The crimson sky burned above the academy.
Smoke drifted through the shattered buildings.
Broken swords, cracked walls, and fallen Ghost Soldiers covered the battlefield.
No one had the strength to stop.
No one had the luxury to rest.
Daniel stood in the center of the ruined courtyard, his black aura flickering around him.
Across from him, McLone twirled her crimson spear.
A smile slowly spread across her face.
"You've improved."
Daniel tightened his grip on his sword.
"I'm not fighting to impress you."
"No..."
McLone replied calmly.
"You're fighting to survive."
She disappeared.
BOOM!
Daniel barely blocked the incoming strike.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
Before he could recover—
Another strike.
CLANG!
Then another.
CLANG!
McLone attacked without pause.
Each swing was faster than the last.
Daniel defended with everything he had, but his arms were beginning to shake.
Blood dripped from a cut above his eye.
His breathing grew heavier.
Yet he refused to fall.
Meanwhile...
"NOAH!"
Felix leaped into the air as three Ghost Commanders surrounded Noah.
A bolt of blue lightning exploded from his fists.
BOOM!
One commander crashed through a broken tower.
Mary cut down another before it could attack Lily.
Zoya froze dozens of Ghost Soldiers in solid ice.
Lucy rushed from one wounded fighter to another.
Her healing light had grown weaker.
Still, she smiled.
"Hang on..."
"You'll be okay..."
A young student grabbed her hand.
"Miss Lucy..."
"Are... are we going to lose?"
Lucy looked at the burning academy.
She looked at her exhausted friends.
Then she smiled.
"No."
"We're going home."
The student nodded.
For the first time since the battle began...
He believed it.
Bill and Mr. Stone fought side by side.
The Executioner stood before them, his enormous axe dripping with black energy.
"You've grown old."
Bill laughed.
"So have you."
The Executioner swung.
BOOOOOOM!
The earth split open.
Bill barely dodged.
Mr. Stone stepped in.
His blade flashed like silver lightning.
The Executioner blocked it with his axe.
The collision echoed across the academy.
Mr. Stone landed gracefully.
His breathing was steady.
But Bill noticed something.
A tiny drop of blood fell from the corner of Mr. Stone's mouth.
Bill frowned.
"You used it again..."
Mr. Stone wiped the blood away before anyone else noticed.
"I had to."
"You know your body can't handle that technique anymore."
Mr. Stone smiled.
"Then I suppose I shouldn't waste the time I have left."
Bill's expression darkened.
"You idiot..."
Mr. Stone chuckled.
"You've been calling me that for thirty years."
Another attack interrupted them.
The Executioner roared and charged.
Their battle resumed.
Back in the courtyard...
Daniel finally pushed McLone backward.
She slid several meters before stopping.
For the first time...
She looked impressed.
"You really are becoming dangerous."
Daniel pointed his sword toward her.
"This ends today."
McLone laughed.
"No."
She slowly raised her free hand.
A strange black crystal appeared above her palm.
Bill's eyes widened.
"No..."
Mr. Stone immediately turned.
"It can't be..."
McLone smiled.
"You recognize it."
The crystal pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Suddenly...
Every remaining Ghost Soldier stopped moving.
They all looked toward the crystal.
As if answering a command.
David grabbed his head.
"The whispers..."
"They're screaming!"
Lily caught him before he fell.
"What are they saying?"
David's eyes widened in horror.
"They're saying..."
He struggled to breathe.
"...Run."
The crystal cracked.
A terrifying wave of ghost energy burst into the sky.
Dark clouds swallowed the sun.
Lightning struck the academy grounds.
BOOOOOOOM!
The earth trembled.
Even McLone took a step back.
She stared at the crystal.
Then whispered...
"It has begun."
Daniel felt a chill run down his spine.
"What have you done?"
McLone slowly smiled.
"I didn't come here to destroy the academy."
"I came..."
"...to open the path."
The battlefield suddenly fell silent.
Then—
From deep beneath the academy...
A single heartbeat echoed.
THUMP.
Everyone froze.
Another.
THUMP.
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
Mr. Stone's face turned pale.
Bill drew a sharp breath.
Daniel looked at them.
"What is that?"
Mr. Stone whispered only four words.
"The seal is weakening."
And for the first time since the war began...
The strongest Ghost Killer in the academy looked afraid.
To Be Continued...