The Mountain Ghost suddenly lost its solidity.

It was as if... it turned into rising smoke.

As the Mountain Ghost collided with the Griffin, its form became even more elusive. Even Huai Shi felt as though he was evaporating with the operation of the Stigma. He went from solid to an intangible liquid and then, in rapid motion, transformed into drifting mist.

This might have been some sort of ailment or danger, yet for some reason, a hard-to-describe joy spontaneously arose in his heart, as if he had grown once again.

It should be just so; this is how it ought to be.

From one to many, and from many to become one again.

In the end, to thoroughly return to nothingness.

The countless bursts of life within the Source Substance began to condense amid such exhaustive consumption, like drying up a pond to catch fish. From the height of summer to the depths of winter, after discarding all pointless agitation, they started to embed their roots deep into the nine grounds.

Waiting for spring.

After being granted life from death, the Mountain Ghost instinctively yearned to return to death once more.

And now, death was at hand.

The Flame-shaped sword carrying frost slashed down, clashing with the lightning on the Sword of Virtue. Huai Shi took a step back, turned around, and deftly unloaded the terrible power from the sword blade. From his spin, an Axe Blade emerged. With the sweep of his hand, the lightning from the Enchanted Gloves lit up on the blade.

Huai Shi's wrist lifted, and he slashed towards the neck of the Griffin Knight.

BOOM!

The Duel Great Shield vibrated abruptly, deep cracks appearing on it. The spread of electricity brought an instant of paralysis.

Huai Shi stepped forward again, braving the intense cold around Richard. The Sacrificial Knife appeared from his thrown hand and slotted through the gaps in the Armor.

But then, amid Richard's roar, the Sacrificial Knife was suddenly clamped and twisted.

Twisted apart!

The shock from the shattered Source Substance made Huai Shi's vision go dark. Then he saw the Flame-shaped sword in Richard's hand disintegrate—no, more accurately, transform under the Soul Ability into a concentrated burst of Source of Fire, slashing towards his face.

This was an ability similar to the Hand of Confinement. The Flame-shaped sword was transformed into a Source Substance form, binding the unstable Source Substance within the contour of the sword blade and forming a fleeting, fierce attack. At the cost of a weapon, it gained more than tenfold power in an instant.

SLASH!

Huai Shi retreated explosively, performing the Yu Step in quick succession, feeling as if his tendons were about to snap. A sharp crack appeared on his gray coat, and even the cushioning layer of Source Substance inside showed a deep notch. The pain, like an illusion, was already etched deep within his vitals.

If he hadn't been wearing that piece of Light Armor, would Huai Shi have been critically injured in an instant?

But as Huai Shi retreated to the limit, nearly losing feeling in his feet, the power he had accumulated burst forth. It was like a spring compressed to its limit, rebounding. Undeterred by the embers of the Source Substance sword, Huai Shi lunged forward.

From his iron-gray hands, the Spear of Compassion emerged abruptly, thrusting forward.

A shrill howl erupted.

Richard was calm and collected, as if he had anticipated this. From behind the Duel Great Shield, he drew forth a heavy Long Knife, blocking in front of him. In the next instant, the Long Spear thrust in and, with a single blow, broke through the well-forged defensive stance.

He had to retreat.

Instinctively, he lifted the heavy shield, trying to react, but to his surprise... Huai Shi was already close at hand. The Long Spear in his hands had transformed into an Axe Blade edged with lightning, aimed at Richard's neck, and fiercely chopped down!

Two horrific sounds overlapped, creating a perfect chord.

The Mask Armor burst apart.

Amidst a flurry of steel fragments, a third note rang from the spine of the Sword of Virtue. Richard subconsciously widened his eyes to see the expressionless youth raise the sword blade. Inch by inch, it penetrated what seemed like frozen time, piercing into the Armor's crevices.

Wedged into the neck.

Swung horizontally!

And thus, the headless Knight fell backward, only a head flying up into the air, Plasma spattering.

DEAD!

Death came suddenly, but the flagship 'Eye of Nightmare' above the Sky Dome didn't react at all, quietly watching the struggle's conclusion unfold, witnessing the immature receive death.

「The duel was over.」

At that instant, a figure hidden in the void suddenly leaped out. The assassin, who had been lying in wait for a long time, crossed tens of meters in one step, their explosive speed even surpassing Huai Shi's Yu Step, and aimed a dark green dagger at Huai Shi's back.

Piercing through the chest, the dagger protruded from Huai Shi's front.

A line of viscous poisoned blood dripped down.

Huai Shi raised his hand expressionlessly and threw the Invisible Axe behind him. Out of his shadow, a Yin Soul leaped out, caught the whirling Axe Blade, and cleaved towards the assassin at Huai Shi's back.

Cleaved in two!

The screaming torso hit the ground, a gruesome divided body.

Huai Shi reached out and yanked out half of the dagger, allowing the poison-soaked other half to remain lodged in his back. He took the Axe Blade from the hand of Red Gloves and stepped on the assassin's chest.

"Goodbye," he whispered, and the Axe Blade fell.

The scream stopped abruptly.

The indifferent youth looked up, gazing into the distance.

On the distant railway tracks, a sniper had been prone on the roof of a speeding train. The sniper jolted away from their scope as if shocked by Huai Shi's gaze, overcome by the almost tangible darkness in those eyes.

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