No matter how many times I tried, Xu Fu no longer responded. I glanced again at the cat-shaped crystal ornament on the ground. With a thought, I transported myself to Rachel Lan's office and stared at her blankly.
"Ethan Zhang, why are you here? What do you want?"
As soon as I opened my mouth, I could feel that nauseating power—the power of darkness—growing heavier and heavier inside Rachel Lan.
"I'm going to save you, Rachel."
In an instant, Rachel Lan stood up from her chair and walked toward me slowly. That dark power was now visible even without sensing it. My whole body tensed, and a murderous intent surged within me.
"Save me? And how do you plan to do that? Heh heh..."
Her cold, pale hand wrapped around my neck. Rachel Lan pressed her head close to mine. She was smiling, but the chill felt like frost, enough to freeze a person solid.
I gazed quietly into Rachel Lan's eyes. There was contempt in her gaze.
"I will share my instinct with you. We will coexist."
As I spoke, the smile vanished from Rachel Lan's face.
"Ethan Zhang, such an important thing—you’re giving it to me? Heh, or is it that..."
With one hand, I grabbed Rachel Lan. In a flash, with a thought, we were beneath the tower. Everyone else was already there.
"Ethan Zhang, are you really going to go through with this?"
Even on Isabelle Frost’s cold face, I could see a hint of urgency.
I nodded. Ghost Painting Book Immortal let out a sigh.
"It’s a one-in-a-million chance for survival. Not worth the risk."
I glanced at Black Moon. He quickly flashed an OK sign. Felix Zhou walked over and looked at Rachel Lan standing nearby.
"Heh, Ethan, you kid... Ah, forget it. Just be careful."
"It seems you’ve already made up your mind, Ethan Zhang."
With the arrival of Emperor God, Sylvia Yan and Phantom Sage appeared as well. The three of them stood quietly at the entrance to the tower, watching me. I nodded.
Rachel Lan just stared at me in silence. I turned to look at her, but something felt off—her expression was vacant.
"Something’s here, Ethan. Be careful."
Deathcurse spoke, drifting in front of me in an instant. I looked at Rachel Lan—she seemed to have lost consciousness. At that moment, a black, ink-like substance began to ooze from her neck, growing larger and larger until it formed into a human head, complete with mouth and eyes.
"What the hell is this?"
I asked in shock, as a sinister, chilling laugh echoed around us.
"Hahaha... Allow me to introduce myself. I come from... the Dark."
My heart lurched. Isabelle Frost appeared suddenly, reaching out with one hand, but then stopped herself.
"Very good, miss. You’ve realized it, haven’t you? I am now the master of this body. In other words, more than half of this vessel belongs to me, and only a small part is still hers. You’ve decided to surrender your instinct, haven’t you, Ethan Zhang? We didn’t force you."
With that eerie laughter, I could see excitement flickering in the pitch-black eyes of the Dark Entity Head.
"So you’re the ones behind all of this?"
Black Moon immediately spoke up.
"Use your imagination. Hurry up, Ethan Zhang—give me your instinct, let us coexist. That way, this woman can be saved. Otherwise, she won’t last much longer. If her part is completely consumed by darkness, she’ll never come back. You understand now, don’t you? Every part of a person matters—lose one, and you may never see her again."
With a snap, I grabbed the Dark Entity Head before me, seething with rage inside.
"I don’t need you to tell me. I’ll do it."
"Then hurry up."
A stream of Dark Essence flowed along my arm, quickly morphing into a head—twisted and impatient.
The Dark Essence shrank back bit by bit. I let go and sat down on the ground. Rachel Lan’s body, now controlled, sat facing me.
"Let’s begin."
I spoke, closing my eyes. Even now, just thinking about that twisted face made my blood boil. Just as Emperor God said—the whole world is forcing me to surrender my instinct.
"Instinct... coexist..."