"Ethan Zhang, did you get the End Fragment?"
Red Path asked urgently. I nodded, then he glanced at Big Mountain, Little Trouble, and the others before continuing.
"This world is coming to an end. It's Martin Ouyang—he plans to absorb everything in the Dream Realm into that Horror Stories book, making it all his. You need to get to Mona Ouyang's house and find a way to destroy that book. Martin Ouyang has already taken control of the Hundred Ghosts of Dream."
I looked around in shock. Indeed, the sudden appearance of these black Dream Wraiths matched the number of Hundred Ghosts of Dream, but what exactly caused this abrupt change?
With a sharp clang, Red Path plunged his spear into the ground. His body began to grow, swelling until he was about the size of a van. Then he stopped.
"Hurry up and get on. I'll take you there."
The four of us quickly climbed onto Red Path's back. Instantly, the Dream Wraiths that had been blasted away by the crimson light surged toward us again from all directions.
With a thunderous boom, the sky over East City erupted in black and red light—Yin Choujian was still fighting Dream Zero.
Red Path raced across the ground at breakneck speed. As the black Dream Wraiths converged, he roared, swinging his spear in a wide arc. With a bang, the Dream Wraiths were blasted away once more.
With another crash, Red Path's massive body smashed through a wall. He couldn't fly, so he kept breaking through walls and knocking down houses, heading straight for Mona Ouyang's place.
"Whatever you want, you freak. You're just like the others—clinging to those illusions, wanting to die for them. Fine by me. Makes things easier for me, heh."
Mona Ouyang laughed, then turned to glance at John Chou.
"Aren't you the same, John Chou...?"
As soon as Mona Ouyang finished speaking, the Horror Stories book snapped open, purple light spilling out. A shadowy figure appeared—it was Martin Ouyang.
"Dream, long time no see. Today, the throne changes hands."
Martin Ouyang shouted as he emerged. I lowered my head, smiling. But the moment his form solidified, I raised my head and roared, transforming into a black stream, my right hand reaching for Martin Ouyang.
"The third option is to kill you, Martin Ouyang."
The Endbringer's power surged within me—I could feel an overwhelming force gathering in my right hand, strong enough to crush everything. I raised my hand; Martin Ouyang's eyes widened in shock.
But as my hand neared Martin Ouyang, I saw a cold smile on his lips. Purple light flared all around, and in an instant, the Endbringer's power vanished. I was locked in place, then slammed to the ground with a crash.
The moment I hit the ground, I was flung backward, feeling someone grab my collar—it was Mona Ouyang. Mona Ouyang was the one who stopped me just now.
"You..."
Before I could finish, Mona Ouyang roared.
"Shut up."
Instantly, I couldn’t make a sound. I stared blankly at Mona Ouyang as he tossed me backward.
"It’s time, Dream." Martin Ouyang spoke, raising his hand. My eyes widened as Nolan screamed, floating in midair. A black Dream Wraith rushed over and swallowed Nolan whole.
At that moment, Big Mountain and Red Path were both pinned to the ground by purple beams, unable to move. The Dream Wraith that devoured Nolan then attacked Xiuxiu.
In an instant, tears fell from my eyes as Xiuxiu smiled.
"We’re people too…"
That was Xiuxiu’s last words. I raised my hand, but she was already swallowed up. I couldn’t make a sound or move my body. All around, black Dream Wraiths gathered. Among them, a particularly large one was Wraith Zero, recognizable by the three eyes on his head.
My mood hit rock bottom. I didn’t understand why Mona Ouyang stopped me—he could have changed everything.
Martin Ouyang sneered and floated in front of me, reaching out his hand. I glared at him in anger as he placed his hand on my forehead.
Then my consciousness blurred. Vaguely, I saw a purple stone—the Nightmare Stone—emerge from my forehead. Martin Ouyang took the stone, turning his back to Mona Ouyang.
"This thing belongs to me now. No objections, Dream?"
Mona Ouyang only nodded silently. Then Martin Ouyang raised his hand, and I slowly floated toward the open Horror Stories book. With a whoosh, my whole body seemed to compress, sinking into the pages.
I couldn’t move at all. I stared blankly as Martin Ouyang, holding the Nightmare Stone, placed it inside his body. Instantly, the black Dream Wraiths bowed as if in submission, kneeling all around.
"From today, I am the new Dream. Mona Ouyang, this is the last time I’ll call you that—hope you don’t mind."
"Ah, it was just a long dream. Now the dream is over, and it’s time to end."
Gradually, I saw Mona Ouyang’s figure blur. Wisps of purple smoke rose from his body. His eyes were full of sadness as he looked at me, then shook his head, turned away, and sat on the ground, seemingly waiting for death.
I asked countless times why, but I couldn’t make a sound.
Hahahahaha…
A burst of wild laughter came from John Chou as he slowly rose into the air.
"Freak, you’re finally finished. So, are you all coming at once, or one by one?"
John Chou looked around with a domineering expression, then beckoned with his hand. Martin Ouyang raised his head and glanced at John Chou.
"John Chou, how about we work together? After all, I’m a Ghost Sovereign now—the new Nightmare Ghost Sovereign. You only want to use Ethan Zhang, and we can both get what we want from him. What do you say?"