The academy was falling apart.
Flames consumed the eastern buildings.
Smoke covered the battlefield.
The cries of students and Ghost Killers echoed through the ruins.
Daniel cut down another Ghost Soldier.
"Move!"
Mary fought beside him, protecting the wounded.
Felix punched through a group of enemies, lightning bursting from his fists.
Noah struggled to keep the collapsing academy tower from crushing the students below.
His arms trembled violently.
"I... can't... hold it..."
Stone pillars cracked one after another.
Lucy poured healing energy into the injured without stopping.
Sweat covered her face.
Her vision had begun to blur.
Yet she refused to rest.
Not while someone still needed her.
Far ahead...
Mr. Stone walked alone.
His footsteps were calm.
His sword rested at his side.
McLone watched him approach.
"So..."
"The old lion finally leaves his den."
Mr. Stone smiled.
"I suppose I'm getting too old for long walks."
McLone laughed.
"I've waited years for this."
She spun her crimson spear.
"I'll enjoy killing you."
Mr. Stone's smile never disappeared.
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
The air around him slowly changed.
His spiritual pressure rose.
Not violently.
Quietly.
Like a calm ocean hiding unimaginable depth.
Bill's eyes widened.
"No..."
He knew that feeling.
He remembered it from decades ago.
The forbidden stance.
Daniel finally broke through the Ghost Soldiers.
"Master!"
He ran toward Mr. Stone.
Bill immediately appeared in front of him.
Blocking his path.
Daniel stared.
"Move!"
Bill didn't.
"You can't go."
Daniel grabbed Bill's shoulder.
"He's alone!"
Bill looked directly into Daniel's eyes.
"I know."
"Then let me help him!"
Bill lowered his head.
"You can't."
Daniel couldn't believe it.
"What are you saying?"
Bill's voice shook.
"Trust him."
McLone pointed her spear.
"So this is your final stand?"
Mr. Stone nodded.
"Perhaps."
She smiled.
"Good."
"I'll make it memorable."
She disappeared.
BOOOOOOM!!
The battlefield exploded.
Her spear flashed toward Mr. Stone's neck.
CLANG!
He blocked effortlessly.
The shockwave shattered the nearby ruins.
Ghost Soldiers were blown away.
Teachers stumbled.
Even Daniel felt the force.
McLone attacked again.
Faster.
Harder.
Relentlessly.
But every strike was blocked.
Every movement was answered.
Every attack failed.
The old master moved with incredible precision.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary strength.
Only experience.
Daniel watched in amazement.
"So... this is Master Stone's true power..."
Mary whispered,
"I've never seen him fight like this."
Felix grinned despite his injuries.
"No wonder he trained us."
McLone jumped backward.
Her smile had vanished.
"You've been hiding your strength."
Mr. Stone chuckled.
"An old man should keep a few secrets."
He raised his sword.
The blade began glowing with silver light.
Bill's heart sank.
"No..."
Mr. Stone had chosen.
There was no turning back.
Another heartbeat echoed beneath the academy.
THUMP!
The ground split apart.
Dark ghost energy erupted into the sky.
The black crystal floating above McLone glowed brighter than ever.
Cracks spread across it.
Bill looked toward the academy.
"The seal..."
Mr. Stone nodded.
"It's breaking."
Daniel shouted,
"What seal?!"
Mr. Stone looked back for only a second.
Their eyes met.
For just a moment...
The battlefield disappeared.
Daniel remembered being a frightened child.
Holding a wooden sword.
Missing every strike.
Mr. Stone laughing.
Correcting his stance.
Telling him to stand again.
Again.
And again.
The memory vanished.
Mr. Stone smiled warmly.
"I'm proud of you, Daniel."
Daniel froze.
Those words...
They didn't sound like encouragement.
They sounded like goodbye.
His heart raced.
"Master..."
Mr. Stone turned away.
Facing McLone once more.
Bill slowly closed his eyes.
A single tear rolled down his face.
"No..."
McLone noticed.
"So you've finally decided."
Mr. Stone nodded.
"Yes."
She lowered her spear.
"Then show me."
"The strongest Ghost Killer..."
"...one last time."
The wind stopped.
The flames seemed to freeze.
Every Ghost Killer.
Every student.
Every Ghost Soldier.
Every member of the Great Eight.
Watched in complete silence.
Mr. Stone slowly raised his glowing sword toward the sky.
Silver light spread across the battlefield.
Warm.
Gentle.
Hopeful.
Daniel's eyes widened.
He had seen this stance only once before.
During training.
Mr. Stone had smiled and said,
"This technique should never be used."
"Because if I ever use it..."
"...it means I've already accepted death."
Daniel's face turned pale.
"No..."
He sprinted forward.
"MASTER!!"
But he was too far away.
Much too far.
Mr. Stone whispered softly—
"So it has finally come..."
The silver light surrounding him became brighter.
Brighter.
Brighter.
Until it illuminated the entire academy.
And everyone realized...
The next moment would change their lives forever.
To Be Continued...