A streak of eerie green flashed before Yuna Ji in the night sky.
With a guttural cry, a low voice came from the mouth of Wraithshade, and a stream of green mist spilled out. With a clang, Yuna Ji raised her spear to block, while the nine others had already surrounded them.
"Everyone, give it your all. No matter what, he is still human."
Phoenix Yu shouted. Suddenly, a sinister smile appeared at Wraithshade's lips as he hung upside down in midair, gripping Yuna Ji's spear tightly. Facing the nine who approached, he showed no sign of panic.
"Now I understand, your source of power, and those nine... Heh, I'll give you all a good dream."
Suddenly, nine shadowy figures emerged from the ground. In an instant, the nine who charged forward widened their eyes as the shadows reached out and gripped each of the nine's throats.
"You..."
Yuna Ji closed one eye, feeling her consciousness begin to collapse.
"If I claim your souls, perhaps I can break through something. Just as... Hahaha, right now, your other self, Yuna Ji, isn’t dead or asleep, is she? I’ll drag her out."
"Get away from me!"
Yuna Ji roared. Suddenly, two streams of green energy collided. With a boom, Wraithshade stared in shock as his arm was reduced to fragments in the green glow.
"Yuna..."
A gentle voice called out. Yuna Ji’s eyes widened. Within the green light, she saw Yvonne May’s smiling face, hand outstretched.
"You’re a girl, not a man. Why do you keep resisting? You’re clearly afraid, aren’t you?"
Yuna Ji clutched her head. The green monster on her back seemed affected too, clutching its own head and opening its mouth, as if in great pain.
Everything before Yuna Ji’s eyes was fading, darkness gathering around her.
"Enjoy it—let the root of your own suffering devour you."
Wraithshade hovered silently above, eyes full of mirth. The ten people on the ground were motionless, their bodies covered in a layer of black, with a faint trace of white beneath.
If you’re afraid, if you can’t overcome it, then turn your fear into your possession. Ever since witnessing the Death Curse, Wraithshade had pondered daily, finally realizing that what he feared most was the dazzling light he saw years ago when he tried to kill Yuna Ji.
These ghosts were carefully crafted by him to strip away the deepest pain in people’s hearts. If a person can’t overcome that pain, it devours them, turning them into mindless wraiths—exactly what Wraithshade desires.
Cheers echoed all around. Yuna Ji watched in astonishment as, at the palace gates in Grant City, her father lifted her newborn self high in the air. Clan leaders from all sides offered words of blessing.
Born under the gaze of many, perhaps this was heaven’s gift to Yuna Ji—loving parents, brothers and sisters, with fortune always favoring her.
From childhood, Yuna Ji never suffered; everyone doted on her. Even when she was scolded for mischief, she was always protected.
"How wonderful, Yuna..."
In the darkness, everything vanished. Yuna Ji followed the voice, watching as Yvonne May stepped forward. But now, Yuna Ji noticed that Yvonne May’s eyes were two black holes, empty and cold, and her voice was low and chilling.
"Sister Yvonne, you..."
Suddenly, Yvonne May’s hand clamped onto Yuna Ji’s like an icy vise, her twisted face drawing close.
"Not everyone can be as lucky as you, Yuna."
Yuna Ji’s eyes widened as she recalled that long ago, Yvonne May once asked her what she would do if she were in Yvonne May’s place.
"That’s easy, Sister Yvonne. I’d just run away, or beat the bad people. What’s so hard about that?"
Back then, Yvonne May’s face was full of helplessness and sorrow, but the young Yuna Ji never noticed.
"So I never noticed back then, did I?"
"Yes, I hate you, Yuna. I truly hate you from the bottom of my heart."
Yvonne May gripped Yuna Ji’s hand tightly, and Yuna Ji’s face was filled with terror.
"We were born the same, but we’re not alike. We’re both women, you’ve already received so much, yet you want more. Isn’t that... too greedy, Yuna?"
"No, I’m not. I’m not..."
Yuna Ji kept repeating herself, her voice full of sorrow. Suddenly, she screamed. Yvonne May’s mouth twisted into a smile, a smile filled with death, as if drowning in grief.
"It was because I listened to you, Yuna, and resisted. That’s why I ended up like this, unable even to choose death..."
A wretched cry echoed. Yvonne May crouched to the ground, weeping bitterly, black tears streaming from her eyeless sockets.
"Sister Yvonne, Sister Yvonne..."
Yuna Ji sobbed quietly, choking on her tears. Suddenly, Yvonne May lifted her head.
"How long do you plan to keep resisting? Yuna, if you’d just accept everything, it would be so much easier. Look..."
Yuna Ji trembled as she slowly turned her head.
"Father, Mother... Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Eldest Sister... Second Sister..."
"You can’t save anything, can’t change anything, Yuna. How long will you stay naive? Do you really think you can win the war and preserve the Grant legacy?"
[Irrelevant system message: Skip translation.]
Yuna Ji shook her head, again and again.
"No, Sister Yvonne, I’m not resisting for those things."
In an instant, Yuna Ji’s eyes widened, staring at Yvonne May. Her gaze was resolute, shining with a brilliance so intense it seemed to burn.
"Yes, it’s that look I hate, Yuna..."
But Yuna Ji smiled, tilting her head back as tears streamed down her face.
"Who would fight for power or wealth? Isn’t that foolish? This is my home, and my family is in danger. That’s why I’m willing to fight for them, even if... it costs me my life."
Yvonne May looked surprised, slowly releasing Yuna Ji’s hand.
"Maybe you didn’t see it, Sister Yvonne. Haven’t you always had someone by your side, loving you, cherishing you, willing to share your burdens?"
Yuna Ji pointed, and Yvonne May turned. An elderly figure appeared behind Yvonne May—Matron Nora smiled, her aged face radiating warmth like sunlight.
"No matter where you go, Lady Yvonne, I’ll always be with you."
A baby’s cry rang out. A woman in her twenties held the infant, beaming with joy. She dressed, fed, and bathed the child, watching her grow day by day. As guardian, she taught her everything a person should know, always attentive, never complaining, watching her grow up.
Smiling in happiness, comforting in sorrow, from birth to death, the two—mistress and servant—shared little conversation, but the old and the young were inseparable.
"I never noticed, Yuna..."
A glimmer of light returned to Yvonne May’s eyes. Her gaze grew clear and bright as she looked at Yuna Ji, giggling and reaching out to take Yvonne May’s hand.
"Sister Yvonne, whether it’s sadness or pain, I never thought of stopping—not for a moment. Do you remember? I came this far even as a child..."
Yvonne May nodded slowly.
"Thank you, Princess Yuna. Maybe we can finally be free."
Matron Nora stepped forward, gently taking Yvonne May’s wrist. The two smiled at Yuna Ji as they faded into twinkling starlight, slowly disappearing.
"Goodbye, Yuna. If we meet again someday, my time will be moving again! I really do hate you, Yuna..."
Yuna Ji raised her hand, waving with a wide smile—just like when she was a child, pure and radiant.
"No matter what, I really like you, Sister Yvonne."
Yuna Ji slowly turned to look at her family. They were now fading into particles of white light, each wearing a smile.
"Now, leave it to me. Rest easy, hehe..."
"It should be left to me, shouldn’t it?"
Behind Yuna Ji, a green humanoid figure appeared, its voice identical to hers.
"There was never any darkness. So that’s it, Yuna—your heart is always full of light. But you can’t bear what must be done, so just leave it all to me."
With a smack, Yuna Ji’s hand slapped the green humanoid’s hand.
"How is that possible?"
Wraithshade stared blankly at the two streaks of white light drifting away.
"It should have been..."
"Time is moving again. No one can bind me now..."
A gentle female voice sounded, and within the white light, Yvonne May’s radiant smile appeared.
"Hey, you worked hard."
Suddenly, Wraithshade felt a chill. He leapt back as a green spear thrust toward him with a swish.
Drip, drip—black blood flowed from Wraithshade’s shoulder. He clutched his wound, staring at Yuna Ji, who stood before him with her spear.
"Is that so? I guess we’re the same kind. You have your beliefs, and I have mine. Life or death, that’s how it is. I am the villain."
"Is that so? What a coincidence—I’m a villain too."
Yuna Ji charged at Wraithshade with her spear, leaping high.