THUMP.
The heartbeat echoed again.
This time it was louder.
The broken ground beneath the academy trembled.
Cracks spread across the courtyard like spiderwebs.
Students stumbled.
Teachers looked around in confusion.
"What... was that?"
No one answered.
Only Bill and Mr. Stone understood.
And the fear on their faces said everything.
Daniel looked at them.
"Tell me!"
Bill remained silent.
Mr. Stone slowly tightened his grip on his sword.
"It wasn't supposed to happen this soon..."
Another heartbeat echoed.
THUMP!
A wave of ghost energy burst from beneath the academy.
Several Ghost Soldiers were thrown into the air.
Even McLone had to plant her spear into the ground to keep her balance.
She smiled.
"So the seal really is breaking."
Daniel immediately turned toward her.
"What seal?"
McLone laughed.
"You'll learn soon enough."
She pointed her spear toward the academy.
"But first..."
"...I'll finish my mission."
She vanished.
BOOM!
Daniel blocked her spear, but the impact forced him backward.
Mary immediately joined him.
"I'm with you!"
Felix landed beside them.
"And you're not getting rid of me."
Noah, Lily, Zoya, David, and Lucy quickly regrouped.
For the first time in several minutes...
The Great Eight stood together again.
Daniel looked at his friends.
Everyone was injured.
Felix's jacket was torn.
Mary's left arm was bleeding.
Noah could barely stand.
Lucy looked exhausted from healing countless people.
David's face was pale from using his mind-reading ability.
Yet none of them stepped back.
Daniel smiled.
"Together?"
Felix grinned.
"Together."
McLone twirled her spear.
"Then die together."
She attacked.
The Great Eight met her head-on.
Mary's blade flashed first.
Daniel followed.
Felix struck from above.
Noah trapped McLone with walls of stone.
Zoya covered the walls in ice.
Lily's enchanted arrows rained from every direction.
David shouted every movement he foresaw.
"Left!"
"She's jumping!"
"Behind Noah!"
Their teamwork became flawless.
For the first time...
McLone was pushed back.
She slid across the broken courtyard.
A small cut appeared on her cheek.
Silence.
McLone slowly touched the blood.
Then smiled.
"...Excellent."
Her crimson aura exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
The Great Eight were blasted backward.
Daniel dug his sword into the ground to stop himself.
Mary crashed beside him.
Felix coughed blood.
Lucy immediately ran to him.
"You idiot..."
Felix laughed weakly.
"I've been called worse."
Lucy couldn't help smiling.
"Just stay still."
Across the battlefield, Bill and Mr. Stone watched.
Bill's expression grew darker.
"They're reaching their limit."
Mr. Stone nodded.
"So is she."
Bill looked at him.
"What are you thinking?"
Mr. Stone didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he watched Daniel rise once more despite his injuries.
Then he smiled softly.
"I trained him well."
Bill's heart sank.
"No."
Mr. Stone finally looked at his oldest friend.
"If the seal breaks completely..."
"...someone has to stop it."
Bill grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't."
Mr. Stone gently removed Bill's hand.
"We both knew this day might come."
"There has to be another way."
"There isn't."
Bill lowered his head.
For the first time in years...
He looked helpless.
Meanwhile...
McLone raised the black crystal again.
It was now covered with deep cracks.
Dark energy poured from inside it.
"The path is almost open."
The sky turned even darker.
Lightning struck the academy tower.
The enormous building began to collapse.
"LOOK OUT!"
Hundreds of students were trapped beneath the falling structure.
Daniel looked up.
His eyes widened.
"No!"
Without thinking, he sprinted toward the tower.
Mary followed.
Felix followed.
Noah slammed both hands into the ground.
Massive stone pillars rose to support the collapsing building.
The pillars immediately began breaking.
"I'm... losing it!"
Noah shouted.
Lucy continued healing injured students as fast as she could.
Teachers evacuated everyone they could reach.
Mr. Stone watched the tower.
Then he whispered...
"It has begun."
Bill looked at him.
"What?"
Mr. Stone smiled sadly.
"My final lesson."
Bill froze.
"No..."
Mr. Stone stepped forward.
Sword in hand.
Walking calmly toward the collapsing tower...
Toward McLone...
Toward the weakening seal.
Daniel saw him.
"Master!"
Mr. Stone didn't look back.
Not once.
Only the wind carried his quiet words across the battlefield.
"Protect each other..."
"...no matter what."
Daniel's heart pounded.
Something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
He started running after his teacher.
But before he could reach him—
A wall of Ghost Soldiers burst from the ground between them.
Daniel slashed through the first.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Yet more kept coming.
Mr. Stone continued walking alone.
His figure grew smaller through the smoke and flames.
Bill closed his eyes.
He already knew.
The next choice Mr. Stone made...
Would change all of their lives forever.
To Be Continued...