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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iyzOk35fZ
However, he was alone.
‘Our goal was the White House! I might find others if I go there!’26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujikqy4gP0
And so, he started walking.
The others had more luck—they had stayed together.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHXYNjSgjM
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!’26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXs2YxbuQyH
Dracule emerged from the darkness.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGdk20dQV6
‘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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZHQWVnMHu
She wasted no time. Giant blood spears formed at her sides. She hurled them at the advancing ghouls, breaching the enemy line.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbK6lg0HqW
‘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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJZrs7JVzN
They stormed her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktDfExc2oP
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsKQSKwYZf
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!26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufMXBrHg4W
Seraphina went for a thrust, which Saphire managed to deflect. She countered with a slash Seraphina failed to block.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9pPTQDhy7
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX31RizmWeb
More tornadoes gathered—and Saphire felt confident in her victory.
‘Seems like that’s it! You were a formidable opponent. However, today—’26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK4ypgOCu6
She stopped. Flames in the sky began to flow downward, gathering around Seraphina.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM55XDpEle
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdQslgi2DO
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXdeb3rw3G
As she drew near, her skin began to burn—her weapon glowed fiercely, even started to melt.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1prd6OM6ka
The sun above Seraphina hadn’t grown much, but its heat was unbearable.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZnXpO4qnA
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NGl4u3Mig
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlK1Mpimtx
She didn’t respond, even when Sark called again.
That’s when they felt it—the impact of Seraphina’s attack.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVm5Uq5dzS
The heat and pressure slammed into their backs.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk8OJlS8QT
Still, Larah and Jessie pushed forward, ignoring the burning force.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5haSecGnfB
Finally, they broke through the forest’s edge.
Some soldiers joined them, gasping for breath.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP0rZSuhNj
They glanced at the two women, then at Sark, who shrugged.
‘We don’t have any time to waste,’ Larah said.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTWOg2sftO
‘What’s the fastest way to the White House?’
She looked over her shoulder at the soldiers, who were speechless.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDOw20F0t7
Sark, however, was not:
‘If we keep going straight, we’ll get there quickest.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFoHaj4rJ5
Surely the enemy will be waiting for us!’
‘I want them to wait for us,’ Larah grunted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYPYNmZ1oJ
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNxp64ZQUy
They marched on.
Somewhere in the City
Dean wandered the streets, unsure where he was going.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEX7Vr94ip
So far, he had encountered no one. The roads were empty.
‘Yes, I am the lucky one!’26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpQgZx8phZ
Dean searched for the voice’s source.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gm1Lu01uy
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjm2EHN4Be
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—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2uKO26qhg
and then a fist slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBe0HRLEzc
