Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1772: Betrayal

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Suddenly, from Xarion’s left, a woman stepped forward. She wore a flowing black and red dress and a tall, witch-like hat. A mask-like mirror covered her face, reflecting a woman’s shattered features.

"Fufufu! So this is the pathetic ’Heavenly Emperor’ you mentioned earlier, Xarion?"

She was the Family Head of House Orraveth, mistress of Mirrorwalking and Reflection Curses—Lady Mireth Orraveth, the Shardmother.

From Xarion’s right, the third figure emerged, formed entirely of white and black mist that swiftly solidified into a tall, slender man with pale skin, long black hair, a youthful face, and a cocky smile.

"What a pitiful wreck of a man. He is clearly unfit to rule a world if he lets emotions cloud his judgment. Still, it makes me wonder... how delicious might his blood taste?"

He was the Family Head of House Sarnovelle, master of Mistform and Atmospheric Control Magic—Lord Orren Sarnovelle, the Breathless One.

"I haven’t sampled it yet, but perhaps we should find out. Shall we all have a taste?"

Xarion spread his arms wide as his Blood Soul Aura erupted, expanding like a realm unto itself. Hundreds of vampires materialized in church robes—members of the Leviathan Church, possessed by demons.

"YOU THINK THESE WORTHLESS MAGGOTS CAN STOP ME?!"

The Heavenly Emperor charged forward, tearing through them with his Martial Souls while the three Family Heads advanced toward the golden statue, their eyes burning with greed and bloodlust.

"It’s finally within our grasp!"

"The source of the Heavenly Demon Blood!"

"With this, we will please the Crimson Emperor and claim all the blood we desire—unlimited power!"

The Family Heads laughed cruelly, their smiles vicious as they reached for the golden statue. Their hands grasped it, only to freeze.

They turned, glaring at one another with raw hatred, teeth clenched.

"I will carry it. No need to worry," Xarion said, forcing a calm tone.

"Huh? And let you keep it all for yourself? Then you take all the credit, don’t you, Xarion? You are always the smooth talker, but I see your true intentions!" Mireth roared.

"That’s right. It should be me who brings it back. My powers are most suited for transport!" Orren declared, his aura twisting into dozens of mist-born creatures.

"No, no. I should handle it. Please, do not worry," Xarion smiled thinly.

"I am not letting you carry it alone!" Mireth snapped.

"I will seize it while you two bicker!" Orren laughed. His body dissolved into a massive swirl of shadows and mist, coiling around the statue. "Ugh?! Why is it so damned heavy?"

"Stop!"

"What do you think you are doing?!"

Xarion and Mireth lunged to halt him, unleashing their auras in a clash that overpowered his own and slammed him to the floor.

"Gaaaahhh! S-Stop! We can carry it together! That is why we are cooperating!"

The Heavenly Emperor stared in disbelief. The trio was tearing at each other instead of uniting against him, leaving him utterly baffled.

"These three are fools! Golden Statue, come to me!"

He raised his hand. The statue trembled, then began to rise, floating free as it struggled to escape the vampires’ grasp.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Mireth hissed furiously.

"I am sorry, but this belongs to us!" Xarion growled, growing frantic.

"I am not letting go!" Orren roared.

"Damn it! Release it!" the Heavenly Emperor bellowed, battling endless hordes of vampires until Mireth smirked.

"Heh, this should stop him!" She swiftly summoned five mirrors, each reflecting a monstrous creature from worlds they had conquered. "Go buy mommy some time, my beautiful babies!"

She cackled as five gigantic monsters materialized, roaring as they charged the Heavenly Emperor.

They bore no true names. One was a colossal blue lobster whose aura evoked endless oceans. The second, a centipede forged of gleaming jewels. The third, a lion sculpted from unyielding stone. The fourth, a green-skinned titan with six muscular arms and black horns. The fifth, a twisted mass of fused trees, its glowing red eyes fixed above a wide, smiling maw.

"You dare unleash them against me?! Ugh!"

The Heavenly Emperor staggered back as the five Otherworldly Calamities roared in unison, their overwhelming auras pressing in from every side.

He fought with desperate fury, shattering the stone lion with a single strike to its head, infusing energy that crumbled it to rubble.

Yet the remaining four proved far more resilient, circling him, evading blows, and tearing at his legs.

For reasons unknown, they fought as one. The tree-like calamity channeled spiritual power to heal its allies, even restoring the lion to full strength.

"This is infuriating! How can they coordinate so perfectly?!"

"Fufufu! Surprised? I bound their wills with my strongest curses," Mireth laughed triumphantly. "Together, my precious darlings can overwhelm even superior foes! Enjoy it while it lasts! Hahaha!"

"Now hand over the statue!" Xarion demanded.

"No, it is mine! I have claimed it!" Orren snarled, still struggling.

"You cannot even carry it, you fool!" Mireth spat. "Let me store it within one of my mirrors!"

"You would keep it for yourself!" Xarion shot back. "Forgive my rudeness, Mireth, but I simply cannot allow—"

{Spectral Ghostly Fist Art: Tenth Form—Soul-Shattering Ghostly Scorpion Sting}!

"...?!"

The three Family Heads gasped as an immense presence materialized behind them. Twin black swords wreathed in starlight slashed forward, their sword ki forming three razor-sharp scorpion stings.

"Watch out!"

Xarion reacted instantly, shoving Mireth into the path of two strikes. They pierced her directly, shattering her mirror aura in an explosion of fragments.

"GAAAHHHH?! XARION! YOU TRAITOR!"

Mireth screamed in torment as massive holes tore through her body. The third strike slammed into Xarion’s back, forcing blood from his lips while dozens of cracks spiderwebbed across his soul.

"H-How?! Aaaack!"

Both collapsed as Orren stared in shock at the assassin emerging from the shadows—a woman with dark purple skin and long tentacles for hair. Two of her eyes remained closed, weeping black tears, while the third on her forehead blazed open, glowing crimson. A black veil draped her head, and she wore a dress woven from her own tears. Above her forehead, horns of white-blue flame burned fiercely.

"Who are you?!"

Orren desperately summoned thunderbolts and howling winds from his aura, attempting to swallow the statue into his body and flee, abandoning his allies.

However...

"Where do you think you are taking my father?!"

An old man’s voice thundered from behind. Wu Lieng materialized, piercing the storm and striking despite his ethereal form. Countless claw attacks ravaged Orren’s soul, ripping away fragments.

"{Heavenly Demonic Dragon Arts}: {World-Bending Claws}!!!"

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

"GAAAHA?!"

Orren vomited blood and soul essence as the impact hurled him forward. He crashed before Xarion, the explosion burying both in the ground amid Heavenly Demon Dragon Flames that seared their flesh.

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