"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 didn’t 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 King’s suicidal attempt.
As the abyssal chains wrapped tighter, the Ghost King’s phantom howled, a raw, soul-rending sound that echoed through the desolate realm, "Curse you! Even in death—this 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 race’s soul more perfectly." Follow current novels on novel•fire.net
The battle furnace’s mouth widened into a black maw, abyssal runes flashing brilliantly as it prepared to drag in the Ghost King’s resisting soul and the fused Heavenly Ghost Formation itself—transforming 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 King’s 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 King’s phantom flared violently.
Gray spirit Qi, brimming with hateful resentment, lashed against the abyssal tendrils.
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 King’s hollow eyes burned with mad defiance, "This King has devoured thousands—tens 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 ever—like a dying sun gathering power for a final explosion.
Beyond the furnace’s 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.
The furnace’s runes flared violet-black, and the inside space shrank abruptly.
The ghostly phantom, caught mid-roar, was pressed inward by overwhelming abyssal force.
The Ghost King’s shriek, sharp enough to pierce souls, rolled across the entire secret realm. The sound alone made the cloaked abyssal lords’ 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.
’So, 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 Race’s Abyssal King...’
Ace has a new perspective on the Evernight Council’s strength, which was also the target of the Abyss Mission Series. If he had thought that entering the council’s 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 race’s technique quickly to hide even more thoroughly.
At this moment, Pixy’s 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 Pixy’s unexpected request, and couldn’t help but retort sarcastically, "Sure, why not? Let me just go and ask the Abyssal King if he’s willing to give it to me."
"Umm...I’m not telling you to get it now, but if you get a chance in the future, try snatching it. I know you can, I’m cheering for you." Pixy encouraged.
"Why do you even want that thing?" Ace couldn’t 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 Pixy’s nature, it wasn’t hard to guess she was up to something, but now that she was bonded to him, she couldn’t hurt or scheme against him, so he didn’t ask any further and gave her some freedom, just like his house members.
However, Pixy didn’t reveal anything and replied playfully, "Don’t worry, I’ll 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 King’s voice turned low, hollow, yet stubbornly proud, "Although I don’t know...who you are...I can tell you’ll 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 King’s head, and a subtle frown surfaced on his face.
But the Evernight Devil King didn’t dwell on the words of a dying opponent, and his fingers curled slightly.
The furnace’s maw snapped shut. All light from the Heavenly Ghost Formation vanished inside, and the Ghost King’s presence was swallowed whole.
The violet-black runes brightened, then calmed, as the soul within was refined—absorbed to feed the furnace’s 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 him—now 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 King’s face, "You did well, Dread Duchess, you may claim your rewards after returning to the Evernight Sanctuary, and I’ll 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 Duchess’s 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 didn’t 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 King’s gratitude to your master, and tell him that I’ve 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 Council’s territories." The Evernight Devil King generously promised, as he was in a good mood after devouring the Ghost King with a powerful formation.
That’s why, since Ace was the one who brought him this small fortune, the Evernight Devil King won’t 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 didn’t use his powerful abyssal sense on him, probably because he was convinced after Ace delivered the ghost king on a silver platter!