Chapter 12:Crisis of Death (Part One)
“Idiot, stop!” Owen shouted hoarsely. If this continued, the overly compressed true energy might shatter his hand.
But A-Dai could no longer stop. After compression, his true energy was no longer the gentle force flowing within his body. With eyes wide open, A-Dai cried out, “Ah—” and thrust his right fist violently toward the reef opposite him. A white pillar of light, merely five centimeters in diameter, shot forth from his fist. Immediately after releasing the beam, A-Dai’s body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.
“Boom, boom—” Two consecutive thunderous explosions made Owen’s jaw drop. Even if A-Dai had managed to pulverize the reef before him with a single punch, Owen wouldn’t have been this astonished. Yet the phenomenon unfolding before his eyes was simply unbelievable. The small reef had been pierced clean through by the Sheng-Sheng Battle Qi emitted by A-Dai. The battle qi passed through the rock and slammed heavily into the sea surface, sending up a water column ten meters high. Around the hole pierced through the reef, there wasn’t a single crack, demonstrating just how concentrated the force had been.
Owen stood there dumbfounded, taking a long moment to regain his senses. A-Dai’s previous strike had actually reached fifty percent of Owen’s own power level; in other words, the Sheng-Sheng Battle Qi A-Dai had unleashed amounted to two hundred percent of Owen’s capacity. “Ah! A-Dai!” Owen stepped forward, gathered A-Dai into his arms, placed his right hand over A-Dai’s dantian, and probed the condition within his body. A-Dai’s dantian was completely empty, devoid of even a trace of battle qi. His entire body felt soft and limp, clear signs of complete exhaustion. Owen smiled bitterly and said, “Truly an all-out, world-shaking strike, holding nothing back! This kid, ah…”
Lifting A-Dai, Owen continuously transferred his Shengsheng true energy into the boy’s body. After a short while, A-Dai slowly regained consciousness. When he had unleashed his world-shattering strike earlier, he had felt as though his entire being had been drained; that compressed Shengsheng battle qi, brimming with explosive energy, had consumed all his strength.
“Uncle, did my world-shattering strike succeed?”
Owen nodded with a bitter smile. “You are far too reckless. If you had used this move against an enemy, I’m afraid it would take a week for you to recover. Two hundred percent—truly terrifying power! A-Dai, how did you manage to compress the Shengsheng battle qi without causing it to explode?”
A Dai said, “I don’t know either. Yesterday, I thought that when you mentioned focusing the strike, it naturally meant condensing the power as much as possible. So I tried my best to compress my Sheng Sheng true energy to its smallest state and released it in the form of fighting energy. After that, I knew nothing more. Can true energy explode too?”
Owen replied, “Of course. When true energy becomes overly concentrated, it can unleash tremendous explosive force. There have been cases in the past where experts died from their bodies exploding due to excessively compressing their internal true energy. Perhaps the Fruit of Reincarnation and the mental strength you cultivated through years of meditation saved you. Never do this again unless absolutely necessary; it’s far too dangerous.”
A Dai nodded and said, “Uncle, I feel so empty inside; it’s really uncomfortable! Didn’t you say that Sheng Sheng true energy is endless? Why is it gone now that I’ve used it all up?”
Owen responded irritably, “Endless regeneration still requires a source. You’ve exhausted even the power of the source itself, so how can it recover? Let’s go back first; I’ll help you restore your abilities before we discuss anything else.”
Even with Owen’s assistance using the同源 Shengsheng True Qi to help A Dai cultivate, it took a full two days for A Dai to completely recover to his previous state. Over these two days, Owen further instructed A Dai on many methods of circulating qi and executing techniques, as well as how to maximize the effectiveness of Shengsheng Battle Qi while conserving physical strength as much as possible.
“Your cultivation power has now recovered. Today, return to the wooden posts and remember what I taught you: exert seven parts of your strength while reserving three. Under no circumstances should you use the All-Out Strike again. Such excessive expenditure will be detrimental to your future cultivation.”
A Dai himself remained deeply apprehensive; it had taken a full two days for the true qi within his body to return to its original state.
Thus, A Dai began his arduous cultivation of splitting waves and cleaving through surges. Having found the correct method, the impact of the ocean waves no longer posed any significant threat to him. Through constant daily application, A Dai progressed with astonishing speed. Within three months, he could already endure an entire day without allowing any wave to strike his body. The daily struggle against the waves also strengthened A Dai’s physique considerably. His once fair skin, under the relentless battering of seawater and scorching sunlight, transformed into a healthy bronze hue, while his previously dull eyes occasionally flashed with sharp, piercing glints.
Owen stood on the reef, watching with satisfaction as Adou punched through and repelled wave after wave. Nodding approvingly, he murmured, “His progress is truly remarkable! Although the Fruit of Rebirth possesses extraordinary power, this child has indeed worked incredibly hard.” The hardship of battling the waves is beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Adou now had no time left to learn anything else; his days were filled solely with confronting the waves, meditating, and practicing seated contemplation. Yet, he had never once complained.
When the sun reached its zenith, Owen untied Adou from the wooden post. After they finished their meal, Adou prepared to return to the post, but Owen stopped him. “It’s time to begin our next lesson. Your Shengsheng Battle Qi is already being applied quite well.” Owen grasped Adou’s slender hands and said, “Your hand form is even better than mine. Do you know? Most of my martial skills revolve around the sword. From today onward, you must learn to comprehend the nature of the sword. In this aspect, I have little to teach you; everything depends on your own realization. Only by becoming true friends with the sword can you unleash its power as the king of all weapons.” He retrieved the massive broadsword from behind the reef. Unused for several years, its blade was covered in rust.
“Old friend, I’ve neglected you,” Owen said, gazing misty-eyed at the broadsword in his hand. This sword had accompanied him for thirty years! Holding the sword in one hand, he summoned white Shengsheng True Qi in the other. As he swept the white light across the blade, the rust instantly vanished, revealing a gleaming, radiant edge.
“Ah Dai, this broadsword has been my companion for thirty years. From today on, it shall be your partner. The sword measures five chi and six cun in total length, with a hilt of one chi and two cun, and a blade of four chi and four cun. The widest part of the blade is half a chi, its thickest point three cun, and it weighs seventy-six kilograms. Its name is Tiangang.”
Ah Dai was stunned. “Seventy-six kilograms? Uncle, surely you’re mistaken.” Even the blacksmith’s heaviest hammer in town weighed only twenty kilograms.
Owen held the sword horizontally; with merely a tremor of his fingers, he made the blade shimmer into a blur of sword shadows. The seventy-six-kilogram heavy sword felt as light as a feather in his hands. Placing the sword horizontally before him, Owen stroked its blade and sighed, “Does it feel very heavy? Perhaps at first you will think so, but when your heart merges with it as one, you will no longer feel its weight at all.”
A Dai gazed at the Tiangang Sword, which towered even taller than himself, and felt a surge of excitement welling up in his heart. He stepped forward and said to Owen, “Uncle, may I try it?”
Owen flicked his wrist, pointing the sword’s tip downward, and handed over the hilt. A Dai reached out and grasped it. The moment Owen let go, A Dai felt a sudden heaviness in his hand. Despite having prepared himself beforehand, he still couldn’t hold it steady. With a loud clang, the sword’s tip struck the ground. Owen laughed and scolded, “You clumsy boy! Have you been practicing your Shengsheng True Qi for nothing? Use your qi to guide the sword!”
A Dai stuck out his tongue, took a deep breath, and mobilized the Shengsheng True Qi within his body. A white glow emanated from him as he exerted strength with both hands, finally lifting the Tiangang Sword. Under the influence of the Shengsheng True Qi, the sword indeed felt much lighter, yet swinging it remained extraordinarily difficult. Had he not practiced applying battle qi for many days, he probably wouldn’t have been able to swing the sword at all. Owen spoke gravely, “Settle your qi into your dantian; keep your footing stable. Circulate the Shengsheng True Qi to your waist. Let the waist guide the back, the back guide the shoulders, the shoulders guide the arms, the arms guide the elbows, the elbows guide the wrists, the wrists guide the hands, and the hands guide the fingers. This is the foundation of swordsmanship. The Tiangang Sword Technique originally consists of thirty-six forms, but the movements are too complex for you to memorize easily. I have simplified them into nine moves. Watch closely: the first move is ‘Long Rainbow Piercing the Sun.'”
Before A Dai’s eyes blurred and his hand felt suddenly light, the Tiangang Sword had already returned to Owen’s grasp. Owen’s figure flashed through the air, merging man and sword as he charged forward. White radiance surged from the Tiangang Sword, brimming with an unstoppable momentum. Upon landing, Owen asked, “Did you see clearly? Although it looks like a simple move, it requires perfect coordination between your hands, eyes, and mental focus. For now, you don’t need to practice the full sword techniques. Today, just focus on mastering the three basic stances: chop, lift, and thrust.” Having explained the essentials of these three stances, he handed the Tiangang Sword back to A Dai and departed gracefully.
“I chop, I chop.” By the time the sun set, Adai was sore all over from practice. Although it involved only three simple postures, he still couldn’t quite get the feel of them.
“How’s the training going?” Owen suddenly appeared atop the reef, a branch in hand.
Adai scratched his head and said, “I can’t quite put it into words, but it always feels somewhat different from your demonstration.”
Owen glanced at the sword marks etched into the reef, shook his head, and said, “A strike must carry its own momentum. Although you can only exert seventy percent of your strength, reserving thirty percent for changing tactics, your momentum must overwhelm your opponent. Watch closely.” He gripped the branch with both hands and raised it high. The sea breeze around him seemed to halt, no longer brushing against A-Dai. An extraordinarily powerful pressure forced A-Dai to step back several paces as he stared in astonishment at the branch in Owen’s hands.
The pressure suddenly vanished, giving A-Dai the sensation of leaning forward. Owen said, “Did you see clearly? Now, strike me with your sword. If you can make me lift both feet from their original position, you will have succeeded.”
A-Dai nodded, imitating Owen’s stance. He raised the Tiangang Sword high with both hands, warned, “Uncle, be careful,” channelled his battle energy into the blade, and brought it down overhead. Though lacking Owen’s overwhelming momentum, the Tiangang Sword nevertheless emitted a faint glow.
A slight smile appeared on Owen’s face. Just as the Tiangang Sword was about to strike his crown, he lightly flicked the branch upward, instantly diverting the sword to one side. A-Dai felt the sword in his hand suddenly grow heavy; with a clang, it struck the ground beside him, embedding nearly half its blade into the earth.
Owen said, “Battle qi must be stored without release or erupted suddenly. If you hadn’t completely dispersed your battle qi just now, I wouldn’t have been able to easily deflect the force. Again.” Thus, the old man and the youth continuously practiced on the reef rocks. The Shengsheng true energy ceaselessly supported A Dai as he wielded the heavy sword until late night, when he could finally force Owen into a direct clash. Although he failed to push Owen back, Owen was already extremely satisfied. To help A Dai better grasp the essentials of swordsmanship and comprehend the key principles of sword intent, from the next day onward, A Dai remained tied to the wooden post, but now used the Tiangang Sword to cleave through waves. Time flew swiftly; six years had passed since A Dai and Owen arrived at Shitang Town.
On the reef rocks, light constantly flickered—A Dai was practicing the Tiangang Sword Technique. Among all sword techniques on the continent, the Thirty-Six Forms of the Tiangang Sword is one of the most widespread. Though not exceptionally powerful, it possesses a grand, sweeping momentum ideally suited for battlefield use. Although Owen had simplified this sword technique, its imposing momentum remained undiminished. Through prolonged practice, A Dai could now skillfully channel his Shengsheng battle qi to control the Tiangang Sword. Thanks to the solid foundation of Shengsheng battle qi established over previous years, A Dai learned other skills much faster. Over these three years, Owen imparted all his knowledge without reservation. Although A Dai was slow-minded, his diligence compensated for this shortcoming. His Shengsheng battle qi was nearing the fifth realm, and both his movement techniques and swordsmanship had made remarkable progress. When facing Owen wielding only a branch, A Dai could now withstand dozens of exchanges without defeat.
Standing aside, Owen watched A Dai practicing swordplay, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. In a little while, once A Dai’s Shengsheng Decision breakthroughs to the fifth layer, Owen could transmit his secret techniques to him. At eighteen, A Dai had grown nearly as tall as Owen, with broad shoulders and a wide back. Except for still retaining a childlike expression on his face, he looked every bit like an adult.
“Alright, A Dai, come back,” Owen called out loudly.
Adai drew in his breath, lightened his body, and floated down beside Owen while holding the Tiangang Sword upside down. “Uncle, are we learning something new again?”
Owen smiled and shook his head. “Over these past few years, you’ve already mastered almost all the fundamentals; I’m very satisfied. In a little while, once your Shengsheng Jue reaches the fifth realm, I’ll teach you the Nether King Sword Technique, renowned across the continent. That is my true skill! Let’s go; early this morning, your Uncle Xier came to see me and invited us both to enjoy crab at noon. You’re in for a treat.”
At the mention of food, Adai’s eyes lit up just as they had when he was a child, and he chuckled innocently. “Great! Adai loves eating crabs the most.”
Chatting and laughing, the two returned to Stone Pond Town, leaving the Tiangang Sword among the reef clusters. Over these years, although Xier’s family had maintained close contact with Owen, they still remained unaware that both Owen and Adai possessed remarkable martial skills. Owen had only told them that Adai had grown up and now went out daily to work at the shipyard.

Crisis of Death (Part 2)
“Grandpa Owen, you’re here! Please, come inside.” Sixteen-year-old Xifei warmly invited Owen and Adai into the courtyard. At sixteen, she had blossomed into a young woman, renowned throughout Shitang Town as its most beautiful girl. Glancing briefly at Adai, her cheeks flushed red before she turned to call for her grandfather.
“Big Brother, you’ve finally arrived! Today, we two brothers must share a few good drinks together.”
Owen laughed heartily and said, “As if I’d ever be afraid of you! Last time we drank, weren’t you the one who conceded defeat? Where are Zhong, Fa, and Bai? Why haven’t I seen those three?”
Xier smiled and said, “The weather is fine today; they’ve all gone fishing with their wives and probably won’t be back until evening. Feifei, please bring out the crabs and dishes.”
“Alright!” Xie Fei replied, then rushed to the kitchen with her brothers, Xie Feng and Xie Lei, to fetch the food.
Xier remarked, “Big Brother, our girl Fei’s cooking skills keep getting better and better. Her mother can finally relax, as Fei now handles all the meals at home by herself.”
Owen nodded and said, “That girl has truly grown up. Whoever marries her will surely be blessed.”
Xier leaned close to Owen and whispered mysteriously, “Big brother, the reason I asked you here today is to discuss Phyllis’s marriage! You’re the only one who can serve as the matchmaker for this.”
Owen was taken aback. “What? Have you set your sights on some family’s child?”
Xier glanced at Adai and said, “I’ve watched Adai grow up; he’s simple and kind-hearted. All the other young men in the village are too impetuous. Only by marrying Phyllis to Adai can I feel at ease! What do you think, big brother? Isn’t our Phyllis marrying Adai quite a bargain for him? Haha.”
Owen was startled inwardly. He took a look at the dazed Adai and replied, “Brother, they belong to different generations, and the children are still too young. Let’s talk about this again in a few years.”
Xi’er chuckled and said, “We’re all neighbors here; everyone has their own way of speaking, so it doesn’t matter what idle gossip might arise. They are eighteen and sixteen respectively, hardly children anymore. What? Do you think our Feifei isn’t good enough for this silly boy? A-Dai, tell me, do you like Fei’er?”
In A-Dai’s mind, the image of the young girl from back then emerged.
“Brother A-Dai, when I grow up, will you marry me?”
“From now on, my little girl is your betrothed, A-Dai. You must treat her well from now on.”
Longing for the young girl filled A-Dai’s heart. It wasn’t until Xier called out several times that he finally came to his senses. “Ah! Uncle Xier, what did you say?”
Xier spoke with mild irritation, “You boy, what were you thinking about so deeply? I’m asking you, do you like Feifei?”
A-Dai nodded and replied, “I do! Sister Fei’er is a wonderful girl.”
Xier glanced at Owen and said with a triumphant smile, “See, see? The children themselves agree. There’s no problem on our side with Feifei either. A-Dai, if Fei’er marries you, you must treat her well in the future. Do you hear me?”
Owen frowned. A-Dai’s cultivation had reached a critical stage; how could he possibly get married now? Moreover, there were still so many tasks awaiting A-Dai. Yet, the Xier family had always treated them with such kindness—how could he possibly refuse Xier’s generous offer?
Just as Owen was wrestling with this dilemma, A-Dai suddenly waved his hands repeatedly, saying, “No, no, Uncle Xier, this won’t work!”
Xier widened his eyes and asked, “Why won’t it work?”
A-Dai lowered his head and murmured, “I… I already have a fiancée.”
As soon as he spoke those words, not only was Sheer stunned, but Owen was also taken aback; he had never heard Adai mention having a fiancée before.
“Clang!” Just stepping out of the kitchen, Xifei happened to hear Adai’s words. The boiled crab and iron plate she was holding fell to the ground together. Her eyes red with tears, she stared at Adai for a long moment before crying out, “Stupid Adai, I hate you!” Then, covering her face, she turned and ran back to her room. It turned out that Xifei had once ignored Adai for quite some time after he nearly drowned saving them, which had earned her grandfather’s reprimand. However, as time passed, Xifei had long since forgotten about that incident. Gradually, she had fallen for the tall and simple-hearted Adai, which was why she had asked her grandfather, Sheer, to test Owen’s intentions today. But Sheer, being impulsive by nature and already very fond of Adai, wanted to settle the marriage immediately, leading to the scene that had just unfolded.
Owen pulled Adai up, sighed, and whispered, “Brother, I’m sorry. Adai was indeed betrothed since childhood. Alas… it was Adai who couldn’t accept it. Let’s go now.” With that, he led the bewildered Adai away from Sheer’s home. After Adai’s words, Sheer suddenly felt utterly humiliated; he didn’t even see them off, letting them leave on their own.
Once outside, Owen finally relaxed and whispered to Adai, “You rascal, since when did you learn to tell lies? Still, your timing was perfect this time; otherwise, that fellow Sheer would have really married his granddaughter off to you. Adai, am I being too selfish?”
A Dai shook his head and said, “How could Uncle be selfish? I’m so clumsy; there’s no way I could take proper care of Sister Fei. Besides, I’m not lying—I truly do have a fiancée.”
Pressed by Owen’s inquiries, A Dai recounted the entire story of what had happened with Yatie back then.
Owen smiled and said, “So that’s how it is! Who would have thought that a simple-minded lad like you could be so popular? However, a real man must first establish himself before starting a family. Do you understand? Alas… my blood-soaked vendetta now rests entirely on your shoulders.”
A Dai was taken aback and asked, “Uncle, what grudge do you hold? With your martial prowess, surely you could seek revenge yourself?” A Dai knew all too well that despite having trained under Owen for five years, he wouldn’t be able to withstand even a single strike if Owen attacked with full force. Moreover, the sinister attacks Owen had unleashed within the Illusion Forest remained vividly etched in his memory—an utterly irresistible power!
A cold glint flashed through Owen’s eyes. “It is not yet time for you to know. My enemies are far more powerful than you can possibly imagine. Had I not been poisoned by the Water of No Return, perhaps I could still fight them. But in my current condition, there is no hope at all. Child, I place my last wish upon your shoulders.”
As they spoke, they had already reached the doorstep. Suddenly, Owen’s expression changed. He grabbed A-Dai tightly and said solemnly, “Who goes there? Come out!”
A sinister voice echoed from within the courtyard. “Hmm, worthy of the title ‘Pluto King.’ We were extremely cautious, yet you still discovered us.” In a flash, seven figures shrouded entirely in black robes appeared before Owen and A-Dai. Each held a narrow sword, and their fourteen eyes, gleaming with cold light, fixed relentlessly upon Owen.
A-Dai’s heart skipped a beat, for he recognized that these seven individuals were dressed almost identically to those who had hunted Owen in the Forest of Illusion. The figure in the center bore an additional golden skull emblem on his chest, while the other six each displayed a silver skull the size of a fist.
Owen gasped sharply. “The Vice President… and the Yuan Assassination Group.”
The figure at the center snorted coldly. “So, even you, the number one assassin, know who we are. You’re quite formidable indeed; despite being poisoned by the unparalleled Holy Water venom, you’ve managed to hold on until now. Come quietly with us. You should know that even without the poison, you might not be able to stand against us. We’ve been searching for you for a very long time!”
Complex emotions flickered in Owen’s eyes. After a long pause, he glanced at A-Dai beside him and sighed. “You truly are formidable; you managed to find me even under these circumstances. I will go back with you, but this child knows nothing. Please spare him.” At that moment, Owen felt utterly hopeless. He knew all too well the strength of the Yuan Assassination Group, especially with the unfathomably deep Vice President among them. His only wish now was to preserve A-Dai’s life. Yet, facing this group of ruthless assassins, how incredibly difficult that would be!
The Vice President glanced at A-Dai and said chillingly, “‘King of Hades,’ you should understand the organization’s rules better than I do.”
Owen said sternly, “Vice President, do not push me too far.” His hand moved toward his right chest, and fighting energy burst forth from within him.
The Vice President sneered and said, “‘Pluto King,’ can you still wield the Pluto Sword? I’d like to see it for myself.”
Owen turned his head and shouted at A Dai, “Go quickly! Get far away from here and return to your master.”
A Dai said firmly, “No, Uncle. If we must die, let us die together. I will never abandon you and flee.”
Owen’s heart raced with urgency, but he knew A-Dai’s nature better than anyone. With a hearty laugh, he said, “Very well, then stand aside and watch how I slay these beasts.” Sweeping out his left hand, gentle life-force qi pushed A-Dai’s body away. Cold light flared fiercely in Owen’s eyes as deadly intent flooded his entire being; he understood that only by fighting with everything he had could he seize even a sliver of hope. Centered on Owen, an evil aura unseen for six years suddenly surged forth from his chest, enveloping the seven figures before him.
A flash of surprise crossed the Vice President’s eyes before he spoke in a grave tone, “Owen, do you truly intend to resist unto death? The Plutonic Sword, the most evil weapon under heaven—very well, let me see how many moves you can unleash. Attack!” At his command, the six narrow swords wielded by members of the Yuan Assassination Group struck at Owen from bizarre angles like six venomous snakes.
Unexpectedly, Owen made no attempt to block. Instead, his body swayed with the sword qi, darting lightly to one side as effortlessly as a falling leaf. Yet he faced the highest-ranking assassins of the Assassin Guild; although he avoided direct hits, several bloody gashes still tore across his shoulder and thigh.
The evil aura continued to intensify, darkening the very sky. The six members of the Yuan Assassination Group attacked relentlessly, wave after wave, while the number of wounds on Owen’s body kept increasing; within moments, he was covered in blood. Had these assassins not needed to devote much of their focus to countering the evil aura, Owen would surely have perished long ago.
A-Dai watched from the side, his eyes nearly bursting with fury. With a sudden leap, he charged into the fray, his right fist swinging violently as a surge of white battle qi erupted forth, crashing into one of the black-clad figures.
The man in black did not even turn his head; with a backhanded thrust of his narrow sword, a flash of crimson light erupted, and the battle qi emitted by A-Dai vanished into nothingness. The narrow blade, like a venomous snake, darted toward his lower abdomen. A-Dai had no time to dodge; as the sword bore down upon him, he found himself with no room to evade. Only now did he realize the vast gulf between himself and those before him—but it was too late. Just as he closed his eyes, awaiting death, Owen suddenly stepped in front of him, lashing out with a kick that deflected the narrow sword aside. Even so, it still left a bloody gash across A-Dai’s waist. Owen paid a price for this: another assassin’s narrow blade pierced completely through his left shoulder.
Owen let out a fierce shout, unleashing a surge of sinister energy. A faint azure glow flickered across his chest, causing the six assassins to freeze momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, Owen kicked A-Dai flying and roared, “Don’t come any closer! I’ll handle everything!”
The surrounding air, saturated with malevolent energy, had turned ashen black. Owen’s white garments were now completely stained red, making him resemble a demonic specter amidst the gloom. He let out a piercing cry: “Do you think the Yuan Sha Group is so formidable? In my eyes, the ‘King of the Underworld,’ you are nothing but a pack of lapdogs serving that beast. Let me show you the true power of death! King of the Underworld, First Flash—Heaven—Earth—Tremble—” A ghostly blue radiance, as if emanating from hell itself, erupted from Owen’s chest. The evil qi in the air instantly merged into this eerie glow. A shrill scream rang out as a Yuan Sha assassin collapsed; a tiny hole appeared between his eyebrows, and his body rapidly withered. Owen did not pause. His figure blurred into indistinctness as the blue light flashed again. “King of the Underworld, Second Flash—Gods—Demons—Shudder—” The azure luminescence fractured into streaks of phantom light. Two more screams pierced the air, and two additional assassins fell. The blue glow emitted a joyous, underworld shriek; having absorbed the vital essence and blood of the two victims, it blazed with intensified brilliance.