Nolan didn’t hesitate—he climbed up the tree. I crouched slowly on the ground, letting the Deathbane Aura seep out of my body bit by bit, planning to deal with them once they got closer.
As the large group of gray Dream Wraiths drew nearer, I vaguely saw one among them that was different—a larger Gray Wraith, its body scarred and incomplete as if it had been bitten in many places. The Dream Wraiths behind it bared their fangs and claws, seemingly targeting this big Gray Wraith.
A furious roar erupted from the larger Gray Wraith, and gradually, it was surrounded by the smaller Gray Wraiths.
"Ethan, that's my dad! Hurry!"
Nolan shouted from above. I immediately got up and rushed toward the Dream Wraiths, letting the Deathbane Aura pour out. Raising both hands high, the aura streamed from my five fingers, forming into blade-like shapes. I grinned, but a wave of exhaustion washed over me.
This was a technique I’d slowly worked out—condensing the Deathbane Aura into the smallest possible amount for the most powerful attack. But controlling it was extremely difficult. I had wanted to make the aura longer and maintain its shape, but it only extended about half a meter from my fingers before turning into mist.
Suddenly, Nolan’s father—the massive Gray Wraith—kicked off the ground and lunged at me. Although I sensed it, his strange action caught me off guard. I immediately dispersed the Deathbane Aura around me.
A pair of determined, spirited eyes met mine. Then two hands grabbed my shoulders and shoved me backward.
"What are you doing?"
Just as I spoke, I saw the Dream Wraiths behind me sink their teeth into Nolan’s father’s thigh. Pain twisted across his face.
With a crash, I slammed into a tree and snapped it in half. Nolan’s father flung the Dream Wraiths away, but more gray Dream Wraiths quickly surrounded us. I lay on the ground while Nolan’s father stood protectively in front of me.
He was covered in wounds, as if he’d been gnawed all over. I pressed my hands to the ground, trying to summon Deathbane Aura to deal with the gray Dream Wraiths closing in.
Suddenly, Nolan’s father turned his head and gripped my arms, sadness in his eyes. He looked at me and shook his head, as if he didn’t want me to destroy the Dream Wraiths—but the situation was dire.
"Do it, disciple!"
Nolan called out from the tree. I stared intently at Nolan’s father, who pressed down on me with all his strength. I couldn’t understand what he wanted.
The Dream Wraiths around us opened their mouths, inching closer. The situation was urgent. Nolan’s father roared at them again and again, but these mindless Dream Wraiths were unmoved, about to pounce.
Suddenly, a thunderous rumble shook the ground, as if something massive was walking nearby. The Dream Wraiths surrounding us whimpered in fear, turned, and fled.
The footsteps grew louder and closer. Nolan’s father released me, and I scrambled to my feet. The sound came from deep within the forest, wave after wave. Not far away, I glimpsed a flash of crimson—a massive figure, like a small mountain, emerged from the woods.
Trees toppled one after another, felled by the creature’s huge body as it drew closer. I saw it clearly—a gigantic beast, as big as a semi-truck, with four legs and two thick arms. Its upper body sported two huge curved horns, each over a meter long.
Its head was round, mouth enormous, with two rows of massive teeth above and below. Its crimson eyes seemed to blaze with fire. In its hands, it held a Crimson Spear—the conical tip and double-edged blade gleamed razor-sharp.
I froze for a moment, and suddenly the crimson monster roared and charged straight at us.
"Take your son and go!"
I shouted at Nolan’s father, then unfurled my Deathbane Wings and soared above the creature’s head. The Crimson Spear stabbed upward toward me.
I dodged nimbly—just barely—but the force of the spear seemed to tear through the air itself. My chest tightened as if struck, and with a crash, I smashed through several trees before coming to a halt in midair.
A long gash split my chest. I looked again, but the crimson monster had vanished.
"Above you!" Nolan shouted anxiously.
"So fast!"
No sooner had I spoken than an overwhelming pressure descended from above. I quickly beat my wings, trying to escape, but as I flew, crimson tails—like ropes—whipped toward me, trying to ensnare.
Without hesitation, I conjured a black longsword and slashed at the crimson ropes. Above me loomed the massive body of the crimson monster, and only then did I realize those ropes were its tails.
With a dull thud, my blade struck the monster’s tail—it was incredibly tough. I quickly changed direction, trying to break free, as the giant crimson beast began to descend, its massive body pressing down on me.
A rustling sound—snakes. I stared in shock as countless slender tails, like serpents, each with a mouth, lunged at me to bite.
In an instant, my arms, legs, and neck were all bitten. I plummeted rapidly toward the ground.
With a crash, I hit the ground, nearly losing my breath. The pain wasn’t physical but mental. My mouth hung open as the crimson monster’s snake-like tails dragged me back into the air.
The next instant, I screamed in shock and cursed.
"Shit."
The crimson monster twisted its whole body around. I stared in disbelief as it raised the spear and thrust it at me.
With a roar, I saw a flash of gray—Nolan’s father crashed into the monster’s arm. The crimson beast released me, trying to stab me dead in an instant. The spear missed, grazing my ribs as I spun through the air, dizzy and disoriented.
With a crash, I hit the ground again.
"Dad..." Nolan cried out in panic. I looked up and saw the crimson monster gripping Nolan’s father in one hand. His father growled in pain, clearly suffering.
I scrambled to my feet, Deathbane Aura surging through me and gathering in my hands. But the creature’s skin was impossibly tough—my aura couldn’t hurt it.
"Vermilion Bird!" I roared, stomping the ground with all my strength. My wings unfurled again. Deathbane Aura surged wildly in my right hand, while crimson flames ignited in my left.
Under my will, the Deathbane Aura spun and twisted furiously, increasing in density and power.
I charged at the crimson monster, Phoenix Blade raised in my left hand—a massive flame blasted toward the creature’s head.
With a boom, the flames exploded. I felt the Crimson Spear thrusting at me from the front. I steadied myself in midair, dodged the spear, then accelerated, drilling forward with my right hand, Deathbane Aura swirling.
I roared, drilling straight into the hand that gripped Nolan’s father. Sizzling sounds erupted as the crimson monster howled in pain. I tore a huge hole in its arm, spinning in midair as the severed limb crashed to the ground.
I was nearing my limit, but I knew I couldn’t give the crimson monster a moment to recover—otherwise, we’d all die.
"Wait, Ethan Zhang." A low voice called out from ahead. As the flames cleared, I didn’t withdraw my Deathbane Aura—instead, I maximized it, ready to punch through the crimson monster’s head.
The crimson monster stopped roaring; all hostility vanished from its eyes. My right hand, poised to strike, suddenly froze. In that moment of surprise, the monster dodged, and my punch missed, Deathbane Aura swirling and radiating black light.
In an instant, it was like a tornado—spinning, sucking everything in the woods into its vortex. The things caught inside were shredded to pieces. All my Deathbane Aura turned to black smoke and dispersed. I slowly drifted down to the ground.
The crimson monster set down the Crimson Spear, reached out its right hand, and caught me. I stared at it, astonished.
The crimson monster gently set me down on the ground. Its severed arm slowly floated up, reattaching itself bit by bit until it was perfectly restored.
"Who are you?"
I pushed myself up on both hands and sat up.
"I am the King of Dream Wraiths. You may call me Crimson King."
I stared at the Crimson King in astonishment. His gaze was gentle. Then I saw Nolan’s father begin to change—his gray exterior peeled away, and dazzling light burst forth from within.
A man appeared—he looked to be in his forties, with long hair and brightly colored clothes just like Nolan’s. The man’s face was filled with disbelief.
"Dad, Dad!" Nolan cried, rushing over and hugging his father tightly.