STG 27
Chapter 27: A Single Glance
Swoosh…
The rain poured down in torrents.
Zhao Kongcheng gripped his straight sword, his dark red cloak soaked through, his body battered and bloody—utterly disheveled.
But his eyes?
They shone like stars.
So… this was what a Forbidden Ruin felt like.
Exhilarating.
Goddamn exhilarating!
Across from him, the Ghostface King stared blankly at its missing right arm, its pale ghostly face twisted in shock.
It couldn’t comprehend how this “rat,” who had been utterly crushed moments ago, could suddenly unleash such terrifying power.
But it wasn’t smart enough to figure it out—nor did it have the time.
Zhao Kongcheng moved.
Under the effects of Ghostgod’s Gambit, his body had forgotten all injuries, returning to peak condition. Like an arrow loosed from a bow, he shot toward the Ghostface King!
“ROOOOAR—!!”
The Ghostface King’s eyes burned crimson. Having lost its right arm, it had plunged into a complete frenzy!
Its muscles bulged grotesquely, its body swelling in size as it crouched low—then launched itself into the air, sending a massive spray of water into the sky!
Midair, the two figures collided at blinding speed!
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Their movements blurred. Black crescent blades slashed outward in all directions, carving jagged gashes across the ground!
Before, Zhao Kongcheng’s sword couldn’t pierce the Ghostface King’s defenses. In terms of raw strength and speed, he’d been completely outmatched—hence his earlier beating.
But now, with [Annihilating Lunar Flash], his lethality had skyrocketed to terrifying levels. Every swing left deep, bleeding wounds on the Ghostface King’s body!
Though he still lagged behind in strength and speed, with his newfound offensive power, Zhao Kongcheng could compensate through sheer skill and experience.
Even with a significant physical disadvantage, he was now the one dishing out the punishment!
As it turned out, Zhao Kongcheng hadn’t been exaggerating.
With a Forbidden Ruin, he could kill the Ghostface King eight hundred times over.
Given enough time, slaying it would’ve been inevitable… but time was the one thing he didn’t have.
Ghostgod’s Gambit unleashed one’s full potential, but its effects were fleeting. Nearly ten seconds had passed since Zhao Kongcheng activated his Ruin—his borrowed time was running out.
Mid-battle, he could feel his strength waning. The numbed pain began creeping back…
Even the black crescent slashes grew smaller with each swing!
Sensing his decline, the Ghostface King recklessly burned its own vitality, launching an even fiercer assault!
After a few more exchanges, it seized an opening—burying a fist deep into Zhao Kongcheng’s chest!
Thud—!
The dull impact echoed through the air as Zhao Kongcheng was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing heavily into the mud!
“Guh… why does it hurt so much now…?”
Pain, like tidal waves, crashed through every nerve in his body. Gritting his teeth, his bloodshot eyes still burned with unyielding fire.
Coughing up blood, he slowly pushed himself up from the mire…
His gaze remained locked on the Ghostface King. The flames in his eyes hadn’t dimmed.
He could still breathe. His Ruin still flickered. He could still fight!
The Ghostface King wasn’t dead yet…
He couldn’t fall now.
Using his sword as a crutch, he wobbled to his feet—when suddenly—
BOOM—!!
A deafening explosion erupted behind him. The sky above trembled, a crack splitting the invisible dome…
This was…
Zhao Kongcheng stared blankly at the sky, then whirled around in realization!
Behind him, a section of the [Boundless Void] had shattered…
And through the fractured barrier, a golden-eyed youth stepped forward.
Zhao Kongcheng’s jaw dropped as if he’d seen a ghost.
“You—you you you… how did you get in?!”
Lin Qiye brushed his rain-soaked hair aside, his pupils burning like molten gold—radiant yet fierce. He sighed helplessly.
“Gotta admit, this [Boundless Void] is seriously tough. Luckily, these eyes of mine can pinpoint its weakest spot. And luckily…
It’s nighttime.”
Zhao Kongcheng only understood the first part, which did nothing to ease his confusion:
“You just entered the ‘Zhan’ realm—how do you have this much power? Wait… you don’t even have a weapon. How did you break through?!”
“You might not believe me,” Lin Qiye said calmly, “but I glared at it, and it opened.”
Zhao Kongcheng: “…”
Lin Qiye wasn’t lying. Under the night’s enhancement, his eyes had grown significantly stronger—not fivefold, but at least doubled.
Before gaining [Starlit Dancer], he’d used his Seraphic Radiance to solo-kill a Ghostface Man. Now, with night’s boost, that same power could breach the [Boundless Void].
The cost, however, was staggering. A single glare had nearly drained his mental energy completely.
Lin Qiye glanced at the battered Ghostface King, then at the scarred battlefield, eyeing Zhao Kongcheng oddly. “Still claiming you don’t have a Ruin? What kind of human slashes like this?”
Zhao Kongcheng couldn’t be bothered to explain—because his time was almost up.
“Enough chatter. Stand aside.”
“I can help you fight.”
“I know. Just step back for now.” Zhao Kongcheng turned to him. “One more slash. After this one, you can jump in.”
“Fine.” Lin Qiye moved aside.
Zhao Kongcheng took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the sword, and fixed his gaze on the Ghostface King.
“Kid.”
“Yeah?”
“Watch this strike closely.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“It’s gonna be damn cool.”
“…”
Before Lin Qiye could react with disdain, Zhao Kongcheng’s legs exploded off the ground, propelling him toward the Ghostface King with terrifying speed!
The Ghostface King, sensing its opponent was on his last legs, didn’t charge recklessly. Instead, it stood its ground, poised to counter.
The light in Zhao Kongcheng’s eyes burned brighter, like kindled torches.
He tore through the rain, closing the distance—
No fancy maneuvers.
Just—
A single, decisive slash.
A crescent of darkness—larger than any before—split the night sky. It moved faster than the eye could follow, slicing every raindrop in its path cleanly in half.
This strike was too fast.
Too fast for even the Ghostface King to evade.
And even if it tried, its current state wouldn’t allow it.
So—
The black crescent arced across the heavens—
And with effortless grace—
Severed a pale, grotesque head from its shoulders.
.
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