Vol. 5 Chapter 14: Avatar

Chapter 14: Avatar

"Face your fears, insects!" The sinister voice of Fear King Dark River resonated like a piercing alarm in the hearts of all who heard it. Black mist billowed and gradually spread from the Wujiang Bridge. The shapeless mist formed a solid black arm that seized a streetlight, like a small stick, and hurled it at an approaching helicopter. The mist spread over the streetlight like a shadowy pattern, and with a dart-like throw, the streetlight struck the helicopter, turning it into a ball of fire. The dark mist once again harvested a substantial amount of energy, becoming more solidified.

On Lu Li's status panel, a new legendary ability finally revealed its name, though it seemed somewhat elusive:

**[Avatar: Dark River: A manifestation born from the accumulation of legendary energy. It is you, yet not you, possessing various traits: Black Mist Body, Fear Minions, Fear Aura, Fear Name.]**

**[Black Mist Body: By virtue of the legend, your body is composed of black mist, immune to most physical damage, and has the ability to spread.]**

**[Fear Minions: By virtue of the legend, in areas shrouded in black mist and unseen darkness, there are always lurking creatures spreading fear with their undying black mist bodies. These minions can endlessly respawn using Dark River's power.]**

**[Fear Aura: As the Fear King, all beings around you will undergo a willpower test every minute. Failure will result in a state of fear, awakening all their inner fears.]**

**[Eternal Black River: You always appear on the river, believed to draw power from it. By virtue of the legend, you gain the river's support, with its waters and mist serving as your magic.]**

**[Fear Name: Your name holds various powers. You can sense those who utter your name and spread fear to them.]**

Lu Li distinctly felt a deep connection with the mass of black mist, as if it was part of him, yet slightly different, like a part of him had split off. It was a peculiar sensation.

Holding an umbrella, Lu Li stood on the riverbank, watching from afar as the misty figure on the bridge absorbed any trace of legendary energy. These energies would be directly consumed by the distant Dark River, further solidifying its existence. Lu Li realized that his heart might need some time to recover before it could absorb new legendary energy again. Nevertheless, he was quite satisfied with the current situation. With this avatar, some of his plans were now more assured.

Xiao Zhang, Zheng Long, and Meng Xi, wearing masks, drove a second-hand car toward the bridge. However, they soon had to stop due to the panicked crowd, vehicles blocking the roads, and riot police trying to manage the chaos and disperse the fearless reporters. In the darkness, shadowy figures formed from the black mist would occasionally attack the armed police, followed by bursts of gunfire that scattered the misty creatures, though more would emerge from the darkness.

"Is this Fear King really the host of the last mask? The gap seems too vast," Xiao Zhang remarked, looking at the massive black mist figure on the bridge with a wry smile. "But now, it's not us who should be worried, but Fu Bin. He prides himself as a god, but he might only face despair against the Fear King."

"This boss doesn't look easy to deal with. His size is too immense. Even with Lao Meng, we're likely just cannon fodder," Zheng Long sighed, though his eyes remained resolute.

"Hey, we're not here to defeat the Fear King. We're here for revenge. In this situation, Fu Bin will surely show up," said Meng Xi, the burly bald man, his face devoid of any friendly expression. "I must skin that little bastard Fu Bin alive."

"If I were you, I wouldn't go now. Look at those tentacles formed from the mist. You'll be toyed with if you go," Shadow B, who had appeared behind them, advised. "Besides, I see other superhumans, likely from the government."

"The government?" Xiao Zhang bit his lip. When Fu Bin's identity was revealed, they realized the government agents weren't simple, likely possessing superpowers. With countless thoughts flashing through his mind, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "We're just here for revenge, and we technically have no crimes. Let's cooperate with them."

"What do you think?" Xiao Zhang asked Zheng Long and Meng Xi, his voice heavy. The others understood the implication—cooperating with the government could expose much about the mask struggle, likely leading to interference with the ritual.

"I'm just here for family revenge. I have no objections, as long as we can kill that beast," Meng Xi said straightforwardly. Zheng Long shrugged, "I'm the protagonist. I don't care about being some god."

The three then turned to Shadow B, a member of the Shadow Clan, whose existence revolved around the seven masks and their struggle. Would they interfere?

"I've told you, stop looking at me like that. You three big men trying to do what to me? Are you into black shadows?" Shadow B pretended to be scared, shrinking into a corner, before saying, "If you want to seek external help, do it. Don't look at me."

"As long as you don't hand over the masks, I have no objections," Shadow B said sincerely, blinking his eyes as if to say, "Look how sincere I am."

"But I won't go with you to meet them. You know my identity can't be exposed." Shadow B slowly retreated, turning into a wisp of black smoke and disappearing.

"Then let's go!" Zheng Long said to the others after seeing Shadow B vanish, relying on his instincts to lead the way. "He believes he can find them quickly."

Meanwhile, Fu Bin watched the rampaging Fear King from afar with a cold expression, muttering angrily, "Those people are my subjects. Even if they're trash, only I can clean them up. Let's go. Let me, their god, save them."

Luo Yan, however, detected a hint of panic in Fu Bin's voice. She knew he was on a path to self-destruction, using the pretense of being a god to stave off his collapse. Now, if he turned back, it would mean abandoning his godhood, and his entire pretense would crumble, likely shattering his psyche.

"You're the patient. You decide," Luo Yan sighed inwardly and followed him.