John Chou...
I was about to cry out this familiar name, but the words caught in my throat. Outside the apartment block's little pavilion, a figure stood with his hands in his suit pockets, his face twisted in a half-smile—identical to John Chou, yet he was not John Chou.
"Is it slaughter?"
"Exactly."
I drifted over to the pavilion.
"You're the one who helped me quickly gather high-quality baleful energy inside my body, aren't you, Slaughter?"
Slaughter nodded, then pointed at me.
"Your aptitude is far too dull, Ethan Zhang. That's why you must experience this firsthand."
With a swish, I stared in surprise at the blood-red sword in Slaughter's hand—Rage Blood.
I swallowed hard.
"Hasn't it already..."
"The Sixfold Blossom over there was painstakingly cultivated by John Chou, and grew out of your instincts. But it's a mutated Sixfold Blossom. The original grew in Lady Meng's courtyard."
Slaughter said this, and I remembered: Lady Meng once told me that John Chou had stolen that flower.
I looked over at the flowerbeds along the courtyard walls. The plants had grown over a meter tall—black, six-petaled flowers. I'd felt something strange about them long ago, but gradually, that odd feeling faded away.
What used to feel foreign to me now seemed as natural as a part of my own body.
"My Ghost Soul has died several times, but always recovered. It's because of these Sixfold Blossoms, isn't it?"
Slaughter nodded.
"Anything with a soul can be repaired. The Sixfold Blossoms in Lady Meng's place were meant to heal damaged souls before reincarnation, so they could be reborn smoothly. But after John Chou brought them back, he improved them—the mutated Sixfold Blossoms, made specifically for ghosts, can help restore damaged Ghost Souls."
"And what about you, Slaughter?"
Slaughter slowly raised Rage Blood in his hand, aiming it at me.
"It'll be harsh."
"Yeah, I know."
On the left side, directly opposite the apartment block, wisps of black baleful energy began to rise. A vast, endless field gradually emerged. I pointed my thumb to the left—let's go over there.
A breeze swept by. Slaughter already looked ready for battle, and my heart was pounding wildly.
"Heavenly Soul, I'm counting on you."
I spoke, and a stream of white energy appeared behind me.
"Don't worry, Ethan Zhang. Your body has completely assimilated with the surroundings. Everything in the instinct space is now synchronized with the Shadow Realm. Go all out."
"Attack as much as you want, Ethan Zhang."
The smile vanished from Slaughter's face. There was nothing special about him—I couldn't even sense his presence. All I could see was him standing more than ten meters away from me.
I drew Belle from my back and tossed her to the side. Heavenly Soul caught her and floated up.
"I'll go up to the top floor to watch the fight."
"No restrictions, Ethan Zhang. Let me see—it's time for the seed John Chou planted to bloom and bear fruit."
A smile crept onto my lips. I spat out two words.
"It isn't."
I looked seriously at Slaughter, then started to laugh.
"Maybe you've misunderstood, Slaughter. You aren't a seed planted by John Chou. You were inside me from the very beginning."
In an instant, two Deathbane Aura Blades appeared in my hands. I floated up, while Slaughter remained completely unfazed.
With a thunderous crash, my Deathbane Aura Blades were already aimed at Slaughter. Rage Blood swept in front of my eyes, blocking the attack. Instantly, a feeling surged up inside me—Slaughter was incredibly strong.
Sparks crackled and flew, black fire erupting everywhere. The Rage Blood before me pressed down like an iron wall—I could barely hold on.
Suddenly, I let go with both hands. My right hand gripped the Deathbane Shotgun, already loaded. I flipped it upside down, aimed at Slaughter, and pulled the trigger. A massive gust of energy surged out, blasting in the direction I'd just attacked.
With a loud smack and a deafening blast, a hand gripped my cheek. My eyes widened in shock, and in an instant, my face was pressed to the ground.
Black flames erupted the moment I hit the ground, scattering around Slaughter. As the fire faded, I readied another attack—but Rage Blood in Slaughter's hand mercilessly slashed toward me.
With a swift motion, I tilted my head back. Red particles drifted from Rage Blood's blade, passing before my eyes. The instant I hit the ground, my hands gripped the Ghost Eagle, firing nonstop.
A barrage of bullets flew toward Rage Blood. I spun in the air, and as the bullets burst against Slaughter's body, I roared and lunged forward. My right hand swung at Slaughter's chest—a broadsword appeared in my grip and slashed into him.
"How is this possible..."
After a series of fierce attacks, my speed reached its peak. Yet Slaughter caught my broadsword with one hand.
With a ripping sound, black blood splattered. I slid across the ground, clutching my chest. My rear foot slammed into the earth, and I came to a stop.
I'd never faced anyone this strong. It was unbelievable—every strike I'd landed was packed with power, but I couldn't hurt Slaughter at all.
It reminded me of John Chou's last moments, wielding Slaughter and defeating five members of the Immortality Society. Back then, John Chou's ghost energy was so weak it was nearly gone—where did he get such overwhelming power?
"Aren't you going to attack, Ethan Zhang?"
I froze for a moment—Slaughter was already right in front of me. In a panic, Rage Blood loomed before my eyes. With a crunch, massive black ice blocks appeared in an instant, the tip of Rage Blood's blade aimed at my forehead. Slaughter was completely sealed inside the black ice.
[Irrelevant web prompt skipped.]
Cracks appeared everywhere. I raised my Deathbane Aura Blades again, and as the ice shattered, I brought both swords down. With a clang, a surge of fierce Deathbane Aura erupted behind me, flooding toward Slaughter like a torrent—but it had little effect.
Slaughter raised Rage Blood with one hand, effortlessly blocking my attack. I let go, and instantly, a sniper rifle appeared in each hand. I aimed at Slaughter and pulled the triggers.
Without exception, the pitch-black bullets exploded on Slaughter's body. I couldn't beat him—not now, not ever.
That realization flashed through my mind. Slaughter started to smile. With a swift motion, my body split in two—Slaughter was already behind me. I looked back.
A familiar figure crouched on the ground, holding Slaughter.
"Is that all you've got, Ethan Zhang?"
Suddenly, my eyes turned crimson, my body fused back together, and my mind burned hot. I moved behind Slaughter, and as he turned, Rage Blood swung toward me.
I roared, crossing my Deathbane Aura Blades and slashing at him.
With a clang, as my Deathbane Aura Blade struck Rage Blood, I let go. Two more Deathbane Aura Blades appeared in my crossed hands. I gripped the new blades and stabbed at Slaughter's chest. Another clang—an overwhelming force knocked me back.
Again, I released the Deathbane Aura Blade and grabbed two automatic rifles. Bullet after bullet hammered into Slaughter.
Slaughter charged at me, bullets exploding across his body.
On the ground, wisps of Deathbane Aura rose up, instantly transforming into pitch-black swords that flew toward Slaughter.
Clangs rang out as Slaughter blocked the swords with Rage Blood. He closed in on me. I still couldn't win, but I felt no urge to retreat.
In a flash, I let go and grabbed a Deathbane Aura Blade, swinging it at Slaughter again and again, murderous intent surging through my body.
I kept clashing with Slaughter, dodging his attacks and countering with sword strikes. But every blow was blocked, and soon my body was covered in cuts.
Deathbane Aura, like smoke and dust, kept healing my wounds.
Suddenly, I caught an opening. One hand transformed into a snake, wrapping around Slaughter's right hand that gripped Rage Blood. I raised my fist—Deathbane Aura surged wildly, hammering Slaughter's cheek.
With a boom, a burst of Deathbane Aura exploded and instantly froze into ice, immobilizing Slaughter. I pulled my hand free and formed a spear, thrusting it at Slaughter's chest.
With a crunch, the ice shattered as my spear struck Slaughter's chest—but it couldn't go any farther.
With a swift motion, my eyes widened. My spear broke, a huge gash opened on my chest. It was unbelievable—no matter how much power I used, Slaughter was always stronger than me.
The instant I hit the ground, I nearly blacked out, but I got back up. Rage Blood was already pressed against my nose. As I tried to rise, I saw Slaughter smiling.
"Let's take a break. You'll never defeat me—not ever..."
I swallowed hard. Now I realized—Slaughter was fighting me using my own power, but he was always stronger.
"That's my instinct's nature—it's called Slaughter. Its strength is overwhelming, which is why it brings slaughter."