Chapter 285

Chapter 285

With trembling voices, Seol Hong, Jin Ryeo, and Chi Woo spoke in unison, "Did it just say Spectre...?"

"S-spectre?"

Soon, Seol replied, "Why is he chasing us?"

Multiple options then appeared before Seol.

[[The dark ghosts were targeting your wagon. Unfortunately, it seems your wagon won't be able to outrun them. What will you do?]

1. Declare that you have nothing to do with the wagon's owner.

2. Attack since it doesn't seem like they will calmly listen.

3. Offer to surrender the wagon in exchange for your life.

4. Begin throwing the items in the wagon one by one.

...]

The dark ghosts, suspected to be the Dark Execution Squadron, got closer to the wagon.

"Human! Don't test us!"

"Human...?"

"Stop the wagon! Failure to comply will be seen as an act defying the will of the Ghost King!"

Seol frowned.

'They’ve known we were humans from the start... Even if we escape, they’ll keep hunting us.'

If they encountered them again, it would likely be with stronger forces, and they would probably relentlessly pursue Seol and his group. The outcome of such would most likely be disastrous.

After contemplating for a moment, Seol looked at Seol Hong and said, "Lady Seol Hong, I'm going to stop the wagon."

Nod...

Seol Hong, who had complete trust in Seol, didn't oppose it.

Dududu...

Dudu...

The leader of the Dark Execution Squadron sighed in relief as the wagon began slowing down.

"A wise decision."

As Seol slowed the gurds down, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

He was thinking about the Ghost King.

The Ghost King wasn't the most powerful being in the Ghost Realm. Much like Pandea, the Ghost Realm was an expansive world. The Ghost King’s domain, the land closest to the human realm, was only a small fraction of the vast land that made up the entire Ghost Realm.

It was just the tip of the iceberg.

Even so, it was so big that it could easily overwhelm the Khan Empire. And the Ghost King, Spectre, who ruled over this land, was no ordinary being.

'Spectre...'

Spectre, the Ghost King, who ruled over the Ghost Realm—there likely wasn't anyone in Khan who didn't know his name.

He was one of the three Ghost Generals who had wreaked havoc on the human world under Hwagmu’s command.

Seol had a vague understanding of the situation but chose not to elaborate. After all, they would likely hear the details directly from the Ghost King himself.

Chi Woo, the dog—no, wolf—said while being carried in Seol Hong's arms, "So we're meeting Spectre after having met Phantom and Shade? Did everyone plan this without me knowing?"

- Welcome to the 3 General family package, hahaha.

- Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?

- It's kind of absurd, for real.

"We will probably meet him soon."

Hearing Seol's response, Jin Ryeo mumbled to herself, "Kunna, could you also take my comrades? I'll put everything on the line, so could you send us out of the Ghost Realm...?"

It was no surprise that the group was flustered.

Spectre was known to be the strongest of the 3 ghost generals. However, little was known about him.

'On top of that, we're currently in the Ghost Realm.'

This place was practically the ghosts’ headquarters.

In the Ghost Realm, ghosts became stronger. Ghosts that could only exercise Legendary-rank power could deal Transcendent-rank power once they returned to the Ghost Realm.

That's how much this land overflowed with ghost energy.

Seol might not have been able to win if he had faced Phantom and Shade in the Ghost Realm.

'That aside, why does the Ghost King want to meet us?'

The most likely reason he could think of was that he wanted to punish the humans who had recklessly crossed into the Ghost Realm.

And if that wasn't the case...

'Is it because of Yaksha?'

The Yaksha incident was like a feast for the ghosts. They freely crossed into the human realm, feasting on humans to satisfy their hunger.

'From the Ghost King's perspective, it might be different.'

Seol thought he would have to meet the Ghost King and hear his thoughts on the Yaksha situation directly.

After stopping the wagon, Seol's group accepted the Dark Execution Squadron's offer to escort them to the Ghost King. Without getting off the wagon, they were headed straight to the destination.

Apart from briefly stopping for meals, the group continued to speed across the wasteland.

Eventually, a city came into sight—its bright lights spilling onto the wasteland.

"Where are we?"

Seol asked the leader of the Dark Execution Squadron.

Instead of answering him, the leader pulled out a map from his coat and marked it before handing it over.

Swoosh...

After checking the map of the Ghost King's territory, Seol asked.

"Have we arrived at the marked location?"

"Yes."

"Then..."

They were close.

They had essentially arrived at the capital, where the Ghost King resided.

"You were lucky. The Ghost King commanded me to go there and greet you."

"Hmm..."

It seemed Spectre had anticipated Seol's group's arrival there and had sent the Dark Execution Squadron to greet them.

'So we wouldn't have been able to escape at all.'

In the Ghost Realm, they were undeniably at the mercy of the Ghost King. Yet, thanks to him, they had saved time—time that would have otherwise been wasted on the road.

"The Dark Execution Squadron is here!"

"The Dark Execution Squadron has returned!"

"Open the gates!"

WHOOM...

The grand gates of the city opened.

The Castle of Joy.

It was the capital of the Ghost Realm, ruled by Spectre.

Gulp...

Jin Ryeo gulped.

The most vicious-looking among the ghosts spoke.

"To think humans would step foot in the Ghost King's castle..."

"Hihi... To think they wouldn't tremble before the 12 Ghost Souls."

Of the group, only Jin Ryeo was visibly trembling. She was someone very easy to read.

It was understandable for Jin Ryeo to be scared.

After all, the 12 Ghost Souls were beings with a strength that was above Transcendent-rank.

The oppressive energy that they exuded wasn't something that could be easily dismissed.

Swoosh...

But that only lasted for a brief moment. The 12 Ghost Souls soon dispelled the sinister energy.

"Enough with the prank."

"Yes..."

The voice that followed was utterly terrifying.

It was as if fear itself had spoken.

Seol gazed at the front, where there was a curtain. The voice had come from the other side of it.

Soon, a terrifying figure became visible from beyond the curtain. Its presence was even larger than its massive body.

Jin Ryeo immediately prostrated herself.

However, the rest of the group didn't bow.

One of the 12 Ghost Souls took issue with that.

"Kneel..."

"Leave them be."

"But..."

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"Yes..."

That overwhelming presence was probably the Ghost King.

Seol glanced at the 12 Ghost Souls one by one.

'Beings whose names were taken...'

All of them had their names taken by the Ghost King.

Spectre had devoured them completely. And instead of their real names, they were now called 1st soul, 2nd soul, and so on.

Still hidden beyond the curtain, The Ghost King said, "Come closer, humans."

"..."

At that moment, Jamad talked to Seol.

- He's an extraordinarily strong being. Avoid a fight.

Seol nodded.

There probably wasn't anyone foolish enough to face a ghost in their realm, especially a being like the Ghost King.

'Fortunately, he doesn't seem hostile...'

"I've been waiting for you," Spectre greeted.

"You've been waiting for me?"

"I've been watching you for quite some time."

Seol seemed confused upon hearing that Spectre had been watching him.

"I caught your scent from a distant land."

A shadow of a hand pointed to its nose.

"What scent are you talking about?"

From beyond the curtain, Spectre replied, "The scent of an intriguing figure, a hero overcoming trials, and..."

Screech.

The shadow opened its mouth, revealing the silhouette of vicious fangs.

"The scent of Yaksha..."

"..."

"I can't even imagine what your connection to it is... But I'm sure of something. You reek of that beast's scent."

The sudden mention of Yaksha.

On top of that, he declared that Seol was connected with Yaksha. Upon hearing that, the 12 Ghost Souls were in a frenzy.

"Yaksha? If it's Yaksha, he deserves to die!"

"I'm going to take his entrails out and serve it in a bowl!"

Spectre chuckled, "Hahaha... Save the small talk. What do you plan to do after taking out his entrails and serving it in a bowl?"

"But..."

The terrifying atmosphere instantly dissipated at Spectre's following words.

"Silence."

"..."

The room instantly fell into silence again.

"Interesting. How interesting... Now that you're closer, I can smell other things."

Swoosh...

Swoosh...

Spectre took a large whiff.

Seol could feel that Spectre's eyes were fixed on him.

"Phantom and Shade. Did you kill them?"

At that question, the faces of the 12 Ghost Souls stiffened. Those that were dark became darker, and those pale became paler.

However, no one dared to speak a word.

After all, the owner of this place was Spectre.

"How could that be... Even if Phantom had just woken up from his seal, Shade had long been—wait... Ah, I see. So that's how it happened."

Spectre's gaze shifted elsewhere—to Seol Hong and Chi Woo.

"Ugh..."

"Damn it..."

Chi Woo and Seol Hong couldn't bear the weight of his gaze.

"I can smell a terribly pungent odor from the two of you. A smell so foul it gives me a headache... This scent is..."

Spectre ground his teeth.

"The stench of that monk I despise."