After a long rest, my body had somewhat adapted. Future Ethan Zhang pulled the Phantom Greatsword from the ground, and in an instant, the surrounding stone walls crumbled to dust. We began to move forward again.
However, at that moment, something resembling a river appeared before us—a long, flowing expanse whose color was indiscernible, tinged with black. It was so wide that it looked more like an ocean laid out before our eyes than a river. Past Ethan Justice stepped into this water-like force.
Soon, we realized that in this vast region of power before us, every step was a struggle.
"Step aside and let me blast open a path."
Future Ethan Zhang said this, but Past Ethan Justice immediately shook his head.
"I don't think that's wise. If an explosion happens here, it could put us all in danger."
Past Ethan Justice glanced at me as he spoke. I understood—it was because of me. If such a massive force exploded, I would be in grave danger.
But our destination lay on the other side of this immense force. We had to cross it.
In the end, the three of us could only struggle forward through this force, with both Ethan Zhangs each holding one of my hands, pulling me along bit by bit.
It had been a long time—I could feel my body growing weary again. Yet we had only covered a short distance. Past Ethan Justice seemed to be adapting to something; gradually, a smile appeared on his face.
"I think I've figured out the flow and direction of these forces. Just follow behind me."
"So fast?"
Future Ethan Zhang asked in disbelief.
Past Ethan Justice smiled.
"Of course. Your power is darkness—you feel the endless darkness here, so naturally it's harder for you. But my power is different, the exact opposite of yours."
Just as Past Ethan Justice said, our movement became much smoother, and our speed increased. Gradually, I felt as if we were emerging from water. We had exited this region of force, and in the distance, there was a massive floating black stone, its surface seemingly leveled. At that moment, I caught a glimpse of silver.
"Sylvia!"
I cried out in surprise. Soon, we landed on the massive stone platform, where a huge circular groove was etched into the ground.
"Rachel Lan."
Sylvia was surprised to see us at first, but quickly ran over. I held out my arms and embraced her, and she nestled affectionately in my embrace.
"I've been here alone for so long, I'm bored to death."
"Sylvia, why don't you go back to the darkness? You haven't bathed in days—you're starting to smell."
I said this, and Sylvia grinned playfully. At that moment, Past Ethan Justice, with a serious expression, turned his gaze to someone trapped in a mass of orange, wax-like substance. The figure wore a mask similar to those used by the Immortality Society, but this one was gaudy and colorful, and the person inside seemed to have no awareness.
"I'm so bored, and I'm starving. Plus, plus..."
Sylvia whimpered miserably as she spoke, and I patted her head to comfort her.
"It's all because you told me to trust John Chou. Look at me now..."
Sylvia didn't finish her sentence, because both Past and Future Ethan Zhang were already by the orange waxy substance, investigating the masked figure inside.
"I should have killed him myself from the start."
Future Ethan Zhang said coldly, a chilling murderous intent in his eyes.
I didn't know what they sensed, but the masked figure inside was his son—possibly my future son as well. I pushed Sylvia aside and walked over.
"That's not quite right. This child has already been tainted by the Wraithlord's power. I once heard that before the Wraithlord died, he perished in this Shattered Unreal Realm, so his flesh was destroyed here. Now, the Wraithlord's aura has gathered on this child, and I sense the presence of souls within him."
Past Ethan Justice spoke as Future Ethan Zhang, frustrated, raised a hand to break the orange wax layer, but I grabbed his hand.
"What are you doing, Rachel Lan?"
"I told you before we came here, there would be a way. Calm down—nothing has happened yet, right?"
Then Sylvia explained that on the day Ethan Zhang died, John Chou told her not to worry about Ethan's safety. There are some beings in this world who don't want him to die, so he wouldn't just disappear.
Sylvia hesitated at the time. She had planned to go all out, even though crossing from the land of darkness had drained much of her strength. She still thought she had a chance, but in the end, she chose to trust her father and believe John Chou.
After that, John Chou told Sylvia to come directly to the Shattered Unreal Realm and stay by Seven's side. He's Sylvia's brother. John Chou had Sylvia bring some special items from Lady Meng, namely the orange wax covering Seven's body. Sylvia had to inject her own blood into the wax every few days to maintain it.
Back when Ethan Zhang tried to save Seven by giving him half of his Coexistence Instinct, John Chou foresaw certain changes—especially due to the unique traits of the Coexistence Instinct and the powers within Seven's body. Future Ethan Zhang had clearly told John Chou that Seven had already been infected by the Wraithlord's power while still in his future mother's womb, so this could cause trouble.
Now Seven's body has gradually emerged from the dream, beginning to take physical form.
"The problem now is that Seven's life was saved by Coexistence, and thanks to his mother Rachel Lan's power, he began to gain a body. But the Wraithlord's aura and power are gathering around him. If we don't stop it, there will be serious consequences."
Past Ethan Justice spoke as Sylvia continued to size him up—it seemed to be her first time seeing him like this.
"I think you're way better than my dad—bright and clean. My dad's always so gloomy and worn out."
Sylvia giggled, then quickly ran behind me, sticking out her tongue at Future Ethan Zhang. Past Ethan Justice smiled helplessly.
But soon, we all fell into silence. There seemed to be no solution—if we forcibly extracted the Wraithlord's power that had merged with Seven, he would certainly die. But if we did nothing, the Wraithlord's physical form would eventually reconstitute, and then his Three Souls and Seven Spirits would gather in that body. In the end, Seven would disappear, and the Wraithlord would be resurrected.
"There's no other way—we have to kill him."
Sure enough, Future Ethan Zhang quickly drew the Phantom Greatsword, his gaze heavy as he stared at Seven. Past Ethan Justice nodded, and I cried out in alarm.
"There must be another way. If we take back the instinct Ethan gave to Seven, then..."
I stopped myself. That wouldn't work either—the result was obvious. If we took the instinct away, Seven would die just the same.
"When I nodded just now, you must have misunderstood me."
Past Ethan Justice said, and both Sylvia and I looked at him in confusion.
"The one I said needs to be killed is the Wraithlord, not anyone else."
Even Future Ethan Zhang looked at Past Ethan Justice in confusion.
Just as none of us understood what Past Ethan Justice had in mind, Future Ethan Zhang burst out laughing.
"You mean, let the Wraithlord's power fully merge, then kill him again? That way, his resurrection would be nearly impossible for a long time."
I stared in surprise at the two Ethan Zhangs. Past Ethan Justice nodded.
"Right now, we have the Wraithlord's blood. This power can help the scattered forces of the Wraithlord in the Shattered Unreal Realm merge even faster. When his body is resurrected, we can kill it directly and disperse his power once more throughout this realm. That way, before he can reconstitute again, we'll have bought ourselves a lot of time."
"What about Seven?"
I asked, and Past Ethan Justice nodded and replied.
"Don't worry. The Wraithlord is relying on this child's soul, newly formed body, and inner power to slowly reconstitute, so he'll do everything to protect the child. At most, the child will return to the dream. And you, I believe, possess that instinct related to dreams."
Future Ethan Zhang made a sound of agreement.
"As long as we handle it carefully, the moment we destroy the Wraithlord's body, we can use Mona Ouyang's instinct to move this child's soul into the dreamspace. So, little one, all you need to do is fall asleep—and hopefully, have a good dream."
Sylvia pouted.
"I've been sleeping well these days. It's so quiet here, not a sound—haven't had a dream in ages."
Finally, I found a comfortable spot and sat down, letting Sylvia rest her head on my lap. I quietly comforted her, telling her stories from the past. She listened happily and gradually fell asleep. But this was just the beginning—we could only hope Sylvia would have a good dream.
"This plan you just came up with—will it really work?"
Future Ethan Zhang asked, and Past Ethan Justice smiled.
"It's a last resort, unless you can't do it. If you can't, then stay here and let me handle it alone—killing the same enemy twice."
Future Ethan Zhang frowned in mild anger, stood up, and clenched his fists.
"Getting to face that bastard Wraithlord again isn't so bad—I've got plenty of anger to take out on him."