The flickering light carried an air of mustiness through the space.
Suddenly, a hoarse and desolate crow-caw echoed through the Darklands.
Accompanying the cawing, a flapping sound followed, the flame of the lone lamp atop the bones trembled, and near the distant throne, a new shadow emerged.
This shadow also wore a mask, a crow mask, obscuring the wearer’s face. Below the torso, a chaotic black mist swirled, while the upper half was shrouded in a tattered black cloak, exuding immense mystery.
After the crow mask appeared, the air thickened with a somber, dusk-like presence.
“The Lord of the Flameless has won,” the figure Above the Throne wearing the totem mask declared, his voice distant and time-worn, as if it originated from an ancient era far away.
“Naturally,” came the response from the crow mask, its voice chillingly cold like the wind from the Abyssal Depth of death.
“Falling before witnessing this battle is rather interesting, although the outcome is not as I had anticipated,” the totem mask spoke softly, “This continent should have toppled long ago, and I should step down from this decayed throne. Kulangduo, will I still be able to meet my old friend?”
“Perhaps you will.”
The figure Above the Throne laughed softly, but what followed was a long sigh. The sound carried a mixture of helplessness, powerlessness, and a hint of guilt.
“With no glory left in the Holy Land, what use is there being alone?” A drawn-out sigh caused the lone lamp’s flame to flicker.
The crow mask said nothing, and silence hung in the air.
After a while, the crow mask spoke in the same icy tone as before:
“When you fall into stillness, I will come for you personally.”
With that said, the crow mask dissolved into a flurry of crows, flying away from the abyss.
Shortly after the crow mask’s departure, the totem mask once again raised its head to look into the distance.
The Pattern gave him a strange sensation, he wanted to see the final outcome of the battle. As he looked up, beneath the mask his eyes, muddy and clouded, revealed a moment of surprise.
…
Winds howled ferociously against a darkening sky.
The drifting sparks and soft green glows intertwined amidst the wind, weaving an enchanting sight.
When the Green Ring vanished, Greerwu and Popota were left in despair. As for the Lord of the Flameless, elated with victory, he strode towards Angel step by step.
Excitement flowed from the Avatar of the Demon God to the Abyssal Depth, where the True Spirit stirred, affecting innumerable followers across the Pan-Dimensional Plane.
Indeed, at that moment, excitement touched countless beings.
Some followers had not even had the chance to clarify this sudden inspiration before starting to praise their great Lord of the Flameless. The praises spanned infinite worlds, reaching the Abyssal Depth and even drawing the attention of some ancient beings.
Aside from a few sage scholars vaguely sensing something, no one could infer what prompted the sudden actions of the Lord of the Flameless.
However, the Lord of the Flameless’ exhilaration did not last long.
As the Lord of the Flameless advanced to within ten meters of Angel, a sigh seemed to come from beyond the heavens, or perhaps, it was emanating from right before their eyes.
The Lord of the Flameless suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Or rather, it was as if time itself had frozen at that moment; not only did the wind cease, but the swirling dust no longer rose and fell, and the sparks and glows froze mid-air.
The only thing that wasn’t frozen was thought.
Everyone assumed Angel had been defeated, or even died, yet he suddenly moved—not his body, but the Phantom Shadow attached to his back shifted.
The Phantom Shadow detached from Angel’s physical form and stood upright.
It was clear that the shadow stood much taller than Angel himself, and although his features were indistinct, the cascade of his brilliant golden hair was dazzling to behold.
After the shadow rose from Angel’s body, he lifted his head and slowly turned his gaze towards the Lord of the Flameless.
And in the moment that their eyes met, the Lord of the Flameless’ excitement turned to panic, an unprecedented and overwhelming terror!