Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!

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Cheng Xie unleashed all the power he had left. With a furious barrage of blows, he engulfed his foe in countless powerful attacks, shattering his body punch after punch.

"AAAAGGGHH!"

The Avatar of the Nightmare Curse screamed in agony, his entire body pulverized as Cheng Xie's hands, wrapped in Ming Lee's white clouds, exploded with each strike.

Sometimes his fists would bleed, gaining more bruises, with bone visible beneath the torn skin.

And yet, Cheng Xie did not stop fighting. He didn't give up, no matter what.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

"BASTARD…! CURSE YOUUUUUU! HUMANNNNN!!!"

The Nightmare Curse Avatar screamed, trying to fight back, only to ultimately explode into pieces as Cheng Xie's fist pierced his soul. As his soul shattered once more, his entire avatar vanished in a massive explosion of darkness and light.

BOOOMMM!!!

Everyone who saw the scene was left speechless as Cheng Xie stood tall. He didn't do it just once, but twice in a row.

"Haa… Haaa…"

And yet, he had reached his limit, dropping to the floor, nearly falling unconscious.

"Cheng Xie!"

Ming Lee tried to go after him but was stopped by hordes of Nightmares surging toward the airport.

And yet, hope was not lost, as someone else came for him.

Cheng Xie saw bright light, long blonde hair, and bright eyes as he barely clung to consciousness.

For a moment, he thought it was her.

"Emeraldine… have you come here for me?"

"Emeraldine?! What are you talking about, idiot?"

However, Cheng Xie was slapped in the face by an armored hand, rolling to the ground again as his vision cleared, revealing the figure of Artorias instead.

"What?! It's you, you damn- ack! Did you had to slap my face?"

"It was a way to heal you. Now stand still."

"You can heal?! Since when?!"

"Since always. The battle is not over, Cheng Xie."

Artorias handed him his power pole and nodded, a bright light of healing power revitalizing him immediately.

Well, Cheng Xie wasn't wrong, as he noticed a little Spirit behind Artorias.

Emeraldine's Light Spirit, which she had sent for him, boosted Artorias's healing to the point he could fully heal his rival.

Cheng Xie could feel Emeraldine's presence within this warm light as the many wounds he had suffered through his battles healed completely.

Above all else, even his Dream Essence healed quickly. There was another energy he had never seen before, which Emeraldine would easily recognize as Mana and Divine Spirit Energy.

As a "Vessel-type Dream Heart," the true classification for those who carried the Dreams of large groups of people within their Dream Hearts and Myths, Cheng Xie easily assimilated this energy, automatically converting it into more Dream Essence.

Thus, although unintentionally, Emeraldine imbued her own powers into his body, filling his reserves of Dream Essence rather quickly. He could feel her within him, making Cheng Xie joyous and happy.

"Ah, Emeraldine… I don't even know if I'll ever have a chance but… thank you." He had already given up on pursuing her romantically, but he still had feelings for her. Her warm and kind nature remained captivating to him.

"Huh? Emeraldine? Shouldn't you be thanking me?" Artorias's words interrupted his fantasies and dreams as the blonde young man glared at Cheng Xie while wearing his mechanical armor, followed closely by his Knight Spirits.

"You shut up; you're running the moment!" Cheng Xie scoffed angrily, slapping Artorias in the face as a "thank you" for the earlier slap he got out of nowhere. "Anyway, we're even, Artorias."

"Bastard, I healed you and this is how you repay me?" Artorias groaned angrily. He was always overly serious and introverted, while Cheng Xie was carefree and extroverted. They were total opposites, and had a rivalry since the first time they fought, years ago, when those carrying Myths within their Dream Hearts gathered for a tournament to test their abilities against equally powerful individuals.

"Heh! Don't think I am going to say thank you to you!" Cheng Xie laughed, standing up as his tail waved around. Then he fell silent, glancing back at Artorias, realizing he had changed. "You're different now… What happened?"

"…So you could tell instantly? Amazing, so this is the power of the monkey fool," Artorias smirked confidently and cockily.

"Monkey fool?!" Cheng Xie asked angrily. He was about to hit Artorias but stopped as he felt his immense aura. "Wait… that Aura… you've surely grown a lot! What is this?! Did you always have this power?"

"Hmph, so you've realized?" Artorias crossed his arms. "I've gone through a little improvement. I've been training, and the teachings that Jonathan taught me remain in my heart… Back then I used to be very selfish but… I think I want to use these powers to save people now, not just for myself."

"Hoh, so the jackass is finally changing! You should've thought that from the freaking beginning, idiot!" Cheng Xie laughed.

"Enough!"

"We won't tolerate any more insolence towards our King!"

"Stop speaking such words, monkey!"

"Woah?!"

Cheng Xie was shocked as he saw Artorias's Knight Spirits pointing their weapons at him and even speaking, something that had never happened before.

"Wait, what the hell?! How are they…?!" Cheng Xie gasped.

"Turns out my powers are more than what everyone thought," Artorias said confidently. "The Knights of the Round Table are not just manifestations made from my powers. They're not artificial spirits anymore, but genuine Dream Souls born from my Dream Heart and the Collective Dreams of People."

"Hahah… Well, I've also been growing! I am not losing! Nyoibo, come!" Cheng Xie roared as his pole rushed to his hand. "Now let's get going. We've got a city… no, a world to save!"

"I'll save it before you!" Artorias ran forward.

"Wait! Hey, you damn bastard!" Cheng Xie followed.

Although their rivalry remained as fierce as always, it felt like something else was developing. Amidst the challenges and their own self-improvement, a strong, unbreakable friendship was being forged, something that had never happened on any other timeline.

Meanwhile, in the depths of Maria's Soul Scape, the giant cocoon of blazing white light and flames started breaking down. Bright golden eyes could be seen from within, and massive claws began tearing the white shell apart.

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