Black Snake erupted into motion, becoming a blur as he lunged straight at the Ghost King!
Even as he charged, he somehow had time for a thought to flash through his mind. He could not remember when he had changed, when he had cast aside all his old calculations, begun worrying less about the risk of injury, and started launching ambushes against targets he could not eat.
He was now so different from the snake who had sought only to fill his belly centuries ago that they might as well have been strangers.
The sword was plain and unassuming, without luster or a ringing cry. Like a venomous snake that had lain dormant for ages, it thrust forward swiftly and silently.
The more tightly his mind focused, the more slowly time seemed to stretch.
He watched the sword tip close on the Ghost King inch by inch, and saw the Ghost King's body slowly tilt to one side.
The Ghost King did not roar. He merely twisted desperately, doing everything he could to evade the lethal strike.
The sword tip pierced the Ghost King's body!
Though it penetrated his ghostly form, it had veered slightly off target.
The core Black Snake had aimed for was wrenched out of the way at the very last instant. The blade pierced only the Ghost King's shoulder blade, sending black yin energy spraying. A thrust that had gathered all his speed and patient restraint earned only a muffled grunt.
What a pity.
Having failed to kill with a single strike, Black Snake maintained his offensive, immediately unleashing a barrage like a howling gale and driving rain. Each thrust followed hard upon the last; before one sword shadow faded, the next strike had already arrived. As he attacked, he calculated the Ghost King's evasions and