So What?

When Zhang Yang arrived at that base, a mental scan revealed that the entire place had already been abandoned.

However, a trace of dark energy remained at the center of the base.

Obviously, anyone with even slightly stronger mental power would be able to sense it.

Zhang Yang knew Kaecilius had done this deliberately. As for why?

Did that even need to be said?

Zhang Yang was neither stupid nor foolish, and there was nothing wrong with his intelligence, but... he still had to go in.

All for the mission.

As Zhang Yang walked inside, he saw the Mirror Dimension on the verge of shattering and prepared himself for battle.

The Mirror Dimension shattered, and an incomparably massive monster appeared before Zhang Yang.

Chino!

And it was an Enhanced Chino!

The dark energy on this Chino could not be completely concealed even by the Mirror Dimension. Now that it had burst through the dimension, its aura erupted even more violently.

That dark aura, which tempted people into depravity, confusion, and extremism, spread in all directions. If an ordinary person were brushed by it, they would become a crazed murderer the next second.

The base's steel framework groaned under the strain. The tremor caused by Chino stomping its foot made this secret base unable to bear the load.

Two Portals opened behind Zhang Yang. John Constantine and Lucifer emerged from them!

"What astonishing dark power!"

Looking at Chino, even John Constantine's face showed shock. "It is no weaker than those minor lords of the Dark Space."

"Let me handle this."

John Constantine took out a magical artifact and began chanting under his breath.

Zhang Yang, who had been about to attack, awkwardly lowered his hand. He had not struck immediately and had instead lost the initiative.

"Fine, then."

Zhang Yang sighed. It was good that he did not have to fight himself; it would save him some energy. When the time came, he could just steal the kill.

As for why he wanted to steal the kill... based on his experience from the previous mission, monsters that appeared during missions like this generally came with kill rewards.

In any case, if someone else killed the monster, they would gain nothing from it. He might as well land the final blow and snag himself a reward.

Thus, with Zhang Yang and Lucifer watching from the sidelines, an exciting duel belonging to John Constantine began.

John Constantine: Hey!

Enhanced Chino: Ha!

To avoid padding the word count, a thousand words have been omitted here...

In the end, John Constantine naturally had the upper hand. After all, he was the most famous exorcist in the business. Who knew how many magical artifacts he carried or what effects they possessed?

Just as John Constantine exhausted himself trapping Chino and prepared to catch his breath before killing it, two thunder dragons suddenly appeared beside him and instantly blasted the Chino, which rivaled a dark lord, into scraps.

John Constantine turned his head in stunned disbelief, staring at the calm and composed Zhang Yang, unable to speak.

He recognized that spell. It was called the Bolts of Balthakk, and he could use it too. But compared to those two thunder dragons, its power was worlds apart.

Lucifer's eyes also revealed shock. Even he would have to use his full strength to withstand those two Bolts of Balthakk head-on.

Yet Zhang Yang had merely waved his hand casually?

And cast them instantly?

Lucifer instinctively looked toward John Constantine, and both saw alarm in the other's eyes.

"Ding! Detected that the host has killed Enhanced Chino. Reward obtained: Physical attributes +20."

Hearing the system prompt by his ear and sensing the sudden warmth flowing through his body, Zhang Yang confirmed his suspicion.

"Well..."

Zhang Yang coughed twice. Just as he was about to speak, Enhanced Chino's corpse suddenly transformed into dark energy, forming a half-body projection of a person.

Yes, it was Kaecilius.

Far away, at another secret base, Kaecilius sensed the death of the Enhanced Chino he had summoned. Through the connection between them, he successfully used the dead creature's dark energy to create this half-body projection of darkness.

He looked at the three people before him through the dark energy, a trace of mockery appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"I thought only Zhang Yang would come. I didn't expect the great Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar, and the godforsaken exorcist John Constantine to follow him here as well."

Kaecilius looked at Zhang Yang with contempt. "Did you come to protect this piece of trash?"

"Trash?"

John Constantine and Lucifer exchanged a glance, both seeing bewilderment in the other's eyes.

"He doesn't know how strong Zhang Yang is?"

John Constantine began whispering to Lucifer. "Otherwise, how could he dare strut around so arrogantly in front of Zhang Yang?"

"Like we knew before this."

Lucifer rolled his eyes. "We knew he was strong, but we didn't know he was this strong... Two months ago, he had only just joined Kamar-Taj!"

"True."

John Constantine was relieved. "I never expected Zhang Yang to become this strong either..."

"..."

The two men's exchange did not stop Kaecilius from venting his emotions.

"Zhang Yang, you are merely a mage apprentice. What gives you the right to occupy the position of Sorcerer Supreme?!"

Kaecilius glared furiously at Zhang Yang.

He hated it. He hated The Ancient One for not giving him the position of Sorcerer Supreme, and he hated Zhang Yang for having the nerve to inherit that position so shamelessly.

He was jealous. Jealous of Zhang Yang's talent. Why was there someone like this in the world? He had clearly only just joined Kamar-Taj, yet he could face that great being's projected incarnation head-on and even destroy it.

Those two emotions, combined with Dormammu's temptation and the indignation that came with the return of his memories, drove him to betray Kamar-Taj and become Dormammu's follower.

He blamed all of it on Zhang Yang.

"Zhang Yang!!!"

Kaecilius slapped his own face, calming himself down. He picked up a book from the side and waved it. "I know you want to continue developing the Eye of Agamotto, but I took this book. You will never be able to completely control the Eye of Agamotto!"

"Want to get this book?"

"Come find me. Find me, and I will..."

"Will what?"

Just as Kaecilius was speaking passionately, a voice interrupted him.

He slowly turned around and saw someone who looked utterly bored.

Zhang Yang!

Time rewound to one minute earlier.

The moment Kaecilius appeared, Zhang Yang had begun locating his position. That was why he had listened to the other man ramble on.

In truth, locating him had not taken very long. Zhang Yang had originally planned to wait until Kaecilius finished speaking before going over to give him a surprise, but seeing that the man's "blah blah blah" showed no sign of ending, Zhang Yang gave up on that idea.

He took a step back. At the same time, a Portal opened behind him and enveloped him perfectly.

In an instant, he arrived at another Hydra base several hundred kilometers away, interrupting Kaecilius's impassioned speech.

"Will what?"