Sylvia Blue and Tan Tian stopped in their tracks, and the revelation Tan Tian had just spoken left all of us utterly stunned.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Sylvia Blue looked at Tan Tian in confusion and shook her head.
"It seems you aren't even clear about your own situation. Let me explain. Do you know why you were able to effortlessly dodge all my attacks? The moment I made a move, your body reacted instinctively."
Sylvia Blue scratched her head, thinking for a moment with a puzzled look before replying.
"Now that you mention it, I suppose that's true."
Tan Tian's eyes gradually turned a deep violet-black. He reached out a hand, pointing at his own eyes, his entire presence radiating a powerful and chilling aura.
"Everything you possess is deeply connected to our Nether Syndicate. That's why I wanted to fight you. There's a presence within your body that feels intimately familiar to me—a mix of purity and corruption."
The instant Tan Tian finished speaking, he was already in front of Sylvia Blue, reaching out with one hand. Just as Sylvia Blue tried to react, she found herself unable to move—Tan Tian pressed his hand against her forehead.
"You bastard."
Sylvia Blue glared fiercely, baring her teeth. Tan Tian said nothing, as if sensing something within her.
"It really is a mix of purity and corruption—I couldn't be mistaken. How did you all find her?"
"Don't push me too far."
Sylvia Blue roared in anger. A faint blue stream of energy flashed out, and Tan Tian, surprised, was instantly knocked back. His body began to fracture in the blue light, and he quickly widened the distance between them. Sylvia Blue clutched her forehead, gasping for breath.
"To balance the boundary between human and ghost so perfectly—little girl, what are you fighting for? Answer me."
Sylvia Blue quietly straightened up, staring at Tan Tian with a blank expression.
"What am I fighting for? No one ever told me. I remember asking my father a long time ago—he said he didn't know and told me to find my own answer. I've been searching for years and still haven't found it. But now, I think I see a glimpse of it. Right now, I'm filled with the will to fight."
"Beast Manifestation..."
Under the violet-black light, Tan Tian's outstretched arms transformed into two ferocious beasts—beasts with only heads, emitting strange, guttural roars. He stared intently at Sylvia Blue.
"Looks like you're finally getting serious. In that case, I won't hold back either."
As Sylvia Blue spoke, she raised her Wishblade, gripping it in reverse and holding it before her.
"Wish... Liberation..."
With a loud bang and the sound of shattering, Sylvia Blue's sword exploded in her hand. Instantly, the blade transformed into multicolored ribbons. Her aura changed completely, radiating warmth—a power so intense that even we ghosts felt unsettled.
Sylvia Blue slowly raised her sword, holding it to her right. The radiant, multicolored ribbons floated gently around the hilt.
"Such a peculiar power."
As Tan Tian spoke, he raised both hands behind him. His body began to change, violet-black energy covering him like armor. With a thunderous sound, Tan Tian moved—at the instant he closed in on Sylvia Blue, he swung both hands, sending the two beast heads snapping at her.
With a whoosh, Sylvia Blue whipped her ribbons—those shimmering multicolored ribbons instantly wrapped around the two beasts. Gripping the hilt with both hands, she suddenly roared and hurled Tan Tian down to the ground.
With a roar, as Tan Tian was thrown down, the two beasts wrapped around his arms suddenly stretched out. With two loud crashes, Sylvia Blue grinned as the beasts bit into her shoulders.
"I see it—your aspect. This time, you won't escape."
Tan Tian spoke coldly. With a bang, the ribbons wrapped around his arms snapped apart. A violet-black light flared in his chest, and another beast appeared, its bloody maw opening wide toward Sylvia Blue.
"Don't underestimate my wish."
Sylvia Blue gripped the radiant hilt, suddenly pulling upward. Tan Tian's eyes widened as countless purple beast heads appeared all over his body, lunging at Sylvia Blue.
With a sharp whistling, the particles of colored light swirling around Tan Tian instantly formed crisscrossing beams, slicing his body apart in an instant.
With a series of bangs, Sylvia Blue kicked away each beast that lunged at her, swinging her hilt. The beams that had sliced through Tan Tian returned to the hilt, gathering together and shooting out in all directions like spiked balls. The beast heads whimpered, dissolving into violet-black dust.
With a series of thuds, the now fragmented Tan Tian fell to the ground. Sylvia Blue crouched, raising her hilt to her left shoulder, then with a whoosh, swung it down at Tan Tian below.
The entire night sky was illuminated by the light from the multicolored ribbons. Each ribbon traced a graceful arc in the air, all striking toward Tan Tian as he landed.
"Just how much power have you gathered? It's a shame—I see it clearly, this power of yours, Corpse Leviathan."
With a rush of wind, the Tan Tian on the ground instantly split into three. Each one grabbed two ribbons and flew off in different directions.
Sylvia Blue stared at Tan Tian, her gaze intense. She quickly drew Dawn Moon with her left hand, and just as she was about to pull the trigger, Tan Tian appeared before her, mouth wide, lunging for her neck. Sylvia Blue reacted instantly, pressing the gun to Tan Tian's mouth and pulling the trigger with a click.
With a bang, Tan Tian's entire head exploded. A massive silver-blue beam shot into the endless dark night sky, rumbling loudly.
"Something's wrong."
Yvonne May cried out urgently. Sylvia Blue suddenly pulled the trigger on her gun, and the beam, just as it reached the night sky, bent downward and struck the ground.
With a thunderous explosion, a massive black crater appeared on the ground. Sylvia Blue gasped for breath, the multicolored ribbons floating around her.
Tan Tian floated silently above the crater, staring up at Sylvia Blue.
"That last strike could have pierced through this darkness. Little girl, your control over power is far too immature. That's where you fall short. I'll win this battle."
"Celestial Phenomenon..."
As Tan Tian shouted, I widened my eyes and looked up. The darkness vanished; thunder rumbled, the sky turned overcast, thick clouds gathered, and the sun hid within them. To witness this in such darkness was impossible.
Sylvia Blue was still gasping for breath. I noticed a faint black mist emanating from her shoulder.
"There's no need to hold back, little girl. Show your true power—that's what it means to go all out."
Rain began to fall, accompanied by rolling thunder. I reached out in surprise, and real raindrops landed on my hand.