Die, Replay, Repeat

"Whatever she's planning, stop her now! I believe this Specter's ability activates only when she attacks. Everyone, prepare to strike between her moves!"

Shanben Yilang, the Chief Commander of the nation, swiftly made his decision with the precision of a seasoned leader.

However, "wife" was no ordinary Specter—she defied conventional reasoning.

When "wife" launched yet another attack, obliterating the nearby buildings, Shanben Yilang and his team seized the opportunity to strike.

They coordinated their attacks, slashing at the Specter from all directions with precision and force.

But their efforts were futile. Their blades cut through empty air, as though the Specter didn't exist.

"What IS this Specter?!" Shanben Yilang roared in a mix of fury and disbelief. As a fourth-tier psychic and one of the nation's strongest warriors, he had encountered countless Specters. But this one... this one was unlike anything he had ever faced.

She was untouchable, yet she could attack freely.

By now, "wife" had nearly flattened the surrounding area. The noise and destruction drew an increasing number of Isleland's psychics to the scene.

Through the debris-strewn walls, Fang Xiu glanced at the crumbling structures outside. Judging from the design and layout, he deduced that this location was Isleland's Investigation Bureau.

It made sense. In any nation, the most secure and well-hidden facility would undoubtedly be the Investigation Bureau's headquarters.

This was perfect for Fang Xiu—it saved him the trouble of searching for it.

"Come back," Fang Xiu commanded. At his words, the projection of "wife" began to dissipate.

Shanben Yilang, flanked by a group of psychics, surrounded Fang Xiu and barked, "Why are you destroying these buildings, Fang Xiu? What's your goal?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Fang Xiu replied calmly. He scanned the area before speaking in a low voice, "You can all come out now."

As if his words triggered an unseen mechanism, the unthinkable happened.

One by one, grotesque, horrifying Specters began to materialize out of thin air.

One Specter.

Two Specters.

Three… four… five…n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Within moments, dozens of Specters had appeared in the Investigation Bureau's headquarters.

The most chilling part? The energy radiating from them was suffocating. Most were Class-A Specters, with several Class-Bs among them. But towering over all the others was a Class-S, exuding an oppressive and unparalleled menace.

The sudden, nightmarish sight froze everyone in place.

Shanben Yilang's eyes widened in disbelief at the surreal horror before him. He couldn't believe that Fang Xiu, a mere third-tier psychic, could summon such a monstrous army of Specters.

There was no time to ponder. The Specters wasted no time and began their onslaught.

"AHHHHH!!"

"Specters! So many Specters!"

"Help! Someone, please help us!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Screams of agony, frantic cries, and the sounds of relentless destruction filled the air, throwing the entire headquarters into chaos.

In the midst of it all, Fang Xiu, the mastermind of the carnage, sat quietly in his cell, watching the slaughter as though it were a grand performance.

"This prison is truly impenetrable," Fang Xiu mused, watching a Class-A Specter relentlessly hammer at the cell bars without success. "Not even a Class-A Specter can get in."

Ironically, the prison cell had become the safest spot in the entire headquarters.

"Fang Xiu!! What have you done?!" Shanben Yilang bellowed, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Fang Xiu in rage and desperation.

In mere minutes, the headquarters had suffered catastrophic losses.

The swarm of Specters, led by the Class-S Specter, had already slaughtered several psychics.

Shanben Yilang himself was forced to engage the towering Class-S Specter directly.

As Isleland's Chief Commander and most formidable warrior, Shanben Yilang stood as the last line of defense.

If he failed to subdue the Class-S Specter, the Investigation Bureau—and perhaps the entire nation of Isleland—would fall.

"As you can see," Fang Xiu said calmly, "I've only summoned a few Specters."

"Only?! A few?" Shanben Yilang's fury erupted. "Kill Fang Xiu first! He must be controlling the Specters. If we kill him, this nightmare will end!"

At their Chief Commander's command, several psychics broke away from the chaos and charged toward Fang Xiu.

Ironically, the prison designed to contain Fang Xiu had now become his shield.

"Mr. Shanben, the key!" one subordinate shouted.

Shanben Yilang quickly retrieved the key from his pocket and hurled it to the man.

But as the key left his hand, a chilling voice rang out. "Come out, my dear 'wife.'"

"Wife" appeared instantly, moving like a phantom toward the psychic who caught the key.

Panicked, the psychic lashed out desperately, launching attacks to ward her off. But as before, every strike passed through her as if she weren't there.

In one swift motion, "wife" sliced off the psychic's arm, causing the key to tumble to the ground.

Without hesitation, she retrieved the key and returned to Fang Xiu's cell, carefully placing it at his feet.

Shanben Yilang's rage nearly consumed him as he watched the scene unfold.

Outside, the Specters continued their unrestrained rampage. Inside, the atmosphere was eerily calm, with the prison now acting as an impregnable fortress for Fang Xiu.

"It seems Isleland's Investigation Bureau has some solid defenses," Fang Xiu remarked. "Well then, let's summon a few more."

His voice was calm, but to those around him, it carried the weight of a demon's curse.

"No!" Shanben Yilang roared, his voice raw with desperation.

As if responding to his anguish, Fang Xiu summoned even more Specters. It seemed he had scoured the entire area for them, drawing every possible entity into the fray.

The scene became a living nightmare. Specters filled every corner, their grotesque forms and bloodlust suffocating anyone who resisted.

More psychics fell, their lives extinguished like fragile flames in a raging storm.

It was clear that Isleland's headquarters was teetering on the brink of annihilation.

"What a feast," Fang Xiu murmured, his right eye glowing faintly with a blood-red light. The chaos reminded him of the Pokers' invasion of Huaxia's headquarters.

Only now did Shanben Yilang grasp the meaning behind Fang Xiu's earlier words.

If Fang Moli had come, he might have spared some lives. But she hadn't come. Instead, Fang Xiu himself had acted—and the result was the impending obliteration of Isleland's headquarters.

Even worse, the entire nation of Isleland might not survive the aftermath of this catastrophe.

"Fang Xiu! You've doomed Isleland. I will kill you!" Shanben Yilang bellowed, his voice tinged with madness.

He directed the Class-S Specter he had been battling toward Fang Xiu's cell.

His intent was clear. Shanben Yilang planned to use the Specter's power to break open the cell and exact his revenge, even if it meant his own death.

The destruction of Isleland's headquarters was inevitable. Shanben Yilang knew he wouldn't survive, but he was determined to take Fang Xiu with him.

As the Class-S Specter approached the cell, the air shifted once more.

Fang Xiu raised a hand to his face and made a small motion, as though drawing an invisible line.

Black flames erupted around him, surging skyward and enveloping his body in darkness.

His blood-red right eye burned brighter, and his short black hair transformed into flowing silver locks.

Under the power of the Genesis Mask, Fang Xiu activated his third-tier ability: Pain Manifestation.

He whispered softly, "Come forth, Wedding God."

The air trembled as a surge of spiritual energy rippled outward. The haunting sound of suona horns echoed across the battlefield, and a red silhouette materialized.

The figure exuded a vibe of noble elegance, like a bride from a prestigious household, but her terrifying appearance shattered any sense of comfort. She wore a traditional red wedding gown, but her head was that of a rabbit.

Her snow-white fur gleamed under the moonlight, and her eyes sparkled like blood-red rubies.

As the Wedding God fully manifested, an astonishing scene unfolded.

The Class-S Specter Shanben Yilang had been leading—an unstoppable force of destruction—froze the instant it saw the Wedding God.

Without a moment's hesitation, the Class-S Specter turned and fled, retreating in sheer terror.

Translator's note: Wedding God was the nightmare of my childhood. I was always terrified of creatures with human bodies and animal heads. Rabbits are scary because of their red eyes. But what I feared the most was a monster with a fox head and a human body. Since I was little, my nightmares were always about this. Foxes have a subtle, sinister smile that makes my skin crawl.