Chapter 114: The Winner Becomes King, the Loser a Bandit

A surge of ferocious aura shot up to the heavens, easily turning those fifty tentacles into ash, and then,

Zhong Kui's towering figure rose into the air.

He wore a crimson official robe, a hat of office on his head, surrounded by a strange fierce light, and as he breathed,

it seemed as if rolling red thunder churned above the nine heavens.

Only then Zhong Kui bellowed, "Soul‑Capturing Banner, emerge!"

Immediately after,

a tremendously terrifying massive banner tore through space.

The Soul‑Capturing Banner unfurled!

Strange sigils encircled all directions.

That overwhelmingly mighty force ripped the Thousand Ghost City straight out of the ground!

"Nether Ghost Ship, launch!"

Crimson Moon, seeing the situation, dared not show any slack, and instantly unleashed the Flying Demon Clan's ultimate technique.

In the dark night sky, a massive ghost‑sail ship burst through the clouds, heading straight for the Soul‑Capturing Banner!

Boom—boom—boom!

The billowing sails made the ghost ship's speed astonishingly fast, and its hull was indestructible,

even lightning strikes left no trace.

Under X‑Class Crimson Moon's control, the Flying Demon Clan's killing move reached a terrifying level.

Bang!

The ghost ship collided with the Soul‑Capturing Banner.

This fierce collision triggered a massive energy surge.

The spectators waited tensely…

But the result,

the Soul‑Capturing Banner still hovered in the air, not only undamaged but, having absorbed the ghost ship's power, shone even more brilliantly.

"Even this can't hurt it?"

Crimson Moon's smile froze; it realized it must take this seriously!

No moment of hesitation!

It launched another offensive.

This time, it roared, spitting a fierce light from its mouth, forming a massive formation in the air.

Then, a jet‑black Demon Claw emerged from the formation, reaching for the Soul‑Capturing Banner.

This move is the ultimate technique of Witch Sersi.

Demon Claw.

At the cost of some life force, it summons a powerful demon to aid in battle.

Under this technique, even a nation of millions would instantly turn to ash.

Of course!

And not only that!

Encircling Crimson Moon, tens of thousands of medieval great swords gathered; at its command, all the swords shot out, first soaring upward, then pouring down from the clouds.

Great Sword Baptism!

It is the Headless King's ultimate skill.

As for the Science Monster, it relies most on its indestructible body.

The moment it was devoured by Crimson Moon, the Science Monster's power merged into it.

Demon Claw.

Great Sword Baptism.

And massive, sharp tentacles shot out.

The three terrifying attacks hammered the Soul‑Capturing Banner simultaneously!

Everyone held their breath in anticipation.

Triumphal Empire's overseer Steve crossed his arms, praying repeatedly in his heart,

"We must win!"

"We must definitely win!"

He couldn't help but shout his wish.

The ideal is abundant, but reality is stark!

Boom!

After a heart‑pounding explosion,

Crimson Moon's proud attack was once again absorbed by the Soul‑Capturing Banner!

"This show should end now!"

Zhong Kui leapt, seized the airborne Soul‑Capturing Banner, tore through the void, and vanished in an instant.

When he reappeared, he was already above the Blood‑Red Moon.

"Ant, you shall die within this banner!"

Pfft!

The sharp tip of the banner pole pierced Crimson Moon's head, and all the resentful souls within the Soul‑Capturing Banner surged out.

They surged into Crimson Moon's body, frenziedly gnawing its flesh, agonizing pain spread over its whole form, and it tried to struggle and escape.

Yet at this moment.

It discovered in terror.

Even with all its strength, it could not move a single tentacle!

When it came to its senses, everything around it had changed beyond recognition.

All around was pitch black.

One could not see one's hand in front of one's face.

In that dimness, it was as if pairs of eyes were fixed on it, ready at any moment to tear it apart and devour it.

……

In Thousand Ghost City.

"Collect!"

Zhong Kui put away the Soul-Binding Banner.

After absorbing the power of the Crimson Moon, the Soul-Binding Banner had been enhanced once more—though not significantly, it was still better than nothing.

At the same time.

The Crimson Moon fell.

Thousand Ghost City collapsed along with it, turning to ash, and all the Summoned Creatures within it likewise turned to dust, vanishing completely from the world.

With this.

The first defensive battle came to a complete end!

"It's over! It's finished! Everything is truly over…"

Watching Thousand Ghost City collapse ceaselessly, Steve's face was filled with despair.

For some unknown reason.

His limbs gradually grew weak, and his body collapsed to the ground involuntarily.

He wanted to call the surrounding staff to support him.

But he discovered,

When defeat was already certain, the staff had long since fled.

He was left alone with no one beside him, and no one would heed his commands anymore.

"The head of the Triumphant Alliance… it feels like I've had a dream, and now, is this dream finally about to end?"

A self-mocking smile appeared on Steve's face.

Recalling the glory of the Triumphal Empire in the Divine Ghost Killing Arena.

Contrasted with the desolation of its present defeat.

His nose stung, his heartache with no one to tell.

"Perhaps, it was wrong from the very beginning."

"If, back when Dragon Nation was declining, we had not mocked, not oppressed, not threatened with Summoned Creatures,

Perhaps it would not have come to this ending."

"All of this is our own doing."

"If only I were given one more chance… never mind, the winner becomes king and the loser a bandit; even if it happened again,

I'm afraid I still could not change my stubbornness."

Steve stood up with difficulty, dragged his exhausted body, and walked onto a high platform.

Below was the ruins of Thousand Ghost City, hundreds of meters away from the high platform.

Jump down, and death was certain!

Steve's eyes were hollow, his face completely drained of color, as he stood quietly on the high platform, seemingly waiting for something…

The next moment.

The figure of the Mysterious Judge appeared in midair.

"I declare, the first defensive battle has ended!"

"The Triumphant Alliance has failed!"

"According to the rules, the Triumphant Alliance shall cease to exist, and its territory shall belong to Dragon Nation…"

Bang!

The Mysterious Judge's words had not yet finished.

A sound drew everyone's attention.

They saw Steve spread his arms wide.

Facing backward, with his back to the front.

Like an emotionless statue.

He slowly leaned back, and finally fell from the high platform, crashing heavily into the ruins of Thousand Ghost City.

Reduced to a puddle of blood and mud.

His life ended just like that.

As the head of the Triumphant Alliance, he had no possibility of survival.

The spectators witnessed this scene, and especially those from nations hostile to Dragon Nation fell into silence for a time.

After a long while.

They said with trembling voices:

"The head of the Triumphant Alliance is dead, and the Triumphant Alliance no longer exists."

"Next, will it be our turn?"

Their tone carried the sorrow of heroes in their twilight.

However, Dragon Nation has an ancient saying.

Good deeds are rewarded, evil deeds are punished.

Back then, Dragon Nation waned on the Divine Ghost Killing Arena; these nations then regarded Dragon Nation as weak and easy to bully, not only making things difficult for it in every way.

Moreover, they launched inhuman terrorist attacks, harming Dragon Nation's people.

If it weren't for Zhang Cheng's appearance bringing Chinese-style horror, Dragon Nation would likely have been left in ruins, its livelihood devastated.

The contest between nations,

was originally cruel.

Having come to today's situation,

we can only say they reap what they sow!

"I now announce..."

"Effective immediately, the Triumphant Alliance shall be formally removed from Earth!"

"All its territories, natural resources, and so forth shall belong to Dragon Nation!"

"As for the people of the Triumphant Alliance… they will also be taken over by Dragon Nation."

The mysterious judge held high the blood-red sickle in his hand.

In the sky, that giant eye appeared once again.

At the moment that giant eye flickered,

the entire Triumphant Alliance underwent a world-shaking change.

All flags representing the Triumphant Alliance turned to ash, and the natural resources once exhausted quietly recovered.

Moreover, countless pillars of light rose within the Triumphant Alliance.

When the light faded, figures appeared one after another.

These people, some had left before the defensive battle even began, while others had remained hidden as members of the Triumphant Alliance in other countries.

At this moment, they were all sent back to the Triumphant Alliance by a force.

This group wore neat Western suits,

their attire was refined, obviously successful people in society.

Seeing themselves inexplicably returned to the Triumphant Alliance, they instantly became furious.

"I already left the Triumphant Alliance, didn't I? What's going on, who brought me back!"

"Oh dear, truly spooky, why must I return to this unlucky place!"

"The Triumphant Alliance could cease to exist, but I still want to live; I haven't enjoyed my good life enough!"

"I only spent several hundred million Triumphant Alliance coins to leave this a few days ago; on what grounds do you drag me back?"

"Are the lives of those commoners not tragic enough?"

These people, who usually hold themselves high, even in dire straits still maintain an arrogant, invincible bearing.

But in the eyes of that mysterious judge, their complaints are not even worth a fart.

"The life and death of the Triumphant Alliance's people are all judged by Dragon Nation's athlete Zhang Cheng!"

The mysterious judge finished speaking, then stepped aside,

and yielded the main seat to Zhang Cheng.