Silence.
Nobody dared to move.
The mysterious warrior stood between Daniel and McLone, his hand still raised from stopping the spear.
His expression never changed.
His breathing never changed.
It was as if stopping one of the strongest Ghost commanders required no effort at all.
McLone slowly stepped back.
For the first time since the Academy War had begun, fear could be seen in her eyes.
The Ghost Army watched in disbelief.
Their commander...
Retreating?
Daniel tightened his grip on his sword.
"Who... are you?"
The man didn't answer.
His gaze remained fixed on McLone.
"You have failed your mission."
McLone clenched her teeth.
"I have not."
"You were ordered to capture the Vessel."
"I can still—"
"You cannot."
The words were calm.
Yet they carried enough authority to silence the entire battlefield.
Even the wind stopped.
Bill slowly walked toward Daniel.
"Stay behind me."
Daniel frowned.
"Uncle Bill, who is he?"
Bill didn't answer.
Mr. Stone finally spoke.
"I never thought I'd see him again..."
Daniel turned.
"You know him?"
Mr. Stone nodded slowly.
"I hoped he had died centuries ago."
The mysterious man finally shifted his gaze.
His eyes met Mr. Stone's.
"You've grown old."
Mr. Stone smiled bitterly.
"And you've remained exactly the same."
Daniel's heart skipped a beat.
Exactly the same?
How old was this man?
David suddenly screamed.
His knees hit the ground.
The whispers had become louder than ever before.
Thousands of ancient voices echoed inside his head.
One sentence repeated over and over.
"Guardian... Guardian... Guardian..."
David's eyes widened.
He looked at the mysterious man.
"You're... the Guardian."
The man's expression changed slightly.
For the first time...
He looked surprised.
"You hear them."
David nodded weakly.
"The whispers."
The Guardian closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"So the Mind Reader has awakened."
McLone cursed under her breath.
"This is becoming troublesome."
Without warning, she raised her spear.
A crimson circle appeared beneath every Ghost soldier.
Daniel immediately sensed danger.
"Everyone, move!"
Too late.
BOOOOOOM!!
Thousands of crimson pillars erupted from the ground.
The academy shook violently.
Buildings collapsed.
Several teachers were thrown into the air.
Students screamed.
Noah instantly raised walls of stone around the civilians.
The walls shattered almost immediately.
"They're too strong!"
Felix charged straight into the exploding battlefield.
"I'll clear a path!"
Lightning surrounded his fists.
Every punch sent dozens of Ghost soldiers flying.
Mary rushed beside Daniel.
"We have to stop McLone."
Daniel nodded.
"Together."
The Great Eight gathered.
Felix.
Mary.
David.
Lucy.
Noah.
Lily.
Zoya.
Daniel.
For the first time since the battle had begun—
All eight stood side by side.
McLone smiled.
"So these are the famous Great Eight."
She twirled her spear.
"I expected more."
Felix grinned.
"You talk too much."
He dashed forward.
BOOM!
His fist collided with McLone's spear.
The impact shook the academy.
McLone didn't move an inch.
Instead—
She smiled.
"You've gotten stronger."
Then she kicked him.
Felix flew through two academy buildings before crashing into the courtyard.
Lucy gasped.
"Felix!"
"I'm... fine..."
He wasn't.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"Everyone!"
The Great Eight attacked together.
Mary's sword flashed like silver lightning.
Zoya froze the battlefield beneath McLone's feet.
Noah trapped her with towering walls.
Lily launched dozens of enchanted blades.
David predicted every movement.
Felix attacked from the front.
Daniel struck from above.
For one glorious moment—
Their teamwork was perfect.
McLone disappeared.
"What?!"
She reappeared behind them.
One swing.
A crimson shockwave exploded outward.
The Great Eight were thrown in every direction.
Daniel crashed into broken stone.
Mary hit a shattered pillar.
Noah rolled across the battlefield.
Lucy barely managed to protect the wounded.
McLone sighed.
"This is disappointing."
She raised her spear again.
"This battle ends now."
The sky darkened.
A gigantic crimson spear of energy formed above the academy.
Its shadow covered the entire battlefield.
Teachers looked up in horror.
Students began running.
Even Bill looked alarmed.
"If that lands..."
Mr. Stone finished the sentence.
"...the academy will disappear."
Daniel slowly forced himself to his feet.
His body ached.
His vision blurred.
But when he looked around—
He saw frightened students.
Injured teachers.
His friends struggling to stand.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"I won't..."
Black energy began flowing around him.
"...let this end."
The Vessel's power awakened once more.
And this time—
It answered Daniel's determination.
Not his anger.
Not his fear.
His resolve.
The darkness gathered behind him, forming the outline of a giant shadow.
Everyone on the battlefield stopped.
McLone's confident smile faded.
For the first time...
She realized something.
The Vessel wasn't just awakening.
He was beginning to control it.
To Be Continued...