Chapter 69: The Collapse of Boundaries

The air was thick, almost tangible, as if an unseen force had congealed it into an invisible web, binding Lin Han's consciousness. His body remained sluggish, yet a peculiar chill was creeping up his spine, an unsettling foreboding that he couldn't shake off.

His vision wavered—images flickering like distorted ripples in water, at times sharp, at times blurred beyond recognition. Through the haze, he barely made out the figures of A Rong and Noya standing at a distance, their expressions tense and unreadable.

"Lin Han?"

Noya's voice was cautious, as though she wasn't sure if the person before her was truly the one she knew.

Lin Han tried to respond, but his throat felt constricted, as if something was lodged deep within, preventing any sound from escaping. And then, at the edge of his consciousness, he sensed it—something else lurking, something that bore an eerie resemblance to himself yet was fundamentally different.

"Do you really think... you've returned?"

A whisper, low and guttural, slithered through his mind, carrying a hint of cruel amusement.

His eyes shot open. A surge of invisible force erupted from within, causing his entire body to convulse violently.

A Rong's instincts flared. "Something's wrong—his soul isn't stable yet!"

Noya's fingers twitched. She hesitated, torn between reaching out and retreating. Lin Han's body remained still, yet the way his eyes gleamed—dark, unfocused, and impossibly deep—sent a chill down her spine.

They weren't his eyes.

"Is he... still himself?"

Noya's voice trailed off, but the weight of her unspoken fear hung thick in the air.

Lin Han slowly rose to his feet, his movements stiff and unnatural. His gaze swept over them, his lips curving into a smile—a cold, foreign expression.

"You seem... afraid."

A Rong felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

This voice—this tone—wasn't Lin Han's.

Noya's grip on her blade tightened. She didn't act recklessly, but every fiber of her being screamed that the man before her was no longer the same.

"Who are you?" she asked, voice steady yet sharp.

Lin Han tilted his head slightly, as if considering the question. Then, that strange smile deepened.

"Do you really want to know?"

Before anyone could react, he moved—faster than lightning!

Noya barely had time to draw her blade, dodging on sheer instinct. A Rong slammed his foot into the ground, propelling himself backward in an instant. But neither of them had anticipated just how much stronger Lin Han had become—his attack, a mere flick of his hand, tore through the very air, leaving behind a visible rift!

Boom!

The ground beneath them split apart, dust and debris shooting into the air.

Noya tumbled, her breath coming in ragged gasps. That single strike had cracked the earth!

"This isn't his power!" A Rong gritted his teeth.

And then, they saw it.

A creeping, inky-black pattern began to slither up Lin Han's arm, writhing like a living entity. The sinister markings pulsed, creeping up his neck, stretching across his face.

"He's being consumed!" Noya's heart pounded as she lunged forward.

But just as she swung her blade, Lin Han vanished.

"Too slow."

A whisper—right behind her.

Noya's pupils contracted. Before she could turn, a force like a hurricane slammed into her!

Crash!

She barely managed to block, yet the impact rattled her bones, sending her hurtling backward until she collided with the rock wall.

"Cough—!"

Metallic tang filled her mouth. Her vision blurred.

A Rong roared and charged at Lin Han without hesitation. He had to act—this wasn't their comrade anymore. This was something else wearing Lin Han's skin.

"STOP!!"

But just as A Rong's fist was about to land, Lin Han's body shuddered. For a fleeting moment, the eerie black gleam in his eyes flickered.

He was fighting back.

Noya, ignoring the pain in her ribs, forced herself upright, eyes locked onto him.

"Lin Han! If you can hear me—fight it!" she shouted.

Lin Han trembled, his face twisting in agony. His fingers dug into his own palm, nails piercing flesh. Blood dripped onto the fractured ground.

He was still in there.

A Rong and Noya held their breath, unwilling to act rashly.

Lin Han was like a man dangling over an abyss, teetering on the edge between salvation and damnation.

The silence was suffocating. His ragged breaths filled the space, his entire body convulsing.

Then—he made a choice.

With gritted teeth, he slammed his own fist into his chest!

BOOM!

The sheer force sent him flying, black markings shattering into mist, dissipating into the air.

Lin Han crashed onto the ground, unmoving. His skin was pale as death, a thin trickle of blood slipping from his lips.

A Rong and Noya exchanged glances before rushing to his side.

"Lin Han!"

His eyelashes quivered. Slowly, painfully, his eyes opened.

"...Why do you look so worried?" His voice was hoarse, almost teasing.

Noya let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, a rare glint of moisture in her eyes.

"You idiot... Don't ever do that again."

Lin Han gave a feeble smile, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Sorry... I think I just had a really... long dream."

But Noya and A Rong both knew—

That was no dream.

Somewhere in the distant void, the other presence lingered, watching, waiting for another chance to take control