Death... and me

Both Rean and Latalia's group were taken aback by the newcomers. Latalia was surprised to see Roan's group there, but she at least knew that they would be meeting. However, the Umbral Sect group was not part of her plan. Naturally, she thought about the possibility that this was a trap against her.

However, she immediately noticed Rean's group entering a guarding stance. Just as she was about to say something, Rean sent her a Spiritual Sense message.

'Senior Latalia, be careful. Those guys are part of the Umbral Sect.'

The Umbral Sect members were also surprised to find Rean and Roan here. They had noticed that the maze would change as well. However, they really arrived at this place by mere coincidence. When they saw the maze changing once more, they decided to stay put to see where the room would connect them. Finding Rean and Roan here was not what they expected. This group had Vio and Sames, two Middle Stage Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivators.

'Vio, it's the twins!'

'I know, but they aren't alone.'

'So what? There are only one Middle and one Initial Core and Soul Fusion Realm in their group. We, on the other hand, have two Middle Stages and one Initial Stage cultivators.'

They weren't the only ones talking through Spiritual Sense Message, though.

'Rovan, Rean, be ready for battle. If they attack, we will use the same strategy as before. Let Rovan take one of their Core and Soul Fusion Realms cultivators' attention. Latalia will hold one of them as well. They will definitely send the last one to deal with us. If we play it right, we can get rid of the guy straight away.

Unfortunately, Latalia wasn't in the mood to participate.

'What are you talking about? Why should I get involved in your battle against the Umbral Sect? I don't know how you pissed them off, but I'm out.'

Roan snorted in response.

'Too bad that it won't be possible. The moment Rean said Umbral Sect, they already marked you as a target to be eliminated as well. They will not let you leave this easily.'

Roan was right. Suddenly, Vio took several Flags from his bag and threw them at all the exits. Latalia saw that and immediately used her Wind Element and tried to stop it.

'Wind Blade!'

However, Sames appeared in front of her attack.

*Clang!*

His sword, covered in Spiritual Energy and Fire Element, blocked the wind blade attack.

"Old lady, why don't you spend some time talking with me?"

Latalia gritted her teeth as she looked hatefully at Roan. She really didn't want to get dragged into this mess.

Rovan knew that a battle was inevitable, so he immediately contacted Ervan and Sian. As for why he couldn't see Luo, he would ask about it later if they survived.

'Erva, Sian, don't hold back!'

Rovan then charged into the Umbral Sect ranks. He wasn't trying to attack the Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivators, but the Core Formation ones.

As mentioned before, each group of the Umbral Sect had five or six members. Sames and Vio were two different groups that joined together, so they had a total of eight Core Formation Realm cultivators other than the three Core and Soul Fusion Realm ones. As for his side, it only had five. Not to mention they had one extra Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivator.

"Old geezer, do you really think you can do that with your miser Initial Stage of the Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivation? What about asking me first?"

Vio, who had just set up the Flag Protection Formation, immediately intercepted. At the same time, Vio sent a Spiritual Sense message to the rest of his group.

'Beal, you go ahead and kill the twins while we hold their Core and Soul Fusion Realm members. With your Core and Soul Fusion Realm, it shouldn't be hard for you. As for the rest of you, go and get rid of their Core Formation Realm ones.'

Beal was the name of the third Core and Soul Fusion Realm guy. He and the others immediately acknowledged the orders and charged against Rean, Roan, and the others.

Rean and Roan then showed a panicked expression and immediately retreated. Kentucky, Ervan, and Sian were then left to deal with the remaining forces. Obviously, they would be able to do that against the sheer numbers' disadvantage.

But at this moment, Roan sent them a Spiritual Sense message. His voice cold, totally different from how he acted in front of that Core and Soul Fusion Realm guy.

'Retreat! Don't engage in battle. All you need to do is to hold for a few seconds. Although all paths are sealed, you should still have enough space to do so. If things get dangerous, use the idiot bird as cover.'

Ervan and Sian nodded straight away, and soon, they began to retreat with Kentucky.

Beal quickly reached the twins' side even though they tried to escape. Naturally, he attributed that to his advantage in speed and cultivation. Besides, seeing how the twins were young and how they were panicking made Beal even more confident of his 'superiority.'

One couldn't blame Beal for that. It was not that he was dropping his guard or underestimating the twins. The issue was that the twins were an entire realm below in cultivation. He simply didn't believe that they could pose any threat.

Beal then pulled his sword out, quickly gathering Spiritual Energy gathering around it. At the same time, purple energy seemed to appear in the middle of the Spiritual Energy. Sure enough, Beal also had the Umbral Energy Cultivation Technique of his sect.

'Purple Extermination!'

An arc of purple energy came at the twins, aiming to cut them in half. Even if it didn't, the Umbral Energy would still enter their bodies once they got injured. Rean and Roan panicked even more and quickly turned back, trying to use their White and Dark Stars to block the attack.

*Boom, Boom!*

However, they could not hold the attack due to the difference in cultivation and were blasted backward.

"Arrghhh!"

Their bodies were hit by the Umbral Energy, receiving quite a few cuts even after parrying it with their swords.

Beal smiled coldly after seeing that. Without giving the chance to recover, he pounced forward, determined to finish the two teenagers.

Rovan saw that and also panicked.

"Stop!"

He turned around and tried to help the twins, but Vio once again appeared in his path.

"Hahaha! Why are you bothering with others when you can't even take care of yourself?!"

Latalia, who was in a stalemate against Same, also narrowed her eyes when she saw that. However, she didn't lose her calm or tried to help the twins. Instead, she focused on her own battle. Sames then tried to provoke her with a Spiritual Sense message.

'Aren't you going to save the two kids? Well, not that you could do it anyway.'

However, Latalias' dark expression suddenly changed. A cold smile appeared on her lips as she answered back.

'Don't worry, the one who needs help isn't the twins.'

Sames was taken aback by those words. Latalia's cold smile made him feel a foreboding sensation. Unfortunately, it was too late already.

Vio also saw something strange. Just a split-second ago, Rovan had a panicked look at the twins' situation. Since the very start of the battle, Rovan had been at a disadvantage against Vio. After all, Vio was in the Middle Stage while Rovan was in the Initial Stage. However, Rovan's panicked expression suddenly disappeared just as he tried to block his path.

'Rise of the Flame!'

'Emperor Flame Slash!'

Rovan totally changed his stance and attacked Vio with all his might.

"What?!"

*Boom!*

Vio was taken aback. Out of nowhere, Rovan's attack power jumped to the same level as his own! No, at the moment, Rovan was a little bit stronger!

Vio was forced to retreat, not understanding from where Rovan got that strength all of a sudden.

However, the main event was not happening here.

A moment ago, when Vio and Sames were unaware of what was about to happen, Beal was sure that he would kill the twins in the next attack.

'Purple Extermination!'

"Die, brats!"

However...

*Boom!*

The Purple Extermination hit the twins. However, Beal didn't feel the list bit happy. That's because the attack feeling was not the same as when you hit a living body!

Sure enough, Rean and Roan's bodies suddenly dissipated into specks of White and Dark Light.

'Death Style, Fifth Form, Mirage Assault!'

"Not good!"

Unfortunately for Beal, Rean and Roan had done all of this so that Beal would not escape. Not that he noticed the change, but it was already too late.

'Life Style, Firm Form, Enhancement!'

'Death Style, First Movement Form, Shadow Steps!'

'Death Style, Third Form, Three Claws of the Dragon!'

With two clones destroyed, only two remained. However, those two, together with the real twins, suddenly emerged from the shadow from all sides! Together with them, nine swords materialized, giving him no chance to escape!

"Fuck!"

Beal panicked and immediately tried to stop his advance by using a movement skill technique.

'Purple Glimpse!'

Umbral Energy and Spiritual Energy gathered around his legs, quickly increasing his mobility. The attacks were too close, but he at least intended to move fast enough to prevent a fatal injury.

Unfortunately, one of the four figures that appeared from the shadows didn't attack. Instead, he had his hand extended in Beal's direction.

'Death Style, First Energy Form, Shadow Bind!'

Obviously, it was Roan. Even before he emerged from the shadows, his Shadow Bind Technique was ready to be cast. He just waited for the perfect moment to release it.

Shadow-like vines appeared from the surroundings, quickly entangling Beal's legs before he could even react. In the end, he only heard a Spiritual Sense message.

'Do you even know what death really means?'