I pressed the Desert Eagle to James Wang's head and looked outside. The hulking monster was searching around, picking up the scraps of corpses left behind and eating them.
"Heh, I mean no harm. I just want to help you."
James Wang spoke, laughter coming from his vertical mouth.
Just a moment ago, I sensed a murderous intent. This guy definitely doesn't want to help; he wants to kill me. The monster I saw when Fang Datong was injured had devoured countless Ghost Souls, and these monsters are probably the same—they can eat ghosts or humans.
James Wang was aiming for my Ghost Soul. My finger rested on the trigger; he stopped moving.
"That thing is strong. You might not be able to beat it. If we work together, maybe we have a slim chance."
"No need."
I refused immediately and holstered my pistol.
"Next time, I'll finish you in an instant."
I said coldly. James Wang backed away. I drifted toward the outside. Instantly, the giant monster noticed me. With a wave of my hand, a Wind Blade slashed at the monster.
With a metallic clang, the Wind Blade struck the monster's body, but it didn't react at all. It turned toward me and roared, then its massive body moved quickly—not slow at all.
Watching the monster brandish its two black whips, I felt uneasy. Sure enough, with two sharp cracks, the whips extended and struck toward me.
"The show’s just getting started. This beast has devoured over two thousand monsters. It’s strong, Ethan Zhang, isn’t it?"
I didn’t need Thousand Hands to explain—I already understood. I dodged twice in the air, avoiding two attacks, but the monster’s whips twisted around me, blocking every escape route.
I raised Hell’s Sentinel, slashed twice—very tough. The monster’s skin didn’t budge. The whips closed in. I quickly summoned a pistol, fired—a Spirit Snake bullet hit the whip, sizzling, but the monster’s skin was unharmed.
The whips formed a cage, blocking every direction and striking at me. I realized—even if I turned to mist, I couldn’t slip past them.
The only way out was through the monster itself. With a whoosh, I became a black current, clutching Hell’s Sentinel, and charged straight at it.
As I rushed forward, the monster howled, mouth wide. Its bright red tongue shot out like a spring, slicing the air.
"Dodge, Ethan!"
Spirit Snake’s voice rang out. I sensed the tongue was not simple. I dodged, but it curved around, stabbing my shoulder. I staggered, and the whips crashed down behind me.
There was nowhere left to run. Each lash brought searing pain—the whips bristled with sharp, needle-like barbs. In seconds, my flesh was torn and bloodied. The relentless blows echoed, my body ripped apart—limbs, head, torso, all snared by the monster’s whips and tongue.
With a guttural roar, the monster bellowed in excitement, jaws gaping wide. It wanted to devour me whole.
Realizing this, I unleashed a surge of baleful energy. The dark aura swirled around my shattered limbs, transforming into mist. With a grating sound, the monster’s body, whips, and tongue froze solid.
A chill wind howled. Dense, ghostly energy poured from my mangled flesh. Wild Wind Blades slashed at the monster, but its hide remained impenetrable. Still, it was enough.
With a crack, my severed limbs slipped free from the monster’s whips and tongue. I snapped back together, whole again, Hell’s Sentinel in hand. With a roar, I charged the monster and struck.
A metallic clang—Hell’s Sentinel struck the monster’s forehead. Its skull was like iron; my blade couldn’t break through. Behind me, shards of ice shattered, echoing through the arena.
Freed from their icy prison, the whips and tongue lunged at me again.
I dodged behind the monster, aiming for its neck—stabbed again and again, relentless, targeting its head and throat.
Suddenly, the monster spun around—its whips lashed out toward me.
I ducked low, dodging, and landed on the ground. Hell’s Sentinel sliced across the monster’s bloated belly—sparks flew.
A rush of wind overhead—I rolled aside. With a smack, the monster’s crimson tongue struck down. Its entire body was flawless, no weak points. After testing its defenses, I decided to retreat for now.
But the monster seemed to sense my intent. I glanced back—two whips had already crossed behind me, lunging for my back.
With a snap, the monster’s tongue coiled around my left foot, dragging me closer. Its mouth, bristling with fangs, opened wide—ready to crush me whole.
Realizing the danger, I screamed, grabbing its head just as my foot entered its mouth. One whip wrapped around my neck, another around my body.
A foul stench billowed from the monster’s maw. Viscous green saliva poured out. My foot slid down its throat—slick, suffocating.
“Haha, don’t even think about getting inside this beast and wrecking it. Once you’re swallowed, you’ll never escape. That was my design from the start. So many have died in its gut—you’re no exception. It’s over, Ethan Zhang.”
I sneered, roaring.
“Over? Is this all you’ve got?”
I howled, channeling baleful energy through my body into my trapped foot. Wind Blades tore at the monster’s insides. Its flesh was as tough inside as out—I had to pull my foot free.
My body creaked, and my Ghost Soul was locked onto by the monster.
“If this is your true strength, Ethan Zhang, it’s pretty pathetic. Where have you been these past two and a half years? I thought you’d improved. What a shame.”
“Want to see my strongest attack?”
I said coldly. With a loud crack, I tore off half my own foot, screaming in agony—but I was finally free of the monster’s grip.
“This foot is my gift to you.”
I roared as the monster gulped down my foot. Instantly, I felt a part of my Ghost Soul vanish.
I grabbed the shotgun slung on my back and shoved it into the monster’s mouth.
“What’s that?”
As Thousand Hands spoke, the monster’s tongue stabbed through my chest, spraying black blood. I managed a smile.
“If that’s all you’ve got, you can’t kill me.”
I pulled the trigger. With a bang, the monster’s body ballooned like it was filled with air. Howling, it released its grip on me. I leapt away, gasping for breath.
My Ghost Soul was severely damaged—I needed a plan. The monster, body swollen and bulging, still charged at me, eyes blazing red.
"Oh, is that your strongest attack? Ethan Zhang, I spent a lot of effort adjusting this creature’s structure. You’re just…"
"Shut up."
I shouted, climbed to my feet, and stared at the charging monster, then smiled.
"If this still isn’t enough, then I’ll give it my all."
I spread my arms—my lost foot regenerated. Raising both hands, I strode forward as baleful energy surged from me. Crackling black lightning flashed all around.
"You won’t last, Ethan, if you use this move now."
Zhu Tang shouted. I shook my head. Suddenly, the monster spewed black blood, howled in pain, and a shockwave blasted toward me.
With a thunderous crash, buildings cracked, blood and flesh flew everywhere—the monster exploded. I raised my cloak to shield myself.