Resistance

I had lost track of how much time had passed. I recounted the recent events outside to Earthly Soul, bit by bit. He smiled helplessly.

I've heard that bastard Wraithshade mention the Founding Emperors before, heh. But as for Future Ethan Zhang... heh, that's interesting.

Did you already know about Qi?

I asked, and Earthly Soul nodded.

After leaving the world of light, I found out. She told me herself. That little girl misses you and Rachel Lan, but she doesn't plan to come looking for you. She said she wouldn't be able to resist interfering in things she shouldn't meddle in.

I nodded and then stood up, looking at the large glass jar behind me, and asked a question.

You were locked up in a place like this before, right? Did you learn anything crucial, like about synthetic souls?

If I knew, I wouldn’t still be trapped here. I’ve regained my instincts and restored my strength, but it’s all pointless in this room. They plan to keep me locked up and then find a way to strip my instincts away.

I also learned a few things from Earthly Soul. The most crucial was about the Unreal Covenant—the place where instinct was born. Not only did Wraithshade, but even the Founding Emperors mentioned it.

With nothing else to do, I began to study Earthly Soul. To my surprise, it seemed his body hadn’t had a soul implanted, unlike mine or Yin Choujian’s. He was much lighter.

Did you destroy the soul implanted in your body?

I asked, and Earthly Soul nodded.

With the help of my domain and the power of the End, I’ve completely broken free of their shackles. But you, Ethan Zhang, after facing such powerful enemies, why don’t you have even a single solution?

I asked Emperor Yan. He couldn’t do anything about the synthetic souls implanted in us by the Dark Banquet. If we force it, we might hurt ourselves. In fact, it’s thanks to those synthetic souls that we were able to come here.

For a while, Earthly Soul and I had nothing more to say. All we could do was quietly wait for Yin Choujian outside to think of a solution.

Be careful. That guy should be coming soon.

I blinked, and a dark shadow appeared on the white ground. In an instant, the Replicator was standing right in front of us.

Ethan Zhang? Why are you here?

Immediately, killing intent surged from my body. Two swords of killing intent appeared in my hands. Suddenly, Earthly Soul grabbed me, and with a whoosh, we moved to the edge of the area.

With a bang, the big jar shattered into pieces. The Replicator stood above us, glaring viciously.

The anger on the Replicator’s face deepened. As Earthly Soul stabbed with Endbringer, the Replicator blocked with one hand and struck Earthly Soul’s chest with the other, producing a muffled bang.

With a buzz, a streak of shadow lightning pierced Earthly Soul’s body. He spat black blood and flew over, while the Replicator plummeted to the ground and turned into a shadow.

I told you, once you come in today, you’re not leaving.

Earthly Soul, still flying toward me, steadied himself and turned into scattering shadow lightning, diving into the ground.

After a series of crackles, the Replicator flew out from the ground again, pressed Endbringer in Earthly Soul’s hand, and slammed Earthly Soul to the ground.

What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you so desperate. Are you afraid John Chou will do something to upset your plans?

You’ve angered me, Earthly Soul.

With a whoosh, the Replicator appeared before Earthly Soul, fists forming and pounding Earthly Soul’s chest. As Earthly Soul flew back, he was suddenly pulled toward the Replicator, and the shadow lightning flowing over his body was completely absorbed by the Replicator’s black aura.

The evenly matched battle quickly turned into Earthly Soul being beaten one-sidedly. The Replicator aimed to knock Earthly Soul down first. I quietly pondered a strategy; I couldn’t see through the Replicator’s shadow form like Earthly Soul could.

No matter what, I had to try. With a whoosh, I flew over. The Replicator raised his head, one hand gripping Earthly Soul’s neck, the other hand raised toward me.

Suddenly, streams of killing intent rose from beneath the Replicator’s feet, wrapping around him instantly. He sneered.

It’s useless, Ethan Zhang. Killing intent is just as easily devoured by darkness.

It’s enough—as a medium.

Earthly Soul, gripped by the Replicator, strained his neck. With a crackle, shadow lightning suddenly crawled over the Replicator’s body along my killing intent.

With a bang, black light burst forth. I was struck by the oncoming force and thrown against the wall.

Bastard…

The Replicator smoked with black mist, his body gradually vanishing, hardening into stone, then shattering and dispersing into powder.

For the next few days, he won’t revive. That buys John Chou some time.

What about your killing intent?

I stared at Earthly Soul in surprise. From the fight just now and before, I hadn’t seen him use killing intent. He sighed weakly and shook his head.

You and I have long gone separate ways. Killing intent was the substance of the three of us, but now I’ve left you both, so I can’t use it anymore. I have no physical body; in other words, I’m like a ghost now.

With a thud, Earthly Soul collapsed to the ground after speaking. He was very weak. I didn’t know how many times he’d fought the Replicator over the days, but his ghost aura was now very faint.

What are you doing, Ethan Zhang?

I pressed a hand to Earthly Soul’s back, and threads of ghostly energy stabbed into his body.

I’m powerless now. Against that kind of enemy, it’s up to you.

After a while, my killing intent was nearly depleted. Earthly Soul recovered, stood up, and looked at me with a cold smile.

Your killing intent is completely different now, Ethan Zhang. I could inject Endbringer’s power into that guy’s body thanks to your killing intent as a medium. Incredible—even if it’s still weak, the power has changed.

I nodded.

Thanks to everything at Loyin Temple, I discovered something within the killing intent.

Earthly Soul looked at me suspiciously but didn’t ask further.