Ed's expression remained unusually calm as he muttered softly:

"I just wanted to see how much of an effect the sword oil really has."

"Now that I've tested it, and my patience is running out, it's time to end the battle."

Ed spoke these words with an incredibly serene face, but across from him, Brian's mind was in complete turmoil!

"What does that mean?"

Could it be that during the battle, Ed had been holding back the entire time? Was it all just an experiment?

In the next moment, Ed attacked again, and Brian felt the pressure of the oncoming assault increase dramatically!

Ed's sword was steady and fast, every move precise and flawless, without any hesitation or wasted effort. Compared to Brian, it was as if they were worlds apart!

Before, Ed had been holding back, merely testing the effects of the sword oil, not fully using his swordplay—or rather, not attacking at all—only defending.

But now, he was on the offense, and everything had changed. The earlier image of Brian dominating Ed seemed entirely fake!

The tide of the battle had completely turned in an instant.

Finally, Ed executed a beautiful flourish with his sword in midair, creating a stunning arc that slid past Brian's blade and struck him directly!

Crack!!

Brian's armor was torn open, and in an instant, he collapsed to his knees, blood pouring out of the wound in his chest like a fountain.

"I... I lost!!"

Brian's eyes were wide with shock, his strength and blood draining from his body!

In that moment, his heart was filled with an overwhelming sense of unwillingness.

Ed walked toward him, and in Brian's eyes, the steel sword in Ed's hand seemed like the grim reaper's executioner's blade!

With a single strike, it would end his life completely!

"No, please! Ed, spare me!!"

Brian's pupils trembled as he cried out, his heart now filled with terror!

"I came to this world, worked so hard, sought strength, all to survive!"

"I don't want to die in this world! Please, spare me for the sake of our past connection!"

Brian began pleading, and Ed's sword indeed paused in midair, as if the killing intent had faltered slightly.

Seeing this, Brian thought there might still be a chance. He quickly continued, shouting louder:

"I was blind to come and provoke you, I realize my mistake now. Ed, if you spare me, I will be your subordinate!"

"I can even introduce you to the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association. It's the strongest association in Dorey City!"

"By the way, I'm a member of the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association. Don't you fear revenge if you kill me? There are too many strong people in the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association. You can't deal with them!"

Brian's words were a mix of submission and threats. Desperate to survive, he used every possible tactic to try to move Ed's heart!

But in the end, all he received was Ed's dismissive sneer, as he nonchalantly said:

"There's no one here to see, and the recording stone is completely obscured by darkness. If I kill you, no one will ever know. Others will just think it was the ghost spirit who did it."

"As for the Moon Eclipse Demon Hunter Association, this association sold me into slavery before and nearly had me killed. Don't worry, one day, I'll destroy this association completely!"

"As for you being my subordinate, I couldn't care less. Haven't you always been Karot's subordinate?"

Brian's heart trembled with each word Ed spoke. His face grew darker, and by the end, despair consumed him completely!

It seemed like he was destined to die!

In this moment, Brian's mind was overwhelmed with confusion. He desperately wanted to understand how Ed had escaped after being sold into slavery.

How had Ed become so powerful in such a short amount of time?

How could he have killed both him and Brown?

"Hey! Can anyone hear me inside? Brown? Brian? Are you still there?"

Suddenly, a slightly urgent voice from a middle-aged man echoed from outside the barrier, somehow coming through.

Ed's expression immediately froze. By all logic, the barrier should have blocked everything, including sound. What kind of special method was used?

Meanwhile, Brian, on the brink of death, was instantly filled with excitement upon hearing the voice. He nearly cried out in joy.

"The One-Eyed! That's my master, the One-Eyed's voice!"

The One-Eyed was outside. The sound of that voice was like a heavenly melody to Brian. If he had another chance, he would never fall behind again!

Immediately, Brian tried to call out loudly, hoping to tell his master that he was still alive!

But just as Brian opened his mouth, Ed suddenly reached out and grabbed his neck, choking him to prevent him from making any sound.

Outside, the One-Eyed, having received no response, called out several more times. It seemed he was unable to break through the barrier.

If he could, he wouldn't just be calling out so simply.

Brian, eyes bulging, glared at Ed with pure hatred, but he couldn't make a sound. As long as no one answered, he was completely powerless.

Then, the One-Eyed outside would believe that the two people he had led were already dead inside!

But just then!

"Captain! We're both still alive!!"

From beside him, Brown, who had been lying motionless on the ground for a long time without saying anything, suddenly erupted, shouting out loud!

He exerted all his strength in a final burst, as if he were a fish that had leapt from the water and was about to die on the shore, making one last desperate leap before perishing.

After shouting that sentence with every ounce of his strength, Brown lost all of his remaining energy and collapsed back down, falling lifeless to the ground.

He was completely dead.

Ed was taken aback, not expecting that this guy still had enough breath left in him. He had thought Brown had died long ago.

But now, it was clear that there was no trace of life left in Brown's body.

Looking at the gradually cold body of Brown, Brian felt a strong sense of emotion. At least the message had been sent out!

Perhaps the One-Eyed would find a way to save them?

But Brian's flicker of hope seemed destined to be unfulfilled. As Ed continued to choke him, his consciousness was slowly fading, his awareness becoming more and more blurry.

Soon, he would join Brown in death.

At that moment, Ed released his grip from Brian's neck and let him slump to the ground. Then, Ed quickly began to search him!

Finally freed, Brian gasped for air. Although the severe injury to his chest had left him in a life-threatening condition, even if he didn't die now, perhaps he would succumb to blood loss in an hour.

But life was so precious—who wouldn't want to hold on for a little longer, if given the chance?

As Brian gasped, Ed had already searched his entire body. Aside from a few useless items, Ed found something valuable—his black stone around his neck.

Gas Vent Stone.

In addition, Brian had two bottles of sword oil and, surprisingly, one bottle of a special potion.

Ed picked it up, reading the label: "Small Explosion Potion."

Ed put these items away, then looked down at Brian, speaking from above.

"Do you know why I haven't killed you right away?"

At this point, Brian was too weak to respond, and after the previous battle, his fear of Ed had deepened.

Faced with someone who had completely crushed him in terms of strength, Brian didn't even dare look Ed in the eye.

Cough, cough, cough!

He could only sit on the ground, coughing painfully, not saying a word. He was afraid that saying anything might provoke Ed, leading to his life being ended prematurely.

Brian's mind was consumed by a single, intense desire. His brain kept racing, wondering why the One-Eyed had fallen silent after hearing the voice.

Was he really preparing to save him? But if he didn't act fast, Brian would die!

With no sign of his master, the One-Eyed, Brian, desperate and with fading awareness, even thought of the ghost spirit. Perhaps if the ghost spirit appeared now, that would be good!

Either the One-Eyed or the ghost spirit could stop Ed, and he would be saved. Maybe, just maybe, they could even kill that damn Ed!

As long as something disrupted the silence, just make it hard for Ed—anything!

But the next second, the only voice he heard was Ed's.

"Hmm? Are you looking in the direction of the ghost spirit?"

Brian turned his gaze toward the ghost spirit, and Ed, looking down at him from above, seemed to be able to see through his every thought.

"Do you think that if the ghost spirit comes out now, it could kill me?"

Brian froze, his heart racing, but Ed's voice continued:

"Coincidentally, the reason I haven't killed you yet is also related to the ghost spirit. I'm actually planning to deal with the ghost spirit right now."

"First, I need a bait. Second, if I don't have an audience watching me kill the ghost spirit, it would be quite boring."

Upon hearing Ed's words, Brian's hair stood on end, and his mind was thrown into chaos.

"What?!"

Before he could even react, Ed grabbed him by the throat again and threw him forcefully next to the cellar.

Brian collapsed to the ground like a dead dog, blood flowing from his chest more rapidly, and the air around him was thick with the scent of human blood!

Then, Ed walked up and looked into the cellar below.

His hunter's senses detected that the ghost spirit was still continuing to merge with the spiritual treasure.

"Now, I'm going to officially deal with the ghost spirit, using the small explosion potion I just found on you!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.