Bai Cheng stood at the center of the dark cavern, ringed by the churning, spectral forms of the wraiths. Their eyes burned with a cold, evil light, and their ghostly forms throbbed with barely repressed rage.
The heavy air seemed to thicken as the leader of the group drifted forward, radiating a killing aura.
"Ah, this is nice," Bai Cheng grumbled, clutching fang in a sweaty fist.
His heart pounded like a war drum, and his palms were slick with sweat. His dog whined anxiously from a concealed alcove beside the altar, aware of the threat but powerless to do anything.
Abruptly, Bai Cheng held up his hand and cried out, "Wait! Stop! Just. wait a moment!"
The wraiths stalled, their steps stumbling. Even the lead wraith cocked his head in apparent confusion.
"Something wrong? Shy now?" Bai Cheng said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
He stuck the tip of his staff into the ground theatrically and glared at them. "Where is your pride?
You're telling me that all you big, bad, ancient cultivators have to gang up on one mortal kid?
Really? ALL of you against me?!"
The wraiths gave confused looks, their ethereal bodies trembling. The leading wraith snarled low, a grinding-stone sound.
Bai Cheng pressed his advantage. "I mean, come on. Back in your glory days, you were probably feared across entire kingdoms, right? Wielding insane powers, defeating armies, stealing treasure—classic bad guys. And now you're. what? A pack of schoolyard bullies ganging up on a kid with no spritual energy? You should be ashamed of yourselves!"
A smaller wraith whispered to another, "He's got a point."
The leader shot it a glare, and the wraith quickly fell silent.
Bai Cheng smiled. "Tell you what. If you've got even a shred of dignity left, how about this: choose a leader. Just one. I'll fight them. One-on-one. If I win—and I will—you have to obey me for all eternity.
The cave was filled with a creepy stillness. Bai Cheng's knees trembled. This was crazy, and he knew it. If this was a risk that didn't pay off, he'd be toast—ghost toast, to be precise.
Then, to his absolute shock, the wraiths started whispering among themselves. A couple of them gestured at each other, shaking their heads. Bai Cheng believed he even heard one whisper, "Not it!"
Finally, the dominant wraith stepped forward, its towering form solidifying. Its shadowy armor gleamed faintly in the dim light, and its skeletal visage seemed to grin.
"I am Morath, Slayer of Empires. I accept your challenge, mortal. Prepare to meet your end!"
Bai Cheng swallowed hard, his confidence shaken. "Oh, great. Of course, it's the scary one…"
Morath didn't waste time. He surged forward with a roar, his ethereal blade slicing through the air. Bai Cheng barely dodged, rolling to the side as the blade struck the ground where he had been standing, leaving a jagged, smoking scar in the stone.
You're quick, kid," Morath spat, his empty voice carrying. "But not quick enough!
The wraith struck again, his blows relentless and accurate. Bai Cheng dodged, stepped aside, and even somersaulted, barely escaping the killing blade.
You know," Bai Cheng shouted during his dodge, "for a 'Slayer of Empires,' you're kinda predictable!
Morath snarled and let loose a shadowy energy slash that Bai Cheng only just avoided.
"Predictable, eh?" Morath sneered. "Watch me deal with this!"
He started chanting in an old language, and a dark shape formed under Bai Cheng's feet. Bai Cheng sensed the air thicken as ghostly tendrils burst upwards, attempting to grab him.
"Oh, no, no, no!" Bai Cheng cried out, stepping back in alarm. He performed a fast shadow step, leaving behind a hazy afterimage of himself in the trap's clutches.
The wraiths standing by were muttering in astonishment.
Morath's eyes grew narrow. "Interesting. but you can't keep running forever!
Bai Cheng realized he couldn't keep avoiding. Morath was too strong, and his methods were way out of Bai Cheng's league to confront directly. But then he saw something: whenever Morath employed a method, odd black patterns materialized for a moment on the ground.
Those formations. they're important," Bai Cheng grumbled to himself.
Bai Cheng faked a stumble, making Morath think he was running out of energy. The wraith leader attacked, and Bai Cheng took another shadow step to the side, leaving behind an afterimage once more.
This time, he pretended to strike at one of the formations
.Morath immediately shifted to defend it, his movements hurried. Bai Cheng grinned.
"So, you do care about these!" he said out loud, trying to get more of a response.
Morath snarled. "Keep away from those, mortal!
Bai Cheng's thoughts whirled. He required an exit. His eyes flicked to the altar section at the rear of the cave, where the anomalous energy appeared to reverberate with an unnatural light.
He suspected the wraiths couldn't cross it—they were steering clear.
Alright," Bai Cheng grumbled, "time to try another gamble.
He dashed toward the altar, making it look like a reckless move.
Morath roared and gave chase, his speed increasing. Bai Cheng barely had time to create another afterimage using shadow step, buying himself precious seconds.
The wraith leader's strikes grew wilder, and the cavern trembled under the force of his attacks.
You can't get away from me, mortal!" Morath roared, striking at Bai Cheng.
One very close strike grazed Bai Cheng's sleeve, the force so great that he fell. He got up quickly, his breathing in harsh gasps.
"Nearly There." he grumbled, his gaze fixed on the altar.
Morath accelerated to double speed. "You're not escaping!
Bai Cheng's dog, realizing danger, barked out a loud alert from its hiding position beside the altar.
The noise provided Bai Cheng the instant distraction he required. He performed a second shadow step, creating an afterimage, and plunged headfirst into the protective barrier of the altar.
As soon as Bai Cheng stepped into the space of the altar, Morath slammed to a stop. The other wraiths, who were staring in anticipation, backed off as if struck.
"Something wrong, Morath?" Bai Cheng shouted, gasping for breath but not able to help a smile. "Afraid to come with me?"
The wraith leader snarled, his empty eyes constricting. He prowled just beyond the boundary, obviously enraged but unable to approach.
You've gained nothing, mortal," Morath growled. "This is by no means over!
Bai Cheng laughed, leaning on his staff for support. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.
For now, I'm calling it a win."
He turned and shouted, "Okay, friend, come on out!"
His dog walked over from its place of hiding, its tail wagging with contentment. Bai Cheng got down and scratched behind its ears.
Good boy," he whispered. "Now let's get what secrets this altar's hiding.
The wraiths stood at the perimeter of the barrier, their eyes aglow with frustration and anger.
As Bai Cheng turned around to look at the altar, he couldn't help but sneer. "Seems the big bad ghost isn't quite as tough as he believes he is. Shall I see what I can get for you so you'll become even angrier, Morath!
The wraith leader growled low in his throat, but Bai Cheng ignored him, proceeding deeper into the mysteries of the altar with his dog at his heels.