There's something inside my body. That voice just now sounded as if it came from the depths of my heart. As I faced the fight, a surge of emotions—refusing to retreat—flooded my mind.
With a swish, General Crimson Plume's sword was already thrust before my eyes. I turned my head to dodge, then instantly countered with a slash. She blocked my attack with her left-hand sword and kicked at me again.
"I won't fall for the same trick twice."
I roared, soaring into the air with a whoosh, and in an instant lunged at General Crimson Plume’s shoulder.
Suddenly, General Crimson Plume flipped backward. I stared wide-eyed as she lifted her head, facing me head-on. Her hands creaked as she spread them wide, gripping both swords in reverse. I immediately withdrew Belle.
The space before me twisted violently. With a swish, I felt two waves of heat rushing toward me, and then my consciousness vanished in an instant.
As soon as I regained consciousness, my eyes snapped open. General Crimson Plume raised her sword, stabbing down toward my head.
But my lower body had already vanished. That last strike left me stunned.
"Let me play with you for a while."
With a clang, Yuna Ji raised a pair of emerald-green daggers, parrying General Crimson Plume’s sword away from me. She grabbed my hand and pulled me up.
"It still looks a bit tough for you to handle these guys right now, Ethan Zhang."
I swallowed hard. My body began repairing itself. In that instant, General Crimson Plume saw through my move, and her attack struck my ghostly soul directly.
I looked behind me and my eyes widened. The ground was littered with bones, piled high. Mr. Brown looked completely relaxed.
"Watch carefully, Ethan Zhang. The most important thing in bare-handed combat—your master taught you this before, didn’t he?"
I nodded and looked over. Yuna Ji deftly parried General Crimson Plume’s attacks again and again, but now she was actually at a disadvantage. I found this utterly unbelievable.
"The Seven Ghost Sovereigns aren’t powerful in the living world just by relying on themselves. Each has their own subordinates. Yuna Ji’s nine generals are as strong as Lady Purple Maple."
I swallowed again. Sure enough, Yuna Ji was completely at a disadvantage. General Crimson Plume laughed wildly, swinging her crimson twin swords relentlessly, pressing Yuna Ji hard.
We’d agreed beforehand—absolutely no using ghost powers. If we slipped up, it would ruin our plan.
"Mr. Brown, just now I heard a voice deep inside me. It told me to fight, to keep fighting..."
"That’s the terrifying thing about Battle Instinct—it gets in everywhere. It wasn’t this strong before; it only affected the skeletal souls here. But ever since Yuna Ji regained control of Netherhell, the instinct has become even more aggressive. Anyone who enters Netherhell is affected by it."