The darkness behind Daniel expanded.
It no longer moved wildly.
It no longer tried to consume him.
For the first time—
It obeyed.
The black aura wrapped around his sword like living flames.
McLone's golden eyes narrowed.
"So..."
"The Vessel is finally learning."
Daniel slowly lifted his blade.
"I don't know what you want from me."
His voice was calm.
"But I won't let you hurt anyone else."
The ground beneath him cracked.
A powerful wave of energy swept across the battlefield.
Even the Ghost Army hesitated.
Mary smiled.
"He's controlling it."
Bill watched silently.
"No..."
Mr. Stone corrected him.
"He's only beginning."
Daniel vanished.
BOOOOOOM!!
His sword collided with McLone's spear.
The shockwave shattered the remaining academy windows.
Students covered their ears.
Teachers struggled to stay on their feet.
McLone was pushed back.
Only one step.
But it was enough.
She looked genuinely surprised.
"You've grown stronger."
Daniel answered with another strike.
CLANG!
Again.
Again.
Again.
The battlefield echoed with steel.
Mary immediately joined him.
Her sword flashed from the left.
McLone blocked.
Felix appeared from above.
His fist crashed downward.
BOOM!
McLone slid backward.
Noah slammed both hands into the ground.
Stone pillars erupted.
They trapped McLone from every direction.
"NOW!"
Zoya froze the pillars instantly.
Ice spread over the battlefield.
David closed his eyes.
The whispers guided him.
"Left."
Daniel moved.
"Above."
Mary attacked.
"Behind."
Felix struck.
For the first time—
The Great Eight fought as one.
Every movement connected.
Every attack covered another.
McLone smiled.
"Excellent."
Then—
She disappeared.
A crimson blur flashed across the battlefield.
BOOM!
Felix was thrown backward.
Mary barely blocked in time.
Noah's stone prison exploded.
Daniel turned—
Too late.
McLone's spear struck his shoulder.
Blood splashed across the ruined courtyard.
"Daniel!"
Lucy immediately rushed forward.
Golden healing light surrounded her hands.
Daniel gritted his teeth.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
She pressed her glowing hand against the wound.
The bleeding stopped.
But Lucy's breathing became heavier.
Her healing power was draining rapidly.
McLone watched everything.
"So..."
She smiled.
"The healer."
Lucy's heart skipped.
Something about that smile felt wrong.
McLone suddenly changed direction.
She ignored Daniel.
Ignored Bill.
Ignored Mr. Stone.
She charged straight toward Lucy.
"No!"
Daniel shouted.
Mary reacted first.
She intercepted.
CLANG!
The spear scraped against Mary's blade.
The impact threw Mary several meters away.
Felix jumped in.
His punch forced McLone back.
Noah raised another wall.
David predicted her next attack.
Lily launched enchanted arrows.
Zoya froze the battlefield beneath her feet.
Yet—
McLone broke through everything.
She was smiling.
Daniel suddenly understood.
"She's testing us..."
Bill nodded grimly.
"No."
Daniel looked at him.
"She's looking for the weakest link."
The realization spread through the Great Eight.
McLone wasn't trying to win quickly.
She was studying them.
Learning their habits.
Their teamwork.
Their weaknesses.
Then she laughed.
"I've found it."
Instantly—
Every Ghost Soldier changed direction.
Instead of attacking the front lines—
They rushed toward the medical tents.
Toward Lucy.
Toward the injured.
"No!"
Lucy stood frozen.
Hundreds of wounded students lay behind her.
She couldn't leave.
If she moved—
They would die.
Felix looked back.
"Damn it!"
Mary clenched her sword.
"They're forcing us to split up."
Daniel made a decision.
"Felix!"
"I'm going!"
Felix dashed toward the medical tents.
Mary followed.
Noah reinforced the area with stone walls.
Zoya froze the approaching Ghost Soldiers.
Lucy continued healing despite the chaos.
Meanwhile—
Daniel remained facing McLone alone.
She smiled.
"Finally."
She twirled her spear.
"Now we can see how strong the Vessel truly is."
Daniel tightened his grip.
"I don't need to defeat you alone."
McLone laughed.
"But right now..."
She slowly pointed her spear at him.
"You are alone."
The battlefield fell silent around them.
Bill tried to move.
The Executioner suddenly landed in front of him.
Mr. Stone was intercepted by another elite Ghost Commander.
Noah and Felix were surrounded.
The Great Eight had been separated.
Exactly as McLone had planned.
Daniel realized too late.
Everything she had done—
Every attack.
Every retreat.
Every smile.
Had been part of one strategy.
To isolate the Vessel.
McLone lowered her stance.
Red energy exploded around her spear.
Daniel raised his sword.
Black energy answered.
Two overwhelming powers collided in the center of the ruined academy.
And every person on the battlefield knew—
The next exchange would decide the fate of the Academy.
To Be Continued...