I looked at Ironmask with gratitude, then slowly walked forward. John Chou and Ironmask exchanged glances, as if they knew each other. The way they looked at each other was like old friends, yet also like strangers. John Chou gave a wicked smile, while Ironmask's eyes held a hint of amusement.
"You two, do you know each other?"
I glanced at Martin Ouyang in the distance. Ever since Ironmask arrived, Martin had been extremely tense, his face showing fear and suspicion in his eyes.
"Brother, you'll find out in time, hehe."
"John Chou, how long are you going to let Ethan Zhang go like this? The way he is now is far from what you expected, isn't it?"
"That's none of your concern. When I handle things, it's not your place to interfere. Still, your arrival does have its benefits. Later, I might need your help. After all, your growth has far exceeded my expectations. Compared to you, Ethan Zhang is nothing but an ant now. Hehe, truly surprising."
I shot John Chou a resentful look, and Ironmask turned to look at me.
"I've told you before, Ethan Zhang. I didn't expect you to make your own choice. Those meaningless things will one day cost you your life. Isn't he your enemy?"
Ironmask spoke, pointing at Mona Ouyang lying on the ground. I turned to look at her, then nodded, then shook my head.
"After all, I can't bring myself to hate anymore. Everything—everything."
I looked seriously at Ironmask as I answered. He sized me up, then burst into loud laughter. When the laughter faded, Ironmask turned away, fell silent for a moment, and spoke.
“Fine, Ethan Zhang. Since this is the path you’ve chosen yourself, walk it well. You and I have become fundamentally different beings.”
“What do you mean?” I was about to ask when, suddenly, Martin Ouyang roared.
“Who the hell are you? Why? Why can you be so... so...”
Martin Ouyang’s face twisted, teetering on the edge of madness. His eyes were wild with terror as he stared at Ironmask.
“I am who I am, not a ‘what.’ My instinct is called Endbringer...”
Ironmask spoke, clenching his fists. With a sudden whoosh, he shot into the sky. Instantly, the distant horizon darkened, as if vanishing in an instant.
“You, on the other hand, are laughable, pitiful, and sad—always stealing from others despite your lack of substance. It’s unbelievable that Lord Dream lost to someone like you.”
I turned to look at Martin Ouyang. His gaze remained locked on Ironmask floating in the sky.
"Brother," John Chou called out, extending his finger to point at Martin Ouyang, then continued.
“Try to defeat that fake over there. Follow your own will—listen to your instincts.”
I looked seriously at John Chou and nodded. Step by step, I walked toward Martin Ouyang. He glanced my way, his face full of scorn, and burst out laughing.
“You? Ethan Zhang? Don’t make me laugh.”
I said nothing. Instead, Deathbane Aura kept pouring out of me. For some reason, my body now brimmed with energy and murderous intent—even though just moments ago, my aura had been completely drained.
“I want you to return the Nightmare Stone and Lord Dream’s primal instinct.”
As I spoke, Martin Ouyang laughed again, his voice dripping with contempt.
“How about this—if you defeat Ethan Zhang and erase Lord Dream from this world forever, I’ll let you rule as emperor for a while longer.”
Ironmask spoke, flying off into the distance. John Chou floated up and followed him.
I couldn’t help but recall what my cousin once told me. Step by step, I approached Martin Ouyang, who kept laughing maniacally, not taking me seriously at all. Clenching my fists, I walked right up to him.
“So, Ethan Zhang, do you really think you can defeat me as you are now?”
Suddenly, I swung my fist at Martin Ouyang. In an instant, he vanished before my eyes. I focused my intent—above my head, countless strands of Deathbane Aura wove into a net. With a roar, I leapt from the ground.
With a punch, I struck Martin Ouyang’s mouth. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
“It’s not about defeating you—it’s about hitting you until you’re willing to yield.”
I roared, immediately swinging my fist at Martin Ouyang’s body. Suddenly, I felt a surge of water erupting from beneath my feet. With a whoosh, I spread my black wings and flew to the left.
“Impossible, you...”
I grinned. Martin Ouyang’s entire body radiated a purple light, wrapping himself in a torrent of water. He looked at me in terror.
I flapped my wings again, raising my hand. A stream of black energy burst from my right hand, and then, bit by bit, the Ghostblade John Chou gave me appeared, glinting with a cold light. I raised the Ghostblade and slashed at Martin Ouyang before me.
But my focus wasn’t on the Martin Ouyang wrapped in water before me, but rather on the spot to the right, three or four meters away from the watery mass.
With a swish, Martin Ouyang’s figure appeared. He retreated, dodging my attack.
“Why? Ethan Zhang, you clearly...”
“Yes, you’ve shown me too much, Martin Ouyang.”
Just now, in the battle I witnessed, it was John Chou who kept reminding me. Looking back, I finally understood: in this dream world, you can’t trust what you see or hear. Otherwise, I’d never be able to grasp Martin Ouyang’s true presence.
Most battles between people begin with sight, then rely on hearing. I had no awareness of this at all. Now, I am a ghost, not a man—and what I’m facing isn’t a man, nor a ghost, but a dream named Martin Ouyang. Since it’s a dream, he can do anything, hide anywhere in the Dream Realm, and strike me fatally at any time. If I chase this dream with my conscious mind, I’ll never be his match.
[SKIPPED: Irrelevant passage. Original line: 'This chapter isn’t over ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!']
“You’re not a ghost, you know.”
I replied calmly. At that moment, I could clearly sense and see everything. I was amazed by the power of the Ghostweb—my black Ghostweb had spread fully across the sky, covering an immense area.
Suddenly, Martin Ouyang vanished again. I immediately sensed that above me, those Ghostweb strands—like spider silk—spread out in all directions. Though there was nothing visible, I knew Martin Ouyang was right above me, planning something.
I roared, flapped my wings, and charged into the dispersing Ghostweb.
“Found you, Martin Ouyang.”
I raised the Ghostblade, my body radiating Deathbane Aura, and stabbed forward.
With a clang, Martin Ouyang blocked my attack with a sword. The blade was thin and ordinary-looking, but now I understood the true nature of Lord Dream’s power.
“You’re no match for me with such crude dreams.”
I roared, slashing with a swish—severing the sword Martin Ouyang used to block my Ghostblade. The Ghostblade struck him, tearing his clothes. He retreated, staring at me in disbelief.
Dreams are free, illusory, unlike reality. In the Dream Realm, anything can happen. That’s why Lord Dream can use dream power to move freely, conjure countless impossible things, and hide his true form within. He relies on dreams to seal others’ senses. But Martin Ouyang’s power is clearly too weak.
“Ethan Zhang.”
Martin Ouyang roared, appearing before me in a flash. This time, he held a dagger, slashing at my throat. My heart chilled. Suddenly, the dagger in his hand turned into a massive flame.
The heat and light of the flame felt real—an illusion. I roared, wielding the Ghostblade and struck.
But in an instant, my skin felt scorched. With a thunderous blast, a wave of heat slammed me to the ground. I spun through the air and crashed down.
Clutching my burned body, stabbing pain radiated through me, unbearable. I stared in shock at Martin Ouyang floating in the air.
“It’s not just an illusion, Ethan Zhang. Even if you can pinpoint my location, you’re still too weak.”
As Martin Ouyang spoke, suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed in the sky. A massive Azure Dragon descended, its momentum crashing toward me. The powerful wind nearly crushed me—I felt pinned down, my limbs splayed helplessly as I lay on the ground.
A deafening roar. Two claws with three talons each, a gaping maw, and shimmering blue scales—a colossal Azure Dragon. Its world-shattering power left me unable to rise.
Martin Ouyang stood atop the Azure Dragon’s head, laughing loudly.
“Hmph, Ethan Zhang, don’t think that just because you can see through my moves, you can defeat me. Since that’s the case, I’ll show you my true skill—let’s play with the Real Dream.”
A wild wind howled. Torrential rain poured down. The Azure Dragon roared as it descended from the sky, charging at me.
I had to think of something. I never imagined such power existed.
“If he can do it, so can you, Ethan Zhang.”
At that moment, a voice echoed in my mind. Suddenly, I seemed to realize something, and Deathbane Aura surged out of me.