In that instant, I saw as if another person's shadow flickered within Yuna Ji's body—a fierce, relentless assault. Her crimson twin swords whirled like a storm, completely engulfing Wraithshade.
A clanging rang out, but I quickly realized—the faces on Wraithshade's body were vanishing one by one, yet it still did not harm him at all.
It was Lucille Xing, the slave—Yuna Ji's childhood companion.
With a swoosh, the crimson glow faded. Yuna Ji's twin swords slashed at Wraithshade's shoulder, but the blades could not cut through. Wraithshade had already discarded his long awl, gripping the swords tightly with both hands.
"Well, Yuna Ji, you cannot harm me in the slightest. Faced with nearly six hundred million souls, you cannot touch me. Ghost Cavern—open!"
Suddenly, from the black hole at Wraithshade's mouth, a rustling erupted. Swarms of black insects flew out. As Yuna Ji tried to retreat, Wraithshade gripped her twin swords tightly. She immediately let go and darted backward.
My eyes widened. The insects swirled through the air, chasing Yuna Ji. I could barely stand a single one, let alone this overwhelming swarm. These insects devoured ghost energy and clung to spirits, growing rapidly—like living bombs.
"Yuna Ji..."
I shouted, nearly surrounded. Yuna Ji glared in fury, a buzzing filled the air. In an instant, the insects consumed her, a dense black mass enveloping her completely. Slowly, the insects at her head parted, and Wraithshade drifted closer.
"Is it over already, Yuna Ji? That was far too easy."
"Are you sure it's really over?"
Yuna Ji's voice rang out behind Wraithshade. With a thunderous boom, a massive surge of crimson energy crashed against the black ground.
A creaking echoed. I stared in shock as countless skeletons, their eyes glowing red, emerged. Skeleton archers raised their arrows, aiming at the sky. With a hum, the insects scattered, and the Yuna Ji who had been engulfed now turned into a skeleton, its jaw clattering.
Tan Tian and I had already retreated far away. The ground was swept by fierce crimson ghost energy, and more and more skeletons appeared. In my sight, the skeletons spread like an ocean, covering a vast area—especially conspicuous in this darkness.
Thousands of flaming red arrows shot toward Wraithshade in an instant. The dense swarm of insects was obliterated, not a single one left. Now, every skeleton turned to look at the center.
A rumbling sounded as a massive square bone platform rose from the ground. My eyes widened. On either side of the platform stood four different skeletons. Next to the white bone throne was General White Plume, Joseph Qiao. All the skeletons knelt down.
Soft footsteps echoed as Yuna Ji slowly walked toward the platform, draped in a nine-colored robe, crowned with a white bone crown. She strode to the throne and sat down.
"The army is assembled, Your Majesty."
Joseph Qiao spoke, kneeling on one knee before Yuna Ji. The other eight generals knelt behind him.
Yuna Ji rested her chin on one hand, reclining on the throne, gazing disdainfully at Wraithshade in the sky.
"Six hundred million souls? Heh heh..."
A look of astonishment flashed in Wraithshade's eyes. He stared quietly at the ground, now crowded with skeletons. One by one, Bone Giant Eagles soared into the sky. Around the throne, archers, javelin throwers, and heavily armored skeletons formed layer upon layer of defense.
"My army is limitless. All right, let's have a proper battle, Wraithshade. Don't worry—we can drag out this war for years if we have to."
With a clap, Yuna Ji signaled. Instantly, two skeletons mounted on Bone Giant Eagles drew their bows, firing arrows at Wraithshade.
He roared in fury, quickly grabbing his long awl to deflect the arrows. Arrows from above and below poured down on Wraithshade like a torrential storm—he couldn't dodge them all, struck thousands upon thousands of times.
I stared in shock as the faces on Wraithshade's body vanished rapidly, only to be replaced by new ones. After a while, Wraithshade gasped for breath. The Bone Giant Eagles circled overhead, skeletons wielding broadswords slashing at him.
Yuna Ji clapped her hands, laughing gleefully.
"Warriors, whoever brings me the enemy's head will receive a reward from their king."
Instantly, the skeletons on the ground looked up at the sky in excitement. The archers resumed their volleys.
With a thunderous roar, a fierce black current blasted a path open. Wraithshade broke through the encirclement, attempting to flee.
As the scattered skeletons hit the ground, a chorus of creaks echoed. Crimson ghost energy stitched their bones together, and they swiftly reassembled, ready for battle.
"Don't even think of leaving, Wraithshade."
Yuna Ji spoke, rising to her feet and raising one hand high.
"Nether Domain... open!"
A thunderous rumble shook the ground. Behind us, massive bone walls erupted from the earth. Bone monsters, grotesque and immense, clambered up the walls, unleashing giant green orbs with deafening roars.
Wraithshade was forced back, glaring with murderous fury.
"When did you gain such power, Yuna Ji? Impossible... a domain..."
"Domain powers—once you open a domain, you possess its strength. Didn't Yin Choujian already explain this?" Yuna Ji's laughter echoed, chilling and cruel.
Bone Giant Eagles, ridden by skeletons, swooped at Wraithshade. He brandished his twin awls, transforming into a streak of black light and charging the throne. Yuna Ji laughed wildly, her glee echoing.
Suddenly, I saw Joseph Qiao stride forward, snatch the banner from General Red Plume's back, and wave it as a signal. Instantly, the troops below shifted formation.
A chorus of wails echoed as ghosts burst from Wraithshade's body—pale blue spirits wielding spectral weapons, clashing with Bone Giant Eagles in the sky. Arrows whistled upward as Wraithshade pressed toward the throne, his form swelling grotesquely, black light swirling around him.
"Nine Stars..."
With a sudden whoosh, a flash of gold streaked past—Sebastian Zhao, the mightiest general. Before Wraithshade could finish his spell, Sebastian Zhao slashed the nine black spheres in half with his white dagger.
"It's you again. Don't get in my way."
Wraithshade howled in fury, the clash of metal ringing out as he slid backward. Arrows rained down, erasing the faces on his body again and again. The ghosts he'd unleashed were nearly wiped out; the last was snuffed out in the jaws of Bone Giant Eagles, its wail fading into oblivion.
Sebastian Zhao stood firm before Wraithshade, gripping twin daggers. Joseph Qiao waved the banner, and the skeleton army below fell silent, halting their attack.
"It's the effect of her second instinct. Yuna Ji has grown stronger—she managed to open her domain in such a short time. Her lost power must have returned."
Tan Tian explained, and I glanced at him, puzzled.
"Yuna Ji was once suppressed by the Buddha's image and locked in the Brahma Tower. Her powers weren't purified—they couldn't be. Under Zhanjue's influence, even Buddha couldn't cleanse them, only seal them away and slowly strip them from her. But when the Brahma Tower was destroyed, her powers returned completely. With her second instinct awakened, those powers are now even stronger."
I stared at Yuna Ji, mouth agape. Thinking back, it was because of me—the Earth Soul used the power of End to destroy the Brahma Tower. No wonder Yuna Ji was so elated that day, and the Universal Temple didn't trouble us.
"Wraithshade might die."
Tan Tian said coldly. I glanced at him; he'd already taken several lives from Sebastian Zhao, retreating in the air. Though he used spells, they were useless against the combination of souls and bones—only brute force worked.
"Yuna Ji, aren't you here for revenge? Come on..." Wraithshade taunted, his voice echoing with rage.
Wraithshade roared in anger, while Yuna Ji rested her chin on one hand and laughed gleefully, her eyes cold and mocking.
"Of course I want revenge, but first you must destroy my army, cross the corpses of my nine generals, and then we'll have a fair duel. What do you think?" Yuna Ji's voice dripped with disdain.
I blinked, finally understanding why Yin Choujian and the others called her a wretch.
Suddenly, Wraithshade seized a moment of Sebastian Zhao's distraction and sped past him, rapidly closing in on the throne.
With a swoosh, a fierce crimson light flared. A crimson beam struck Wraithshade, pushing him back toward the sky. Lona Long raised her bow, staring quietly into the distance, her presence chilling.
Wraithshade howled in pain, stopping abruptly. I stared in shock at his left shoulder—it had vanished. Sebastian Zhao attacked, and with a slash, Wraithshade's head was severed. A chorus of clattering erupted as the skeletons cheered, drums pounding in celebration.
"Didn't you say I couldn't hurt you, Wraithshade? True, I can't—but my generals can! Hahaha..." Yuna Ji's voice rang out, triumphant and cruel.
Yuna Ji laughed wildly, her voice echoing through the darkness.