The Confrontation with the Transformed Ethan
Xu Jian smiled fiercely and said, "Ooh… come on, show me your strength."
Before he could finish his sentence, Ethan appeared before him in the blink of an eye, striking him with a sharp slash from his blade-like arm. But Arthur, with incredible speed, pulled Xu Jian away, taking a fatal hit to his back.
Xu Jian, angrily: "Why, you fool?! I told you he's mine!" Xu Jian raised his fist, ready to strike Arthur, but the latter shouted:
"You idiot! You almost got yourself killed—and doomed our entire mission! Now we're in a tight spot. Tell me, what are you going to do?"
A moment of silence.
Xu Jian was about to say something, but stopped. The air grew heavy with silence, the dark aura thickened, and tension filled the atmosphere. Everyone could feel it—this decision would change the course of the battle completely.
The New Chapter: A Fateful Stand
Inside his mind, Xu Jian was boiling with rage. What is this mockery? Am I weak? No... no, this is nonsense. I won't accept being seen as weak. Suddenly, a demon appeared behind him, attempting an attack, but Xu Jian's anger doubled, and his Absolute Domain intensified terrifyingly—crushing the demon's body before it could reach him.
Ethan, smirking: "Oh… interesting."
Xu Jian knelt beside the severely wounded Arthur, placing his hand on his body and using his energy to heal him.
Arthur slowly opened his eyes: "What… happened?"
Xu Jian: "I healed you. Now… let's get back to the fight."
Arthur, with a faint smile: "Heh, that's not like you… but fine. Let's do this."
Arthur stood beside Xu Jian, ready to fight. But then, Xu Jian suddenly looked at him coldly, dashed forward, and struck the back of his head. Arthur fell unconscious, and Xu Jian gently tossed him toward the prince.
Xu Jian to the prince: "Take him and run to the city."
Melina: "I'll help you fight. I can't leave you alone."
Xu Jian, eyes burning with fury: "Go with them and protect them."
Melina: "I don't take orders from you."
Xu Jian stared at her with a terrifying glare, making her step back.
Xu Jian, firmly: "I'll say this once—go with them. Don't let any harm come to them. Understand? Fulfill your duty."
Melina understood the seriousness in his tone and decided to leave, though tension was clear on her face.
Suddenly, Ethan moved at lightning speed toward the prince and Melina, intending to kill them. But Xu Jian appeared before him, stopping him with a single hand and glaring furiously.
Xu Jian: "Don't play games. I'm your opponent. Kill me first… then you can do what you want. But you won't reach that point. Unleash everything you have, every ounce of energy—and prepare to die. Even if I must destroy myself, I will crush your body… and your pride."
A wide grin spread across Ethan's face as his aura multiplied, preparing for the decisive battle.
To be continued…
Next Chapter: When Souls Ignite
Xu Jian stood in the battlefield—his body exhausted, but his black eyes blazing with power and determination. He looked at Ethan, now a fusion of demon and pure power after absorbing his allies. Ethan's energy pressed against the air, making everyone around feel its weight—but Xu Jian did not falter.
Ethan: "Hahaha! Let's see if you can survive my new power. This is your end, mortal."
Xu Jian, cold and confident: "Empty words won't save you. Let's finish this."
Their auras rose, filling the sky with light and darkness. Xu Jian slowly raised his hand, a strange glow emerging in his demonic eye. His unleashed aura spread across a vast area, shaking the ground and striking fear into every creature across the continent.
Ethan: "What… what is this power?!"
Xu Jian, with a terrifying smile: "It's the Demon's Eye—beyond what you can imagine. Time for the end."
The battle intensified.
Xu Jian moved with supernatural speed, blinking from place to place as if teleporting. He launched a flurry of devastating blows, forcing Ethan to retreat for the first time. Xu Jian's Absolute Domain became a cage—trapping the demon and restricting his movements.
Ethan, angrily: "You won't break me that easily!"
He tried to strike back, but Xu Jian's spirit shield was too strong—deflecting the attacks and even bouncing damage back. Suddenly, Xu Jian unleashed his new technique: World-Ending Flame. Black flames surrounded him, infused with his concentrated soul energy, forming a massive, terrifying figure resembling an ancient demonic god.
Ethan: "No… this can't be… this exceeds all expectations!"
Xu Jian said nothing. He turned coldly, then dashed forward, sending a massive, flame-imbued strike into Ethan's chest. The blow drove deep, and Ethan's screams shook the heavens.
A Strange Occurrence
As the battle seemed to turn in Xu Jian's favor, something strange happened. The flames stopped, and Xu Jian's body began to tremble violently. New blood spilled from his body, and his demonic eye gradually lost its glow.
Ethan, through the pain: "Hahaha… what's this? Is your power betraying you?"
Xu Jian tried to move, but his body was collapsing under the overwhelming pressure. The Demon's Eye technique was more than his human body could endure.
Ethan, regaining his strength: "Looks like your time is up, human. Now… I'll crush you and restore my balance."
Xu Jian, weak but defiant: "No… this isn't the end… yet."
The End?
Before Ethan could strike, something unexpected happened. Xu Jian's Absolute Domain began to shift strangely, as if merging with another unknown force. Was this his hidden power? Or something else emerging?
To be continued…
Next Chapter: "The Soul's Final Cry"
Xu Jian stood with difficulty, his body battered and bloodied. Every breath seemed like his last, his bones broken—but his eyes burned with unyielding defiance. Before him stood Ethan, furious, his body pulsing with dark energy.
Ethan: "You're just an arrogant human. Did you think your pitiful strength would save you? Now you'll learn what it means to fall."
Ethan charged forward, landing brutal punches on Xu Jian. Each hit cracked bones, the sound echoing through the battlefield. Xu Jian tried to stand, but fell to his knees.
Xu Jian, within his mind: It's over… I can't endure this… Was my pride the cause of my end?
Memories flooded Xu Jian's mind—moments of strength and weakness, faces of loved ones and those he had lost. Then, one face stood out—clear and powerful. The face of someone who had inspired him.
Xu Jian, in his mind: No… not like this… not this way. I don't give up. I never have.
At that moment, Xu Jian gathered every last ounce of energy. He screamed, and from his aura emerged a black sword. He stood with difficulty and drove the sword into Ethan's leg—pinning him in place.
Ethan, furious: "What?! How dare you?!"
Before Ethan could react, Xu Jian's soul appeared—blazing with energy, greater than ever before. It moved with incredible speed and delivered a massive punch through Ethan's chest, leaving a burning hole.
Xu Jian: "This… is what happens when you underestimate me."
Ethan fell to his knees, staring at the wound in his chest, while Xu Jian stood barely holding on—yet still upright. His defiance was clear.
Xu Jian, faintly: "Maybe… this is my end. But I will not fall without a fight."
Xu Jian collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
To be continued…