"John Chou."
As soon as we entered the ghost domain, John Chou collapsed toward the ground. I immediately caught him with both hands. His condition was dire—his breath was chaotic, his Ghost Soul was in terrible shape, and it was breaking down bit by bit.
With a dull thud, I saw a black, heart-like stone roll out from John Chou's arms and onto the ground. Blood gushed from his wounds, and he pushed me away, then lay flat on his back, gasping for air. I had never seen him so weak—his limbs were already beginning to fade away.
"Get me a Sixfold Blossom, brother."
I responded immediately and floated over to the flowerbed, picking a black Sixfold Blossom and handing it to John Chou. He opened his mouth wide and ate it right away.
"So it really doesn't work, huh?"
John Chou coughed violently as he spoke. My mind was in turmoil—I glanced around as the sound of rushing wind filled my ears and my eight Ghost Souls flew out.
"Damn, I almost lost my life. Brother, keep this safe—the Dark Heart."
I nodded, picking up the black stone that looked like a heart from the ground. A strange sensation surged inside me—an unnatural calm. I handed the stone heart to Curse Ghost, who immediately pressed it to her chest. Blood-red chains wrapped around the heart and pulled it into her body. Meanwhile, Deathbane Ghost squatted beside John Chou, carefully examining him.
"It must be this dark power that's blocking the Ghost Soul's self-repair."
I stared at John Chou's body—black mist seeped from countless wounds, densely packed and writhing.
Suddenly, Curse Ghost's expression changed dramatically. He grabbed John Chou and floated upward. My remaining Ghost Souls reacted instantly. I felt it too—a sharp crack, then a boom, as a mass of black flames burst into my ghost domain.
With a thunderous crash, a massive force slammed into me and sent me flying. I smashed into a small pavilion with a loud bang, but quickly scrambled to my feet.
"Hand it over, John Chou. You dare steal something right under the eyes of The Watcher?"
The figure before me had a barrel chest and a huge head, black energy swirling around him. He looked like a pillar—if not for those two thick arms.
"Hmm, where did John Chou go?"
The self-proclaimed Watcher glanced around, then spotted me. I wiped the blood from my mouth. That overwhelming impact had shattered my ghost domain and injured my Ghost Soul. My other Ghost Souls had no chance to resist and were knocked away. The Watcher was incredibly strong.
"Brother, finish this guy. Don't let him escape."
I nodded, and with a swift motion, drew Belle. The black mist around The Watcher dissipated, revealing his face—round and long, bald, mouth slightly open, showing crooked black teeth. His eyes burned with ferocity, and he wore heavy black armor with the character for 'prison' at his waist.
With a crack, The Watcher twisted his arm and began to stride toward me.
"Step aside, Ethan Zhang. Or do you wish to be buried in darkness?"
With a rush of wind, I struck first—Belle slashed toward The Watcher's shoulder. A metallic clang rang out, and a tingling numbness shot through my body. His flesh was unbelievably tough.
The Watcher's massive hand seized Belle, then suddenly threw a punch at my abdomen. I floated up and dodged, but the apartment building behind me collapsed in an instant.
Deathbane Aura burst from my body, surging toward The Watcher. His eyes flashed with contempt, but then his gaze turned serious. He released Belle and retreated.
With a boom, Deathbane Aura wove together from every direction, converging in an instant.
"Looks like you've got some skill after all."
The Deathbane Aura twisted together and vanished before me. Behind me, I heard John Chou's laughter.
"You're looking better, brother."
Now The Watcher stared at me with a serious face, his previous smile gone. With a wave of his hand, a spiked mace appeared in his right hand. I widened my eyes—the speed was terrifying. I reacted instantly, floating backward as the ground caved in with a crash.
Immediately, Deathbane Aura erupted, and the vanished cracks instantly sealed up again. I couldn't let this guy escape. John Chou climbed to his feet and opened the door to the room with the Lake of Deathbane.
"Brother, looks like taking that guy down won't be easy for you either. Just hang in there for now."
John Chou gave a mysterious smile, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him.
I didn't think twice—immediately darting around, hiding wherever I could. If I took a hit, I probably wouldn't be able to stand for a while.
"Where's that bravado from a moment ago?"
My ghost web kept vanishing and snapping under The Watcher's swinging mace. I was still searching for an opening—just a tiny one—but I could sense where The Watcher's power was strong and where it was weak.
Right now, I had no chance to strike back. Deathbane Aura kept repairing my ghost domain. All I could do was stall this guy—John Chou must have a plan.
"Trying to buy time? Heh—go die."
With a rush, the mace swept past my eyes. With a snap, I turned into mist. It wasn't just a simple attack—the mace stopped mid-swing, and a powerful suction pulled me toward The Watcher. I didn't hesitate, transforming into snakes of Deathbane Aura.
A wet smack sounded—the empty swing, the Deathbane Aura snakes I'd split into were instantly smashed into pulp.
I reappeared, rolling across the ground before scrambling to my feet. Like a shadow, The Watcher's mace was already coming down.
With a boom, I rolled sideways to dodge. His speed was incredible, but there was a slight gap as he unleashed his power. I aimed for that gap to evade his attacks.
[Irrelevant system message skipped.]
The ground was smashed open again, and Deathbane Aura frantically repaired it.
I quickly widened the gap between myself and The Watcher. He laughed heartily, turned, and tossed aside the spiked mace. It landed with a heavy thud—clearly very heavy. Now, he hunched over, arms raised, adopting a wrestler's stance and aiming at me.
"Looks like you're not stupid, but from now on, I won't go easy on you."
The ground beneath my feet turned into a black Deathbane Mire. Black Deathbane Aura surfaced, and in terms of raw power, I was no match for him. I had to keep restraining him and look for an opening.
With a boom, the ground split open—the Watcher was suddenly beside me. His hands, like pincers, clamped down on my shoulders. My eyes went wide—his feet were coiled up, not touching the mire beneath me.
It was unbelievable, but my vision flipped. With a crash, I rolled across the ground, spitting black blood. Two black beams slashed toward me with a hiss.
My body was completely immobilized. Suddenly, red chains wrapped around me. I gripped Belle tightly, shouted, and swung.
With two clangs, I deflected the black beams, but The Watcher was already in front of me. He grabbed my throat and lifted me up, then roared and slammed me to the ground. Deathbane Aura instantly enveloped me, but under the overwhelming force, my Deathbane Aura shattered.
My consciousness nearly shattered in an instant. Gritting my teeth against the force, I swung Belle at The Watcher's foot.
With a swish, The Watcher stared at me in disbelief—his left leg was instantly sliced open at the knee. As his balance shifted, I seized the chance and gripped the right hand that was clutching my throat.
"Instinct..."
"Don't even think about it."
In an instant, veins bulged on The Watcher's forehead as he yanked me close, slamming his elbow into my chest. My eyes widened—my consciousness collapsed.
But within seconds, I regained consciousness. He still gripped me, then hurled me toward the apartment building behind him.
Just as I was about to crash to the ground, a hand caught me—John Chou. His wounds had healed, and he looked at the raging, charging Watcher with a faint smile.
"Thanks for your effort, brother."
As John Chou spoke, he suddenly shouted.
"Deathbane Ghost, reinforce the entire ghost domain!"
Suddenly, I felt all the strength in my body drain away.
"You won't escape."
The Watcher roared, his hands reaching out toward us.
It was ghost energy. In an instant, I felt a massive surge of ghost energy behind me.
"Master Zhuang..."
With a boom, a massive crimson fist swept past us, smashing into The Watcher with a thud. His outstretched hands were instantly pulverized, the fist slamming into his chest and pinning him to the ground.
A violent explosion rang out—the courtyard before me was instantly reduced to ashes.
After a while, the smoke cleared. Master Zhuang calmly walked out from the room behind me.
"Young master, you really put me through it."
John Chou burst out laughing, then his gaze sharpened.
"Well, Mr. Brown, I only called you because I had no other choice."
With a splutter, The Watcher coughed up black blood, staring blankly at Mr. Brown.
"Impossible... How did you get in here? You weren't on the guest list."
With a whoosh, Mr. Brown leaped above The Watcher, raising a swollen fist and flashing a smile.
"Bastard..."