"What's wrong, brother? Are you afraid of me?" John Chou held the Hell's Sentinel between his fingers, twirling it with a smile as he looked at me.
I nodded.
"Yeah, that's right. Whether in the past or now, I've always been afraid of you, you cunning bastard. But even if I'm terrified, I have to defeat you here."
I shouted, flames igniting on my body. I had to summon my full strength—otherwise, I stood no chance.
The moment I charged forward, a crimson fireball shot from my left claw, while in my right hand, I thrust the Phoenix Blade.
"Your quality has improved, brother. Not bad. But you're still too green."
With a sharp crack, John Chou blocked the fireball with one hand. A deafening boom erupted nearby, flames scattering everywhere. Then he caught my Phoenix Blade in his hand.
"It's not about being green. It's about beating you."
I roared, letting go. Flames blazed again in my right hand, and another Phoenix Blade appeared. I raised it and swung at John Chou without hesitation.
With a thunderous boom, flames exploded. I immediately spread my wings and shot into the air. The attack had drained me, but I clearly felt my blade hit John Chou—I couldn't give him a chance to recover.
Following the explosion, I spread my hands wide, plucked out a handful of feathers, and hurled them forcefully into the blast.
More crackling bursts of flame rang out. Panting, I clenched my claws, flapped my wings hard, and flew toward the still-leaping flames.
As the flames faded, I glimpsed a streak of black. Instantly, I stretched out my claws and lunged for it.
With a ripping sound, scraps of black cloth fluttered through the air—it was John Chou's suit jacket, torn to shreds by my attack.
"Haha, brother, you're still too naive. But this is your own desperate plan to beat me, so I'll give you five points. Now, go die."
Suddenly, using my right leg made from branches, I kicked backward. With a swish, my wooden leg was chopped off. I immediately lunged at John Chou with both claws.
With a clang, my flaming claws gripped the Hell's Sentinel tightly in John Chou's hand, while my left foot kicked at him.
A bang—flames burst out. Using the force, I flapped my wings and soared into the air behind me. In that moment, something clicked in my mind—a way to defeat John Chou.
Whoosh—John Chou was already in front of me, raising the Hell's Sentinel and swinging it down. I couldn't react in time, and it was too late to raise my Phoenix Blade.
The sharp Hell's Sentinel stopped just a millimeter above my head. Sweat poured in thick drops from my forehead.
"I told you, don't overthink during a fight. That's enough for today, brother. Go back and figure out how to beat me."
John Chou said this as he slowly descended.
"That's enough, bastard."
The woman's voice echoed from the darkness again. After John Chou landed, I felt myself snap back to awareness. Much of the area had been swallowed up, and the camp was only about twenty meters away.
"It's morning now, Qingyuan." The Vermilion Bird's voice sounded beside me. I looked at John Chou, who seemed completely unconcerned, floating in midair.
"Waiting for you, brother. Same time tomorrow night."
I gave a small 'oh', smiled, and flew toward the camp.
As soon as I landed in the camp, I nearly collapsed—my leg made of branches was gone. But just as I was about to fall, I felt some invisible thread holding me upright.
Moe and Old Ray sat silently in the camp. There was another block of black ice—this time, it was Old Eccentric, smiling as he sat on the ground, sealed in ice.
"Last night he gave a long speech, and tonight he ends up like this. That damned old man."
Moe muttered something. I smiled, walked over, and sat beside Old Ray, who looked deeply frustrated.
"Sigh, it's all my fault. I dragged everyone down."
"Enough. You're basically just a dog now—just a tougher one than most. No need to blame yourself. Two more days. If we hold out until the thirtieth night, we'll be safe."
I nodded and smiled, my mind full of what Old Eccentric told me yesterday.
"It's fine. There are still three of us left—we can make it. We just have to hold out until day thirty."
Moe let out a sigh.
"The four strongest are all like this now, and it's just the three of us left. Honestly, I can't even lift my arms anymore."
Moe said, raising his trembling hands. Old Ray lifted his head.
"It's fate that we met in this hellhole. Let's try to make it through tomorrow night without losing anyone. Our chances will go up."
I nodded, and then we each went to rest.
Before resting, I gathered some new branches and crafted another makeshift leg. It was barely enough to stand. After adjusting it for a while, I lay down.
Strangely, whenever John Chou appeared, the vague anxiety inside me faded bit by bit. Even as the deadline approached and the five of us were picked off one by one, sealed in blocks of black ice.
But now, I felt at peace. No matter what happened, I was determined to survive and get out of here.
Now, more than anything, I was thinking about how to defeat John Chou when night fell. Last night, I noticed something—though it was just a hunch, John Chou stopped right on cue, almost deliberately. I had no idea what he was planning.
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Gradually, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke, Moe and Old Ray were already up, a light shining in their eyes.
"Half an hour until dark. Get ready, everyone."
I got up, nodded, and walked east. As soon as I arrived, I saw John Chou lying in midair.
"Don't you need to go back in there during the day?" I asked. John Chou sat up, stretched, and grinned.
"I'm me. Don't compare me to those losers. So, brother, have you figured it out yet? How are you going to beat me?"
I shook my head with a smile.
"I can't. No matter how long I think about it, I still can't beat you."
"So why are you here today?"
"To beat you." With those words, crimson wings burst from my back, blazing with fire. I raised the Phoenix Blade and charged at John Chou.
John Chou said nothing, raising the Hell's Sentinel. A swirl of scarlet particles coiled around him, and I instinctively felt an overwhelming pressure emanate from his body.
I didn't hesitate for a second. Suspicion flickered in John Chou's eyes, and then, in an instant, he vanished from my sight.
The moment John Chou disappeared, flames erupted from my body. With a boom, a massive fireball shot skyward, exploding in all directions.
I knew it was useless. Even if I wanted to believe I could defeat John Chou, my instincts told me I couldn't. And I was certain: in this world built on desire, only instinct mattered. Only by finding my true instincts could I resolve this situation.
It was John Chou who reminded me of this. I also noticed he was trying to tell me something.
As the flames faded, a strong gust of wind rushed from behind. I dove for the ground, dodging John Chou's attack and moving closer to the darkness.
"Well? Brother, you finally noticed?"
I nodded, immediately flapping my wings and flying to the other side. I could already feel John Chou chasing after me.
"Hurry up and finish him off! Stop dragging your feet."
That woman's chilling voice echoed from the darkness again.
"Brother, don't go hiding now."
With a whoosh, John Chou swept over my head, blocking my path. I instantly swung the Phoenix Blade.
The moment I swung, I let go. Two bursts of flame shot out, and as the explosion erupted in front of me, I shot upward into the sky.
I had an idea, though I wasn't sure it would work. I muttered to myself.
"Go ahead, Qingyuan."
"Is there any way to create a fake version of myself?"
"There is a way, but the burden on you might be too great."
Do it.
I said, quickly turning and fleeing downward as fast as I could.
"Catch up to him! Aren't you supposed to be so powerful?"
The woman's voice sounded again, and then I saw her emerge directly from the darkness.
"Now's the time—do it, Qingyuan."
I roared, charging at the woman who had emerged from the darkness, my entire body enveloped in blazing crimson flames.
The instant I reached her, I felt John Chou—her creation—move to protect her, stabbing at me from behind.
"That's enough. It's done. Go back." the woman said, and John Chou smiled.
"Remember, brother, be extra careful when you get back. I'm counting on you. The Gate of Dreams is already open."
"I know. Don't worry. Whether it's you or Uncle Mo, I'll bring you all out of that freak's dream."