Victory

Crackle!

Silver arcs flickered beneath Gilan's feet, and stone slabs appeared out of thin air, serving as "steps" for him to push off from in midair.

In truth, when the slabs were transmuted, nearly imperceptible vortices of air were created alongside them beneath the stone, providing support.

These vortices were essentially balls of energy. Though they lasted only a few seconds, that was enough for Gilan to use them as footholds.

Thud, thud.

He leaped through the air again and again. With every step he took, a stone slab appeared beneath his foot.

In less than a few breaths, Gilan had crossed several dozen meters and appeared before Bellman, the "Gentleman of Lingering Breath."

Though the other's true body was an Ascendant, what stood here now was merely another self walking the mortal world. Moreover, this shell was not particularly strong, barely reaching Tier 5.

Killing intent filled Gilan's face as he raised his iron hammer and smashed it down.

Boom!!

The gentleman did not attempt to dodge, because he knew perfectly well that he could not... Since he could not evade it, there was no need to try.

Bellman watched the locomotive bearing down on him without the slightest fear. He merely raised a hand to steady his top hat, revealing the courteous smile befitting a gentleman, calm and composed.

Gray mist spread from behind him, churning and drifting like a murky gray flower blooming from his back.

A gigantic skeletal hand, its wrist clad in the cuff of an ornate stage costume, reached from the mist and blocked Bellman from behind.

Between its fingers, only the gentleman's smiling face could be seen. He parted his lips slightly and mouthed:

"Goodbye."

Then, his entire body sank into the gray mist.

Boom!!

The locomotive slammed violently into the back of