While this series of dramatic changes seemed to last a long time, they actually occurred in a mere matter of seconds.
Under the glow of fire, the figure that seemed to 'grow' out of Zhou Ling's back was now fully revealed before Lu Yuan.
It was a man wearing a peculiar mask.
The middle of the mask protruded outward, resembling an enormous crow's beak.
Black Qi, like mist-like wisps, enveloped the man, swirling around him like decaying silk ribbons fluttering in the wind.
Zhou Ling had lunged at the man, and wherever his body made contact with the Black Qi, it began to melt like wax.
"Run!"
Zhou Ling yelled, and under his battle uniform, lines of blue light flared up.
The man in the grotesque mask looked down at him, raising his talon-like hand—the same hand that had pierced Zhou Ling's head—and gently touched Zhou Ling's face.
Zhou Ling's voice and movement abruptly ceased.
Lu Yuan stared rigidly at the man in front of him, as if his blood had frozen in his veins.
