"I'll say it one more time: Ethan Zhang, take back your power."
Lady Meng's voice was laced with threat. Emperor God continued to silently observe the situation. Sylvia Yan stood beside me, her lips curled into a silent smile.
"I understand, Lady Meng, I..."
"Ethan Zhang."
Suddenly, John Chou shouted my name in anger. I stared at him wide-eyed as he glared furiously back at me.
"I can't do it, John Chou, I just can't..."
I roared, slowly drawing out Endbringer, but John Chou immediately began to smile.
"Do you really want all our efforts to go to waste? If Divine Law shifts to their side, haven't you considered what could happen?"
I stared, then gave a faint smile. Emperor God finally moved, and Yuna Ji and Lord Shenyan immediately rushed to intercept him.
At that moment, I sensed an utterly abnormal power. My perception expanded completely. Standing behind Lady Meng, I began to slowly draw Endbringer.
It's Basil Bertram—I can sense him now, standing right behind Lady Meng, though she hasn't noticed him at all.
"Hurry, Ethan Zhang."
Lady Meng barked the order. I nodded.
With a thunderous crash, Yuna Ji and Basil Bertram flew toward me at the same time. Both of their ghostly auras had weakened. Under the power of Divine Law, it wasn't just the Ghost Sovereigns— even I could feel exhaustion creeping in. The ghost energy in my body was nearly depleted. Now, with two Instincts still manifesting, I was at my limit. Yet deep down, I found myself hoping that I could just destroy Divine Law outright, as John Chou wished.
"You bastard."
With a rush, Yuna Ji roared and thrust her Long Spear at Emperor God. There was a metallic clang as, in the instant Emperor God gripped her spear, Lord Shenyan circled behind him, pressing a hand to his back. But Emperor God reacted instantly. With a hum, Yuna Ji was pulled toward him by a massive force. The two Instincts on my back began to shatter—on the verge of collapse.
I had to do something. At the very least, I needed to stabilize the Endbringer's power I'd already unleashed into Divine Law. Endbringer's power had reached the core and was already causing destruction—I could feel it. Divine Law was growing weaker, its influence on us fading.
Yuna Ji was already in Emperor God's grasp, and Lord Shenyan's attack had failed. Before the red flames could explode, Emperor God swept them away with a wave of his hand.
With a crash, Lord Shenyan was sent flying backward. The Ninefold Radiance around Yuna Ji began to fade. Her ghostly power was nearly gone. In a battle this intense, the drain was immense.
Sylvia Yan still stood silently beside me, showing no intention of helping either side. If she had joined in just now, things would have been much more dangerous for us.
With a rush, Lord Shenyan paused for an instant as he flew past Lady Meng, thrusting his sword at her.
"Don't think this old woman can't see what's happening."
Lady Meng turned her head. With a clang, a streak of orange light flared. Lord Shenyan's sword was stopped by a force a meter from Lady Meng's head. He coughed, and suddenly a white radiance burst behind Lady Meng. She stared in shock, but before she could react, John Chou, completely restrained by her Specter Web, smiled and suddenly gripped Belle, stabbing toward Lady Meng.
"Watch out!"
Yuna Ji shouted, rushing toward Lady Meng without hesitation. I stared in shock—Emperor God, who'd just restrained Yuna Ji, had vanished.
"Phantom Moon."
Basil Bertram's booming voice rang out. John Chou's form blurred instantly. Emperor God pressed a hand toward John Chou's head. With a rush, John Chou's body turned into a streak of white radiance and vanished.
Emperor God caught Lord Shenyan's sword aimed at Lady Meng with one hand. As Yuna Ji attacked from behind, Emperor God's form flickered, and with a rush, he split into another self, instantly blocking Yuna Ji's strike.
"Go!"
Emperor God spoke coldly. At that moment, Sylvia Yan raised her hand beside me.
"Sorry, Ethan Zhang."
"What do you actually mean..."
I lashed out in anger, but suddenly a surge of flame erupted beneath me, crackling violently. My eyes widened—my body was wrapped in black thorns: Netherthorn.
With a thunderous roar, a column of fire shot up before my eyes. My connection to Endbringer's power was completely severed—the plan had failed.
"Come here, Qingyuan."
I heard Basil Bertram's shout. When my vision returned, we were standing on the surface of a bright white lake. The black substance surrounding Divine Law quickly gathered together, and soon Divine Law's radiance vanished.
With a splatter, John Chou collapsed onto the water, coughing up mouthfuls of black blood.
The other Ghost Sovereigns had returned. We were all gathered together, and not far from us, Lady Meng and Emperor God stood before us.
"So you really did betray us, Lady Meng."
John Chou clutched his chest, Lord Shenyan supporting him. We silently watched Lady Meng and Emperor God, as Sylvia Yan, now vanished, reformed into red clouds. Those clouds began drifting toward Divine Law.
"Brother, why did you hesitate just now?"
John Chou's voice was angry. I hung my head in silence, unsure how to answer, and shook my head.
"Sorry, John Chou. I just can't do it—no matter where, no matter when, I can't give it up."
(Irrelevant passage about chapter continuation, skip translation.)
John Chou's lips curled into a faint smile as he straightened up. Things were dire for us now—we were no match for Emperor God and the others. Below, the red and blue substance dispersed with a gurgle, and Yun Mei surfaced with Redhair, who still hadn't regained consciousness. His face was pale, as if he were still struggling.
"Coming up here without your Hundred Ghosts was reckless. That was your mistake, Ghost Sovereigns!"
My eyes widened as the space around us began to shake, turning instantly gray-white. The Asura King now stood beside Emperor God and the others. We had failed—the attempt to seal Divine Law was over. Every Ghost Sovereign's face showed anger and unwillingness. I clenched my fist, but I had no strength left. The ordeal had drained me completely.
"You failed, John Chou."
Emperor God spoke coldly. I could sense Divine Law fading in this Six Paths of Reincarnation space. The process was slow, but it was truly disappearing.
John Chou smiled.
"Maybe. But you have your trump card—did you think we wouldn't have ours?"
We all stared at John Chou in surprise. But right now, forget trump cards—our strength was nearly gone. Yuna Ji, Basil Bertram, and Lord Shenyan could still fight, but even if all three attacked together, facing the Asura King, Emperor God, and Lady Meng, our chances were zero. I didn't know what Redhair was doing, but from his pained expression, it was clear he was in trouble too.
Yun Mei looked just as bad—she must've exhausted herself holding off the Asura King below. Mona Ouyang was still trapped in Dreamspace, and his condition was dire too.
Everything was going terribly for us. I knew exactly what John Chou meant before: if those three used Divine Law's power to reincarnate as humans again, the Living World would never know peace.
With a splash, I collapsed onto the water, furious inside. The Living World was already chaotic enough—if Emperor God and the others reincarnated, the world would become a battlefield in an instant.
"Lady Meng, why did you betray us?"
Basil Bertram asked angrily, but Lady Meng only shook her head, clearly unwilling to answer.
"Betrayal isn't the issue. It's about choosing the side that benefits you most, given the circumstances. The Underworld Court can't manage Hell anymore, so this is the best choice."
The Asura King spoke slowly. I clenched my fist and struck the ground, unable to judge which side was truly right. Whether it was the Underworld Court or Old Hell, we were just pawns caught between two forces—no matter which way things went, the result would be the same.
A burst of loud laughter rang out. I glanced at John Chou in surprise.
"I wasn't joking just now. I've already told you—we have reinforcements on our side."
"John Chou, you're clever, but now's not the time for talk like that."
Emperor God stared at us coldly. John Chou sat cross-legged on the ground. The other Ghost Sovereigns looked at him in confusion, and I was puzzled too—John Chou never boasted like this. They still needed time to transfer Divine Law.
"Heh, do you really think you've won?"
As John Chou spoke, his expression suddenly softened. He turned his head.
"Brother, lift your head."
I slowly raised my head.
"You are our reinforcements."
My eyes widened.
"Don't joke, John Chou. Ethan Zhang's ghost power is nearly depleted. If you push him any further..."
Basil Bertram protested, but John Chou immediately strode toward me, step by step, until he stood before me.
"Do you really think this is the right thing to do, brother?"
I shook my head.