At the base of the blue tower, Deathcurse appeared. With a bang, he kicked open the door. Inside was a vast, empty hall—identical to the center of the world.
No one was inside. Deathcurse’s massive figure strode in, glancing around at his surroundings.
Bloodstains marked the floor and walls, and the air was thick with a nauseating stench of blood.
"Come out. I know you’re here, Phantom Sage."
Deathcurse roared. At that moment, a soft, sinister laugh drifted through the air.
"So eager to die? Heh."
"Hmph. I’m not exactly known for my temper. Why don’t you show yourself so we can fight properly?"
Just then, wisps of pale blue energy descended from above, swirling around Deathcurse.
"Die."
A deep, rumbling voice echoed. My eyes widened. In an instant, those pale blue currents transformed into countless sharp spears, piercing Deathcurse’s body. The barrage pinned him in place, his form riddled with holes.
Black blood dripped to the ground.
"Is this your power? Free transformation, able to manipulate everything as part of this world. Not bad. But such feeble tricks—better not bother."
Deathcurse spoke, then roared. Instantly, the objects piercing his body snapped back into pale blue currents, scattering in all directions. Deathcurse hunched, half-crouched, pressing both hands to the ground.
"Curse Transformation—Flame Charging Bull..."
With a thunderous roar, flames erupted across Deathcurse’s body. My eyes widened in shock as he transformed into a black bull, its eyes burning crimson and its form wreathed in fire. With a bellow, the bull charged toward the empty eastern side of the hall.
With a crash, he struck something unseen. Out of the emptiness, a terrified figure was thrown, impaled by the bull’s horns.
I saw a creature covered head to toe in fish scales—even its head was hidden, save for two wide, staring eyes. Blood sprayed from its abdomen where the horns had pierced it.
"You..."
"I told you, bring Phantom Sage out directly. Minion, go die."
Suddenly, Deathcurse’s bull head jerked upward, tossing the impaled creature into the air. Deathcurse opened his mouth wide and exhaled a cloud of white mist.
"Curse Killing—Shatter..."
With a bang, I watched in horror as the thing overhead exploded into a shower of blood, spraying in all directions. Deathcurse stood in the rain of gore, howling in rage.
"Come out, Phantom Sage!"
Still, there was no response.
"Heh, looks like there’s no other way."
In an instant, Deathcurse began to rampage wildly through the vast, empty space. I saw more figures, just like the last one—bodies wrapped in silvery fish scales—being knocked out of the emptiness one after another.
But soon, Deathcurse was met with fierce counterattacks from waves of pale blue currents all around. In an instant, all kinds of weapons struck at him from every direction.
With a crash, a massive hammer struck Deathcurse head-on, sending him flying into the wall. Arrows whistled through the air, shooting toward him.
Arrow after arrow pierced Deathcurse’s body. The flames on him snuffed out in an instant. Deathcurse collapsed, black blood pooling beneath him as he stared upward, eyes wide.
"Here’s your final blow."
That same soft, sinister voice drifted over.
"Curse Transformation—Skyshatter Falcon..."
A black feather suddenly fluttered from a massive spear. I heard a piercing screech and looked up—a giant raptor, over three meters long, appeared in the air.
In an instant, blood jades rained down from the sky. Creatures dragged out by the raptor’s talons were ripped apart, blood spraying everywhere.
"You bastard..."
I told you, minions shouldn’t come up here. I don’t enjoy crushing flies.
It was a pale-faced man, his shoulders gripped tight by Deathcurse’s massive talons.
"Phantom Sage—"
With a slash, Deathcurse gave the man no chance to call out—he was torn to pieces instantly.
"Nearly wiped out by such trash... James Grant, your subordinates really are useless."
As Deathcurse spoke, I sensed James Grant had returned. He immediately opened the Ghost Domain and began treating his barely alive subordinates.
"Sorry, I was too naive."
James Grant spoke, apparently having heard Deathcurse’s words. At that moment, I saw James Grant clutching the green gem brought by John Chou.
"It’s nothing, Qingyuan."
James Grant noticed my gaze and, embarrassed, quickly put the gem away.
"Still not coming out? Phantom Sage, if you don’t show yourself, I’ll smash this tower."
Deathcurse roared, then dove toward the ground.
"Curse Transformation—Earthquake Bear..."
With a roar, I watched in amazement as Deathcurse’s falcon form vanished, his body growing larger—nearly ten meters tall. A black bear appeared, its massive paw smashing into the ground.
"If you destroy it, things will get complicated. Interesting—your tricks."
"How is that possible?"
My eyes widened in disbelief at what was happening. With a single finger, Phantom Sage lifted Deathcurse’s massive body into the air.
[Irrelevant system message; skip translation.]
Yet they were still more than ten meters from the ground.
"Handstand."
Phantom Sage uttered softly. In an instant, their positions shifted—Deathcurse’s palms, once facing down, now pointed upward. Phantom Sage grabbed a tuft of Deathcurse’s fur and slammed him toward the ground.
"Upright."
With a thud, Deathcurse hit the ground, then was instantly sent back into the air. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
Deathcurse looked just as bewildered, pain flickering in his eyes. He hovered in the air while Phantom Sage, now on the ground, his white robe fluttering, bent at the waist and reached his right hand toward Deathcurse’s massive bear head.
"Looks like this is the true form."
"Reverse—kill..."
With a crack, I cried out—Deathcurse was now lying flat on the ground, his enormous bear head pierced through, his form beginning to fade.
Gradually, my eyes widened. For the first time, I saw Deathcurse’s true appearance—his black aura faded, revealing a middle-aged man in brown animal skin and coarse cloth pants, with long hair tied in a small braid and a face marked by countless scars.
Deathcurse’s features were strong and handsome, his body radiating wildness. His nose was prominent, cheekbones wide, and his mouth covered in stubble.
"So tenacious—like a wild beast."
Phantom Sage smirked, watching Deathcurse lying on the ground. Deathcurse climbed up, cracking his neck.
"Looks like I’m warmed up."
Deathcurse stood, glaring at Phantom Sage. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced toward the doorway—Black Moon, Kane, and Cao Wanzhi had already hidden themselves; I couldn’t see them on the screen.
"You really do have some skill—making Emperor God disappear, so neither of us knows where he is. If we’re going to fight, I won’t hold back like Emperor God did."
Deathcurse burst out laughing.
"That’s more like it. I love things simple and brutal. Show me what you’ve got—I’ll go all out too."
"Curse Transformation—Thunder Wolf..."
Deathcurse dropped to the ground. His body shrank, transforming into a silver-maned wolf. With a howl, Deathcurse let out a piercing cry.
In an instant, he lunged at Phantom Sage, white fangs snapping toward him.
Two hands gripped Deathcurse’s jaws tightly.
Sparks crackled—white lightning flashed. With a crunch, Deathcurse’s jaws clamped onto Phantom Sage’s neck. Blood gushed out as Phantom Sage’s head twisted, bitten clean off.
I swallowed hard. Deathcurse’s wolf form looked about the size of a large dog, but its strength and speed far surpassed his previous three beast forms.
"If you’re not dead, hurry up and come out. Don’t waste time."
A gentle laugh drifted through the air.
"Oh, you really are a beast. Looks like you spent your life among wild animals—so after death, this is your power, huh? Ha!"
Phantom Sage appeared behind Deathcurse, doing nothing.
Deathcurse lunged at Phantom Sage again, but missed—like chasing a phantom. He could see him, but couldn’t touch him.
"I’m over here—and here..."
Suddenly, identical Phantom Sages appeared all over the air, laughing. Deathcurse, now a streak of white light, charged through one phantom after another, crackling with electricity.
"Not bad, but you’re still not as fast as me."
Phantom Sage spoke with contempt. Deathcurse roared in fury, darting between the phantoms, but still couldn’t catch him.
Just then, I heard a shutter click.
"Got you."
Deathcurse’s jaws snapped onto Phantom Sage’s body from an empty space. With a crunch, blood sprayed everywhere. Phantom Sage stared in shock at the doorway, where Cao Wanzhi sat in his wheelchair, camera in hand.