With a thunderous crash, bone fragments flew everywhere—Yuna Ji's attack had completely missed its mark. She kept searching for Monster Yuna's shadow, but it was nowhere to be found.
"What’s going on?"
I muttered, drifting over immediately, but Yuna Ji turned to the south, her expression tense as she spoke.
"It’s coming."
With a whoosh, Yuna Ji floated above me, lowering her head and shouting urgently.
"Ethan, hurry! I’m not sure I can deal with her once that thing’s power erupts—just go, quickly!"
I nodded and returned to the nine skeletons, releasing my ghostly network. This time, I had to find a way to reach the will of The Nine Generals.
In the southern sky, white dots appeared, growing closer. I looked over—that was the direction of the Styx River, and those were the gigantic bone monsters, nearly filling the sky as far as I could see.
Hundreds of massive white bone monsters surged this way, powerful gusts sweeping toward us.
This was the power Monster Yuna unleashed when John Chou freed Yuna Ji. My heart skipped a beat—I turned back, trying again to communicate with The Nine Generals.
The skeletons on the ground rattled and clattered, their jaws gaping open, whimpering as if sensing something. Unease swept across the entire world.
I couldn’t gauge the scale of this power, even from such a distance. With so many bone monsters gathering, things would turn dire—just one of these creatures could destroy an entire city on its own.
But Monster Yuna was nowhere to be seen. The sky, once half azure and half black-green, now saw those faded black-green hues gathering again.
Yuna Ji watched everything before her in silence, anxiety filling her eyes.
They arrived—the white bone monsters hovered overhead, their massive forms blotting out the sky. They circled above, more and more gathering, thunderous noises echoing as some crashed down onto the bones below.
Streaks of green light steamed up from the ground, turning black as they rose. I swallowed hard. Right in front of Yuna Ji, a streak of black-green appeared—Monster Yuna materialized before her.
"Everything you’ve forgotten will awaken today."
Cracking sounds echoed as the bone monsters’ surfaces split and their bodies crumbled into sand. Bone dust scattered in the wind, while black-green currents streamed from the skeletons, converging toward Monster Yuna.
I watched anxiously—there was no more time to delay. Yuna Ji couldn’t possibly withstand this force.
"Let me help you, but the side effects will be severe."
The sound of slaughter echoed in my mind. I nodded and continued releasing my ghostly network, wrapping it around the bodies of The Nine Generals.
A streak of bright red particles released from my ghostly network. Instantly, I felt my power slipping out of control—a cold sensation nearly froze my consciousness, and I began to tremble violently.
"Hold onto your consciousness. The moment I break through this defense, you must go in."
Shivering, I nodded. The sensation grew stronger. When the Blood Fiend’s power appeared before, I only felt weak, unable to muster any strength—but now it was more obvious, actively destroying my power.
I closed my eyes. The rumbling around me grew louder and louder.
"I have to get in—no one can stop me."
I focused all my consciousness on The Nine Generals. I could feel it—the overwhelming force blocking me was collapsing. A streak of blood flashed in my mind, and in an instant, my consciousness entered through the ghostly network.
Once again, I found myself in a space of utter darkness. This time, I saw, far in the distance, a glimmer of flame. I hurried toward it, though my speed was slow—the light shone right in front of me.
I don’t know how long I drifted before stopping. That distant, star-like flame—no matter how I tried, I couldn’t reach it. It was strange, like chasing the sun: I could never catch up.
"Qiao Yusheng, are you there? If you are, please answer me."
I called out, again and again, my voice growing hoarse with desperation.
But there was no response at all. I tried once more to approach the fire, but it was no use. I stopped and began to walk, my consciousness growing weary—almost falling asleep in this space.
It was the Blood Fiend’s power causing this—my strength was fading fast. I had to find Joseph Qiao and the others before I was drained completely.
As time dragged on, I grew more certain—they were out there, at that unreachable glow. I kept stubbornly moving forward.
"Don’t you even want to talk? All nine of you—do you really want to run away from everything?"
I couldn’t go on. The fire seemed to drift farther away. I floated up, pushing myself as hard as I could, black miasma spilling out as I did everything possible to speed up.
"Yuna Ji needs you—can’t you feel it at all?"
It all seemed hopeless. I received no response.
"Answer me one question, Ethan Zhang."
A gentle voice rang out, and I stopped.
"Is that you, Joseph Qiao? Go ahead."
"What’s already broken can never be whole again, can it? Even if you piece it back together, what’s the point?"
I didn’t say anything. I had no right to defend Yuna Ji. All of this was her doing—she’d abandoned everything here to enter the Living World, and now that she’d returned, everything had changed.
"Come back to me, Ethan Zhang."
I hesitated, unable to answer. A fiery glow flared before my eyes. I stared quietly—by a crackling bonfire sat nine people, each one familiar. I’d seen Yuna Ji’s memories; everything about these nine was deeply imprinted in my heart.
Joseph Qiao, in the center, slowly raised his head, sitting directly across from me. The other eight wore blank expressions, eyes lifeless, as if exhausted and unwilling to think about anything.
Their eyes were cold and faintly disappointed. On Joseph Qiao’s face was the look of someone battered by suffering, longing for release. I couldn’t help but recall what Yun Mei told me—letting Yuna Ji be freed might be the only way to free them too.
"Answer me, Ethan Zhang."
I sat cross-legged on the ground.
Faced with such utter despair, how could I offer hope? I kept thinking, but found no answers. I was starting to feel lost.
But I never doubted my choice. Yuna Ji has helped me many times—she’s my friend.
"What’s wrong? Since you’re here, you must have an answer."
Joseph Qiao asked, and I shook my head, looking at him seriously.
"I don’t have an answer. I came here only to tell you—Yuna Ji needs you. No matter what, she could never choose to abandon you. Now, your wills have merged with Monster Yuna, and if Monster Yuna dies, so will you."
"Is that so!"
Joseph Qiao’s voice was tinged with sorrow. He smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"We’ve endured countless hardships, and maybe all these troubles began when we chose to follow Yuna Ji. Over and over, endless suffering—we crossed each hurdle, but now... we’re just tired."
I couldn’t say anything. Facing these souls who had survived for thousands of years, I thought they deserved peace. Reincarnation might be best—after so long, they should have passed on, but they’re still trapped here.
"We made a promise once, and we kept it. But everything fell apart because one side broke the promise—so maybe it’s time to end this, Ethan Zhang."
"Maybe so."
I nodded—I couldn’t deny what Joseph Qiao said.
Joseph Qiao stood up and walked toward me, step by step.
"Maybe you’re still young and don’t understand how terrifying time can be. One day you’ll know—there’s nothing more frightening for a person than time."
Images of my future self and the sights I’d seen flashed through my mind.
"Trust your own choices."
A voice echoed in my head. I stood up, shaking my head.
"Time may take everything away, but it can’t erase the facts. And the fact now is that Yuna Ji needs you."
As I spoke, Joseph Qiao gave me a most contented smile.
"Time’s up—it’s time for us to go."
I reached out, wanting to say something, but all I saw was The Nine Generals waving to me as they drifted farther away. I ran with all my strength, hoping I could reach them, save them.
The last trace of fiery red vanished before my eyes. I roared in anguish as my consciousness began to collapse.
When I regained awareness, the scene hadn’t changed. Time seemed frozen. Monster Yuna was still absorbing black-green orbs from the giant bone monsters. The patch of white on her shoulder was gone.
The final battle was about to begin—and I had failed, completely failed. The feeling was unbearable.
"You failed, Ethan?"
I nodded, but Yuna Ji just smiled.
"I will defeat you."
As Yuna Ji spoke, brilliant white light flared all over her body.
I sat on the ground, forced to watch from afar, waiting for the outcome.