Unlike Black Scorpion, Greg stood completely still as Wenwu attacked, letting every sword strike land on his body without flinching.

After the assault, Wenwu retreated. Though each blow had hit true, Greg looked utterly unharmed.

Greg smiled down at the nearly cornered Wenwu. "Tsk tsk tsk. Too weak. Your attacks feel like nothing more than a tickle to me."

Wenwu didn’t know what to complain about now. His speed couldn’t match Black Scorpion’s; his strength couldn’t rival Greg’s.

His only option was to play to his strengths. Wenwu pushed off hard, aiming to leap over Greg using Jade Star’s levitation and speed.

"Auston," Greg suddenly said, "let’s cooperate. Split the profits fifty-fifty?"

"Deal."

Auston clasped his hands, muttering a spell. A black void appeared before Greg, just like before. Greg punched into it—his fist swallowed by the darkness. As Wenwu soared overhead, an identical void opened on his chest. Wenwu guessed what would happen but couldn’t dodge in time.

Just as he feared, Greg’s fist shot out from the void, slamming into Wenwu’s chest. A wave of pressure hit him, and blood gushed from his mouth.

Greg’s punch sent Wenwu crashing to the ground, carving a crater into the earth. Agony pinned him there, unable to move.

"Oh my, Brother Wu," Amia crouched beside him, "why so stubborn? I’ve heard you’re quite skilled in certain areas. I’ve always wanted to try it out. If you keep this up, I might never get the chance."

Wenwu glared at Amia. If the pain hadn’t stolen his voice, he’d have snapped back already.

Seeing his glare, Amia already knew his reply.

"Sigh. Looks like Brother Wu really won’t listen."

She materialized a bizarre dagger and thrust it at him without warning.

*Bang!*

Wenwu’s right hand moved on its own, blocking the blade.

"Hnngh..."

A muffled groan echoed in Wenwu’s mind. He realized Jade Star had moved his arm to parry.

"Oh my," Amia said, "such a fine Sword Spirit. But my little one here loves tormenting souls. Any spirit it touches suffers greatly—including Sword Spirits."

From Jade Star’s pained sound, Wenwu knew she spoke true. He also understood "my little one" meant her strange dagger.

The pain eased slightly. The moment Wenwu pulled back, he rolled aside. Amia’s dagger stabbed empty air.

Wobbling, Wenwu stood up. Jade Star shifted back into her maiden form, brushing her hand over his body. "Master, this Wind Spirit Charm is my final gift. It grants speed and brief levitation. Forgive me—I can’t fight beside you anymore."

"I’m sor—"

Before Wenwu could finish, Jade Star vanished. She’d taken heavy damage.

"Brother Wu," Amia purred, "your trusted Sword Spirit has abandoned you. Will you still not surrender?"

"Haha... Hahahaha..."

Wenwu burst into laughter. True despair brought not fear, but relief—and he was there now.

"Greg," Auston said, patience finally fraying, "that kid’s lost it. Finish him."

"Guess so. Damn wasted effort," Greg grumbled, annoyance clear.

"Ahhh!"

A sharp cry from Silver snapped Wenwu back from despair. *No. If I die, Black Scorpion will toy with Silver.* He remembered Silver’s reluctant eyes when Tiger had negotiated for her. *She’s a masochist, but not theirs. I can’t die. Not yet.*

Greg thrust his fist into the black void again, ready to end this farce.

"Flames of invasion, burn my foes! Heaven and earth shattered, scorch like Blazing Edge!"

As Wenwu chanted, a fiery vortex erupted around him. The moment the flames engulfed him, Greg’s fist shot from a void before Wenwu—colliding with the inferno. Greg yanked his hand back instantly, but his knuckles were already lightly burned.

Like Jade Star, a crimson-haired woman emerged from the flames. "Brat," she sneered, "dare to summon me? Prepare to become ash."

The red-haired Sword Spirit, Blazing Edge, differed from Jade Star: where Jade Star became a jade short sword, Blazing Edge transformed into a massive nodachi.

Wenwu gripped the hilt, heat surging through him from within.

The flames faded. Wenwu swung Blazing Edge lightly sideways—a charred gash appeared on a distant wall, embers still smoldering.

His mind held one thought: *I can’t die.*

Wenwu raised Blazing Edge and slashed fiercely at Greg. Remembering the burn, Greg dodged instead of blocking. He evaded easily, but the sword’s wake left black scars and lingering flames—even on non-flammable ground.

*I can’t die. Can’t die.*

The mantra pounded in his skull.

"This kid’s changed," Greg muttered, finding the situation tricky. Auston nodded in agreement.

"Greg, you take him down. I’ll cover you with spatial magic."

"Tch."

Greg hated being used as Auston’s weapon, but he knew Auston only wielded spatial magic.

Greg advanced slowly, fists raised like a boxer.

Wenwu swung Blazing Edge again. A black void opened before Greg, swallowing the strike. Seeing the danger gone, Greg charged forward.

"Urgh!"

Auston screamed suddenly. His sleeves turned to ash; his clasped hands flew apart, palms scorched.

With Auston’s spell broken, the absorbed slash erupted from the void—but misaligned due to the abrupt stop.

Just as Greg reached Wenwu, the slash slammed into his side from nowhere. He crashed into a building, flames licking his body. Only his monstrous physique saved him from a killing blow.

Amia had been waiting. The moment Greg was hit, she pounced behind Wenwu, dagger raised. But as she lifted it, flames swirled around Wenwu again. She halted, forced to retreat.

As she stepped back, a hand shot from the fire—clamping around her throat.

The flames faded.

"I can’t die," Wenwu rasped, eyes wild. "Can’t die. So I’ll kill them all... and I won’t die... Heh heh heh..."