"What's going on?"
After Phantom Sage dodged Kane's attack, he reappeared only to be thrown back by the wall.
"Access is forbidden here."
Black Moon smiled. Deathcurse was nowhere to be seen—he had vanished. Kane hovered in the air, his wings fluttering, silently staring at Phantom Sage at the wall's edge.
"I told you, unless you kill me, you won't be able to leave this place."
Black Moon spoke, glancing into the distance, as if looking at us through a screen.
"Let's get ready to move."
I said, while James Grant watched the screen, his confusion plain.
We still don't know where Sylvia Yan is right now.
On screen, the scene had become a brutal fight between Kane and Phantom Sage. The others, including Black Moon, had vanished completely.
I opened the entrance to the Shadow Realm and glanced at the two screens again.
"Don't worry, Ethan. If Sylvia Yan joins the fight, the three of us will suppress her completely, just like we did with the others."
I nodded. Together, we exited my Shadow Realm. James Grant closed his eyes, sensing the area for a moment before opening them to speak.
"It looks like Sylvia Yan is searching for Emperor God. It's almost time, Ethan—take back your Instinct."
I let out a surprised sound and glanced at Ghost Painting Book Immortal and the others. We stood atop a building; all three of them nodded.
"If the other two locations need backup, we'll go support them. Leave everything to us."
Ray Lin said, and I grabbed the corner of James Grant's coat.
The murderous energy on my back began to condense. A pitch-black shotgun and a sword identical to the Belle appeared, crossing over my spine.
"A gun and a sword, huh? Ethan, planning to decide the outcome with these?"
Victor Duan said, and I looked at him.
"These are the weapons I can use right now, and they're my advantage. Murderous energy fills them, turning into bullets that pierce everything and blades that cut through anything."
"Time to go, Ethan."
I nodded. In an instant, we moved over—there was Rachel Lan, sitting quietly on the ground with her eyes closed.
"Well, Ethan Zhang, you're still alive after all."
It was Rachel Lan's voice again, mixed with a man's voice—a disturbing, dissonant double tone.
A wicked smile appeared on Rachel Lan's cheek. A stream of black energy flowed, and beside her, another Rachel Lan appeared, entirely shrouded in black, with massive Vermilion Bird wings fully unfurled, floating upward.
"Zhu Tang?"
I muttered. At this moment, Zhu Tang and the other six Ghost Souls had already become Rachel Lan's possessions. I could feel my other half of Instinct stirring restlessly.
"So what's really going on? Heh, Ethan Zhang, tell me."
"To connect this world with the Living World, you need complete Instinct. Without it, it's impossible."
"Give it to me, hurry..."
In that instant, Rachel Lan's double voice grew deep and guttural. Her eyes widened with a manic excitement as she reached out, stepping toward me.
Bang—a gunshot rang out. A pitch-black bullet grazed Rachel Lan's cheek, sending a spray of black blood through the air.
"Oh? What's this? Haha, I see now—the Instinct isn't complete. I've never heard of such a thing. So the other half is with you, isn't it? Just hand it over. Or do you want to watch Rachel Lan..."
"That's not it. None of this is under your control. Since it's my Instinct, I know what happens when it's passed to Rachel Lan."
I replied firmly. Rachel Lan's expression darkened.
"Give it to me! I said give it to me! Your other half—wouldn't you die for Rachel Lan?"
In an instant, Zhu Tang spread his wings and flew toward me.
"It may hurt a bit, but bear with it, Zhu Tang."
With a whoosh, I floated into the air, drew the shotgun from my back, and pulled the trigger.