"If this King must perish, then you shall all perish with me!"
The next moment, a vortex of ghostly spirit Qi spiraled around the Heavenly Ghost Formation in his chest, gathering power for a final, suicidal detonation that could shatter the very lure formation meant to hold him.
Seeing the Ghost King had driven into the corner and now intended to drag everyone down with him, the five Half-Abyssal Kings reacted instantly,
"Everyone retreat, now!"
The cloaked council members also sensed the gravity of the situation and, without hesitation, fled in all directions, knowing that the Evernight Devil King didnât need them and could handle the Ghost King alone, as the former had already driven the latter to the brink of death.
Cracks surfaced with the chains binding the Ghost King as they widened. The abyssal chains seemed to be weakening, spectral links snapping under the Ghost Kingâs suicidal attempt.
As the abyssal chains wrapped tighter, the Ghost Kingâs phantom howled, a raw, soul-rending sound that echoed through the desolate realm, "Curse you! Even in deathâthis King will not be forgotten!"
Black eyes glinting like endless night, the Evernight Devil King whispered with a hint of mockery, "Struggle, scream, hate...it only refines the ghost raceâs soul more perfectly."
The battle furnaceâs mouth widened into a black maw, abyssal runes flashing brilliantly as it prepared to drag in the Ghost Kingâs resisting soul and the fused Heavenly Ghost Formation itselfâtransforming a peerless formation... into fuel for the abyss.
The Ghost Devourer Furnace shuddered midair, abyssal runes pulsing like living hearts as it drew in the Ghost Kingâs phantom.
The basin trembled under the clashing power of ancient ghost arts and abyssal refinement, while the air rippled with chilling, wailing echoes.
Within the gaping black maw, the Ghost Kingâs phantom flared violently.
Gray spirit Qi, brimming with hateful resentment, lashed against the abyssal tendrils.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The furnace shook violently under each impact. Spectral arms of ghostly spirit Qi clawed out, scraping the furnace walls, leaving shallow gouges before they were re-knit by swirling abyssal runes.
The Ghost Kingâs hollow eyes burned with mad defiance, "This King has devoured thousandsâtens of thousands! You think I will be devoured in turn?!"
His phantom body, once semi-transparent, turned denser and darker, drawing upon every shred of ghostly spirit Qi. The Heavenly Ghost Formation, nestled at his heart, blazed brighter than everâlike a dying sun gathering power for a final explosion.
Beyond the furnaceâs surface, the Evernight Devil King watched, motionless, expressionless. Yet in his devilish eyes shimmered a subtle, eerie satisfaction, like a butcher studying prized meat before the killing blow.
With a slow, deliberate gesture, he traced a single abyssal rune in the air.
HUMMMMâ!
The furnaceâs runes flared violet-black, and the inside space shrank abruptly.
The ghostly phantom, caught mid-roar, was pressed inward by overwhelming abyssal force.
"AAAAAGHâ!"
The Ghost Kingâs shriek, sharp enough to pierce souls, rolled across the entire secret realm. The sound alone made the cloaked abyssal lordsâ souls tremble; some even staggered back, dark blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
On the other hand, from the edge of the basin, Ace, who had been watching everything with pupils slightly contracted, the sight of the Ghost King and terrifying formation, so easily turned into prey, sent a chill through his heart.
âSo, this is the might of an Abyssal King from the Abyss. Even that Ghost King, despite his injuries and incomplete state, turned out to be nothing more than an offering to refine a single treasure of that Abyssal Devil Raceâs Abyssal King...â
Ace has a new perspective on the Evernight Councilâs strength, which was also the target of the Abyss Mission Series. If he had thought that entering the councilâs headquarters would make the mission easier before, that belief has now completely changed.
He knew if he even made a slight mistake and drew the attention of those Abyssal Kings of the Evernight Council, he would have no choice but to run. Now, he wanted to learn the Veilborn raceâs technique quickly to hide even more thoroughly.
At this moment, Pixyâs small voice echoed in his mind, solemn despite her usual playfulness,
"Little master...if you could get that battle furnace for me..."
Ace was startled by Pixyâs unexpected request, and couldnât help but retort sarcastically,
"Sure, why not? Let me just go and ask the Abyssal King if heâs willing to give it to me."
"Umm...Iâm not telling you to get it now, but if you get a chance in the future, try snatching it. I know you can, Iâm cheering for you."
Pixy encouraged.
"Why do you even want that thing?"
A
ce couldnât help but ask with curiosity since Pixy had requested the Equilux Balance Ruler before, and now she wanted the battle furnace of the Devil King.
Since he knew Pixyâs nature, it wasnât hard to guess she was up to something, but now that she was bonded to him, she couldnât hurt or scheme against him, so he didnât ask any further and gave her some freedom, just like his house members.
However, Pixy didnât reveal anything and replied playfully, "
Donât worry, Iâll tell you when the times come. Just do your best!"
Ace shook his head in frustration and said nothing. He focused on watching the inevitable play out, as the Ghost King was already doomed, and the Evernight Devil King was too powerful even to give the Ghost King a chance to struggle.
At this moment, inside the furnace, battered and on the brink of dissolution, the Ghost Kingâs voice turned low, hollow, yet stubbornly proud, "Although I donât know...who you are...I can tell youâll end up miserable like me eventually..."
His phantom eyes locked on the Devil King through the shrinking gap in the furnace, and a peculiar, profound light surfaced in them before it vanished, "Remember... my words...my hatred!"
The final hateful curse of a dying ghost echoed like funeral bells within the Evernight Devil Kingâs head, and a subtle frown surfaced on his face.
But the Evernight Devil King didnât dwell on the words of a dying opponent, and his fingers curled slightly.
CLANG!
The furnaceâs maw snapped shut. All light from the Heavenly Ghost Formation vanished inside, and the Ghost Kingâs presence was swallowed whole.
The violet-black runes brightened, then calmed, as the soul within was refinedâabsorbed to feed the furnaceâs ghastly hunger before a single, muffled wail escaped before even that, too, died.
A hush settled across the basin. The violent winds calmed. The abyssal chains dissolved into drifting motes of violet light.
The Evernight Devil King lowered his hand, the furnace floating obediently beside himânow thrumming with a deeper, more malevolent energy and hue.
His devilish eyes swept across the assembled council members, Dukes, Duchesses... and finally rested on the Dread Duchess.
A faint, ambiguous smile surfaced on the Evernight Devil Kingâs face, "You did well, Dread Duchess, you may claim your rewards after returning to the Evernight Sanctuary, and Iâll personally grant you a chance to seek enlightenment from me whenever you are ready to step into the Abyssal King Realm."
"Thank you for this favor, your majesty!" The Dread Duchessâs eyes shone with joy and excitement, and she quickly bowed towards the Evernight Devil King in gratitude.
On the other hand, the other Dukes and Duchesses were filled with envy and jealousy because they might not care about the council rewards; the reward given by the Abyssal King was peerless, and they all knew that Dread Duchess would make massive progress in her path to the Abyssal King with it.
The Evernight Devil King didnât react much, and his eyes shifted again and then locked on Ace.
Ace instantly felt a profound yet terrifying perception locked on him, and he felt as if a bloodthirsty beast was staring at him.
"Disciple of the Moonless Wandering King, sent my, the Evernight Devil Kingâs gratitude to your master, and tell him that Iâve personally invited him for a drink.
"You will also gain all the deserving rewards, and the council will look after you as long as you stay within the Councilâs territories." The Evernight Devil King generously promised, as he was in a good mood after devouring the Ghost King with a powerful formation.
Thatâs why, since Ace was the one who brought him this small fortune, the Evernight Devil King wonât be stingy with him, not to mention the Moonless Wandering King was someone the Council wanted to befriend long ago because of the opportunities, like the Ghost King also seemed to be discovered by the King of the Abyss Wanderers.
The next moment, the Evernight Devil King vanished without a trace just as he appeared, and the pressure on Ace was also gone.
Relieved, Ace bowed his head slightly, outwardly respectful and reverent for the generous Evernight Devil King.
Still, inwardly, he was feeling lucky since the Evernight Devil King didnât use his powerful abyssal sense on him, probably because he was convinced after Ace delivered the ghost king on a silver platter!