The stars glittered in the night, the sky unusually clear. I leaned quietly against the black coffin. In the distance, a figure smiled at me, seated atop the body of the Celestial Hound—Ethan Zhang, Heavenly Soul.
"Much later than expected, Ethan Zhang."
I let out a sound, unable to move my body at all. Most of my strength had already collapsed, and the Lake of Malice was nearly depleted. As I emerged, this vision appeared in my mind—the black Killing Stone sat quietly at the lake’s bottom, malice slowly regenerating, but at a sluggish pace.
"I never thought you’d be this strong. Why, before..."
"I never said I was weak, Celestial Hound. I’m not the combative type, so all along, I’ve simply watched Ethan Zhang quietly as a bystander."
Looking at Exile Town in the distance, glowing with green lanterns, I finally felt at ease. I gazed at the Heavenly Soul with gratitude. At this moment, the Celestial Hound was completely immobilized—strangely, it was as if all its power had been drained.
"You’re strong—far stronger than that other Ethan Zhang over there. You could have..."
"No need to say more, that’s just my nature. You don’t have to thank me, Ethan Zhang. After all, if you couldn’t return, I’d be stuck in this endlessly dull place too. Stay long enough, and you’d go mad."
I propped myself up and sat upright.
"But you, Ethan Zhang, really did it—destroyed the Nether Pit."
I gazed quietly at the Heavenly Soul. At that moment, a wisp of malice slowly drifted out of my body.
It was Spirit Snake. He glanced at me silently, then walked away, taking with him the small amount of strength I had just regained.
"Trying to mock me?"
The Celestial Hound’s voice sounded desolate. Spirit Snake shook his head.
"The Nether Pit has been destroyed. The very foundation of the Nether Syndicate is shaken. I fear the Living World is already experiencing significant upheaval."
"Heh, destroyed? It’s all over now. Perhaps, long ago, I should have listened to you and escaped the Nether’s servitude together. But now, it’s far too late."
Suddenly, Spirit Snake stretched out his hand, a red glow flaring up. His raised right hand turned into a snake, tongue flicking, jaws wide open, as if about to swallow the Celestial Hound. The Heavenly Soul stood up.
With a hiss, the red snake lunged at the Celestial Hound.
"Wait..."
I shouted, as the red snake completely coiled around the Celestial Hound’s body.
"Why wait, Ethan? This creature’s existence is trouble. Instead of fearing that one day its memories will be tampered with, it’s best to cut off the source now."
I looked quietly at the Celestial Hound. The light in its eyes was already gone, as if it had lost the will to live.
"Let me ask you, Celestial Hound—what is Black Moon to you?"
I didn’t know what I was saying; maybe it was a feeling that made me shout and stop Spirit Snake’s actions. He wanted to completely devour the Celestial Hound.
"No idea! Maybe you could call him a friend. I lodged inside his body when he was very young, but it’s only in recent years that we’ve started talking."
I closed my eyes.
"Enough, Spirit Snake. Let it go."
"Are you pitying me, Ethan Zhang?"
I shook my head.
"If you die, your memory-altering spell will fail. I don’t want Roxie’s friend, Vivian Ouyang, to fall into hell again. That’s enough."
I spoke and stood up, staring coldly at the Celestial Hound.
"Do whatever you want next. If we become enemies again, I won’t hesitate to kill you."
There was a rustling sound as Spirit Snake withdrew the red serpent coiled around the Celestial Hound and drifted slowly towards me.
"Ethan, I just hope this decision won’t become the source of your future regret."
I nodded.
"Since I’ve made my choice, I won’t regret it."
Back in Exile Town, I found Noah Grimm.
"From the look of you, it’s over, isn’t it?"
I nodded silently. Rufina Howard had fully understood the formation Quentin Kue set and was working on how to let the ghosts inside temporarily leave without breaking the formation. It was tricky, and she was studying it day and night, while Vivian Maple cared for her in every way.
Now the enemy had vanished completely. They had no means left to disrupt my actions, and it was impossible for them to keep me here any longer.