Bone King Ulrich re-formed on his throne, every bone in his body intact.
The two ghostly green flames in his hollow eye sockets burned steadily, as though Dawn had only cut apart an inconsequential illusion.
"Useless."
The Bone King's voice had returned to its ancient, indifferent tone.
"As long as my throne remains, as long as death flows through this domain, I am eternal."
He looked down at Dawn as if he were a fly caught in a spiderweb, still struggling to escape.
"You're fast. Your Divinity is unusual."
"But that won't change the outcome."
"Every attack you make will only show you how far beneath me you are."
Off to the side, Water God supported Senior Brother En-En as Sword Master in the Snow and Evergreen regrouped with them. All four wore grim expressions.
The Bone King's apparent immortality had snuffed out the glimmer of hope they had just found.
"What do we do?" Water God whispered. "This guy's like a bug with infinite respawns. How are we supposed to fight him?"
Sword Master in the Snow said nothing. He only gripped his sword hilt and stared at the Bone King.
The humiliation of having his weapon stolen still burned.
Dawn ignored the Bone King and did not look back at his companions.
He slowly raised the Mekong Jaw Blade, aiming its black tip at the Bone King on his throne once more.
"Going to try again?" Bone King Ulrich asked with a hint of mockery. "You can cut me apart a thousand times. Ten thousand."
"But I only need to catch you once."
Before he finished speaking, the Pale Throne beneath him blazed with light.
The cavern floor shook violently. Countless massive skeletal arms burst through the rock, thicker and larger than before. Layer upon layer, they formed