Billowing baleful energy surged outwards, pushing against the surrounding black mist. I kept releasing baleful energy, determined to force that creature out. The moment I arrived here, I sensed it—this space was not infinite, but limited. If I continued to unleash my baleful energy, I could drive its true form out.
This place was Rufina Howard's mindspace, and my Instinct had already successfully merged with Rufina Howard's consciousness.
"Come out, you devious bastard."
I cursed loudly, but what followed was a mocking laugh, arrogant and dismissive.
"You can't catch me, Ethan Zhang. You can't even touch me, but I can touch you."
A jolt of alarm shot through me. I felt a disturbance at the back of my head. With a swift motion, I swung my blade, Beauty, behind me. But there was nothing. Just then, I felt someone pinch my cheek.
"Come out."
I roared again, but the baleful energy seemed to have no effect on this creature. I began to unleash the killing intent buried deep within my heart. The boiling murderous aura made the baleful energy thicker and denser, until it started to drip and flow like water.
A fierce wind howled, and blades of black wind erupted from my body, forming small black tornadoes that spun outward in all directions.
"It's useless, Ethan Zhang. Hahaha, it's pointless. You can't catch me, can't even hurt me. But I can catch you, and I can hurt you."
With a tearing sound, I stared in disbelief at my chest as streams of black blood flowed down. My mouth twisted in pain—something had just pierced straight through me, and now I was bleeding uncontrollably.
"Despicable bastard, come out! If you have the guts, face me in battle!"
Clutching my chest, I felt the black baleful energy begin to repair the wound. Flames erupted around my body—black fire blasting outward in all directions.
In an instant, I could no longer sense its presence. The drifting mist had vanished completely.
"Bastard, come out!"
I raised both Desert Eagles, while Beauty was already embedded in the ground. Suddenly, laughter echoed out. I instantly fired several shots toward its source—bang, bang, bang—but the baleful bullets sank into nothingness, as if swallowed by the void.
In a flash, I transformed into a stream of black energy, rushing to the spot where the laughter had abruptly stopped. I swung Beauty at the empty air.
"Too bad, you were still a little short. Next time, you won't even have a thread to grab onto."
I laughed, and kept on laughing.
"Don't make me die laughing, coward. Weren't you just saying I couldn't touch you, but you could hurt me?"
Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. In an instant, I turned into mist. Something drifted out from the black fog, scattering my baleful energy. It looked razor-sharp—its shape unmistakably that of a sword.
With a swift motion, I emerged from the black mist, raising Beauty and slashing at the invisible thing within. There was resistance—I struck something solid.
A metallic clang rang out. I stared in astonishment—a black sword had snapped in two, its halves falling to the ground.
"Heh, go on, keep attacking me."
After a long moment, the voice returned.
"Impossible, Ethan Zhang. How could you? You shouldn't have such powerful perception right now—your Eye of the Heart hasn't awakened, so it's impossible for you to sense my existence."
The voice sounded incredulous, but I just laughed.
"Let me tell you something amusing. On the other side of the living world, there's another realm. The beings there move through space in ways similar to you—spatial shifting. Luckily, I've been through a lot in that world, or else I couldn't have touched you."
This creature's method of attacking and moving was just like those of the Emperor Gods. Suddenly, I felt a shift at my throat. I roared, slashing upward twice with wind blades toward the top of my head.
A shriek broke out, followed by the drip, drip of some liquid—blood?
In a flash, I stabbed toward the spot where the blood dripped. Beauty was knocked aside by an immense force. I roared, and from the ground, the spirit snake—lying in wait—suddenly transformed into a giant black python, bursting upward and swallowing something whole.
"Got you."
I smiled, ready to retrieve Beauty, but in that instant, the python's belly bulged violently—then exploded with a bang. The spirit snake shot to my side, its gold-red eyes searching everywhere.
"Ethan, be careful. This thing isn't normal. I feel my consciousness being disturbed. We'll protect your back—just focus on what's in front of you."
As they spoke, the spirit snake merged into my body. I quietly observed everything around me.
But just then, my head spun with sudden dizziness. Eyes wide, clutching my skull, I sensed a signal in my mind—trying to force me out of Rufina Howard's mindspace. I roared, but the feeling grew stronger, until I was half-kneeling on the ground, my consciousness on the verge of collapse from the sudden onslaught.
My head throbbed as if splitting open. A voice kept repeating in my mind, telling me to stop meddling, to get out and mind my own business, to leave it all behind.
That voice nearly took over my mind. My thoughts grew blurry, my body gradually collapsing to the floor, hands powerless to hold myself up.
"Go back, Ethan Zhang. Hurry—go back!"
A voice echoed in my mind—my Instinct. In that instant, my resolve to stay here wavered. Everything was shaking. I roared, gripping Beauty tightly.
"Xishi Girl."
I shouted, and a surge of pink energy instantly coiled around my body. The urge to leave vanished from my mind as if scattered by smoke. I gasped for breath, desperate and relieved.
"Hehehe, Ethan Zhang, I never expected you to have something like that. But you can only resist for a while—not forever. The moment your will slips, you're finished."
"Despicable bastard."
I was too exhausted to curse anymore. Now, Xishi Girl's overpowering charm had muddled my mind, forcing me to remain here. It felt like being sandwiched between fire and ice—utterly unbearable.
I hadn't felt this way in a long time.
"Desire Ghost, amplify my desire to its maximum."
I spoke in a low voice. Suddenly, I looked up in shock and saw a face—Rufina Howard. Her eyes gazed at me, filled with sorrow.
"Ethan, don't go any further. You'll die."
I struggled, shaking my head, as a gentle hand pressed against my forehead.
"Leave. I'm fine, really—please, just go. I don't want to see it happen again..."
A faint smile crept onto my lips. With effort, I lifted my right hand and took Rufina Howard's hand, then slowly stood, embracing her gently.
"Silly girl, I promised Redmond—even if it costs me my life, I'll protect you."
"Instinct... Ethan."
A hum filled the air and streaks of white energy began to swirl across the ground, gathering and transforming into a vast current of white.
"Get out—get out of my mind!"
I roared, thunder rumbling around me. It felt as if massive stones pressed down on my shoulders—I couldn't move at all.
"Instinct... coexistence... manifestation."
With a guttural howl, an evil ghost appeared on my back. I finally understood its true nature.
"You're the entity, aren't you? Heh, I know now—you can't escape."
The white trees around me grew larger and larger, as if they would fill the entire space. Then, a pair of red eyes appeared before me.
"Ethan Zhang, I told you not to meddle. Your power is strong, but here, I'm stronger."
With a tearing sound, I stared in shock as a delicate, pale hand pierced my chest. I coughed up black blood, my consciousness fading away.
It was Rufina Howard. She seemed utterly changed—her eyes now gold, filled with hostility toward me.
"Girl, don't give in! Don't let a lowlife like that control you!"
Suddenly, I snapped awake. Mr. Brown was pressing a hand to my forehead.
"Don't move, Ethan. Your Ghost Soul has suffered tremendous damage."
Yuna Ji stood nearby, anxiously watching Rufina Howard lying on the ground.
"What's going on?"
I stared in astonishment as Rufina Howard's body gradually faded away.
"Girl, did you hear me? If you did, don't lose to that thing! There are people waiting for you—Redmond is still in the Hall of Malice, waiting for you. I'll save you, no matter where you go, girl!"
I roared, lunging forward, reaching out—but Rufina Howard vanished before my eyes.