My body was burning hot. Gradually, I regained some consciousness. Darkness surrounded me, yet my body was engulfed in flames, slowly vanishing bit by bit. I couldn't muster a shred of strength.
I wanted to speak, but my throat couldn't produce a single sound. I couldn't feel anything—only that my body was being devoured, bit by bit, by Endbringer's flames. That much I knew with absolute clarity.
My mind was in chaos. The flames of Endbringer weren't consuming me quickly, so I had a moment to adapt—a window to think. I had to act. I had no idea what my Shadow had done to me, but I was certain: he had seized my body, leaving me in this state.
I’d realized early on that the Shadow’s goal was likely to replace me. To do that, he’d have to surpass me. But he wasn’t stronger than I was—yet somehow, in an instant, he took everything: my body, even the power of Endbringer.
What happened in that split second was utterly baffling. From the very beginning, the Shadow’s presence in my Instinctive Space had been strange.
I’d witnessed Ethan Zhang’s Shadow before—he could use powers like Reflection, and it had saved him from danger several times. It was a handy escape ability in combat. But my own Shadow had never once helped me in a fight.
Why had he stopped me from meeting my Instinct? My Instinct seemed to want to tell me something, but my Shadow always interrupted.
In my current state, I no longer belonged to Ethan Zhang, Earth Soul, so Endbringer’s Instinct would reject me. I couldn’t even see Endbringer’s form now. Still trapped in Endbringer’s Instinctive Space, I had to try—if I could restore my connection to Endbringer, maybe there was a way out. Or maybe someone outside would notice something was wrong. I didn’t know how long I’d been here, how long I’d been unconscious, but judging from my body’s condition, it couldn’t have been more than half an hour.
Maybe Agent Seven outside would notice something was off, but he wasn’t a match for my Shadow. The only one I could count on was Sylvia Blue, but she and Entity 001 usually didn’t get back from shopping until around 11:30. By then, my body would have long since been burned away by Endbringer’s flames.
I called out desperately to Endbringer, but again and again, there was no response from deep within. Things couldn’t be worse. I was completely immobilized.
My mind raced as I searched for a solution. Suddenly, I thought of Isabelle Frost. She’d once told me that for ghosts, consciousness and power are inseparable—each supports the other. The stronger the power, the stronger the will required to sustain it.
That connection was absolute. Even if my Endbringer Instinct had been stolen by my Shadow and he’d replaced me, the *murderous aura* in my ghostly body couldn’t be so easily controlled.
What I needed to restore now was my connection to the power within my body—not my Instinct. That link was incredibly tight. Deathcurse had once helped me train my willpower. I started to recall, bit by bit, the nature of my own strength. A streak of black flashed through my mind.
Suddenly, my eyes widened. On the surface of my body, a streak of black seeped out through the flames. I sneered—there it was, a reaction. This was the power that belonged to the three of us: Deathbane Aura.
Gradually, I felt my body begin to move. As more Deathbane Aura seeped from my skin, I could sense my consciousness slowly pulling away from this space. The flames on my body began to die out.
Just as I closed my eyes, there was a buzzing sound—my head felt like it hit something hard. I couldn’t escape the Instinctive Space. Now, red lightning crackled all around, the sizzle of Endbringer’s power trapping me within this space.
"Bastard, you really dared to do it. When I get out, I’ll deal with you without hesitation—remove this threat once and for all."
Slowly, I stood up. Deathbane Aura flowed across my skin. With a roar, the Endbringer flames were scattered, but the red lightning around me fell like a cage, keeping me trapped in the Instinctive Space. I closed my eyes, gradually restoring my connection to my body. The power I’d used for so long would never betray or forget me.
In a daze, I saw a scene outside—a picture of laughter and joy. My Shadow was discussing something with 007.
"So, Zhang Qingyuan, did you find something? You look so happy."
"Yeah, I suppose so. It feels like I've been reborn—like I can do anything now. This Endbringer power is really something!"
"Is that so?"
007 glanced sideways at my Shadow, a barely noticeable coldness flashing at the corner of his mouth. He’d definitely noticed something odd. Now, 007 stood up and poured a drink for my Shadow.
"By the way, Zhang Qingyuan, why don't we go out and find them? We're just sitting around anyway—let's go for a walk downtown together."
"Alright."
My Shadow stood up, and 007, on guard, quietly followed behind him. But suddenly, my Shadow stopped and let out a cold sneer.
"Let me ask you—who do you really serve? Me, or someone else...?"
"Of course you, Zhang Qingyuan."
With a whoosh, I gasped. A hole was suddenly pierced in 007’s left side—black Shadow Lightning shot from my Shadow’s hand. 007 gritted his teeth, slowly crouching down, both hands desperately pressing against his bleeding abdomen.
"What the hell, Zhang Qingyuan? Pulling something like this out of nowhere could get someone killed."
"You're useless now. I don't need any of you."
My gaze shifted to 007. I could sense the evil radiating from my Shadow.
"Hey, hey, stop joking around! Zhang Qingyuan was fine before—how did he change so suddenly?"
007 said meaningfully, his face pale and cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He wouldn’t last much longer. Though he had some power, he was still human. Then I saw a streak of green ooze from 007’s hand, spreading over his pierced abdomen. The bleeding stopped, and 007 slumped to the floor.
"You knew all along I wasn’t Zhang Qingyuan, didn’t you?"
007 gave a sheepish grin.
"You saw right through me, huh."
Just then, a commotion came from the outer courtyard.
"Qingyuan, say something about Qi—she’s gone way too far! I’m so mad, I’ll never go shopping with her again! I’m so upset, Qingyuan, comfort me, will you?"
My heart lurched—001 had come back early. My Shadow turned his head; 001 stood frozen, staring at me in silence.
"Qingyuan... no, you’re not Zhang Qingyuan. Can you explain what you intend to do to him?"
A chill crept across 001’s face, her anger slowly surfacing.
"A girl with a twisted soul quality, huh? Heh... You’re no different. We saw through your power thousands of years ago. You’re just the same..."
My eyes widened. A streak of black Shadow Lightning shot toward 001’s chest. Suddenly, she raised a hand—there was a thunderous boom, and I stared in shock as a surge of water appeared before her. The Shadow Lightning plunged into the water, and with a wave of 001’s hand...
Droplets, crackling with electricity and trailing wisps of smoke, scattered everywhere. Instantly, small explosions erupted across the courtyard, leaving it in total disarray.
"Looks like you’ve got some brains after all. But..."
With a whoosh, my Shadow flew straight to 001, moving fast. 001 tried to react, but my Shadow’s Endbringer was already aimed at her neck.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing?"
I roared, suddenly sensing a murderous aura. It poured from my Shadow, binding Endbringer like ropes, the blade’s tip pressed against 001’s pale neck.
"Stay out of this, Ethan Zhang."
No sooner had my shadow spoken than a thunderous crack split the air—my *murderous aura* was shredded by the force of *Endbringer*. But just then, a pair of pale, delicate hands pressed against my shadow's chest.
"What do you think you're doing?"
My shadow raised *Endbringer* in his hand.
"Ethan Zhang, I can sense you—split in two..."
In a daze, I felt myself sinking deeper into the *Instinctive Space*. With a whoosh, I raised both hands and caught the descending *Endbringer*. Sizzling pain shot through me, numbing every nerve, while Entity 001 collapsed to the ground, utterly drained.
With a boom, *murderous aura* burst from every pore of my body, scattering black particles into the air. In that instant, everything around us slowed. I released *Endbringer*, scooped up Entity 001 from the ground, unfurled my black wings, and vaulted onto the rooftop. With a flick of my hand, a stream of *murderous aura* snaked around Agent Seven behind my shadow, yanking him onto the opposite rooftop.
As the black particles faded, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky. With a deafening crash, everything around us was obliterated in an instant.
"My house..."
Entity 001 shouted, but now her cheeks were flushed as she nestled quietly in my arms. I set her down, but she still clung to my neck.
"Now's not the time for this. Let go. The house is gone—just recover after the fight."
I glared viciously at my shadow below. He met my gaze with a cold, mocking smile.
"To pull off something like that... That girl's power is far beyond what we imagined. Heh, Ethan Zhang, if you want to survive, hand her over to me. I—"
With a rush of air, I was suddenly in front of my shadow. His eyes widened in shock as I drove my fist—charged with *murderous aura*—straight into his cheek.
"It's useless. Before the power of *Endbringer*..."
With a thunderous crash, my shadow was sent flying, *Endbringer* soaring high from his grip. The ground caved in completely. Black blood poured from his mouth; after a long moment, he clutched his chest and slowly struggled to his feet.
"How is this possible—your *murderous aura*..."
I glanced at *Endbringer*, stabbed into the ground nearby. The moment I gripped it, my hand was instantly scorched black—my strength still hadn't returned. I kicked *Endbringer* aside; it flew toward my shadow, who snatched it up, glaring at me fiercely, his cheek caved in, blood streaming down.
"Go ahead and try. With *Endbringer*'s power, I'll beat you until you can't get up again. But first, you'd better tell me—who are you, really? I never go easy on bastards."