A thunderous rumble echoed as the Celestial Hound before me suddenly began to swell in size. Its limbs grew larger, sharp white claws dug into the ground, and its mouth split open to reveal exposed fangs. I watched the Celestial Hound in silence.
"You were always a wicked ghost, Ethan Zhang. I don't know why you've entered this Illusory Realm, but your luck ends today. Let me devour you, digest you, and put an end to your sinful existence."
As I hesitated for a moment, the Celestial Hound lunged at me, jaws wide open, snapping down. With a bang, I raised my hands and gripped its upper and lower jaws. A tremendous force pushed me, sending me hurtling onto the surface of the lake.
The water behind me instantly caved in, torrents surging like massive waves toward the forest beyond.
A look of disbelief flashed in the Celestial Hound's eyes as it stared at me, dazed.
"What’s going on? My strength isn’t the same as before?"
With a gentle push, I sent the Celestial Hound flying backward. It crashed into a thick tree trunk with a boom, then landed and began to scrutinize me closely.
"This isn’t right. Ethan Zhang, why is your power so strong?"
I stared coldly at the Celestial Hound before me. Its body began to shift, becoming like flowing light and shadow. I watched in surprise—it was just like the state my body was in when I arrived here.
"You can’t touch me anymore."
With a boom, my fist passed through the Celestial Hound’s body, but its claws had already struck me first. I was sent flying backward, splashing into the water, crashing into the trees on the far side. The sound of frantic footsteps—Celestial Hound was charging across the water toward me.
I stood up and quietly watched the Celestial Hound. Its body was made of light and shadow, moving toward me. I could see it just now, but I couldn’t hit it.
Suddenly, I focused my thoughts and raised my right hand. My entire arm, under my will, turned into shimmering light and shadow.
With a thud, I punched the Celestial Hound in the mouth. Its eyes widened as it flew backward. The moment it hit the ground, I was already at its landing spot, one hand gripping its thick neck. With a thunderous crash, the Celestial Hound hit the ground, dust billowing up.
"The outcome is already decided. If you want to keep going..."
"I understand. Let go, Ethan Zhang."
I released my grip. The Celestial Hound stood up, black currents swirling around it, its body gradually shrinking. I quietly observed the Celestial Hound, then glanced at the Chimera nearby. The black energy emerging from them was unusual—when it appeared, their power multiplied. Most importantly, I felt like I’d seen this power somewhere before.
"What exactly is the power within you?"
I asked, and the Celestial Hound grinned, tongue lolling out.
"Let’s not talk about that. Ethan Zhang, I don’t know what you’ve done, but with the way you look now, you deserve it. Hmph—don’t even think about returning for the rest of your life."
"Tell me everything about my past."
I asked, but the Celestial Hound slowly began to float upward.
"I’ve already told you. It’s better if you don’t know. After all, you were a heinous sinner in your past life. This is your punishment—the best you could hope for. You’re dead. There’s no going back."
As it spoke, the Celestial Hound dissolved into a stream of black mist and vanished. I looked up at the massive moon overhead. Shadows flickered across its surface.
I walked to the lakeshore, quietly watching the still-turbulent water. My mind was in turmoil, especially after what the Celestial Hound had said. I was a villain—that thought unsettled me.
"You’re not a villain, Ethan Zhang. I haven’t known you long, but everything you’ve done, and the power within you—no villain could possess it. The power of Buddha and Tao, I don’t fully understand it, but to us beasts in the Illusory Realm, it’s pure. The energy you carry is righteous."
"Thank you."
I replied, then sat by the lakeshore. That Celestial Hound wouldn’t reveal anything about my past. Hatred for me burned in its eyes—a deep, ingrained loathing. I felt it the moment I first saw it.
I stood up and turned to look at the Chimera.
"Take me to the upper layer of the Illusory Realm."
The Chimera stared at me intently.
"Are you sure? You want to go to the upper layer of the Illusory Realm."
I nodded again. The Chimera stood up, shook itself, then shook its head.
"The upper layer of the Illusory Realm isn’t like the middle or lower layers, with so many connected spaces. Once you go up, it will be nearly impossible to return. And the upper layer..."
The Chimera sighed as it spoke, then continued.
"I really don’t want to go back."
Weariness showed in the Chimera’s eyes. It seemed there was a helplessness in its chest when it came to the upper layer of the Illusory Realm.
"Let’s go."
I nodded and leapt onto the Chimera’s back. It began moving through the air again. In an instant, the surrounding forest vanished, replaced by a vast, boundless grassland.
The howling wind came and went. The Chimera carried me as it leapt onward. Soon, the wind died away, the grassland turned into a snowy expanse, and just as I felt the cold, I saw a land of black smoke and flowing lava.
Volcanoes surrounded us, lava gushing forth and flowing across the ground. Strange beasts ran about below.
"We should arrive soon. That’s the only place nearby where we can enter."
"Thank you."
As I spoke, I sensed unease in the Chimera's heart, as if it was hesitating over something.
"We’re almost there."
The Chimera spoke in a low voice, gradually stopping its spatial leaps. Before us appeared a massive sphere of molten lava, waves of heat rolling toward us. I swallowed, feeling the scorching heat clearly.
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The massive lava sphere before us spun slowly, droplets of lava constantly falling, instantly melting the surrounding rocks on impact. The temperature soared.
"Hold tight. I’m going to break through. Be careful once we’re inside."
I nodded and replied with a quiet 'Mm.'
"What’s inside?"
"The territory of the Four Ancient Fiends. I haven’t been back in many years. I don’t know which of the four ultimately won."
My heart skipped a beat. With a boom, fiery red fur suddenly sprouted all over the Chimera, blazing like living flames. I watched as the soft red fur wrapped around me. With a thud, the Chimera carried me straight into the massive lava sphere.
In an instant, I felt a tremendous pressure from all sides, but wrapped in that fur, I was completely unharmed. The Chimera, though, looked strained.
Gradually, I noticed the Chimera’s speed slowing. I looked around anxiously—this place was far denser than any space I’d crossed before. The density of this force kept increasing, the further we went. At first, it felt like moving through water, but now it was like mud. The Chimera was moving slower and slower.
"We’re almost out."
I nodded, half-crouched, one hand already clenched into a fist.
Thunder rumbled in my ears. The moment my vision shifted, my eyes widened. The sky was gray-black, like smoke and dust, riddled with holes. Golden sunlight pierced through the broken clouds, shining on the mountain peaks wrapped in a sea of clouds below.
Jagged peaks, like awls, with only their tips visible—the rest lost in the sea of clouds. But I was instantly on guard. There was something in the distant, mist-shrouded mountains.
"So we’ve run into trouble after all? Just our luck."
With a whoosh, I looked over. Before my eyes, the sea of clouds quickly scattered, gradually revealing a colossal figure.
I stared intently. The beast before me, as tall as a skyscraper, sat among the mountains. Its head was dog-like but rounder, white fangs protruding from its mouth, and fire-red liquid—lava—dripped constantly from its jaws. I watched in astonishment.
Blue-green fur mixed at its neck, giving it a powerful look. Overall, it resembled a bear. On its belly, a swirling purple-black vortex spun slowly. The beast sat, four pairs of wings on its back.
The beast noticed me too. I couldn’t tell what it was at first, but after a closer look...
"Is it Chaos?"
I asked. The Chimera nodded, its body surging with immense power—far stronger than when we fought, hundreds of times more powerful.
I watched the Chimera in disbelief as its body grew larger and larger. In the blink of an eye, it was nearly as massive as the Chaos before us.
"We’ve met before. You’re Ethan Zhang, right!"
I stared in shock, unable to recall ever meeting Chaos, but it opened its huge jaws, lava-like drool spilling out as it burst into thunderous laughter.
Powerful gusts of wind blew toward us, instantly scattering the sea of clouds.
"So strong."
At that moment, the Chimera’s gray-brown fur slowly turned icy blue, shimmering with a faint glow. I felt a chill.
"Chaos, you’d better let us pass."
Chaos, sitting on the ground, stood up and patted its chest, sending out thunderous sounds.
"And what if I don’t? Chimera, you’ve been gone for centuries. It’s been so long since we’ve had a fight in this upper realm!"