The Wraithlord

Wisps of black smoke drifted through the forest. Everywhere, the gnawed remains of animals littered the ground. Plants withered in droves, the sky was shrouded in gloom, and a stench of decay permeated the air. The blackened earth radiated death, and even the river had turned pitch black. The entire world was quietly undergoing a catastrophic transformation.

All of this was because of The Wraithlord. This once sunlit world was sinking deeper into lifelessness. Mother Goddess Nuwa had failed; she went alone to confront The Wraithlord, only to discover that his power had grown utterly invincible. Even the seven-colored sword he once used to kill himself was shattered and broken.

Yet The Wraithlord did not kill Mother Goddess Nuwa. Instead, he imprisoned her, forcing her to witness firsthand how he ravaged this world. The once stable and prosperous human population was plummeting at a terrifying rate.

The gods in the Shattered Unreal Realm grew anxious. They wanted to retrieve Mother Goddess Nuwa, but were no match for The Wraithlord. After several failed attempts, they lost a few of their own.

The world was plunged into darkness, devoid of any light. Nature had been completely corrupted by the deathly energy seeping from the earth, throwing everything into chaos. Not just humans—animals and all living creatures were marching toward extinction.

Those who died became beings like The Wraithlord: ghosts, driven by bloodlust, their only purpose to devour humans or anything still alive. The Wraithlord ordered these ghosts not to kill everyone at once, but to consume humanity bit by bit, as if venting his inner rage and forcing the gods to witness it all.

Then The Wraithlord set forth a condition: if the gods were willing to die, he would spare the world and Mother Goddess Nuwa. The gods ignored him, determined to find another solution.

At this moment, Loraine Locke led her three children and the remaining survivors to a place where the sky had ruptured. This was the site of Nuwa's patching of the heavens, a sanctuary where the invasion from the Shattered Unreal Realm could be blocked.

The gods could also enter this world through this place. The Wraithlord knew exactly where they were, but did not attack, merely ordering the ghosts and animals to surround the sanctuary.

Fewer than a thousand survivors remained. They were humanity’s last spark of hope, but every moment, they faced annihilation.

Because everyone here is of Nuwa’s bloodline, though they live and die as mortals, they possess a certain degree of power. The gods discovered that the humanoid figures who suddenly appeared in the Shattered Unreal Realm began to respond to the faith of these devout people, granting them the power to break evil.

Under the guidance of the gods, one by one, these humanoid figures merged with the people, becoming their strength. These devout people began to fight the ghosts for the sake of this world, wielding a power called Instinct—a force that could turn their strongest hopes and emotions into actual strength.

None of this was expected by the Wraithlord, especially the tribe chief, Tan Tian, who gained power surpassing even the Wraithlord's three children.

But the powers of the Wraithlord’s three children and Loraine Locke could not harm the ghosts, so they could only act as a bridge between humans and the gods, supporting the people from behind.

Witnessing all this, the Wraithlord was completely unprepared for how these weak humans could gain such immense power. He could not understand it, but the vast difference in strength remained. The Wraithlord did not intervene, instead quietly observing everything.

Tan Tian, as the tribe’s leader, was already approaching old age—his beard was white, his body growing weak. During this period, the Wraithlord probed these people several times, and on a few occasions, Tan Tian managed to injure him. The Wraithlord understood the gods’ plan: they intended to use the strongest human to kill him. So, he did not act rashly, instead commanding the ghosts to keep attacking humanity, while the humans kept fighting back.

(Irrelevant web-serial reminder skipped per guidelines.)

In the war between humans and ghosts, both sides kept growing, and their powers continued to increase.

One day, after a great victory for the humans, they returned to the Shattered Unreal Realm to celebrate, holding a grand ritual to honor the gods. But when Tan Tian came back, he was gloomy and withdrawn.

"What’s wrong, Tan Tian? We won, and it was a decisive victory. Why are you..."

Loraine Locke saw Tan Tian’s sorrowful expression and asked. Tan Tian shook his head and replied.

"Grandmother Locke, we’re not like you and the other three Ancestors of Nuwa. My life is nearly at its end. My Instinct tells me that when the leaves fall this winter, my life will be over."

Seeing Tan Tian’s face full of grief, Loraine Locke gently stroked his forehead, hoping to comfort him. But Tan Tian’s sadness remained—he knew the limits of being human, that his days were numbered. Once he died, there would be no one left who could harm the Wraithlord.

At this moment, the tribe’s second-in-command—a robust man named Hades—and his wife, Ninefold Abyss, approached.

"Hey, old man, come join us for food and drink. Why are you sitting here alone? Grandmother Locke, I’m planning to have a few kids next year."

With a look of anger, Ninefold Abyss slapped Hades across his smiling face.

"Why don’t you have them yourself?"

Tan Tian smiled quietly, watching the happy men and women of the tribe. Inside, he was excited, but soon he would die.

Just then, Emperor God walked over slowly. Sensing the gravity of the situation, he called Tan Tian, Hades, and Ninefold Abyss to the long pole at the center.

Sylvia Yan and Phantom Sage joined them. Everyone planned to discuss what to do next.

"It’s fine, old man. When you die, I’ll inherit the chief’s position. If you turn into a ghost, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Ha!"

Tan Tian smiled helplessly. Everyone waited for the gods to arrive—they had to discuss how to deal with the Wraithlord.

Hades spoke lightly, but in his heart he knew Tan Tian’s position could not be replaced. He and Ninefold Abyss were no match for the Wraithlord’s power; if they ever faced him directly, they would die.

"Maybe I should go talk to Father again."

At this, Sylvia Yan spoke up. Everyone looked at her. The Wraithlord hadn’t harmed Loraine Locke or his three children; after capturing Mother Goddess Nuwa, he let them go. For years, the four believed the Wraithlord still cared about family and so hadn’t attacked them. Now, with the balance of power broken, negotiation seemed the best option.

"Don’t go, Sylvia. Your father will never come back. He’s nothing but a bloodthirsty, despair-inducing beast now."

This was Loraine Locke’s judgment of the Wraithlord, and everyone knew it was true. Just then, a little girl ran over, her cheeks flushed with joy. Her name was Rufina Howard—the youngest in the tribe, but already strong, born with Instinct.

"Rufina, why aren’t you asleep? Go on, hurry."

"Grandpa Chief, can I help you all?"

Rufina Howard ran to Tan Tian’s side, giggling. Seeing this little girl, everyone present felt hope—because there was a next generation, there was hope. In the end, Sylvia Yan convinced everyone: before the gods provided a solution, they would try to negotiate with the Wraithlord themselves.

Loraine Locke stayed behind to contact the gods, so she didn’t go. The Wraithlord’s three children set off to negotiate with their father.

I quietly watched the little girl named Rufina Howard. My mind buzzed, but for some reason, I couldn’t remember—though I clearly knew this girl. I stared blankly at Mother Goddess Nuwa beside me.