They all call me Great Master

Power is precious.

Power is dangerous.

This phrase, which originated from the Empire and spread within the "Mystic Side," was universally acknowledged by all "Mystic Side Persons," especially those who had experienced backlash, who understood it deeply.

Unlike physical damage to the body, the harm done by "Mystic Side" power often begins with the distortion of the spirit and will, and from there, the body warps.

And the end?

It is naturally death.

The only difference lies in the extent of pain experienced at the time of death.

Spirituality, rituals, secret techniques—any error in these could lead to such consequences.

Arthur was not sure where William had gone wrong.

But Arthur was sure that William had suffered extreme backlash, his spirit and will already twisted, even his memories showing discrepancies!

However, following the distortion, the vast 'Aura of Death' that William contained gave Arthur some new ideas.

So, from the very first glance, the young 'Spirit Medium' had a complete plan in mind, slightly modified—built upon his understanding of William, the deliberate leak of Mount Gale Town patrol's movements, and the original two 'Strong Attacks.'

Effect?

It was naturally not bad.

Looking at William who was trembling and inquiring of him. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

Arthur maintained a faint look of pity.

Having acted up to this point, of course, he would play out the whole set—

The young 'Spirit Medium' first shook his head, then nodded slightly.

Then, he lifted his left hand and raised his index finger towards William.

No words were spoken.

Yet, it said more than a thousand words could.

William, who was exhaling more than he was inhaling, revealed a look of helplessness and despair in his eyes upon seeing the young 'Spirit Medium' shake his head, but the subsequent nod made him hesitate, and when the young 'Spirit Medium' raised his finger, William's eyes filled with ecstatic joy.

He had only one chance!

No!

He still had one chance!

Sure enough, twenty years ago, Lord Charlie, who had glimpsed the pages of the 'Book of Death,' had already foreseen everything that was happening today.

That's why his descendant appeared before him now.

"Master, may I ask your name?"

With death approaching, the pustules on William's face began to vanish, revealing a slightly aged but ordinary visage.

At this moment, although William's complexion turned ghostly pale, his words became coherent, and he struggled to his feet, tidying his ragged clothes and combing back his disheveled hair with his hands.

This would be the last moment of his life.

Knowing this, William wished to present himself with as much dignity as possible.

After doing all this, William looked once more at the young 'Spirit Medium.'

"Arthur Kredos."

The young 'Spirit Medium' divulged his name to the other party.

Standing there, William muttered the name softly, then knelt on one knee before the young 'Spirit Medium,' loudly proclaiming—

"I pledge my allegiance to you with my soul, your desires are my thoughts, your gaze determines the purpose of my life."

Specks representing spirituality sparkled like fireflies emerging from William's head.

Along with them came a dense, black 'Aura of Death'—different from the purity of the 'Death Poetry Society,' William's 'Aura of Death' was more complex, but also more substantial.

The blackness was only the size of a fist when it first appeared.

Quickly, in a single breath, it grew to the size of a house.

It soon surpassed the width of the original banyan tree canopy.

Then, it enveloped the entire manor overhead, like a lid covering the entire hillside.

Deep and dark.

Death Qi spread throughout.

Stars and the moon were all shielded away, leaving only the mournful howl and serene quietude that belonged solely to death.

The moment this contradictory sensation appeared, Simon, who had been struggling against the "Aura of Death," could hold on no longer and fell straight to the ground.

Hunter and Newt, who had collapsed to the ground the instant the "Aura of Death" manifested, turned deathly pale and trembled all over.

An uncontrollable trembling.

It stemmed from a creature's innate defiance of death.

As for the party of Police Chief Westbron of Mount Gale Town?

They lay limp on the ground, long since having soiled themselves.

It wasn't that they didn't wish to faint.

But that they couldn't faint.

The despair woven from wails and tranquility was about to torture them in the most cruel way imaginable.

Those who had fallen to the ground could clearly see above their heads, that the pitch-blackness which seemed ready to devour everything began to churn as if it were clouds on the cusp of a storm. Yet, there was no sound of wind nor flash of lightning; everything happened in silence. By the time they realized it, a massive black skeleton had already reached out from the cloud cover that was like dark clouds.

Whoosh!

The skeleton's bony right hand was inserted around William, its risen back and five fingers forming a cage, binding William within. The skeleton's bony left hand was raised high, stirring the cloud of deathly qi, while its slightly parted jaws seemed to issue a silent mockery to all living beings there. From deep within its eye sockets, streams of "Aura of Death" spilled out, devouring the lifeforce of everything around it.

But this was an unconscious act. When the giant black skeleton, which was half-protruding with the size of a hundred meters, twisted its neck, the "Aura of Death" from deep in its eye sockets fell like a waterfall, crashing brutally to the ground.

At once, everyone's eyes went wide.

Simon did too.

However, it wasn't out of worry; the apprentice policeman was confident in his advisor.

But the scene that unfolded the next moment left the apprentice policeman utterly stunned.

The "Aura of Death" vanished.

Like a waterfall being cut off, the "Aura of Death" disappeared into thin air.

Only Arthur stood there, composed, not moving an inch.

'Truly worthy of an advisor!'

Though the apprentice policeman was confident in his own advisor, he had not expected such a scene and immediately looked at his advisor with nothing but admiration in his eyes.@@novelbin@@

The rest were all in disbelief.

And Arthur, the focus of everyone's attention, was a bit perplexed.

Not about the appearance of the "Aura of Death."

He had anticipated that.

The moment he saw William, he sensed it.

What baffled him was William's "contract."

What had he done?

Hadn't he just been simply bluffing the other party, how come the other party was now willing to pledge himself fully to him?

Hadn't he just shaken his head, then nodded, and also raised a finger?

Did that have any meaning?

No significance at all!

Hadn't he just gone along with the other party?

How could the other party have derived some insight from it?

His mind raced, but Arthur, who had the professional demeanor of a Spirit Medium, didn't show the slightest hint on his face. He quietly raised his head to look at the gigantic black skeleton and let out a faint sigh.

Yet the black skeleton roared.

In its silent roar, the black skeleton pulled out its left hand that stirred the cloud of Death Qi and smashed fiercely towards Arthur.

It wanted to make this being understand the majesty of death.

It wanted to make this being understand the pain of death.

It wanted to make this being understand the despair of death.

And then...

It disappeared.