Maggie's soul stood beside her pierced body, utterly helpless, unable to comprehend why such a thing had happened.
Since the ice crystals seemed to have nothing special about them, it was illogical that they could attract her body directly and even cause her soul to be expelled from her body.
Just as Maggie was pacing anxiously, the battle outside had reached a fever pitch.
The entire merfolk guard went into defensive mode. Although the old chieftain was fighting against the ghost, he was clearly struggling and was being pushed back. As a result, Xiu and the twins decided to help intercept the ghost's attack.
Despite their limited strength, they couldn't inflict much damage on the ghost.
Or, to put it another way, Ghost's special state meant that almost no magical or physical attacks could truly injure him, which kept all the merfolk on edge.
One side's magic and physical strength are being consumed endlessly, while the other side seems completely unaffected, displaying ease and control.
This makes the ghost appear as if it were an invincible entity.
"Ha, so this is the merfolk of today? How utterly laughable!"
After the ghostly figure repelled the crowd once more, it began to laugh maniacally, mocking everyone present. The laughter was extremely grating to the ears of the merfolk.
Only Spurr looked completely bewildered. He was just there to help, so he didn't feel insulted.
He turned his head to look at his older brother, and silently pointed to himself with his finger.
His expression was as if to say, 'Who is it? Is he talking about me?'
A faint look of speechlessness crossed Spielt's face. Finally, he turned his head away and didn't look at his stupid younger brother anymore, afraid that he would not be able to help but hit him on the head.
Ghost Shadow was once a genius who was expelled from the Merfolk race because, when he was still a Merfolk, he often used external forces, even from the undead and demons, making him appear extremely evil.
When the clan leader was being selected, he competed with another genius, the previous merman clan leader, and undoubtedly lost the election because of his stubbornness and gloom.
Later, because he did some things that harmed the unity of the merfolk, he was expelled from the merfolk.
"You've been expelled from the Merfolk for your crooked and evil ways, it's only right that you're expelled. Are you proud of your inhuman appearance?"
Seeing his beloved grandfather injured, Xiu couldn't suppress his anger, and his words became increasingly sharp.
"Ha! You sharp-tongued brat, when I became famous, you were nothing but a cog in the machine, yet you dare to point fingers at me."
The ghostly voice suddenly turned cold, and the shadow transformed into a sharp sword, piercing straight towards Xiu.
Fortunately, Xiu reacted quickly and dodged his attack, but the ghost's speed was too fast. Although he avoided a fatal blow, his arm was still cut open.
"There's nothing to say. Even if the merfolk were to perish, they would never accept someone like you."
Xiu also sneered. He was inherently a bit sharp-tongued and usually quite aggressive, though mostly in jest. But when facing an enemy, his words would turn into sharp thorns, turning the other person into a hedgehog.
As expected, the ghost was instantly enraged and began to attack haphazardly, wanting only to quickly finish off Xiu and kill this brat who displeased him.
Xiu continued to resist with all his might, gritting his teeth and showing no sign of giving up.
He saw Maggie disappear into the cave the instant she went inside. If the ghost were to discover what Maggie was doing there now, she would be in danger.
Maggie is now a high-level mage, and he knows that better than anyone else.
Even if she could defeat Ghost, she would definitely pay an unimaginable price. Every second he delays, Maggie will have more time to succeed.
Unfortunately, time passed by, minute by minute.
Even when Xiu could no longer hold on and was rescued by the twins, Maggie still did not come out of the cave.
The ghostly figure seemed to realize something as well, and its shadow twisted strangely twice before suddenly turning towards the cave.
It let out a 'hehehe' laugh.
"What I was talking about was that a little mouse had crawled inside, but unfortunately... the little mouse that crawled inside is probably dead now."
He didn't seem to be in a hurry. Instead, he slowly turned his head to look at Xiu, and suddenly his face turned into one filled with intense malice.
"You're buying time for that little mouse? That must be really hard on you."
"You're mistaken. What you've won for her isn't a chance to live, but a futile struggle that ends in death."
The ghostly figure grew more and more excited as it spoke, as if it could already see Xiu Yin's despairing and ashen face.
Xiu's expression didn't change at all; he trusted Maggie.
"Perhaps you don't know what's inside... It's a crystallization of the deepest and most terrifying despair in the world. It looks clean and pure, but it's actually something that only the dead would like."
"Of course, it is like poison coated with sugar, attracting all living things in the world to approach it like moths to a flame, and finally being devoured by it."
"Even I spent a very long time avoiding being devoured by the Despair Ice Crystals before finally finding a way to coexist with them."
The ghost was not in a hurry at all; on the contrary, it was very 'kind' and 'slowly' explained things to Xiu.
Upon hearing these words, the twins' expressions changed slightly. If what Ghost Shadow said was true, then Maggie had entered without any precautions, and so much time had passed; she might have already been devoured.
"..."
Xiu lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought, and did not respond to the ghostly figure.
Just as the ghostly figure grew impatient and turned to enter the cave, he slowly spoke.
“She won’t. Even if all living beings on this continent are lured by that so-called Despair Crystal, she won’t.”
His tone was incredibly firm, and it was impossible to tell whether he truly believed Maggie or was simply reassuring himself.
The ghostly figure paused, but he wasn't angry. The expression on the conjured, malicious face changed, and suddenly a thoughtful look appeared on his face.
After a while, as if he had discovered something amusing, he curled the corners of his mouth in a playful yet malicious smile.
"Good, very good. I love seeing how stubborn mermaids like you look when hope is dashed. Anyway, the Ice Crystal of Despair hasn't devoured any new life in a long time."
"How about it, would you like me to take you inside and have a look?"
The ghostly figure was intrigued and unusually patient with Xiu. The air fell silent, and the heavily injured clan leader opened his mouth, wanting to stop Xiu's irrational behavior.
Xiu readily agreed.
"good."
He nodded slowly but firmly.
Ghostly Shadow raised an eyebrow, turned and walked into the cave, Xiu followed him in.
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