"Deathbane Ghost, can we talk?"
I asked, and Deathbane Ghost stood up.
"Of course we can."
Deathbane Ghost's voice sounded fake. Watching him walk toward me step by step, I wasn't stupid—I wouldn't be fooled by such simple sweet talk anymore.
"Stop. Don't come any closer."
As I spoke, I raised the Endbringer Fragment in my hand, glaring at Deathbane Ghost.
"If you want my life, I won't be polite with you."
Suddenly, Deathbane Ghost threw the Deathbane Dagger in his hand at me. My heart skipped, and with a tearing sound, a huge gash appeared on my arm. I crashed to the ground as Deathbane Ghost lunged at me.
"Shit."
I roared, clenching the Endbringer Fragment in my right hand. Just as I raised my hand, with a sudden slash, my right hand was severed by Deathbane energy. I screamed as the Endbringer Fragment hit the ground—instantly, sizzling sounds erupted. The smooth black pebbles on the ground transformed into Deathbane energy and dissipated. Deathbane Ghost pressed one foot down onto my chest.
"I told you to hold on tight, Ethan Zhang. Now you're about to die—any last words?"
Deathbane Ghost raised the longsword, pressing it against my throat. I stared at my severed right hand, still clutching the Endbringer Fragment, sizzling with black lightning seven or eight meters away—far beyond my reach.
Panic gripped me. Deathbane Ghost laughed wildly as the sword pierced my throat. Black blood poured out; I could feel the Deathbane Aura Blade had punctured my vocal cords. I couldn't make a sound—my mouth hung open, and my incomplete Ghost Soul was fully exposed beneath the blade.
"Seems you have no last words, huh? Heh, then I'll let you die."
With a tearing sound, the Deathbane Aura Blade stabbed through my throat and then my Ghost Soul. I whimpered, unable to speak, lying motionless on the ground as my consciousness began to fade.
"Hmph, you should've listened to me. But even if you did, I'd still kill you. Heh, for centuries, every Child of Malice and ghost who wandered in here has died by my hand. After they became part of this place, their resentment toward me never faded—they emerged as monsters, trying to kill me. But honestly, they've just given me plenty of entertainment."
Deathbane Ghost laughed wildly, walking away, still focused on my severed hand clutching the Endbringer Fragment. As I thought about it, I realized—the monsters that emerged from the waterfall weren't trying to kill me. They were trying to save me. The real killer was Deathbane Ghost, who made me think he was rescuing me.
Those two monsters came for me, but their aggression was nothing like Deathbane Ghost's. Their attitude toward me and toward him was completely different. I'm dying—barely conscious now.
I watched as Deathbane Ghost grabbed my severed arm and took the Endbringer Fragment, laughing nonstop.
"Finally, a power that can suppress this damned Deathbane energy. Hahaha, looks like I can finally escape from here."