"It's fake, impossible!" Martin Ouyang shouted in confusion, while Three-Eyed sat motionless in midair.
"Go ahead and try. With your current strength, you can't even touch a fraction of Dream's power."
As Three-Eyed spoke, Martin Ouyang suddenly vanished from the air. From all directions, streaks of lightning shot toward Mona Ouyang, who hovered expressionless in the sky.
Just as the lightning was about to strike Mona Ouyang, a barrier-like mass of gray matter formed around her. Fine gray tendrils extended outward, and in an instant, dozens of snake-like mouths appeared, devouring the incoming lightning completely.
With a sudden whoosh, Martin Ouyang reappeared, looking completely bewildered, as if petrified, standing motionless in the air.
"Abyssal Flood!"
Martin Ouyang shouted, and immediately rain began to pour from the sky. I stared in astonishment as all of Dream City was suddenly engulfed in a torrential storm, submerged by water. Swept up in the supernatural chaos, I floated atop this vast, ocean-like surface.
Martin Ouyang panted on the water's surface as currents swirled into vortices. Streams of water spun around, and under his control, they surged from all directions toward Mona Ouyang.
Martin Ouyang vanished again, and the swirling currents crazily rushed toward Mona Ouyang, who remained utterly still, as if the attacking waters meant nothing to her.
With a loud bang, several massive streams of water crashed into Mona Ouyang.
"Got him."
A voice rang out—it was Martin Ouyang. He blended into the rushing water, gripping a longsword, and stabbed at Mona Ouyang, who was already completely swallowed by the torrent.
"Shit, what the hell is this?"
Suddenly, I cried out in shock. Martin Ouyang's sword struck empty air—Mona Ouyang had vanished. Now, the sky above was filled with that vast ocean from before, as if the sea had flipped upside down and was suspended overhead. Mona Ouyang stood on the surface, inverted, her head raised, coldly watching Martin Ouyang.
"Impossible!" Martin Ouyang roared, his body blazing with violet light. With a grinding sound, Dream City suddenly fractured and collapsed, instantly transforming into a hellscape of fire and molten lava.
Scalding, massive boulders shot up into the sky.
With a thunderous crash, Martin Ouyang transformed into a bolt of violet lightning, merging with the barrage of molten rocks and surging toward the ocean suspended in the sky.
But just then, I saw the churning ocean overhead rising, higher and higher. A gigantic gray maw surfaced, appearing at incredible speed.
Below, the sea of fire and molten lava vanished in an instant, swallowed by that gray mouth. Everything returned to its original state.
All around, there was nothing. Dream City had vanished. Only Martin Ouyang, the remaining Hundred Ghosts, and us remained.
"That's not it, Three-Eyed. I've figured it out. Heh. Let me show you—taking Mona Ouyang's power wasn't just luck."
As Martin Ouyang's figure was swallowed by the gray currents, he roared.
In an instant, all the chaos vanished. A scream echoed from the sky. I looked up—it was Three-Eyed, clutching his forehead in agony. A needle-like beam of purple light pierced the eye on his brow.
"Just as I thought. Heh. Three-Eyed, you're a special one. Seal your third eye, and the problem is solved."
As Martin Ouyang spoke, he suddenly reached out, embracing Mona Ouyang. His mouth opened wide—a green hand extended from within, tearing into Mona's chest and pulling out the Nightmare Stone, tossing it downward.
"Move! Take Dream out of here!"
Three-Eyed shouted. All around, the dazed Dream Wraiths surged toward Mona Ouyang. The Nightmare Stone, falling from the sky, landed squarely inside Mona's body.
With a furious howl, Martin Ouyang unleashed a swarm of Dream Wraiths. Blood-red wraiths lunged at the Hundred Ghosts gathering around Mona Ouyang.
"Brothers, clear a path! Don't let Dream die here—never!"
It was Dream Thirteen. I stared in surprise—he cradled Mona Ouyang with one arm, his body glowing green, rushing toward a rainbow-hued dream passage that had suddenly appeared in the distance.
Chaos erupted in an instant. Mona Ouyang's Hundred Ghosts clashed with the blood-red Dream Wraiths.
Every ghost fought desperately. Dream Thirteen clung to Mona Ouyang, racing toward the horizon.
But just then, I saw the massive dream passage shrinking, bit by bit.
"Of course not. That dead demon has lost all will to go on."
As soon as Three-Eyed finished speaking, the rainbow dream passage vanished. Dream Thirteen, still holding Mona Ouyang, seemed to turn transparent and collapsed to the ground, screaming as his body pressed closer and closer to the earth.
The blood-red Dream Wraiths disappeared. The Dream Wraiths who had been fighting all dropped to the ground. With a tearing sound, Martin Ouyang released Three-Eyed's hands, and Three-Eyed slowly drifted to the ground.
"Hmph. If you all love Mona Ouyang so much, I'll finish him off for good."
The Nightmare Stone had returned to Martin Ouyang's hand. He drifted down beside Mona Ouyang, grabbed him, and in a flash appeared among the Dream Wraiths sprawled on the ground.
What should I do? My mind raced for a solution. Mona Ouyang's form was fading fast. I saw the faces of the Hundred Ghosts, filled with sorrow and defiance—especially Three-Eyed, mouth open, as if calling out.
At that moment, all I could see in my mind was Lan Ruoxi, tears streaming down her face, silently watching the lifeless Ouyang Wei.