The moment the forest split them apart, silence fell—an unnatural, suffocating silence.
No birds.
No wind.
No sound except the faint echo of movement… and something darker lurking beneath it.
Everyone was separated.
And everyone knew—
this was not going to be an easy fight.
Mary stood still, her breath steady but her heart racing.
In front of her—
three… no, four ghosts.
Their forms twisted unnaturally, their eyes glowing faintly through the mist. They weren't attacking immediately.
They were waiting.
Mary tightened her grip on her weapon.
This isn't normal…
But even in that moment—
Her thoughts went to one person.
Daniel.
Is he okay…?
That single thought distracted her for a split second—
—and that was enough.
A ghost suddenly appeared behind her.
A sharp movement.
A sudden strike.
But—
Mary reacted instantly.
She dodged sideways, the attack slicing through the air where she had just been.
Without wasting a second, she moved quickly and disappeared into the dense forest leaves, crouching low, hiding her presence.
Her breathing slowed.
Her mind sharpened.
They're stronger than usual… I can't fight them directly.
From the clearing, one of the ghosts laughed.
"Come on, girl…" it said, its voice echoing unnaturally.
"Why are you hiding? I don't like hide and seek…"
Another voice joined in.
"Come out… and fight."
Mary closed her eyes for a second.
Think…
Observe…
Find a weakness…
But deep inside—
Daniel… please be okay…
⚔️ Felix & Lucy
Not far away, Felix and Lucy stood back-to-back.
They didn't need to say anything.
One glance—
and they understood.
"Ready?" Felix said softly.
Lucy smirked slightly. "Always."
The ghost in front of them shifted—
—and then suddenly split.
One became two.
Two became five.
Five became shadows.
Each one just as strong as the original.
Felix's expression hardened.
"Great… this just got worse."
Lucy stepped forward.
"Then we adapt."
They moved together instantly.
Felix attacked from the front while Lucy covered the sides. Their coordination was almost perfect—attacking, dodging, defending in rhythm.
Every move connected.
Every step calculated.
But something was wrong.
Even when they struck a ghost—
—it came back.
Again.
And again.
Lucy frowned. "They're not disappearing…"
Felix clenched his teeth.
"That means…"
Lucy finished his thought.
"We're not fighting the real one."
Both of them looked around.
Somewhere—
hidden—
was the real ghost.
The leader.
Felix smiled slightly, even in danger.
"Guess we'll have to find it the hard way."
Lucy glanced at him.
"You better not slow me down."
Felix laughed softly.
"Try to keep up."
Despite the danger—
There was a strange trust between them.
Unspoken.
Natural.
Zoya and Lily moved quickly through the trees, fighting off attacks from all directions.
Their enemies weren't holding back.
Every strike was sharper.
Every move more coordinated.
"This isn't normal!" Lily said, blocking an attack.
"I know," Zoya replied, her eyes scanning everything. "They're working together."
Another ghost lunged toward them—
Zoya pushed Lily aside and countered instantly.
"We can't stay in one place!" Zoya shouted.
They moved again—
but the pressure kept increasing.
David stood still for a moment, surrounded.
His opponent wasn't rushing.
It was watching him.
Waiting.
David narrowed his eyes.
If I can read its mind… I can predict everything.
He focused.
Concentrated.
Reached out with his ability—
But—
Nothing.
Blank.
No thoughts.
No presence.
It was like trying to read… emptiness.
David's eyes widened slightly.
That's impossible…
For the first time—
he felt uneasy.
Noah faced a strange ghost—one that stretched its limbs unnaturally.
Its arm extended across the distance like a whip—
He barely dodged.
"What the—?!"
Another strike—
faster this time.
Noah jumped back, breathing heavily.
"This is insane…"
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
⚔️ Daniel
Daniel stood in the middle of chaos.
Ghosts surrounded him.
But his real enemy—
was inside him.
Thrones.
The voice echoed again.
"I told you… you're not ready…"
Daniel clenched his fist.
"Then help me," he whispered.
"No."
The answer came instantly.
"If you use my power now… you will lose control."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Fight with your own strength."
For the first time—
Thrones wasn't offering power.
It was warning him.
Daniel took a deep breath.
"Fine…"
His eyes sharpened.
"I'll fight… my way."
Even so—
he could feel it.
Something was wrong.
The ghosts—
weren't acting randomly.
They were moving…
like a team.
Across the forest—
Every fight.
Every movement.
Every attack—
was connected.
This wasn't chaos.
This was control.
Back in the shadows, Mary slowly opened her eyes.
She had been observing.
Watching their patterns.
Listening.
And then—
she heard something.
A faint sound.
Not from the ghosts.
From… somewhere else.
Her expression changed.
That direction…
Her heart beat faster.
Daniel…?
Without wasting another second—
Mary made a decision.
Instead of staying hidden—
She ran.
Fast.
Straight in that direction.
Behind her—
the ghosts turned.
And smiled.
As Mary ran deeper into the forest—
The mist grew thicker.
The air heavier.
And somewhere far away—
Something was waiting.
What made Mary run toward that direction?
Was it really Daniel… or something else?