Thunderous, violent collisions echoed through the boundless darkness, as massive boulders—each as large as an island—crashed into one another. The force of these impacts felt as if it could crush my body to dust.
I could feel the density of the surrounding power growing nearly unbearable. At this moment, it was as if I were swimming through thick mud. In the ongoing clash between Infernal Will and the Wraithlord’s will, I regained control of my body.
Now, I had completely suppressed those two. Ever since I stepped into this Shattered Unreal Realm, I’ve held onto an intense obsession—maybe that’s what kept me going this long. I’m exhausted, and in my consciousness, those two are always scheming to seize control of my body whenever I let my guard down.
“Ethan Zhang, you’re exhausted. If we keep going like this without cooperating, the body won’t hold out much longer. That’s bad for all of us.”
On my left shoulder, the Wraithlord’s head emerged. I ignored him. Then, on my right shoulder, Infernal Will appeared, bursting out in raucous laughter.
“I never thought you’d actually be scared.”
Right now, it felt like I was trudging through viscous mud, while flames and lightning flared around me from the collision of those massive islands. My obsession had never waned. Now, both of them were afraid—I could sense it. If I found the track of the Gods’ Departure, I’d drag them out of this world, and they’d never have another chance to return.
This place was even harder to traverse than anywhere I’d come before. Every step felt like my body was about to be crushed. Even when I called upon the world’s instinctive power, it was no use. At first, it helped a little, but now it was almost powerless against the forces converging here.
What puzzled me now was why those boulders could move so freely here, almost as if they were fighting over something, colliding again and again.
“Ethan Zhang, I’m begging you—don’t go on. If your body is destroyed here, our consciousness will be crushed by these forces too. We’ll all go down together.”
The Wraithlord immediately spoke up. I just smiled coldly.
“This is exactly why I came here. Taking you both down with me wouldn’t be so bad.”
Now, Infernal Will on my right began to struggle, and I felt as if something was hammering at my consciousness, slowly loosening it. A cold, shadowy awareness started to seep in, while the Wraithlord on my left also tried to wrest back control of my body.
Gritting my teeth, I kept moving forward, refusing to give either of them any chance. They knew as well as I did—if they kept fighting for control, it would severely damage this body. If my body failed to withstand the crushing force around us, we’d all be finished.
“Even if you drag us out with you, what will you do about this world?”
I didn’t answer the Wraithlord’s question. He’d been threatening me for days, using the looming catastrophe facing this world as leverage. But I ignored him. I believed Rachel Lan could hold everything together there, so I was at peace with leaving.
I never thought about this world’s future. Only those living in it now can decide its fate. I’m already dead.
“Too bad, Ethan Zhang. Even if you take me out, I’ll still find my way back.”
Suddenly, Infernal Will spoke. I stopped, panting, pressing a hand to my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe—the oppressive force around me was growing heavier, punctuated by the thunderous collisions. I could only raise my hand and, with a burst of power, tear open a small space to move freely.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I was originally just a point in this world. If you drag me out, that point will vanish, and soon a new Infernal Will will be born in Hell—just like me. I’ve already prepared a complete plan. That’s why I find it so laughable. To defy the inevitable is pure foolishness.”
I ignored Infernal Will and hurried forward. At that moment, the Wraithlord’s anxiety seeped into my consciousness. I felt I’d finally found the Gods’ Departure Path.
“World!”
In an instant, the tangled forces within me burst forth as a black flame humanoid, clearing a path. I shot forward, sensing a trace of warmth within the oppressive power.
I didn’t know what lay ahead, but such warmth shouldn’t exist in a place so dark and cold.
Gradually, I saw a glimmer of light and accelerated. Suddenly, the world ahead dazzled, leaving me stunned. Before me appeared a path like a star river in the night sky, interspersed with shimmering silver stones flowing slowly. At the horizon, a sky of vibrant colors unfolded like a painting.
“Have you been here before, Wraithlord?”
I asked, and the Wraithlord on my left immediately nodded.
“I have, actually. When the gods were about to depart, I came here to bring my mother back.”
I stared wide-eyed at the river of silver stones before me, so close I could almost touch it. This was the passage out of this world—the Gods’ Departure Path. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but once I left, I’d finally sever the Wraithlord’s threat. As for what Infernal Will had just said, I’d believed it at first, but now I understood.
“No new Infernal Will can be born in such a short time.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Infernal Will beside me launched a frenzied assault on my consciousness, but now his attacks meant nothing. I drifted gently forward.
Gradually, the dazzling path ahead became clearer, and the oppressive force around me faded. I surged forward freely.
But just then, bursts of light—like fireworks in the night sky—shot in from all directions. I pressed my hand forward, and a wall appeared before me, covered in intricate patterns and vibrant colors.
The Gods’ Departure Path was right in front of me, but I couldn’t move an inch. Raising my fist, flames erupted across my body and I struck out. With a bang, the wall didn’t budge. That force could have blasted away the chaotic energies all around, but it had no effect on the wall before me.
“It’s useless, Ethan Zhang. Even if you stay here forever, you’ll never break this wall. Only gods can pass through it—you’re not worthy.”
The Wraithlord burst into laughter. Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up inside me—part of my body was seized. I slowly turned, the urge to leave welling up, but I suppressed it.
“There’s still plenty of time. Once I regain control, I won’t give you another chance, Ethan Zhang.”
With those words, the Wraithlord’s head sank into my body, his consciousness settling into calm, almost as if asleep. On my right, Infernal Will started to laugh.
“Stop being so stubborn, Ethan Zhang. Stay with me in this Shattered Unreal Realm, destroy the Wraithlord’s consciousness, and then we’ll go back together.”
I shook my head, turned to face the wall, and pressed my hand against it. It felt as if an endless mountain lay beyond—so heavy and solid. I really couldn’t break through the Wall of Departure. But with the dazzling Gods’ Departure Path right before me, I had to find a way.
Then I noticed a spot not far away where the wall’s patterns seemed blurred. I struggled over—some of the markings had been rubbed away. I glanced around, realizing something.
Black shards floated all around. I picked one up—it was incredibly heavy. Rubbing it against the wall, I heard a harsh scraping, and soon the patterns grew even more indistinct.
“I’ve got a way.”
The hopelessness I’d felt was replaced by hope. These patterns must be some kind of ritual technique—if I destroy them, the wall blocking me might collapse on its own. I gripped the Black Shard in both hands and began rubbing it across the vast, endless barrier, erasing more of the markings.
“How long do you think this will take? That wall is enormous—you’ll have to rub it countless times just to erase a tiny bit. Removing it all will be nearly impossible, and even a small patch won’t affect the whole ritual much.”
With a crack, the Black Shard in my hand shattered. I picked up another and kept rubbing it against the wall.
“I will break this wall and bring both of you onto that path.”
I kept rubbing. Infernal Will, coldly smiling, vanished from my right shoulder. In this darkness, hope was everything to me.