Dying in Another's Place

On a stretch of open plain, Bai Xiaowen and Han Xu walked one behind the other.

"Is that a light up ahead?" In the distance, Bai Xiaowen spotted a faint light blinking through the thin mist. Its pale glow brought a will-o'-the-wisp to mind.

Han Xu took the lead. That was an MT's job, even though he knew Bai Xiaowen could take a beating better than he could.

The pale light soon drew closer. When Bai Xiaowen and Han Xu saw what carried it, they both sucked in a breath.

Ahead of them floated a headless figure in white, about half a foot above the ground. It carried a lantern made from a human head, and the pale light shone from the head's eyes.

No doubt about it. This was no human. It was another ghost.

Bai Xiaowen used Insight, only to receive the message that the target was protected by the Blessing of the Netherwhite Stone. He could not select it as an Insight target.

"Old Han, fall back! Let's find out what this ghost can do first." Bai Xiaowen summoned two Skeleton Sword-and-Shield Soldiers and sent them toward the Headless Lantern Ghost.

The ghost ignored the soldiers blocking its path. It drifted past them like a shadow and went straight for Han Xu.

White light flared from the human-head lantern's eyes, freezing Han Xu in place.

Han Xu (Team Channel): "I'm immobilized."

Fortunately, when the headless ghost immobilized Han Xu with its lantern, it also lost the protection of the Blessing of the Netherwhite Stone. Bai Xiaowen was ready. Delifa beat her wings, darted forward, and drove her spear into the ghost.

A shrill, chilling howl rang out, as though thousands of dying people had cried out at once.

One of the headless ghost's claws raked Han Xu's