A thunderous rumble echoed as the earth trembled. I was hurled backward, violent Deathbane Aura sweeping across the entire circular arena. The ground began to crack and collapse, and the houses surrounding us were reduced to rubble.
I crashed hard onto the ground, skidding and rolling across the surface. The evil ghost's two hands braced against the earth on my back, and in the instant my body steadied, I rose to my feet.
Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. I quietly scanned the raging Deathbane Aura before me, searching for Hades' figure. Gradually, the aura began to disperse.
"Ethan Zhang..."
From above and behind me, Rachel Lan called out. I turned my head and nodded.
"It's okay, Rachel."
"That hurt—a lot! Ethan Zhang, I'm actually a little angry now!"
Hades' form appeared, with only the left half of his head remaining. The right side of his skull and part of his upper body had been blasted away. Though he was recovering, the process was agonizingly slow.
With a whoosh, I charged at him again, a thought flashing in my mind: normally, my attacks can't touch him unless I manifest my instincts. It's difficult for me now—the Deathbane Aura drains me rapidly, but I can hold on. The Wraith Messenger on my back kept channeling Deathbane Aura into me.
The instant I closed in on Hades, the Wraith Messenger on my back seized his body once more. I raised Belle in my hand and struck down.
With a metallic clang, Hades blocked my strike with his right hand. Deathbane Aura surged everywhere as he glared at me fiercely. Suddenly, yellow vapors swirled beneath my feet. I didn't think too much of it, and as I prepared to launch a second blow, I felt myself sink—my feet trapped in yellow liquid seeping from the ground. Hades smiled coldly.
"Looks like you need a lesson, Ethan Zhang."
Suddenly, Hades opened his mouth wide. A yellow beam of light shot out with a roar, and I screamed as it pierced through my right eye and out the back of my skull. Belle slipped from my hand.
"Deathbane Ghost! Deathbane Aura Snakes!"
I shouted immediately. With two whooshes, two dark shadows sprang from my body. As Hades' form began to recover, they blocked his twin punches. I was thrown backward, and just as I landed, Hades was already in front of me. I forced my eyes wide, fighting the pain, and drew my Deathbane Shotgun. The Deathbane Ghost's hands reached for Hades from behind.
"Trying that trick again, huh?"
With a bang, a hand sprouted from Huang Quan's abdomen, then landed a solid punch on my jaw. I was sent flying upward, and the evil ghost form I'd manifested collapsed instantly. My strength shattered under his blow, the Deathbane Aura shielding my body dissipated, and in a flash, Huang Quan grabbed my leg and dragged me down to the ground.
With a crash, I was slammed hard into the ground. Deathbane Ghost and Aura Snake rushed over, but Huang Quan turned and glared at them viciously. Instantly, the two stopped midair.
"Stay out of this. It's not your concern."
I saw a pair of golden-red eyes locked onto me, burning with intensity. My consciousness was on the verge of collapse; I felt utterly powerless to control my body. Huang Quan walked toward me, one hand pressing down on my head.
I screamed in agony as a flood of painful memories surged through my mind, my head feeling as if it would explode. All I could hear was Hades' wild laughter as my consciousness slowly slipped away.
A chilling sensation spread throughout my body. My eyes widened, the mental anguish tormenting me far more directly than any physical pain. I was almost at my limit.
With two swift sounds, two Spirit Shrouds flew over and wrapped around Huang Quan's hands. I felt a hint of spring-like warmth.
"Ethan Zhang..."
In an instant, my awareness snapped back—Rachel Lan. Vital energy flowed into me, and Hades glared viciously at Rachel behind me.
"I told you, this isn't anyone else's business. Can't you understand? Are you looking for death..."
I stared blankly as Huang Quan reached for Rachel Lan, his right hand rising, a stream of Deathbane Aura flowing out. The black aura gradually faded into gray, and a gray Deathbane Aura sword appeared in my hand.
With a slash, I roared and swung the sword upward, severing Huang Quan's hand as it reached for Rachel Lan. I immediately sprang up, my knee slamming into Huang Quan's chest, sending him flying backward.
With two whooshes, Deathbane Ghost and Deathbane Aura Snakes flew back into my body. The black Deathbane Aura on my surface gradually faded to gray, and my eyes slowly turned golden-red.
Hades stared at me in disbelief, his eyes wide, as gray smoke and dust swirled around my body.
Hades stared at me in disbelief, his eyes wide, as gray smoke and dust swirled around my body.
"Human and ghost."
With a thunderous roar, I charged forward, fury blazing, gripping two gray Deathbane Aura swords in my hands. I crossed them and slashed down hard.
With a cry, two gashes appeared on Huang Quan's chest. He gasped in shock as I ruthlessly swung the Deathbane Aura swords at him again and again, each strike like a storm. My twin swords slashed at him in rapid succession, leaving his body covered in wounds.
"It's not over yet."
With a tearing sound, my twin Deathbane Aura swords pierced Huang Quan's chest. I immediately raised a hand, and with a wet splatter, a mouthful of black blood sprayed from my lips.
"No, Ethan Zhang! If you keep using such overwhelming power, you'll be destroyed too!"
Deathbane Ghost shouted urgently. I was at my limit—rage left me no room for thought. A gray Deathbane Shotgun condensed in my hand.
With a crackling sound, red chains emerged from my arm, winding around my hand and the Deathbane Shotgun. A gray vapor billowed nearby.
"This blow will end you."
Hades looked at me in astonishment.
"What on earth are you..."
With a click, the Deathbane Shotgun was loaded. Suddenly, I lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.
"Ah..."
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I forced my eyes open and steadied myself with a step forward. The ground around me was collapsing, soil and stone turning to dust under the immense force, blood pouring from my seven orifices.
Hades steadied himself, smiling faintly, doing nothing but raising a single finger.
"This power is impressive, but still unstable. Even though you're trying to use curse power to restrain it, it's a shame—this blow will leave me badly wounded."
"Bastard..."
I snarled, teeth clenched. My gray Deathbane Shotgun shattered, and red Curse Chains instantly wrapped around my entire body. It was Curse Ghost—she locked down my power in an instant.
My body sagged toward the ground, a finger pressing against my forehead as Huang Quan laughed excitedly.
My body sagged toward the ground, a finger pressing against my forehead as Hades laughed excitedly.
My eyes widened as I turned my head—Hades was already in front of Rachel Lan.
A flash of azure light appeared before Rachel Lan. Instantly, the cry of a bird rang out and a violent gust swept through. It was Cangluan, its beak clamped onto Hades' hand, while the blade of Sin pressed against Hades' neck.
"Do you really think there's no way to deal with you in this world?"
A rustling sound arose as black tendrils pulled Rachel Lan backward. Bo Ziran leaped forward at once.
"I can't kill you, but if I seal you in this world, do you think that's fun?"
As Bo Ziran spoke, he had already moved behind Hades. A brown tendril crawled out from Bo Ziran's right eye, slowly wrapping around Hades' neck.
"Enough, I surrender."
"That's right. You surprise me, Ethan Zhang."
Bo Ziran smirked coldly, then glanced around at the situation.
"I've caused enough trouble. It's about time to end this—don't take it too seriously, it was just for fun. If you seal me, those people of Hades will never return. My real purpose here was to remind you all of the importance of Hades' will. It must never be defied."
A trace of anger appeared on Shen Yanjun's face. A fiery red glow lit up behind him as a seductive red lotus slowly unfolded. This light was completely different from the usual Karma Fire—it seemed alive.
"Hidden Karma Fire, huh? It seems the power you've grasped is extraordinary."
"Shen Yanjun, don't be impulsive. If you kill him, those two will die for sure."
Hades burst into loud laughter.
"You're absolutely right, Bo Ziran. If you kill me now, Lan Chuhan and Lan Qinmo will surely die. And even if you do destroy me, it won't be long before I awaken again on the Isle of the Other Shore. It's utterly meaningless, isn't it?"
Cangluan released Hades' hand, and Bo Ziran slowly withdrew the brown tendril.
"That's more like it. You really do surprise me, Ethan Zhang."
At this, Hades turned and glanced at me, then slowly floated into the air.
"Once again, let all of Hades receive my blessing—or should I say, let me grant you the curse of immortality once more. Hahaha..."