Every Underworld Denizen wore a grim expression. Behind each of the eight pairs of men and women, various reasons were written.
"Is this thing playing tricks on us?"
Julian Lu was the first to step forward, visibly furious.
"Right, the current Ten Soul Collectors have been seated for several centuries, haven't they? Should we take this opportunity to switch them out? Maybe not, but it doesn't matter. They're all still healthy, and after hundreds of years, their strength hasn't waned. Forget it. If these pairs produce offspring with poor aptitude, that'll be trouble. Let's wait a few more decades before making any changes."
The yellow humanoid muttered to itself, as if two people resided in one body. Old Moe, still young, watched everything unfold.
"What exactly are you?"
Old Moe roared, eyes wide, staring at the yellow humanoid.
"He can see it. Yes, he can see it. But why?"
In an instant, I saw the yellow humanoid's eyes split apart, its mouth torn open, looking vicious. Old Moe was subdued immediately, while Rachel Lan slowly drifted toward the figure. The yellow humanoid gripped Rachel Lan with one hand.
"What do you want to do?" Old Moe cried out in alarm.
"This guy is special, heh, he can actually see us. So, what should we do? Fine, since he can see us, let's make him work for us. Tomorrow, just find some excuse—just like centuries ago, when we chose Lan Yin—send him a dream, tell him who the next successor is, and that'll do."
Suddenly, Old Moe sprang into action, punching the yellow humanoid and snatching Rachel Lan back. He immediately spread his wings, glaring at the yellow figure.
"Impossible. This kid can break free from our restraints."
At that moment, I saw the young Old Moe's eyes turn golden. He watched everything in silence.
Meanwhile, the Soul Collectors' faces were all grim.
"Even if you can defy my will, your daughter will never escape. Heh, your instinct is a bit troublesome, isn't it, Martin Lane? You can't run."
Suddenly, everything around began to dissipate. Old Moe's memory ended here, and then reality returned to normal. In a flash, Julian Lu raised Dragon's Roar and charged toward the Trial Marriage Stone, slashing it with his sword. With a bang, the sound of shattering followed, and Dragon's Roar broke into fragments in his hand.
"Wait a moment."
Lan Yin spoke, walking forward.
"I finally understand why I was so desperate for you to release Martin Lane. You all remember, don't you? I stopped you that night because I had a dream—someone told me in the dream that Martin Lane was the next Soul Collector of the Lan Family."
"Damn, he's making fools of us. I used to really like Cui Lian, but he paired me with Fat Girl instead. Shit, damn it."
Julian Lu couldn't help but curse. At this moment, the Underworld Denizens' faces were ashen, and they glared at the Trial Marriage Stone with hatred.
"That's all I know. The Trial Marriage Stone is Hades' Will, arbitrarily selecting Underworld Denizens and pairing them. Think about it—the Thirteen Fates of Hades have always been chosen this way. When a new batch of Underworld Denizens matures, dreams are sent to the Ten Soul Collectors, who select and cultivate them."
Old Moe spoke, then stared blankly at the Underworld Stone.
"My daughter was touched by Hades' Will back then. So now, the only explanation is that because of that contact, my daughter ended up imprisoned in the Trial Marriage Stone. It was all to lure Ironmask out. Then, using our Soul Collectors' power, along with the hands of the Nether Syndicate and Ghost Syndicate, they planned to take down Ironmask."
After Old Moe finished speaking, everything became clear. Lan Yin's face was ashen, filled with rage, as he stared at the Trial Marriage Stone.
"Heh, hahahahaha..."
Suddenly, Lan Yin burst into manic laughter. In an instant, his eyes turned golden, and streams of black energy poured from his body. A powerful, chilling force erupted.
"Life really is just a farce, isn't it!"
Lan Yin stepped toward the Trial Marriage Stone, his eyes full of despair. I could feel his desolation, now that he finally understood the true nature of Hades' Will.
At that moment, I saw Old Tom stand up and step down from the Trial Marriage Stone.
"The one inside seems to have something to say to you all."
As he spoke, Old Tom swiftly pulled out the Cat-Headed Cane embedded in the Trial Marriage Stone.
"Hmph, you'd better not meddle in things that don't concern you."
Just then, a muffled voice rang out. As the blue barrier around the Trial Marriage Stone vanished, a yellow humanoid appeared atop the stone.
"Are you Hades' Will?"
Lan Yin's voice was laced with fury as he asked. The yellow humanoid just laughed.
"So what if I am? You Underworld Denizens can never defy my will. Hmph, blame the ten founders of your families—they were too greedy. Now, all Underworld Denizens, hear my command: immediately eliminate Ethan Zhang and that iron-masked fellow, in the name of Hades."
In an instant, I saw streams of yellow energy surge forth, flooding the area. The Soul Collectors' expressions changed—they all seemed to be in pain, eyes shut tight. Lan Yin, in particular, was half-kneeling on the ground, struggling desperately against something.
At the same time, I saw those yellow streams of energy flowing into Lan Yin's body, bit by bit, being absorbed.
"It's useless. No matter how strong you are, you can't possibly bear all of me." At that moment, I saw Underworld Denizens emerge from their rooms—each one like a soulless zombie, shambling toward us.
All the Underworld Denizens targeted me and Ironmask. In a flash, Ironmask appeared before me, exuding a murderous aura, and grabbed my collar.
"Hurry and break the Trial Marriage Stone, Ethan!"
I responded, then looked at Ironmask. His blood-red eyes glimmered with excitement.
"Ethan Zhang, use your instinct well."
As he spoke, Ironmask suddenly entered my body. I cried out in shock, and immediately began to lose consciousness.
When I woke again, I was already in my Instinct Realm. But things were dire—the black-and-white Intertwined Realm centered on Ironmask was collapsing and falling apart. I stared in shock at everything around me.
"You're back?"
It was my Shadow, standing before me, fists clenched, staring at Ironmask.
"Hurry, Ethan Zhang! Try to connect with those things—find Rachel Lan inside and pull her back to this world. There's not much time. Your instinct cannot withstand my Endbringer power."
As Ironmask spoke, he raised his hand. I saw a yellow beam of light descend from the sky, filled with swirling yellow energy.
"You don't intend to come back? Not ever?"
I was about to move, but my Shadow spoke to Ironmask in a heavy tone.
"No, I don't intend to. You too, and Ethan Zhang as well—you're all too weak. I have no interest in weak things."
"Hmph, then why did you come back?"
In an instant, Ironmask raised his fist.
"I'm furious! Deep inside, they used Rachel Lan as leverage, lured me out through Ethan Zhang. How am I supposed to vent this rage, and on whom? What method should I use to vent it? Tell me—why did I come back, when clearly... clearly, there's nothing left between us?"
Suddenly, I stared at Ironmask in shock. He roared in anger, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. I saw tears streaming from his blood-red eyes.
"It's not that there's nothing left. You're still you, we're still us. Everything—our senses, our hearts, all of it—is the same. Isn't the anger from losing the one you love the same for both of us? Why did you choose this path, why..."
My Shadow seemed to be questioning Ironmask, speaking angrily.
"There's not much time, Ethan Zhang. Things outside are bad—hurry!"
I moved toward the yellow streams of energy, inching closer, but was suddenly repelled and thrown backward. The collapse of this black-and-white Intertwined Realm grew even more severe.
Then, two hands caught me. I turned—my Shadow and Ironmask, one with golden eyes, one with blood-red. Both gazes were resolute. They nodded in unison, and I straightened up, releasing strands of ghostly energy toward the yellow streams.
It was only a little, but I could feel a hint of warmth in those yellow streams. That place seemed void—no heat, no emotion, no sensation—yet there was warmth. I truly felt it.
I smiled, following that warmth, bit by bit, slipping into the yellow streams of energy.
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
Rachel Lan appeared before me, expressionless, standing within the yellow streams of energy.