The crash was bad—truly bad. The plane was destroyed, and yet most of the soldiers—Dean’s group included—had survived. Still, they had been separated during the crash. It had taken place in a forest. Dean was lucky; he had landed near the city, its lights shining brightly.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlmHdKvyU0
However, he was alone.
‘Our goal was the White House! I might find others if I go there!’22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sUBlDjqdx
And so, he started walking.
The others had more luck—they had stayed together.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7zpioPsPl
They were deeper in the forest, which seemed strangely alive. That’s when they heard footsteps. Ghouls were approaching. Their stench was foul, and their grunts hideous. Yet among them was a surprisingly calm, familiar voice:
‘We meet again, Kong of the Beasts!’22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrbQyunpMQ
Dracule emerged from the darkness.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycQAx7Vmwg
‘Last time I had a time limit—but this time, there is none!’
Commander Nootra remained composed. His eyes scanned the line of his soldiers, then Dean’s group, and finally halted at Nicole, who greeted him with a bright smile.
‘Hahahah! Everyone, listen to me! We have one mission, and it’s the White House. Fight your way through and destroy whatever stands in your path. If we fail, humanity fails! I’ll deal with this bastard!’
‘And I’ll take care of the ghouls!’ Nicole added.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gDgK79jBz
She wasted no time. Giant blood spears formed at her sides. She hurled them at the advancing ghouls, breaching the enemy line.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXaZ2NjBm3
‘Now!’ she bellowed, and the others ran through the gap she had created.
Next, she activated her ability: Agro—forcing all the ghouls to focus their rage and attention solely on her.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtG7FXkZLw
They stormed her.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZhYLqWmRD
White and black ghouls, countless in number.
The commander shifted into his final form and let out a war cry—not to intimidate, but to inspire the scattered soldiers in the forest.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaIk1MGgwS
Then he launched himself at the enemy.
In the Sky
The sky was ablaze. Tornadoes wreaked havoc across the land.
Seraphina and Saphire were both wounded—but both smiled.
They shot forward, weapons gripped tightly, and clashed—baaaaam!22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e4No5F405
Seraphina went for a thrust, which Saphire managed to deflect. She countered with a slash Seraphina failed to block.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr2Olrrc4N
Her blade sliced from Seraphina’s chest diagonally down to her waist.
Saphire didn’t stop. She summoned a tornado and crashed it into her opponent. Then she unleashed a wild flurry of sword swings. With every strike, wicked energy shot from her katana, smashing into Seraphina, who was still struggling against the storm.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgRS6TkYYH
More tornadoes gathered—and Saphire felt confident in her victory.
‘Seems like that’s it! You were a formidable opponent. However, today—’22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGYn3dbmSU
She stopped. Flames in the sky began to flow downward, gathering around Seraphina.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSGJm4J9Nc
The heat intensified, burning away the tornadoes.
Seraphina was far from defeated. Her voice, powerful and unwavering, proved it.
‘Hahahah, no, Saphire. You were a strong opponent.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5nuvqrscy
I was born in a thousand flames. My body is steel, and my soul is light.’
The gathering fire compressed into a small sun, hovering above her.
‘And victory is my destiny.’
Saphire gathered all her reserves and poured them into her sword.
‘Witness the new beginning of a sun.’
She shot forward, determined to stop Seraphina from releasing her power.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY3cvcbBOr
As she drew near, her skin began to burn—her weapon glowed fiercely, even started to melt.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUGLCX3tXL
The sun above Seraphina hadn’t grown much, but its heat was unbearable.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXzXBJ9qju
Seraphina grabbed the blazing orb and fused it with her spear. Then she thrust it forward and roared:
‘Nova Burst!’
Saphire swung her sword one last time, putting everything she had into that final slash…
In the Forest
Larah led the charge, slicing through every tree that blocked her path.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKnG9KccZy
She moved quickly, her slashes tearing through the forest.
From the right, Sark called out:
‘Larah, calm down! You won’t get far like this! Right, Jessie?’
Jessie was to Larah’s left. She didn’t look much better—her mind was on Niyghel and John.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyusEPU3Jo
She didn’t respond, even when Sark called again.
That’s when they felt it—the impact of Seraphina’s attack.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasyxUAE2iw
The heat and pressure slammed into their backs.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF4vniLMJo
Still, Larah and Jessie pushed forward, ignoring the burning force.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡficvpOFeiL
Finally, they broke through the forest’s edge.
Some soldiers joined them, gasping for breath.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UM4pmosVa
They glanced at the two women, then at Sark, who shrugged.
‘We don’t have any time to waste,’ Larah said.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjgg4h9IQt
‘What’s the fastest way to the White House?’
She looked over her shoulder at the soldiers, who were speechless.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3TsbEWCCX
Sark, however, was not:
‘If we keep going straight, we’ll get there quickest.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreMaFSIFyT
Surely the enemy will be waiting for us!’
‘I want them to wait for us,’ Larah grunted.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQV72Asg9j
Jessie added, ‘Hopefully Niyghel and John are also there.’
‘Damn, ladies! Chill! Why don’t we take another route?’ Sark suggested.
The women didn’t answer.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLmJijvRCD
They marched on.
Somewhere in the City
Dean wandered the streets, unsure where he was going.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmXf4yhGPY
So far, he had encountered no one. The roads were empty.
‘Yes, I am the lucky one!’22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXltmK7LB7V
Dean searched for the voice’s source.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb2x5r5MsU
He looked up—and on top of a tall building, a woman sat.
(Dean: How did I hear her?)
In the blink of an eye, the woman vanished—and appeared behind him.
She had violet skin. Her dark hair was so long it touched the ground.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd18eFpMQ7
She wore black leather boots, baggy black pants, and a violet hoodie clearly too big for her.
When Dean turned around—she vanished again.
‘You are too slow!’
Sweat broke across his forehead as he spun around.
This time he saw her—and her eyes.
‘A demon…’ he whispered—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8MovdKEeH
and then a fist slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8BK47RW6B
