The Return of the God Level Assassin

The ground was uneven, scattered with pieces of stone and broken tiles, remnants of structures that spoke of a forgotten era. The air was still, carrying a faint, metallic tang. Here and there, small lights flickered among the ruins, like fireflies moving in the dark, hinting at the possibility of unseen watchers in the abandoned streets.

"It's so spooky here," Eclipse said, clinging to Luo Yan and acting like he's scared.

Shen Ji Yun shot a sidelong glance at the kid, his eyes narrowing as they zeroed in on the arms wrapped around Luo Yan's. His brows knit together, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. He caught himself and shook his head, chiding himself internally. Why was he feeling jealous of Eclipse, of all people?

He knew better; Eclipse clung to Luo Yan out of pure dependence, not for any other dubious reason.

But ever since Eclipse had changed his form, looking more like a teenager than a child, he couldn't stop the muscles in his face from twitching every time Eclipse clung to Luo Yan. It was petty, he knew that. Yet he couldn't control it. He was Luo Yan's boyfriend, after all.

He was aware that such jealousy over something so trivial wasn't exactly attractive, but, try as he might, he really couldn't help it.

When Shen Ji Yun looked up, he caught Luo Yan's amused gaze. It was clear from the look in Luo Yan's eyes that he knew exactly what Shen Ji Yun was thinking and found it rather entertaining. He awkwardly scratched his cheek and glanced away, trying to hide his embarrassment. If they were in the real world, his face would undoubtedly be bright red by now.

Luo Yan could indeed read Shen Ji Yun's thoughts in that moment; it was something he had picked up on ever since Eclipse had evolved into his current form. He didn't mind Shen Ji Yun's occasional bouts of jealousy. In fact, he found it endearing. It was a sign of how deeply Shen Ji Yun loved him—enough to feel jealous over someone who wasn't even a real person.

Besides, it wasn't as if Shen Ji Yun would ever act possessive and tell him to stop interacting with Eclipse. He would never do that. Shen Ji Yun understood how much Luo Yan would dislike such behavior, and he would never do anything to upset him. That was one of the many ways Shen Ji Yun expressed his love, and Luo Yan genuinely appreciated it.

He chuckled at the thought, then turned to Su Yuqi. "Sister Yuqi, what kinds of monsters can we expect in this dungeon?"

Su Yuqi was about to answer, but before she could speak, a cold breeze swept through the ruins. Shadows shifted and moved, and suddenly, dark shapes materialized around them. Figures emerged from the darkness, almost transparent, their forms barely holding together. Without warning, one of them lunged at Luo Yan, its ghostly arm reaching out.

Shen Ji Yun reacted instantly, swinging his sword through the air. The blade sliced through the figure, but it seemed to resist, slowing down only momentarily before reforming.

Another shape darted toward Su Yuqi, its movement swift and erratic. She dodged to the side and countered with a burst of Mana from her hand, forcing the figure back. But more of them were closing in, their hollow eyes fixed on the group, circling slowly, waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

Luo Yan quickly stepped back, his eyes narrowing as he observed the way the figures moved and reformed. "Wraiths," he muttered, realization dawning. "They're wraiths—spirits that can't be killed with normal attacks."

Shen Ji Yun nodded, keeping his sword raised. "We'll need to use skills that can target their essence, not just their forms."

Su Yuqi, already preparing her next move, quickly adjusted her stance. "Focus on skills with holy or elemental effects. It's the only way to disrupt their energy."

As if in response, the wraiths began to converge more aggressively. One of them shrieked, a piercing, eerie sound that could send chills down anyone's spines. But this show of dominance did not intimidate the group. They exchanged quick glances and nodded, signaling it was time to launch their attack.

Luo Yan vanished into the shadows, appearing behind a wraith with swift, precise strikes. His daggers cut through its form, causing the wraith to waver. Shen Ji Yun swung his sword, crackling with purple lightning, sending bolts into the wraiths, making them flicker and pull back.

Su Yuqi, hovering slightly off the ground, cast a spell from her staff. Flames erupted, engulfing two wraiths and forcing them to retreat. Eclipse, in his kitsune form, dashed around, releasing bursts of darkness from his tails that struck the wraiths from different angles.

Dusk, moving quickly on the ground, used his claws to swipe at the closest wraiths, tearing through their ghostly forms and then burning them with his flames.

The wraiths tried to regroup, but the group's continuous attacks kept them at bay. Luo Yan struck again from the shadows. Shen Ji Yun unleashed another wave of lightning, and Su Yuqi's magic flared brightly. Eclipse and Dusk coordinated their movements, pressing the attack and preventing the wraiths from reforming.

One by one, the wraiths began to fade, their forms dissolving into thin air. And, within moments, the battle was over.

"Don't relax. Wraiths are not the only monsters in this dungeon," Su Yuqi warned them. "The statue we're looking for is at the center of this city. If we don't want to waste time fighting monsters, I think it's better to just hop on Dusk and fly there directly."

Everyone then turned to Dusk. The dragon sighed, as if he's starting to get tired of being everyone's mobile transportation. But he still turned into his dragon form once more.

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