"Hey, Ethan, don't push yourself too hard. Some opponents are just too strong, and there's no shame in that. Just work on improving your strength and beat them next time."
Ray Lin said this as he helped me to my feet. By now, the Red Mask Agent had completely transformed into a monster.
"Oh, isn't that Lord Shenyan and Quentin Kue? Haha, it's been a while since we've met."
"Oh, it's you, kid. Still working as a driver?"
"Heh, Quentin Kue, these days they call it 'chauffeur.' I'm still in the transport business."
"Lord Shenyan, are you here to stir things up too? I don't mind taking care of you as well."
At this moment, the Red Mask Agent radiated a menacing aura, stepping toward us. Lord Shenyan stood motionless, watching him.
"Your power must be nearly spent now, after fighting Quentin Kue for so long."
Lord Shenyan remained silent, but Quentin Kue burst out laughing. At that moment, the chains on Lord Shenyan's body rattled, and I saw Quentin Kue's head swell up.
"What are you trying to do, you old scoundrel Nathan Chung?"
"I've always despised bratty kids like this. Let me teach him a lesson."
"Nathan Chung, don't get in the way. Once this is over, I need to head to Basil Bertram's place—things are most dangerous over there now."
As Lord Shenyan spoke, the visage of Quentin Kue shrank back, and the tattooed chains stopped moving.
"Alright, make it quick, Lord Shenyan. I want to see for myself what kind of devastation has struck Basil Bertram."
At that moment, the Red Mask Agent's body emitted a constant rustling sound. The things wrapping around him, emerging from his heart, looked like root-like tentacles, writhing across his body.
The Red Mask Agent crouched low, clenching his fist. I heard the intense, rhythmic thumping of his heart, growing stronger. His right hand was already balled into a fist, creaking loudly. As his body swelled, he raised his right fist high and bent it backward.
"Is that the Fifth Extreme?"
Lord Shenyan remarked casually, and at that moment, I saw the Red Mask Agent's whole body tense like a locomotive about to launch, with immense power about to erupt.
"What is it that you desire?"
As Lord Shenyan spoke, he suddenly surged forward, charging right up to the Red Mask Agent.
"Fifth... Extreme..."
Suddenly, the Red Mask Agent attacked, but Lord Shenyan simply extended a hand.
"Who would've thought that even a monster could harbor such warm desires."
Nothing happened. White flames began to burn on the Red Mask Agent's body. The fire looked warm and radiant, engulfing him as his body slowly burned away.
"As I thought, I'm no match for you, Lord Shenyan. It seems anyone with desire is no match for you."
"Hellfire will take you away, freeing you from the hell that is your own self..."
As Lord Shenyan spoke, the Red Mask Agent burst out laughing and clenched his fists.
"The will of the Immortality Society has taken root and flourished for thousands of years. Everything will be shattered before the will of immortality."
Gradually, I saw the Red Mask Agent's body disappear, and the white flames began to die out. I noticed a black heart still beating, untouched by the fire. Lord Shenyan grabbed the heart and tossed it toward us.
"Take it, Ethan Zhang."
Ray Lin helped me take the still-beating black heart. Lord Shenyan flashed to Vivian Ouyang's side and gently picked her up.
"Be careful, Ethan Zhang. The Immortality Society has deployed many Blue Mask agents this time."
My heart skipped a beat. Lord Shenyan, holding Vivian Ouyang, transformed into a blaze and flew off into the distance.
I started coughing violently as Ray Lin kept patting my back.
"You haven't recovered your Ghost Soul, and you're already fighting again. Ethan, this isn't good. If you keep this up, you might die. As a ghost, I can sense your Ghost Soul's cries of pain."
"Sorry, Ray Lin. Can you take me to my cousin's house?"
Right now, I'm most worried about my cousin. As for my parents, the Shade Trio should be able to protect them. Vincent Swallow once said the strongest ghost in the building is Lantern. I don't know why he said that, but neither John Chou nor Yuna Ji refuted it. Also, Rose Harper called to say they've already taken out some Immortality Society agents.
I heard the beep of a horn and saw a taxi shoot out from Ray Lin's ghost domain, engine roaring. Ray Lin helped me into the passenger seat.
"Don't worry, I'll get us there in five minutes, tops."
Ray Lin drove the car into his ghost domain, carrying me along a dirt road surrounded by forest.