Chapter 104: Return

Under the effect of the poison, even the hunter could not escape death. Jinmu witnessed this scene. Although Jinmu admitted he was a ghoul, he still harbored some feelings for humans. Therefore, the paper in his hand was discarded as soon as he left Muyang’s line of sight. Muyang was unaware of this, but there was no need for him to know—the choice had been offered to Jinmu and the others by Muyang himself; it was not forced upon them. Even if they refused to sign, no coercion from Muyang would have changed their decision. (Note: Sadako’s contract was a master-servant pact, while Jinmu’s was one of equality.)

“Sadako, you’re back,” Muyang said, reaching into the mirror dimension with one hand. Sadako then emerged from the glass before him.

“It’s time to go. This world can no longer be stayed in,” Muyang declared, silently chanting a departure spell in his mind. In an instant, Muyang, Sadako, the Shopkeeper, and Izumi Takatsuki vanished from the ghoul world.

Though Muyang did not take Jinmu—the Child of this World—he did take two of the ghoul world’s top fighters. Their sudden disappearance dealt a heavy blow to the world consciousness of the ghoul realm. However, if this arc of the narrative succeeded, the ghoul world could still maintain its status as a mid-tier world, albeit with diminished depth and foundation.

Yet, without the barrier of their guardians, the ghoul world would soon be flooded by intruders from Paradise, eager to plunder the world source. Could the world consciousness of the ghoul realm withstand this crisis? Even if it survived, it would suffer the loss of a vast amount of world source, casting doubt on whether it could elevate itself to a mid-tier world.

Suddenly, Izumi Takatsuki and the Shopkeeper felt the world spin around them, and they found themselves transported to another world. Muyang stood beside them as they appeared in a small alleyway within the Douluo Continent, the streets eerily empty.

Izumi Takatsuki surveyed the surroundings with curiosity and turned to Muyang. “Is this your world? It doesn’t seem particularly remarkable.”

“This is not exactly my world,” Muyang explained. “To be precise, this is the first world I originated from. I traversed the worlds based on this one. The reasons for my crossing involve secrets I cannot reveal. As for why you find this world ordinary, it’s because your strength here still ranks you among the upper echelon. However, unlike your own world where you might not be top three but still within the top ten, here you might not even make it into the top hundred.”

Muyang then shifted his gaze toward the Shopkeeper. “There is another matter—you should come to terms with your father.”

Hearing this, Izumi’s eyes fell on the Shopkeeper, and silence enveloped him.

“My child, I know you have many questions. I will answer each one. I do not ask you to accept me; I only wish for you not to bear scars in your heart,” the Shopkeeper said gently.

“I don’t need your answers. I don’t! I’ve already erased you from my mind. Why are you appearing before me now? Why? I am the One-Eyed King now. I am the leader of the Bronze Tree. I don’t need you!” Izumi’s voice trembled with fierce emotion.

“Don’t call me cold-hearted, but I must tell you a truth: you are no longer the One-Eyed King, nor the leader of the Bronze Tree. You are just an ordinary ghoul now. And you are not in your original world—you are in another world where ghouls do not exist, nor does the Bronze Tree. It’s time you let go of all your illusions,” Muyang said calmly.

His words struck Izumi to silence, leaving him stunned...

Recommended. Favorited!