, Lily Mao pulled the rope, slowing Leonard Lei's impact. He landed and rolled in the mud, then shook his dizzy head after getting up.
Yuna Ji's gaze swept around, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Where did that bastard Phoenix Yu go? Wasn't he already awake?"
Lona Long smiled and shook her head helplessly.
"Phoenix Yu woke up behind me. He should be over there."
Lona Long pointed to the house at the edge of the woods. Yuna Ji looked over, her face suddenly lighting up with joy.
Something was swelling inside, as if about to burst out. Wraithshade refused to retreat—he could have, but his heart would not allow it.
The people before him attacked relentlessly, tireless and full of energy, as if reborn. There was no confusion in their eyes.
"That's right. This is how it should be. This is good."
It was as if he had always been this way—his heart filled with pain and confusion. For a long time, he hadn't known where his path lay. There was no dazzling sunlight, nor icy night—only a world of gray and white.
Suddenly, Wraithshade sensed something behind him and dodged to the side. An arrow grazed his arm, followed by a series of arrows—less swift, but highly accurate.
It was Joseph Qiao and Lucille Xing. They didn't rush in recklessly, choosing instead to support from the side with their bows. If they crowded in, they might hinder their own allies.
"Aren't you coming down? We're exhausted—we fought a war just this morning."
Sebastian Zhao smiled, his hands drooping weakly. A smile appeared in Wraithshade's eyes.
"Hurry, go!"
Wraithshade's body had shriveled like a withered old tree, his face horrifying. Yet he moved more lightly than before.
The arrows stopped. Lucille Xing, Joseph Qiao, and Lona Long waited for the right moment. If Wraithshade exposed a weakness, he could die instantly.
He had witnessed countless deaths and wars. When forced to the brink, most people lost judgment out of fear—but Wraithshade was different. Fear had long been erased by his own darkness. He stared quietly at each person below.
Leonard Lei was already on his feet, charging forward with his axes.
"Don't even think about it."
Suddenly, Wraithshade darted through the air toward Leonard Lei. Everyone was shocked. Sebastian Zhao and Lily Mao, directly below Wraithshade, didn't even have time to react. All they saw was a shadow—and when they turned, Wraithshade was already in front of Leonard Lei, gripping his arm with hands like old tree roots.
"I won't hesitate."
A shrill wail echoed. Wraithshade opened his mouth, howling in fury. Around them, a violent wind whipped up, sending sand and stones flying.
"Yuna, fall back first."
Leonard Lei immediately raised his axes to shield Yuna Ji, and the two quickly retreated.
He hadn't felt pain in a long time. Wraithshade stared at the gaping hole in his chest, blood gushing out—black blood spraying everywhere.
"Nightmare Invocation, the Wheel turns... the Moon takes its place..."
With a swift motion, Lucille Xing crossed her twin swords and stabbed at Wraithshade's neck. With a loud cry, Wraithshade, though struck, leapt backward as a shadow shattered. Joseph Qiao immediately followed, thrusting his white sword at Wraithshade.
With a clang and a shower of sparks, Wraithshade caught Joseph Qiao's sword with one hand and smashed it toward Lucille Xing.
With a bang, the two collided and flew off to the left.
With a rush, a wild wind swept through. Yuna raised her spear, while the others sat or lay nearby. Blood flowed slowly down the jade-green spear.
"You won, Yuna."
Staring at Wraithshade's body fading away on the ground, Yuna's face showed no emotion. Instead, she looked at him with perfect calm.
Wraithshade threw away the staff and lunged forward. Lily Mao stared in shock, her eyes wide. Behind her, Mason Mao shouted as he tugged her back.
"Lily!"
With a hiss, Yuna pulled her spear from Wraithshade's heart, paused, and turned to speak.
"Maybe there won't be a next time. Farewell, nameless enemy."
"Ah... Farewell, nameless monster."
In the moonlight, Yuna's eyes shone like brilliant jewels in the deep night sky.
"Those two matter to you, don't they?"
A shout rang out. Wraithshade turned, and with a bang, felt a jolt in his right hand.
"How is that possible..."
Sebastian Zhao kicked Wraithshade's hand away from below.
With a rush, Lily Mao was pulled back. A heavy black axe smashed into Wraithshade's chest, sending him flying with blood spurting from his mouth.
"Go, quickly!"
A faint, aged voice called out. Wraithshade, sprawled on the ground, stared wide-eyed. By the house, a black, curved knife was held to Leonard Tang's throat. Beside him, Stanley Tang was pale, stammering incoherently, his eyes dull and his body trembling.
Leonard Tang kept coughing up blood, his eyes bleak as he gazed at Wraithshade.
"Is it happening again?"
Wraithshade turned again. A massive figure lunged at him, clinging tightly to his legs. Just as he tried to raise his right hand, a rope looped around it—Mason Mao and Lily Mao pulled with all their might.
"Don't even think about moving."
With a hiss, Lucille Xing's twin swords stabbed into Wraithshade's shoulder blades. Sebastian Zhao and Mason Mao pinned his left hand.
"I won't hesitate."
As Phoenix Yu spoke, he pressed the knife harder against Leonard Tang's throat. In that instant, Wraithshade roared and struggled, floating into the air, trying to shake off those holding him.
With a whistle, an arrow struck Wraithshade's forehead, and a gleaming white sword pierced his abdomen.
"Yuna..."
Joseph Qiao shouted, gripping his sword with all his strength. The blade cut his fingers, blood splattering everywhere.
"Night Prayer, Wheel of Fate... Moon's Succession..."
Wraithshade looked ahead—a dazzling green light shone. In the corner of his eye, Leonard Tang had vanished, and Phoenix Yu was now holding Stanley Tang.
Phoenix Yu stared in shock as a shadow flashed past him.
"No matter how many times, I still hate it! This light..."
With a rush, a wild wind swept through. Yuna Ji raised her spear, while the others sat or lay nearby. Blood flowed slowly down the jade-green spear.
"You won, Yuna Ji."
Staring at Wraithshade's body fading away on the ground, Yuna Ji's face showed no emotion. Instead, she looked at him with perfect calm.
"Remember this: such is the fate of evil."
"I'll remember it, if there is a future..."
With a hiss, Yuna Ji pulled her spear from Wraithshade's heart, paused, and turned to speak.
"Perhaps there won't be a future. Farewell, nameless enemy."
"Ah, farewell, nameless monster."
In the moonlight, Yuna Ji's eyes shone like brilliant jewels in the deep night sky.