A Warrior Undefeatable

Every wraith wore a snarling mask of hate, so thick with malice that the very air grew viscous around them.

"Netherworld Ghost Claw!"

Dioz's fingers curled; colossal black talons materialized and ripped at the void, lunging for Jared with space-rending force.

"Jared's focus sharpened; he could taste the danger. Dioz's strength dwarfed anything the Shadow Pavilion Devotees and Blood Guards could unleash.

A true Earthly Immortal, Jared realized, refusing even a breath of carelessness."

"Break!"

Golden sword energy shaped like a raging dragon erupted from the Dragonslayer Sword, meeting the black claw head-on.

Boom!

The plaza vanished beneath the blast. The Seventh Hall's Mountain Defense Formation shattered; rooftiles poured down like rain. Jared staggered back several steps, blood rising to his lips. Dioz, flung a few hundred meters away, looked no better, the shadows beneath his hood deepening.noveldrama

"Well now," Dioz said, licking a speck of blood from his lip, a feverish light in his eyes. "It's been ages since a Wandering Immortal survived one of my strikes. You've earned the honor of my full strength."

"Nether Grand Art-Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Devour!"

Seals flashed between his fingers. The nine banners trembled violently, and wraiths frothed forth like a flood, knitting into a vast ghost formation that walled Jared in. Phantoms shrieked and swarmed, hungry for his very soul.

Jared inhaled, gathering spiritual energy and summoning his divine soul power. Light bloomed at his brow; the pressure of his divine soul power shattered scores of onrushing wraiths.

"Slash!"

His shout rang like thunder. Golden sword light coiled into an enormous dragon that roared into the ghost tide, its majesty tearing swaths of phantoms apart.

Dioz's eyes flickered with surprise. "Divine soul power as well? Your foundation grows stranger by the moment. Yet inside my array, your divine soul power will bleed dry soon enough."

His seals raced faster. Faces on the banners howled louder, and waves of wraiths poured forth one after another.

Jared's breath grew ragged, but his resolve only sharpened. He drove the golden dragon into the tide again and again, blade flashing, will unbending.

"Give up, boy," Dioz's voice echoed, sliding through the shadows like poisoned honey. "Offer me the

token, bend the knee, and I'll not only spare your life-I'll see you rise within the Malevolent Path Hall. Your future could be boundless."

"Save the sales pitch!" Jared roared. "If you want the token, come take it!"

"Then die for your stubbornness." Murder flashed in Dioz's eyes. "Nether Soulfire!"

A flick of his finger, and ghost-blue flames ignited upon the banners, drifting toward Jared like sentient spirits. Air hissed and burned

wherever they passed. Jared net

the

dread crouched within that fire-one lick would incinerate flesh and soul alike.

"Flying Dragon Ascends!"

He vaulted skyward. Golden sword light wove once more into a dragon, this one soaring with heaven-rending speed toward the oncoming flames.

Dragon met fire in a blast of blinding light. The blue flame split, but lashed back, devouring golden scales untit the dragon shrank, sputtered, and finally vanished into sparks-leaving Jared alone amid the swirling embers, sword still raised, eyes still burning with unyielding flame.