A few minutes ago.

While Gavin was trying to think of ways to take Joshua, Nico was also with his own problems.

As he continued fighting against Dean Forst, they engaged in a conversation.

"Life is full of problems," mused Dean.

Being the one at the upper hand, he was comfortable, enough to start a conversation.

"Huh?" replied Nico, who did not understand why Dean abruptly said that.

Dean flashed his sword at Nico, but the latter continued blocking.

He could only block. He couldn't achieve what he did to kill the zombie.

"Life is the problem. As long as you are alive, you are schemed against by the world. You don't even have to do anything," Dean voiced out his opinion.

Just like Nico, who still wasn't aware of his situation, Dean had also received his own "epiphany".

He since then acted on it, which lead him to where he was now.

Nico frowned his brows at Dean, "So, is that why you are doing this?"

"No, it was my destiny as my father's child," Dean cackled at Nico's words.

Dean was a genius.

He was synonymous with the star who shined bright for all to see. Hence, his title as one of the Aztec's Four Star.

However, it wasn't all fortuitous in his life.

Contrary to what people thought, he wasn't proud at home.

He was a slave to his father, who took upon himself the mission to nurture a "fine young lad".

His father would go through all lengths to achieve his goal, and it even became more violent when his mother died.

Thinking of what he had to endure to come here, Dean wildly laughed and confessed, "Do you know I have always hated you? The boy, that wasn't particularly strong but was able to smile so bright. I have watched you for quite some time now. That intense positivity you give because you have not lost anything--"

Deciding he had had his fun with Nico, he began to transform!

Amid his transformation, he mocked his adversary, "--My hate then turned to envy, a soft kind of envy. How can someone be so fortunate in life? I will use my hands to destroy that constant smile on your face!"

By the time he was done with his transformation, his words changed to snarls and he jumped at Nico.

................

Meanwhile, Nico was having his own dilemma.

'Strange…..,' he thought.

He felt something

It was like there was something crawling on his body, but his hands couldn't reach it.

Again, he internally mused, 'Strange.'

Listening to Dean's words, Nico expected himself to feel something….or at least to understand, but he didn't!

Instead, his reaction was to be amused.

He found it funny and was tempted to laugh along with Dean.

However, his last bit of sanity kept him in check.

Plus, the punch coming from a transformed Dean stopped him from having any unnecessary thoughts!

*Whoosh!*

Despite the attack being insanely faster than him, Nico predicted it beforehand and swiftly ducked.

He had managed to recharge his energy reserve to half its capacity and was now able to augment his physical attributes with his [Spirit Essence].

Nico kept his energy consumption at a minimum and opted to continue evading.

This was an unimaginable feat in itself, as Dean was one of the fastest individuals among the younger generation.

Being able to evade his attack was something worthy of praise.

However, it was a shame Nico couldn't keep up this feat.

In one attack, Dean fainted a claw swipe and kicked him in the guts, with his toenails, 3hich had protruded out of his shoe.

When he drew back his leg, blood gushed out of Nico's stomach, but the latter didn't fall as expected.

His reaction was completely normal as if he wasn't injured.

Even Nico questioned himself, 'What is happening to me?'

Despite being injured, Nico found himself not feeling anything.

'My Emotional state…..now, my body. Something is clearly happening--' he could finish his thought as Dean kicked him.

*Boom!*

Nico found himself floating in the air. He didn't need to look down to understand that Dean was below, waiting for his punching bag to come down.

'That is funny. I'm a punching bag. Hahahaha,' squealed Nico.

The smile on his widened and instead of waiting for the wind to bring down, he glided himself.

*Whoosh!*

Choosing a simple style, Nico increased his physical attribute and evaded a claw swipe from Dean.

Using the fact that he had not yet touched the ground, he twirled around Dean and clamped his two legs on his neck.

Protecting himself from a possible bite, he used his hands to clamp Dean's jaws close.

"Hahahaha," Nico madly laughed.

Dean wasn't dumb.

He was currently locked in a brutal hold, but his opponent didn't possess enough strength to kill him.

There was still a chance for him to free himself.

Using the strength ordained on him by his zombie side, Dean lifted himself, along with Nico on top of him.

He used his claws to scratch Nico, but the latter didn't give in.

Using his [Nether Energy], he shot multiple beams, but the latter still didn't give in.

He proceeded to try all sorts of attacks, but they had the same outcome.

Nico, albeit injured, had shrugged the injury like it was nothing.

His body was riddled with different types of wounds, that would have already killed any [Realm-2] cultivator.

Yet, he was still in the land of the living….and doing well at that.

This made Dean recognize Nico as a monster just like him.

Nonetheless, he wasn't worried, Nico couldn't harm him. Nico didn't possess sufficient strength to strangle him or twist his head.

At least, that was what he thought.

It seemed that he had not yet gained an accurate understanding of this new Nico........

The same Nico smiled as he whispered in Dean's ear, "Let me tell you a secret."

Being naturally curious, Dean paid attention to Nico's following words, "It's all a joke. It's all a big joke, haha"

Still holding Dean's jaws tight, Nico proceeded to peck the decaying head with his lip.

A yellow glow ignited within him as it transferred to his mouth.

*Boom!*

Nico transmitted his yellow fire into Dean's head, from his mouth.

It looked like he remembered how he killed that zombie as he was technically doing the same.

The fire still burnt him, but it burnt Dean more.

By the time he was done, Dean had already fully blackened and his skin was crusty.

He took his last breath, not before confessing to Nico, "Thank you…...the palace…..the escape path….."

And he died.

Falling to the ground, Nico removed himself from Dean's corpse.

He took a second or two to silently look at the corpse before he chuckled, "The idyllic painting, hahaha. It's now the best joke."

His senses jingled as he heard a voice addressing him, "Nico..."

He recognized that voice. That was his sister's voice, also meaning that she was done with her fight.

Nico slowly turned around and his expression went back to normal.

He threw a goofy smile at his sister who was horrified by the burns on his skin, "Lola, congratulation. Hmmm….."

He noticed Lola's expression and shifted the attention from himself, "The others are having a tough time. Let's go help them."

"Oh…..okay," stammered Lola.

She didn't know what happened to her brother, but it wasn't time to ask