"Who am I? Hahahaha..."
Suddenly, a piercing laugh erupted from that hand, tinged with a shadowy malice. My heart jolted, and I quietly watched that hand.
"Ethan Zhang, you've grown so weak... Why? Even I am powerless now. Ethan Zhang, I never thought you would fall so far. It seems we will soon part ways."
Who are you? What do you mean? What parting?
I asked in my heart. At that moment, Lao Chongyuan and Zuo Quanyi walked over, their eyes fixed on me.
"Ethan Zhang, how long do you think you can keep resisting? Enough already, you don't stand a chance," Lao Chongyuan said, his voice cold. Urgency flickered in Zuo Quanyi's eyes as the noises outside grew sharper.
Zuo Quanyi looked restless, and then Lao Chongyuan glanced at the ceiling.
"Ethan Zhang, if you’re clear-headed, listen carefully. If you keep resisting, I’ll personally take away what matters most to you."
My eyes flew wide as I stared at Lao Chongyuan. His fist clenched so hard it creaked, then, with a thunderous crash, a streak of crimson light exploded, blowing the ceiling apart. The flames were a deep, violent red.
Lao Chongyuan and Zuo Quanyi immediately leaped aside. A blazing red flame descended from above, crashing down beside Mason Yu’s corpse.
It was Rachel Lan. My eyes widened, tears spilling uncontrollably as I sobbed, unable to utter a word. Her face was twisted with anger, the Phoenix Blade raised in her hand, three Vermilion Bird feathers fluttering behind her.
The Rachel Lan before me seemed changed. The usual gentle coldness was gone, replaced only by fury. It was the first time I’d seen her so angry. She turned to me, her eyes filled with sorrow.
My heart lurched as Lao Chongyuan raised his fist and swung at Rachel Lan. My mouth hung open in shock. With a thunderous roar, Rachel Lan lifted the Phoenix Blade, blocking his attack, but was sent flying, flames scattering wildly in every direction until she finally came to a stop.
"Ethan Zhang, hold on."
Rachel Lan forced a stiff, brittle smile at me. She knew she was no match for those two.
I began to struggle, staring at the outstretched white hand, desperately praying it would help me.
Heh, Ethan Zhang, no matter how much you shout, it won't change a thing. The only thing I can do now is slow down the extraction of your Instinct, but that's just temporary. It all depends on that woman—if she can defeat those two, you’ll be saved. If she loses, it's all over.
I stared at Rachel Lan, watching her lift the Phoenix Blade, unfurl her wings, and in a rush of flame, charge straight at Lao Chongyuan.
Oh, not bad, little girl. But the power of your second Nirvana is still far from enough.
Lao Chongyuan sneered, raising his fist. As Rachel Lan thrust the Phoenix Blade at him, he punched straight at her. With a deafening boom, flames erupted and swept across the room, swelling in an instant to fill the entire space.
With a wet splatter, I forced myself up from the ground. Rachel Lan was crouched nearby, clutching the Phoenix Blade, blood trickling endlessly from the corner of her mouth. I was paralyzed with dread—what kind of formation was this? Why did it have to be us? Over and over, I prayed for some miracle to break this nightmare.
"Heh, Ethan Zhang, stop your praying—it's useless. In this state, you're powerless, do you understand? Look closely. That person lying on the ground, now nothing but a corpse—do you know why it happened? Why, Ethan Zhang?"
My mouth hung open. I couldn't stop sobbing, the sound raw and desperate.
Rachel Lan slowly rose, flames erupting across her body once more. She roared, dragging the Phoenix Blade, carving a crimson trail of fire through the air. The blaze behind her surged violently, threatening to consume everything.
"Ethan Zhang, I'll say it once more—give up your resistance, or what matters most to you will die here."
Lao Chongyuan ignored Rachel Lan's charge, his gaze locked on me. My eyes blazed with fury. Suddenly, with a deafening boom, all the flames rushing toward Lao Chongyuan scattered in the opposite direction. His body swelled, his heartbeat thundered, and his right hand shot out, gripping the Phoenix Blade.
With a heavy thud, Lao Chongyuan drove his fist into Rachel Lan's abdomen—a Fist of Ruin. She coughed up blood, but her grip on the Phoenix Blade never loosened. Gritting her teeth, she roared in defiance.
"One last time, Ethan Zhang—if you still refuse to give up, I'll crush everything you hold dear with my own hands."
"Rachel..."
At last, I could speak. I shouted, my voice trembling, staring at Rachel Lan and shaking my head in agony.