Forsaken 000's entire body was covered in cracks, his form slowly dissolving and shattering before my eyes. I stared in shock at Forsaken 000, whose face was filled with urgency, while Rachel Lan gazed dazedly at the curse power below, slowly swirling up towards the sky.
"What happened?"
I asked, and Forsaken 000 gave a wan smile, shaking his head.
"He failed. To absorb such immense power as a single human, Lan Yin's limits weren't enough. Ethan Zhang, take Rachel Lan and leave. In the end, I don't think there's anything left to say—this was Lan Yin's own choice. Someone once told him: either die clinging to this obsession, or live bearing it. Now, everything has been proven."
With a sharp crack, I reached out my hand as Forsaken 000 completely shattered, turning into black fragments that fell away. Rachel Lan bowed her head, silent and pale, her brows tightly furrowed, her body beginning to tremble. She pressed a hand to her forehead, biting her lip, shaking violently.
Utterly unwilling, I looked down, then let go of Rachel Lan and floated upward.
"Ethan..."
Rachel Lan lifted her head, her sorrowful eyes filled with shock. I shook my head.
"Don't go."
I shook my head, clenching my fists and gritting my teeth.
"If you can't accept this, say it out loud. If you want to save him, say it out loud—just as he once saved you, Rachel..."
I shouted, my body hunched as brownish turtle-like patterns emerged across my skin. Rachel Lan fought back tears, her throat choked with emotion. I knew she was afraid, worried that I might never return. Against such overwhelming power, we seemed so small—perhaps powerless to change anything.
"I won't die."
A thick layer of turtle shell formed on my body. I kept praying—this was the final moment. Maybe, as a human in this world, I couldn't change anything, but I had to do something. Everything Rachel believed in burned inside my chest, transforming into flames and fueling my strength.
"Rachel, do you remember what I promised you?"
I managed a relaxed smile, quietly gazing at Rachel. Tears finally escaped her eyes as she nodded, like a weeping child. I reached out and placed my hand on her forehead.
"Let me take over this time, Rachel. Everything you believe in—I'll protect it."
Thunder roared. The previously calm curse power began surging toward the sky in massive streams. With a rush, I leapt forward.
"I'm counting on you all—protect Rachel. I'm going to drag Lan Yin back."
The moment I dove down, the four Forsaken had already reached the spirit serpent, each nodding in acknowledgment.
Wild currents whipped around my body. I moved like the wind, deftly dodging a surge of curse power. I couldn't sense Lan Yin's presence, but I still remembered where he'd been standing. I had to break into the stream of curse power.
"Always so reckless."
The Wraithlord's laughter echoed in my mind. At last, I could communicate with him again.
"What exactly happened?"
I asked immediately.
"No matter how powerful something is, it still has flaws—just like this formation. Once activated, it really can dominate a world for a while, but the flaw remains. People just don't notice it. And at times like these, even a tiny flaw can become a fatal spark."
"So what happened, exactly?"
I asked again. Judging by the Wraithlord's tone, he knew why Lan Yin failed.
"Maybe it's irony. People without faith die for faith."
With a rush of wind, I stopped, raising both hands to control the currents around me. I compressed them into blades that sliced through the streams of curse power. Then I hovered above the surface, studying carefully—I had to pinpoint Lan Yin's location. It was difficult; my senses were weak, nothing like when I was a ghost with ghostly threads. Now, with the curse power at its densest, finding Lan Yin here was nearly impossible.
"The spell is still activating, so the curse power is in this shape. That kid hasn't given up yet. Ethan Zhang, I'll lend you my eyes—hurry, or you'll be doomed too if you're slow."
I nodded. A strange sensation surged through my body, utterly different from before. Everything before me became exquisitely detailed; for a moment, I could even see the structure of the curse power. My eyes widened in astonishment—it was like countless particles, big and small, all remarkably strange.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. I started searching, and gradually I saw deeper—at the very center of the curse power rising skyward, a streak of red appeared. It was Lan Yin. I'd found him.
Now the problem was how to drag him out of this vast curse power. Gradually, I realized there were huge red light clusters all around, and four thick beams connected to the small cluster in the center.
"When I tell you to act, act. As long as you seize the moment, rescuing Lan Yin isn't that hard. The curse power hasn't peaked yet—it hasn't reached its limit."
"What happens when it peaks?"
The Wraithlord burst into laughter, then spoke coldly.
"Everything here will vanish into nothingness, giving birth to a world called Illusion. You can't escape—it's already too late. The passage is closed now."
My eyes widened. The Wraithlord kept laughing, unceasing.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
I was angry.
"I only just reestablished contact with you. The world's consciousness has already been devoured. I said from the start—even if you have a one-in-a-billion chance, those chances sometimes get you killed, Ethan Zhang."
"Enough talk—get Lan Yin out first."
I inched closer to the surface of the curse power. Savage wind blades kept slicing through the surging curse water. I was standing on the water, waiting for the Wraithlord to signal me.
"You saw it—the convergence of power. The opportunity only comes in the few minutes before the peak. That's the darkness before dawn, when power temporarily calms, like a dying man's final burst. Don't let your guard down."
I was already thinking of an escape plan. If the curse power reached its peak and vanished, how would I protect Rachel? Suddenly, I remembered something—maybe it sounded ridiculous, but my trump card was still inside me.
"Smart thinking, Ethan Zhang. If you use the Blood Fiend's power, you might change things in an instant. Even I find its uniqueness astonishing—someone actually unearthed a force that defies fate itself."
I kept my eyes on the surface of the curse power, already calling for coexistence within. Soon, I felt its force—the Blood Fiend's power still sealed in my body by Yin Chou. I didn't know what would happen if I managed to release it, but I couldn't worry about that now.
"Get ready, Ethan Zhang."
The Wraithlord's shout echoed in my mind. I nodded. I could see it now—the black particles making up the curse power were growing larger and more orderly. Suddenly, the surging streams of curse water began to stop.
"Now!"
With a splash, I plunged into the curse power stream. Purple flames erupted around me, and with their help, I broke through. Instantly, I felt a wave of chill as I fought to break through, swimming toward the red glow at the center.
Gradually, I drew closer—closer and closer. I saw Lan Yin: his eyes squeezed shut, his body cracked all over, especially around his eyes, which had shattered, leaving only two black holes.
"Lan Yin!"
I shouted. Somehow, he sensed me—Lan Yin struggled to lift his head, shaking it weakly. I fought through the curse power, swimming toward him, reaching out my hand.
"Grab my hand!"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lan Yin's mouth. His lips moved, and I stared at him in shock.
"Don't worry about me—go! I'll try to hold back this power. If Entity 001 helps, we might still open a way out."
I didn't look back, just kept swimming toward Lan Yin. His limbs gradually slackened, as if unconscious, floating in the water. I saw the curse power flowing into his body, and his rate of collapse accelerated visibly.
"Snap out of it, you bastard! We're getting out!"
With a smack, I grabbed Lan Yin's hand. Instantly, he snapped awake and looked at me.
"Ethan... why...?"
"I told you—I'll protect everything Rachel believes in. No matter what, I'll do it this time. Lan Yin, hold on. Don't let Rachel's struggle be wasted."
I started pulling. A powerful force was binding Lan Yin, but I had to drag him out.
"Hurry, Ethan Zhang—it's almost at its peak!"
The Wraithlord's voice was urgent. I struggled to pull Lan Yin, seeing the black particles around us begin to move. Cracks started to form on my own body—when things reach their limit, they break. The curse power's density had surpassed the limits of elemental opposition and was invading my body.
"Instinct... coexistence..."
A sudden hum filled my head, leaving me dizzy. All I could do was link my consciousness to Lan Yin's, channeling some strength to him so he could move—only then could I pull him out.
I gritted my teeth and kept pulling. Suddenly, a powerful force yanked us both upward. The next moment, a blinding white light flashed before my eyes.
We were out. I gasped for breath, looking back at Lan Yin. He was barely conscious, but alive.
I turned to see Rachel running toward us, tears streaming down her face.