The temple ahead collapsed with a thunderous roar, the Paradise Birds in the sky turned into fierce ghosts, the blood plasma spouted from the jade fountain, and those ivory pillars, all made of human and beast bones.
The temple transformed into Senluo Hell, a profound vortex endlessly swallowing the caravan and the mercenaries. The golden sand was like countless hellish ghost hands.
Wails and screams, that was a purgatory of the living.
"This accursed place, I have to get out of here." Zack, as if having seen the true cause of his parents' death, struggled to move, trying to escape that deathly vortex.
But his feet seemed to be stuck in the sand, difficult to move.
The vortex kept drawing nearer.
Cold sweat fell upon the sandy ground, instantly evaporated.
The Great Sword, it was this that had saved him just now. Zack's heart jolted, and he reached back to grasp the Great Sword.
"Ah," Zack screamed, as the sword heated as if melting, emitting a stinging temperature.
From the scalding body of the sword, an Evil Qi emerged, rolling onto Zack's hand like sludge.
This turbid Evil Qi seemed alive, crawling from the blade onto Zack's hand; wherever the Demon Mark crept, Zack felt a burning pain like flames had scorched him. His skin peeled away, flesh baked and charred, suffering an excruciating torment.
He tried to break free from the Great Sword, but his hand had stuck to the blade, his struggling was futile.
The Sword was absorbing his flesh and Dark Energy, he was going to die, die right there, Zack despaired.
A heavy, dry sob came from his throat.
"Zack," he heard that familiar voice, the clearness of the young girl's voice like a whistling arrow flying through the air, coming from far behind him.
"God, if this is a dream, then let me never wake up from it; let me see her one more time before I die," Zack's lips curved into a smile.
Yue Jinghua watched the scene before her in disbelief, the caravan and mercenaries all vanished.
Zack's body kept falling into the vortex, the strange sword clinging to him, constantly devouring his Essence Blood.
Before them was a huge vortex, continuously expanding, as if growing legs, it kept moving.
It was dangerous ahead.
Without hesitation, Yue Jinghua's "Soft Finger" wrapped around Zack's arm like a serpent, decisively severing his arm, as well as the Great Sword that had stuck to his hand.
"Hold on, Zack," Yue Jinghua supported Zack, attempting to stem his bleeding.
Zack's severed arm was like a charred log, void of blood; even the bones and flesh had turned to blackened crisps, not just his hand, but his bodily channels were also severely damaged, Dark Power entirely gone, as if having been drained.
The ugly marks on Zack's arms, akin to burn scars, were somewhat familiar to Yue Jinghua.
Unwittingly, she touched her own right cheek with her finger, a strange and unfamiliar sensation.
"Demon Mark," it was the Demon Mark. The mark that bore some resemblance to the lines on Yue Jinghua's face.
Yue Jinghua was immersed in the shock of discovering the Demon Mark, not noticing that not far away, the Great Sword that had fallen to the ground was now silently hovering in mid-air after tumbling into the sand.
The sword's body, engorged with Essence Blood, surged like a rising tide, with lines coursing wave upon wave.
From its blade, the black Niwang-shaped Evil Qi, like Cloud Qi, dense and spreading.
It silently approached the contemplative Yue Jinghua.
"Danger," Yue Jinghua's body was suddenly turned around, with Zack, barely alive at this last moment, embracing her in his arms, pressing her beneath him.
His body jerked sharply, his eyes fixated on Yue Jinghua's face.
The blade penetrated his chest, the moist and warm liquid, stained Yue Jinghua's face red.
Zack's lean shoulders moved slightly; he couldn't feel pain anymore, in his eyes, only a face of astonishment remained.
With his last breath, Zack lifted his hand, his tar-black fingers gently touched Yue Jinghua's face.
A smile appeared on his lips, shy with a hint of relief, "Did I ever tell you, you're beautiful."
His hand slowly dropped, his eyes peacefully closed.
Farewell, my vision of the Mercenary King, unable to stand by your side, I shall become dust beneath your feet, protecting you with the stars in the sky, forever.
"Zack." Yue Jinghua softly called out, warmth uncontrollably welling up and spilling from her eyes.