C18 Wail of the Ghosts

“You’re not coming home? Are we no longer brothers? Do we really have to fight?” Ethan’s voice cracked. The thought of battling his closest comrade broke his heart.

“I’m sorry. I’ve chosen my path. You should leave. Your army is no match for ours. I won’t hurt you. Tomorrow, we take Guanghan. The Rabbit Kingdom is finished. If you want power, join me. I’ll recommend you to the Turtle Kingdom. With your skill, you’ll rise fast. Besides… we can’t go back anyway.”

Raymond had fully embraced the Turtle Kingdom as his home. Here, he had everything he’d ever wanted.

“You’re really turning your back on us? We came here together! Come back to us! Our world is where we belong! This is just a stopover!” Ethan begged, still unable to believe the betrayal.

“Traitor!”

“Rat!” Howard and Han Tao snapped.

“Enough! You serve the Rabbit Kingdom now too! Don’t call me traitor. You’re the ones who switched sides. Leave now, or I won’t hold back when the battle starts.” Raymond’s voice was cold.

Li Yizhu stepped forward calmly. “Raymond, I am the Queen Consort of the Rabbit Kingdom, but I am from your world too. I am of the Tiger Clan. I can already use the Tiger Dance to send us home. I’ll take you all back. Spare us. Let this world’s war be fought by its own people.”

Raymond burst out laughing. “Rabbit Kingdom Queen? Then you’re not going anywhere! I’ve been waiting to capture you! Ethan, last chance. Leave, or you die.”

Ethan laughed bitterly, heartbroken. He had given up on his former friend.

“You’re still dreaming? I already wiped out your Western Army. All that’s left are your precious prince and princess.”

“Impossible! You could never defeat them with such a small army!”

“Bring in the prisoners!” Ethan ordered.

Raymond paled. “Fine. Hand them over, and I’ll let you go.”

“Like hell! We’re keeping them. Now you get to explain to your master why her family is gone!” Howard jeered.

Raymond’s smile turned cruel. “Good. Their deaths mean more glory for me and my wife. Thank you, Ethan. Now you all die. No last words?”

“You think you can kill all 50,000 of us?” Han Tao shouted.

“I don’t need an army. My voice alone will kill every last one of you. Even you, Ethan—the unkillable freak. This will be the last sound you ever hear.”

Raymond stared at Ethan as if he were already dead.

Ethan had no idea what Raymond meant, but Leng Xue’s face turned white with terror.

“Commander, be careful! His voice is deadly! We must retreat!”

“Too late.”

Raymond began to sing.

The air turned heavy. A deadly, icy aura wrapped around every soldier. The song was hypnotic, yet violent—each note slammed into hearts like a hammer. Men began to collapse, clutching their chests. Ethan’s pulse raced, his skull threatening to split.

Raymond looked like a demon from hell, radiating death.

This was not singing. It was a soul-reaping curse.

Ethan’s mind felt like it was being eaten alive by ants. He was frozen, fully conscious, forced to endure the agony. He had been wrong all along—Raymond was the most dangerous member of their group.

With a roar of agony, Ethan screamed.

To his shock, Raymond flinched. The curse weakened for a split second.

Desperate, Ethan screamed again—loud, savage, like a wounded wolf, like metal scraping against metal. It was hideous, ear-splitting, nothing like a song.

But it worked.

The soldiers stumbled to their feet. Raymond’s deadly magic was broken.

Raymond’s eyes widened in disbelief. No one had ever resisted his voice. He poured more power into his singing, blood trickling from his lips.

Ethan screamed louder, his howl cutting through the air like a blade.

Raymond’s power unraveled. He coughed up blood and collapsed.

He had been defeated… by Ethan’s ungodly screeching.

Ethan didn’t stop. He charged into the Turtle lines, screaming at the top of his lungs. The sound was so unbearable it left soldiers paralyzed. He punched and kicked wildly, mowing down enemies like grass. The Rabbit soldiers, equally horrified by Ethan’s voice, charged forward in a frenzy to escape the noise.

The Turtle army broke. Their commander was down. Panic turned to chaos. Men trampled each other fleeing. The Rabbit forces cut them down with ease.

Li Yizhu shook his head, half-amused, half-terrified. “Of all the ways to win… screaming? That’s just cruel.”

Howard and Han Tao cheered, leaping into battle. “Boss! You’re a monster! No one can stop you!”

When the slaughter ended, Ethan stood panting. He dragged the unconscious Raymond to his side. Victory felt hollow.

He turned toward Guanghan, still surrounded by enemy forces. The walls were crumbling. The capital would fall within hours.

Ethan ordered a halt and sent a messenger to the Turtle camp: he wanted to negotiate.

The reply came quickly: West Wind Snow demanded Ethan enter her camp to talk. She would pause the attack, but only if Ethan came unarmed.

It was a trap. Everyone knew it.

“Who’s with me? It’s a suicide mission. No shame if you stay.”

“I’ll go!” Leng Xue said at once. “I do not know this ‘banquet of danger’, but I will protect you.”

Ethan smiled. “Good. You’re fast enough to escape.”

“I’ll go.”

“I’ll go.”

Howard and Han Tao stepped up.

Ethan shook his head. “No. Guard Raymond. Tie him up and gag him—his voice is too dangerous. And don’t kill him. He’s still my brother.”

Li Yizhu sighed. “I’ll go too. Not that I care about you. But if you die, I can’t get home. And for the love of God, never scream like that again. I’d rather die.”

Ethan grinned. “Jealous?”

“Delusional freak,” Li Yizhu muttered.

Before leaving, Ethan turned to his guards. “If we are attacked… kill the royal prisoners. But leave Raymond alive.”

Han Tao hesitated. “Even Raymond?”

Ethan’s face softened. “He’s still my brother. Even if he’s a traitor.”

With that, Ethan, Li Yizhu, and Leng Xue walked into the Turtle camp—to face the woman who had stolen his brother’s heart, and certain death.