Black mist coils around my body, swirling like smoke and fog. I sit quietly on the ground, gazing at the distant scene as everything draws to a close.
The sensation now is strange—my body feels lighter, utterly free of restraint. I glance once more at the spot where my corpse was just laid; now, nothing remains. As the price for channeling immense power, my body has vanished forever. The finality of this sacrifice weighs heavy, yet I feel no regret.
There used to be a heaviness to the Ghost Soul, but now I feel weightless. I have no regrets. In the distance, Yuna Ji grips the Jade Spear, pressing it against Monster Yuna’s neck.
Except for her head, the rest of Monster Yuna’s body sheds its black-green hue, turning completely white. The black-green shroud in the sky is also slowly fading.
I listen closely—this world is filled with many new sounds. The balance of war has been shattered; the collapse of power happens in an instant. I struggle to rise, and Mr. Brown extends a hand, helping me to my feet.
There is no victor in this struggle. We slowly descend before Yuna Ji, trembling. She holds the spear aloft, while Monster Yuna sits collapsed on the ground, wearing that same eerie smile. The black-green fragments on her cheeks have cracked and fallen away.
I can sense Yuna Ji reclaiming control—all the authority over her own Ghost Soul. I feel the power of Battle Instinct within her.
"Do it. End this, Yuna Ji. This has been your wish for many years."
Yuna Ji stares intently at Monster Yuna on the ground. Her grip loosens, and the spear falls with a clang.
"There’s no need to fight anymore. It’s all over now."
Monster Yuna lets out a chilling laugh, her voice tinged with sorrow.
"If you don't kill me, one day, everything will return to how it was."
Around the flattened fortress, the sound of footsteps grows louder—Bonefolk are steadily approaching. These sentient skeletons, created in the Bone Realm and possessing ghost souls, are distinct from ordinary ghosts and central to the supernatural conflict. I can barely sense any fighting spirit left. I owe everything to Mr. Brown; without his power, none of this would have been possible.
"Tell me, what should I do?"
Yuna Ji crouches on the ground, her gaze sorrowful as she looks at Monster Yuna. Her eyes shimmer with tears, reflecting a lifetime of loss and regret.
"Still so weak... Don't hold back. Kill me. Kill this monster named Yuna Ji, and it will all be over."
Monster Yuna picks up the spear and aims it at herself, pressing the other end into Yuna Ji's hand. The Jade Spear is a signature supernatural weapon wielded by Yuna Ji, symbolizing her authority and transformation.
"Do you remember? When they died—when the Nine Generals died, when James Grant died—it was all because of your weakness, wasn't it? The Nine Generals are elite skeletons imprisoned alongside Ethan Zhang, known for their combat prowess and leadership among the Bonefolk. Their fate is tied to the supernatural struggle between humans and spirits.
Yuna Ji hesitates, but slowly raises the spear. With a sudden motion, a strand of silver-white hair falls, and James Grant grabs the spear, snatching it from her hands. The tension in the air is palpable—every movement feels like the culmination of years of pain and longing.
"War is not caused by any one person. Weakness alone does not lead to defeat. The true error is war itself—taking lives for survival is an injustice. Once is enough, Yuna. Don't repeat the same mistake."
With a sudden whoosh, I turn my head, reaching out, but Mr. Brown is quicker—his hand already outstretched to catch the flying arrow. In an instant, the arrow splits into nine, and a wave of black energy rushes toward us.
"It failed."
I whip my head around, eyes wide—the arrows are aimed at Yuna Ji. Two hands, still smoking, embrace Yuna Ji. A black-tinged arrow pierces Monster Yuna’s back, straight through her heart.
"Don’t..."
Yuna Ji roars. Mr. Brown’s fist stops in front of Lona Long. It was Lona Long who fired the arrows, but she’s just an empty shell now, obeying commands without thought.
"Who was it?"
Mr. Brown shouts in fury.
"That was close, Zhuang Xian. Looks like your power is much weaker than I expected."
A chilling voice echoes from within Lona Long’s shell. I rush over, raising Belle in my hand.
"I am the assassin from the darkness. You may call me The Assassin."
I can’t catch this figure before me, can’t even touch him—he no longer exists in this world.
"This isn’t what we agreed, Monster Yuna. I came here specifically to give you an extra layer of insurance. As for your situation, it’s not my concern—your choices are your own."
The nine skeletons before me are already beginning to fade away. I turn to see Monster Yuna’s body turning to dust.
A wave of sobbing rises. I tilt my head back, overcome with emotion, and Mr. Brown places a hand on my shoulder.
Yuna Ji cries out again and again, while Monster Yuna smiles serenely.
"I didn’t lie to you. Since you’ve won, I’ll return everything to you. The Nine Generals are freed—you don’t have to bear this burden any longer, do you...?"
"Why? Why, when you wanted so badly to take control..."
Half of Monster Yuna’s body has already vanished. She tilts her head slightly to look at me.
"You’ve made your choice, Ethan Zhang. So I’ve made mine. Don’t regret what you’ve done, all right?"
I nod. Monster Yuna turns back to glance at Yuna Ji, a look of comfort on her face.
"Don’t always make that face."
Tears stream down Yuna Ji’s face, her grief overwhelming. John Chou once told me that Evil Ghosts have no tears, but I’ve witnessed them countless times. I touch my cheek—on the left, the mark of bloody tears remains. My heart aches, but I cannot cry.
The sky clears. There is no sunlight, but the world grows brighter. More and more Bonefolk gather, standing at a distance, never approaching.
Then, three Bonefolk come closer—Lydia Lien, Gus Bull, and Bella Liang. They stand motionless beside Yuna Ji.
Sparkling grains of sand scatter through the air. Yuna Ji’s arms now hold nothing at all.
"Once again, someone you love has left you, Yuna Ji."
Lydia Lien mutters, squatting down and gently stroking Yuna Ji’s hair.
"What’s broken isn’t gone. As long as you hold on to the memory, they’re not lost. Stand up, Yuna Ji. You are the emperor of this world—the soldiers are watching."
Lian Shui slowly helps Yuna Ji to her feet. The sound of bones echoes; countless Bonefolk kneel in waves, like dominoes, sweeping across the ground in a white tide.
Lydia Lien slowly helps Yuna Ji to her feet. The sound of bones echoes; countless Bonefolk kneel in waves, like dominoes, sweeping across the ground in a white tide.
Mr. Brown mutters nearby. Rufina Howard quietly comes to my side, grabbing my arm. Her eyes are red. I smile and shake my head at her.
"No matter what, just survive. This world needs a new future."
Slowly, I float upward with Rufina Howard.
"I’ll wait for you in the capital, Yuna Ji."
Yuna Ji nods at me, sadness still lingering in her eyes.
Three days later, the Netherhell Citadel is packed with Bonefolk. All preparations are complete; outside the grand hall, skeletal generals and ministers stand in ranks.
The River of Forgetfulness has been sealed off. I sense a stronger power. Two days ago, Yuna Ji ordered Lydia Lien to lead a team to block the river, and found that the breach Mr. Brown had made was completely restored—its power even greater than before.
The formal enthronement ceremony will be held here. The reconstruction plan for the nation is set. In this realm of billions of lost souls, there’s no way to separate the souls from their bones.
"His Majesty, the Emperor, arrives!"
With a chorus of shouts, generals and ministers inside and outside the palace kneel. I look to the left—a flash of green. Yuna Ji walks gracefully, flanked by Lian Shui and Lydia Lien.
She wears a floor-length dark green gown with ornate shoulder ornaments—a red-gold dragon on the left, a phoenix on the right. Her jeweled crown gleams; she is radiant, her face free of sorrow. Rufina Howard and I stand aside, quietly waiting, while Mr. Brown smiles behind us.
Today, I plan to leave. Having witnessed all this, I want to return to the Living World. My next destination is the Four Sacred Realm; I hope Deathcurse and Isabelle Frost have already found a way to get there.
James Grant has prepared everything needed for the enthronement ceremony. He begins to read the proclamations, but I don’t hear a word. My fighting spirit is gone; I feel no trace of battle left in this world.
After the long ceremony, I see Yuna Ji seated on the Bone Throne at the top of the palace. The ministers bow, and things come to an end.
The only thing I can’t figure out is why Monster Yuna made that final choice. At that moment, Yuna Ji was so weak—if someone truly wanted to kill her, it was possible. Even if not, she’d never have the strength to regain control of the ghost souls.
With a chorus of shouts, generals and ministers inside and outside the palace kneel. I look to the left—a flash of green. Yuna Ji walks gracefully, flanked by Lydia Lien and Bella Liang.
"Come on, Ethan, I’ll take you out."