The terrifying, giant black claws were like the scythe of a Demon God. They tore through the very air as they passed, emitting a colossal howl that relentlessly battered Chen Pingchuan's eardrums.

Yet Chen Pingchuan remained motionless, standing quietly before the Black Demon. He watched with wide eyes as the gigantic claws, as large as a small mountain, slowly descended and completely blocked out the light above him. There was no fear in his eyes, only stunned uncertainty. If he wasn't mistaken, the King of Black Magic's gaze was extraordinarily strange. In those blood-red eyes, which should have held only rage and the desire for destruction, he saw an emotion called mockery.

As the beast's claws pressed down, the immense force violently compressed the air, whipping up a gale that not only tore through Chen Pingchuan's hair but also pressed shallow hollows into the muscles of his face. In the next second, the gigantic claws were directly above his head.

Did I guess wrong?

Chen Pingchuan's expression was slightly puzzled, and he even muttered the words aloud. Just as he thought he had misjudged the Black Demon's identity, the enormous claw, which had been descending with destructive force, enigmatically halted a hair's breadth from his head.

Then, something even more astonishing happened.

The giant claw performed a series of surprisingly human-like actions. It first delicately adjusted Chen Pingchuan's position, turning his back toward it. The movement was so cautious it was as if the creature was afraid of breaking him. There was a peculiar gentleness in its actions that formed a stark contrast with its horrifying appearance. Then, the razor-sharp talons, capable of easily slicing through steel, curled slightly.

As Chen Pingchuan stared in utter shock, a massive force struck his rear.

BANG!

The immense force launched him several meters through the air. He traced a clumsy arc before crashing heavily to the ground. He knew, of course, that this was the result of the King of Black Magic holding back. Otherwise, with its terrifying power, it could have easily pulped him.

At the same time, Chen Pingchuan suddenly understood a term from his past life that described his current predicament perfectly. He was the very picture of it: face forward, back to the sky, in a standard, sprawling face-down position. The fall was severe. He saw stars and the world spun around him. His head throbbed as if it had been struck by a hammer, leaving him completely dazed.

"Damn it, doggy, you've changed!" Chen Pingchuan finally managed to recover his senses, his eyes filled with disbelief and a hint of annoyance.

Indeed, after this ordeal, he was completely certain that the King of Black Magic who had ambushed him was none other than his former pet—Black Demon Number One. The same creature that used to wag its tail and frolic around him had now transformed into this damned state.

"No!"

At that moment, a piercing female cry shattered the silence, a sound filled with such despair and fear it was as if she had lost a cherished loved one. The voice belonged to Nightingale.

Because the Black Demon Army was being restrained by its king, they hadn't attacked Nightingale as she continuously pushed past them. As a result, her advance was even smoother than she had anticipated. As the white dot grew closer, Chen Pingchuan's figure gradually came into focus. Joy sparked in Nightingale's heart. She didn't understand why the Black Demon Army was acting so strangely. Perhaps he had used some kind of mysterious and powerful item, perhaps it was due to his own awakened special talent, or perhaps there was some other reason she couldn't fathom.

However, none of that mattered. To achieve such an effect and exert this level of influence, the cost, regardless of the method, had to be enormous.

Before Nightingale could get close, she saw Chen Pingchuan get flicked away by a single swipe from the King of Black Magic, crashing heavily to the ground not far away. The surrounding Black Demon Army blocked her view, preventing her from seeing his current state. But judging by the spot where he had landed, which remained motionless for a long time, Nightingale guessed he was likely gone. Even if he wasn't dead, he probably wouldn't last long. A blow from a seventh-level Black Demon was not something a physical body could withstand.

This scene was far beyond anything Nightingale had imagined. In her mind, if there wasn't a battle between the Divine Envoy and the King of Black Magic for hundreds of rounds without a victor, it should have at least been a tragic stalemate of mutual destruction. Even if the Divine Envoy had only barely resisted the King of Black Magic's attack, that would have been something. But what was this nearly one-sided battle happening before her eyes? If the Divine Envoy wasn't completely confident, why would he walk into this death trap? What was his purpose in doing this?

Unfortunately, these questions were destined to remain unanswered.

For some reason, Nightingale suddenly felt that life was meaningless. This heart-wrenching despair was like a sharp sword, tearing through the fortitude she had desperately clung to for so long. Nightingale's mind raced, replaying her life. After the apocalypse began, her father who had always protected her had died. The brothers-in-arms who had entrusted their lives to her had died. And now, even the Divine Envoy who had brought her a glimmer of hope in her despair was also dead.

Maybe I really am a harbinger of doom.

At this thought, a resolute look flashed in Nightingale's eyes. She had made her decision. Even at the cost of her life, she would burn herself out to launch her most powerful strike at the King of Black Magic before her. Even if the blow only managed to severely injure the giant beast, it would be a fitting end to her tumultuous life.

The familiar black sphere began to slowly coalesce again in Nightingale's pale, slender palm, as if the most mysterious dark power of the universe was gathering there. This time, however, the sphere was drastically different. Its volume was significantly larger. If the previous one was like a small ping-pong ball, this one was now the size of a basketball. The only similarity was the terrifying aura they both emitted.

Black arcs of electricity began to flicker around the sphere. The arcs crackled with life, constantly leaping about as if they wanted to mercilessly devour all surrounding light.

Nightingale's expression was solemn. She slowly brought the Annihilation Black Balls in her hands together. As she did, the two spheres began to fuse. In an instant, the sphere, originally the size of a basketball, swelled to several times its size, resembling a miniature black hole. The powerful energy fluctuations made even the surrounding Black Demon Army tremble.

Nightingale gritted her teeth, using every last ounce of her strength to lift the massive Annihilation Black Ball high above her head. Her body trembled slightly under the immense energy load, threatening to collapse. A final glint of determination flashed in her eyes, and with a roar, she hurled it at Black Demon Number One with all her might.